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Cuckoo sets off on winter migration
The Scottish SPCA has released a cuckoo back into the wild after two weeks of rehabilitation and just in time for its long journey south for the winter.
The cuckoo was found weak and thin by a member of the public who took it to an Aberdeen city-centre vet clinic for treatment. Vets at the centre contacted us for help and it was transferred by animal ambulance to the our Wildlife Rescue Centre in Fife.
Staff at our Centre rehabilitated the cuckoo back to full strength for the 3,000km journey back to Africa.
Centre Manager Colin Seddon said, "This cuckoo was quite poorly when it first arrived so we immediately provided rehydration therapy followed by a specialised insectivorous diet along with its favourite food of mealworms.
"After about ten days in our care we were happy that it was fit and well and ready for release.
"Cuckoos travel south for the winter to warmer climates so we're relieved that we were able to rehabilitate and release this young bird in time for its migration."
The cuckoo is a summer visitor to Britain, usually arriving in mid April to early May and leaving between late July and early August.
Cuckoos have no reason to stay and rear their young as the female lays her eggs in the nest of another bird and when the egg hatches the young cuckoo pushes out the eggs belonging to the host mother who then rears the chick as her own.
In 2009 the RSPB reported a 60% decrease in the number of cuckoos travelling to Britain over the last 40 years, meaning it could become an endangered species if numbers continue to drop.