Tuesday 7 July 2015

Tregaron cuckoo

The cuckoo Tony Cross recently caught on Cors Caron is now in the south of France heading for the Camargue and no doubt enjoying the warmth!

BTO have named it after him:

Disco Tony

The Welsh bog in which Disco Tony was tagged was a particularly challenging environment to work in, being characterised by high tussocky grass. Tony Cross has been part of the team in Wales since the first bird was tagged there in 2012. On capturing this Cuckoo, Tony had to do a hopping, balancing, disco dance of a run to retrieve it. To honour Tony’s commitment to the project, and of course his disco antics, Disco Tony seemed appropriate.
As a side note, Tony Fox, current Chairman of BTO Council, previously coined the name ‘disco grass’ for this high tussocky terrain, making Disco Tony even more appropriate.*
* From the BTO website  BTO.org/science/migration studies

The project still needs funds for monitoring these incredible birds so you could donate a small amount to Disco Tony on the BTO website and be a named supporter.  The other cuckoo from the bog (caught and tagged in 2012)  is still here near Llandewi Brefi; the ground he's covered during this breeding season can be seen on the satellite image and it is extensive, he might have been over your house!