Lecture ‘Cuckoos’

Willie de Vries will give a lecture on the subject of ‘Cuckoos and their parasitic behaviour at IVN Laarbeek. 

For decades, scientists have been working on ‘cuckoo puzzle pieces’, some of which have now been laid thanks to modern techniques such as DNA. By fitting cuckoos with transmitters (tags) from which crucial information can be generated, we now know that populations in many countries and areas are not doing well. Climate change, habitat loss and declines in insects and caterpillars, among others, mean that diversity in places is insufficient and new puzzle pieces are emerging. 
Since 2011, Willie de Vries has been engaged in photographing and observing cuckoos. Scientifically, the cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) is the most described bird in the world. Cuckoos are solitary, shy and solitary birds that you hear more than you see. Yet there are few birds that capture our imagination so much. To mention, for example, the fact that the cuckoo lays her egg in the nest of a much smaller bird and then makes a run for it. The presentation reveals unique facets of the Cuculus canorus.
Willie will tell you about the parasitic behaviour, reproduction, tricks and cleverness of cuckoos and how host parents react to them. Unique film clips will also be shown.