Carmarthenshire Cuckoo Survey 2025 – Arolwg y Gwcw Sir Gaerfyrddin 2025

Carmarthenshire Nature Partnership: Cuckoo Survey 2025/Partneriaeth Natur Sir Gaerfyrddin – Arolwg y Gwcw Sir Gaerfyrddin 2025

© Adam Dare

The Carmarthenshire Nature Partnership would like your help to find out where you hear Cuckoos in the county in 2025

Help us find out where Cuckoos return to in the county in the spring of 2025. Record when you heard/saw a Cuckoo on the recording form here. The return of spring in Carmarthenshire is marked by the call of the Cuckoo, announcing its return from wintering grounds in Africa.

Mae Partneriaeth Natur Sir Gaerfyrddin yn cynnwys mudiadau megis y Cyngor, llywodraeth a chyrff bywyd gwyllt heb fod yn rhai llywodraeth, elusennau bywyd gwyllt a grwpiau gwirfoddol – oll yn gweithio gyda’i gilydd i ofalu am a chyfoethogi bioamrywiaeth Sir Gaerfyrddin. The Carmarthenshire Nature Partnership includes organisations including the Council, government, and non-government wildlife bodies, wildlife charities and voluntary groups – all working together to conserve and enhance Carmarthenshire’s biodiversity.

The Significance of the Cuckoo’s Return
As spring arrives in Carmarthenshire, we are greeted by the iconic call of the Cuckoo, marking its return from wintering grounds in Africa. Your participation in this survey will help us track these migratory birds and understand more about how they are faring now.

Who Are We?
The Carmarthenshire Nature Partnership, a collaboration between local government, wildlife organizations, charities, and volunteer groups, is dedicated to conserving and enhancing our county’s biodiversity. Together, we want to understand and protect species like the Cuckoo.

Why is this Survey Important?
Recent reports from the British Bird Survey (2019) show worrying declines in Cuckoo populations:

  • England: 71% decline
  • Scotland: 54% decline
  • Wales: 29% decline

The Cuckoo is now listed as a priority species in Wales and has been designated as a Red species of Conservation Concern, indicating the highest level of threat. Although Cuckoos are still seen in Carmarthenshire, they are declining, and we need your help to monitor their numbers and breeding habitat.

Cuckoo facts

  • Arrival: Cuckoos return from Africa around the third week of April.
  • Departure: They usually leave by the end of July.
  • Call: The male Cuckoo makes a distinctive “Cuc-oo” call, while the female has a bubbling call.

Absence of a species record does not necessarily mean absence of that species – simply that no records are held. We need your help to fill the gaps and also update existing records.

  • Nesting: Cuckoos don’t build their own nests but lay their eggs in the nests of other birds, particularly Meadow Pipits.
  • Appearance: Dove-sized with a slim body and pointed wings, similar to a Kestrel or Sparrowhawk.

Why Are Cuckoos Declining?
Several factors may contribute to the decline of the Cuckoo, including:

  • Migration and African wintering grounds: tracking studies show that migration patterns may impact their survival.
  • Habitat loss: changes in land use are reducing wetlands and other key habitats.
  • Prey scarcity: declines in moth caterpillars and Meadow Pipits, the Cuckoo’s primary host species, are affecting their numbers.

How You Can Help
We need your help to record sightings and calls of Cuckoos. By sharing your observations, you will help us build a clearer picture of where they return to and nest in Carmarthenshire.

How to Participate:

Recording: Simply note when and where you see or hear a Cuckoo.

Submit: Record your sightings through:

Record a Cuckoo

Cuckoo

Cuckoo

You don't have to give your email address, but if you do we might use it to contact you to verify your sighting or keep you informed about our recording project.
  1. Enter nearest settlement or postcode. This will display a pin in map above.
  2. You can then drag the pin to the exact location of your sighting. It might help to choose the map's "satellite" view (top left) to see landscape features.
  3. Alternatively, if you click "show coordinates" you can enter latitude/longitude (i.e. 52.175021, -3.749333).
N.B. If you have a grid reference, you can convert a grid reference to latitude/longitude here (copy/paste your result in the box above).
By submitting information on this form you agree that it may be collated and disseminated manually or electronically, including over the Internet, for environmental decision-making, education, research and other public benefit uses. Your name will form part of the record that is collated and disseminated. Contact details will be held on a computerised database managed by the West Wales Biodiversity Information Centre and passed onto the appropriate Local Record Centre, but will not be passed to any other third parties without your consent.

 

 

What Happens Next?
All records will be compiled into a map and shared with the Carmarthenshire Bird Club and West Wales Biodiversity Information Centre.

GDPR Notice
Your records will be kept confidential and used solely for the purposes of this survey. Any personal data collected will be handled in accordance with privacy regulations:

WWBIC

iRecord

Thank You for Your Help!
By participating, you are contributing to the protection of the Cuckoo and helping us understand what we can do to support them. Let’s work together to ensure the Cuckoo’s call continues to be heard across Carmarthenshire for years to come!