Meet the model – Bernie the Buzzard – Buteo buteo

By Graham Stewart 

The Buzzard is now the most common and widespread of all the birds of prey in the UK despite the high mortality rate of its young

Diet:

Being a slow flier the Buzzard does most of its hunting from a perch in a tree where it sits motionless, sometimes for hours waiting for something to pass below. Its main diet consists of small mammals, birds, carrion, earthworms and large insects.

Nest:

Generally in a tree, rocky crag or cliff side. Both birds play their part in building the nest which is made from twigs and branches. Nest size varys from approx. 1 meter in diameter when newly built up to 1.5m for a more established nest with a depth of approx. 60cm. It is quite usual for a pair of adults to have more than one nest site within their territory

Breeding:

Brood of 2-4 eggs laid at 3 day intervals. Eggs are incubated for around 34 days with most of the work being done by the female. Chicks fledge around 50-55 days. They reach sexual maturity at 3 and the average life span is 8 years. Sadly some ¾ of young die at an early age generally due to starvation.

Conservation and Threats:

Classed as being on the Green list (least critical group) on the birds of conservation concern list the buzzard is fully protected under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981. Despite this and in common with other birds of prey illegal shooting and poisoning are its main threats as they were perceived to be harmful to game birds (this has been proved NOT to be the case and the unlucky Pheasant in the pictures below was already dead when found by the Buzzard)

Facts:

Body Size: 51-57cm long

Wing Span: 113 – 128cm

Weight: Adult Male approx. 1kg & Female approx. 1.3kg

Age: Avg life span is 8, the oldest recorded was 24 years old

© All photography and words , Graham Stewart 2020