I presume the hatchling cuckoos imprint on the crow or whatever bird is
hosting them. A similar bonding process must occur with the host parents
too.
(like ducklings, chickens or other birds imprint on people if this is the
first thing they see when they hatch.
My sister was minding my hens once. Chickens hatched in her care and one
rooster imprinted on her work boot. Once he reached sexual maturity this was
fairly hilarious.)
If you look at nature documentaries about hand raising wild raptors etc the
human carers have learnt to use bird-look glove puppets so the birds imprint
on this pseudo-birds not humans. This helps them integrate when released,
not want to associate with humans who could be a threat to them.)
With the cuckoos - presumably when the time comes to migrate north, when I
understand the real parent collect them, they are more independent and not
quite as bonded to the foster species.
In most species, (apart from some like Chough where birds remain to help
raise siblings) once young birds reach independence they are driven from
their parents territory.
Wendy
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