This
design was created by Stephen for the May Open Event held
at Moorcroft Pottery in 2001. Only three pieces were produced,
one being sold on each day of the event.
The
Cuckoo is a fascinating species and this beautiful vase captures
something of its life-style. A migrant bird, its arrival and
familiar cuc-koo call (males only) is regarded as the harbinger
of spring. Well known for its parasitic behaviour, a regular
host of the species in Britain is the Reed Warbler as depicted
here. For those with an ornithological bent here are a few
facts!
-
The
female watches the reed beds for many days, sussing out
the territories of many pairs of Reed Warblers to get her
timing right.
-
Eggs
are laid that closely match the colour of the host eggs
(except for the Dunnock, thought to be a recent host, where
evolution hasn't yet caught up with behaviour).
-
The
females genes control which host species she will choose.
Many females are brown in colour.
-
Egg
laying takes a remarkable 10 seconds instead of the more
typical 15 - 20 minutes of many birds; some of the host
eggs are usually removed.
-
The
cuckoo develops quickly. Once hatched it removes other eggs
(or hatchlings) by pushing them over the nest edge with
its back.
-
The
constant squawking and red nape of the youngster stimulate
the host birds to work flat out to feed its voracious appetite.
The nape is such a stimulus that it attracts passing birds
to feed it as well as the foster parents.
-
Once
fledged, the young cuckoos remarkably find their own way
to Africa, south of the Sahara, but exactly where they go
no-one is yet sure!
- Cuckoos
in the Uk have declined in recent years; there are probably
around 15000 pairs each summer.
