Cuckoo reporting campaign

Storks and swallows have already landed in Carinthia

The storks have returned to the tree nest.(Bild: Claudia Fischer/Vogelhilfe Kärnten)

Migratory birds are returning weeks earlier this year. This could even cause some problems for the "lazy" cuckoo. In the Feldkirchen district, the stork pair has already moved into the tree nest.

Not only amphibians and hedgehogs are - as reported - much earlier this year, some migratory birds have also already returned from the south. The first house martins could already be seen in Sachsenburg on March 8. "I couldn't believe my eyes. 14 house martins arrived. Luckily we have a riding stable nearby where they can warm up. Because they won't breed until it gets warmer," reports Michaela Dworak from Vogelhilfe Kärnten. Nevertheless, she is delighted as some of the birds are fosterlings from the previous year.

Swallow fledglings from the previous year.(Bild: Vogelhilfe Kärnten)

Carinthia's BirdLife expert Andreas Kleewein describes the recolonization of a tree nest in the Feldkirchen district as a sensation. The stork pair has already moved into their home. "Last year, we suspected that it was a young pair that didn't know what else to do but nest in the tree. The fact that the two have returned there is really unusual," explains Kleewein. The residents of the estate are certainly pleased. Let's hope that more stork chicks survive this year. Last year, only one of three chicks made it.

Who will hear the first cuckoo?
Meanwhile, BirdLife is asking for reports of cuckoo calls. It will be interesting to see whether the cuckoo is also early this year. As the local songbirds will soon be starting to breed for the first time, the cuckoo is likely to have some problems laying its eggs in time for them to hatch.

The cuckoo does not normally arrive until the end of April.(Bild: Anita Hombauer)

If it arrives late, the well-known singer will probably have to wait until the second brood. According to BirdLife, the cuckoo population is declining across Europe. "We would therefore like to find out more about its arrival and are calling on people to report the first cuckoo calls to us," asks Evelyn Hofer from BirdLife.

Anyone who takes part can look forward to receiving gifts - from specialist books to a plush cuckoo. Information and reports: birdlife.at/page/kuckuck-meldeaktion