Why is the Cuckoo not a more successful bird?

Peter an ambassador for twitching was staying in the Hotel this week. We got talking about Cuckoo’s as I have heard and seen a number in recent years, I was wondering why they were not as successful as other birds. In that the adult Cuckoo lays its eggs in other birds nests, then the Cuckoo chick hatches earlier than the other eggs, then gets the unknowing foster parents to feed it; as it gorges itself beyond tasteful capacity. Later having deceived the unsuspecting adult birds the Cuckoo proceeds to push the parents of the rightful offspring around in the nest ultimately ending in the pushing of the rightful offspring out of the nest.
How come this emote behaviour is not rewarded more, surely we should be seeing Cuckoos everywhere in the environment?
Peter (hopefully the Cuckoo expert) and ambassador for twitching staying in the Hotel said that though this tactic should be successful, not all the un-suspecting foster parents fall for this subterfuge. Some parents respond as follows;
Some abandon the nest after the new egg appears,
Some abandon the Cuckoo chick possibly recognising as not it’s own (do the recognise the subterfuge?) and abandon the nest
Some Cuckoo chicks make such big demands on the un-suspecting foster parents, such that they can not keep up with the Cuckoo chicks ravenous appetite for more and more attention and food.
Well I am no bird expert but Peter is an expert Cuckoo man, Thanks for that insight into animal behaviour, question answered, thanks Peter!

Where else would I rather be!

The last two weeks on Sunday I have been in the sea with some of my kids, we got cheap (4-3mil, £19) wetsuits off Ebay and body boards from the surf shop at the spa (http://www.fluidconcept.co.uk/. They also do surfing lessons with all the kit you need!) Total cost for all of us just short of £100 with body boards, fun we have had PRICELESS!!
We had one of those unforgettable life moments Sunday before last! I was on the beach with the kids in wetsuits, playing in the surf with body boards. Anyway I was in the deep water; I had just been clobbered by a particularly big wave and looked down to the shore to check on the kids playing where the water was less aggressive. Up pops around 2 foot away but a Labrador ( I first thought, what's a dog doing this far out!) then I did a double take and realised it had no ears (I thought poor dog!); looked again realised it was a seal! Well he/she looked at me, I looked it him/her, transfixed for around 15 seconds, realising we were a bit too close to each other we moved away, me out to sea, seal towards the shore and the kids. Well seals do bite, but not unless provoked! So as a protective parent I drifted in behind to watch the kids reaction, it took them around 2 minutes before they realised that there was an extra body bobbing around with them in their group. Seal was fine and on departing actually brushed past one of the kids who thought it was a shark at first, then up pops the seals head!! Anyway, magical moment for all involved!

Should We tax aviation travel?

How come it is cheaper to travel half way round the world on a plane stay a week in a hotel then fly back, cheaper than staying a week in a UK hotel?
We have fire regulations, statutory minimum wage, holiday pay, climate levey charge, Vat etc...
Many of the places abroad do not have these valuble rights and obligations to community.
So lets even the playing field, and save the plannet at the same time!?

Should Hotels on the coast be allowed to turn into Flats?

The general feeling in the local industry is NO!

But in all honesty does it really matter!

If the property is not a viable business it will become a run down eyesore, left empty prooving it not viable as a hotel then converted to flats!

Yes, we have a parking problem, but we should not use this as an excuse, we have too many beds in this coastal town as it is; that's why some B&B's are selling at £16.50 per person per night.

We seem to have over supply of bed stock its as simple as that!

Talking of people older than me, Doreen was 70 yesterday.

Doreen is hardworking, and looks after the general areas making sure all is
clean and tidy. She has a good mind (sharp as a pin), great personality and a smile for everyone, possibly the answer to my fears in old age is to keep working hard for the next 40 years!

Any older poeple out there with an opinion on this?

I woke up today and thought I'm 40 years old in the next 4 months!

That means I am half way through my livable life because most people get
dementia at 80+, and then start forgetting where they left the car keys. (though the thought of them find them frightens me more!)!

Great, I work with people half my age in this hotel and twice the hair
on their head, yet they treat me like I'm an old man; but mentally I am
no different; but physically I am.

Maybe that is how the 80 year old feels when they can't find the car keys!!

May be life is not as different as we first assume, between the
generations, may be the young people feel envious of the 40 year old
with more settled outlook and material trappings?