by Jo Sword

What noises do you associate with the start of spring?

Lawn mowers, the bells of Morris dancers and the cuckoo?

Well, we already know Morris Dancing's on the decline and now so is the humble cuckoo - by as much as 70 per cent!

According to the the number of cuckoos visiting Kent’s shores in the summer has dropped by half in recent years, prompting the species to be put on their 'red list' - the list of birds in need of conservation.

They join the Lapwing, Yellow Wagtail and Redwing and it means one in five species of bird in the UK are now under threat.

Although the cuckoo's population has halved across the UK, here in Kent the RSPB says the situation is worse. In some places bird reports suggest the species has seen a whopping 70 per cent decline.

Audio: Hester Phillips, fom the RSPB in the South East, tells where you can spot the cuckoo in Kent

Cuckoos come to Kent for the summer after spending their winter in Africa, but it is not yet known what has caused this drop.

Hester Phillips is from the RSPB in the South East and says the charity is about to begin research into what has caused the decline:

"It could be something to do with their food in the breeding season; there is not enough food for them to fee their chicks. Cuckoos are very, very clever and they have made a niche for themselves, they tend to eat hairy caterpillars that other birds try and avoid.

"We know there has been a decline in moth caterpillars, so they could be linked, or it could be something completely different all the way over in their wintering grounds in Africa."

Ms Phillips says we can all do our bit to preserve our feathered friends.

All birds need is enough food to feed themselves and their young as well as suitable places to nest: "leaving a little bit of grass un-mown could actually provide a lot of food for some species."