If this helps any, the cuckoo calls are easy to imitate, and they (both
species) usually respond either by calling back, or more often by flying in,
silently; then calling.

To imitate the Black-billed, use three rapid short hollow sounding whistled
phrases, as though you were imitating the first note of the famous clock -
three times in rapid succession. I.e., "Kuock, Kuock, Kuock". The
Yellow-billed is roughly the same, but with only one note per phrase, a bit
more hollow sounding, and slower. "Kuoockk...,...Kuoockk...,...Kuoockk..."

The important thing to remember with this and any sound device, is to let
the little guy win! He's responding to a perceived threat to his territory.
I like to think that after he's driven off that threat, I'm giving him a
chance to go back and ask: "So, how's that, Honey, Impressed?". And of
course, she will answer: "My Hero!"

And they lived happily ever after. (At least for that nesting season
anyway).

Richard Guthrie
New Baltimore,
NY
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-----Original Message-----
From: Vermont Birds [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Lawrence,
Miriam
Sent: Wednesday, June 08, 2005 9:14 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] BB Cuckoo


Heard the BB Cuckoo again last evening.  I am definitely planning a "cuckoo
location exercise" if I continue to hear it, but I'm not hopeful given what
everyone seems to be saying!

Indigo bunting has been singing here as well, and I caught a nice look at
one two days ago.

Miriam Lawrence
Monkton