Scientists seek clues in cuckoos’ Africa trips

THEY’RE clocking up thousands of miles as they complete their journey from England to Africa — and five migrating cuckoos fitted with tiny tracking devices are providing new information which could help explain a sharp decline in the number of the birds in Britain, scientists said Friday.

The five cuckoos are carrying satellite tags — which look like miniature backpacks — fitted before they began their migration from Norfolk, in eastern England, in July bound for Africa’s southern nations. Information collected on their route is helping experts learn more about the impact of population growth and climate change on the birds’ habitats.

For the first time, scientists are examining where and when the migrating cuckoos stop off on their journey through Africa, hoping to understand more about why fewer and fewer birds are able to make the return trip the following year.