Buzzard attacks Barn Owl

[dog stone]

Whilst working this evening, 5.30ish saw one of several Barn owls that we have around here, stood spellbound as usual watching it float down a hedgerow, when thump, a buzzard dropped right on its back, and knocked it to the floor. I shouted and ran towards it, the buzzard flew off, the barn owl took longer to recover, then it too flew off, lucky I was there. Rather puts paid to the assertion by some that they only eat carrion, also, with ever increasing numbers of buzzards, is it not time to stop blaming "modern farming", for all of natures misfortunes.

[The Black Rabbit]

Blimey!
What a sight!
Doug

[Ukwildlifeo]

Originally Posted by dog stone

Whilst working this evening, 5.30ish saw one of several Barn owls that we have around here, stood spellbound as usual watching it float down a hedgerow, when thump, a buzzard dropped right on its back, and knocked it to the floor. I shouted and ran towards it, the buzzard flew off, the barn owl took longer to recover, then it too flew off, lucky I was there. Rather puts paid to the assertion by some that they only eat carrion, also, with ever increasing numbers of buzzards, is it not time to stop blaming "modern farming", for all of natures misfortunes.

Are u seriously suggesting barn owls numbers are decreasing because of the number of buzzards

I would have let things be : there both native animals, so let nature takes it course and all that

[ChrisJB]

Originally Posted by dog stone

Whilst working this evening, 5.30ish saw one of several Barn owls that we have around here, stood spellbound as usual watching it float down a hedgerow, when thump, a buzzard dropped right on its back, and knocked it to the floor. I shouted and ran towards it, the buzzard flew off, the barn owl took longer to recover, then it too flew off, lucky I was there. Rather puts paid to the assertion by some that they only eat carrion, also, with ever increasing numbers of buzzards, is it not time to stop blaming "modern farming", for all of natures misfortunes.

Maybe not all of them...but probably most of them.

Regards, Chris

[Kayleigh]

Buzzards don't just eat carrion I have seen them take Rabbits. Chasing them across the ground and pouncing on them. I suppose they would take anything smaller than them..

I have also seen magpies attacking them swooping at them until the buzzard got fed up and flew off..

[hunterswind]

I have seen a Buzzard take a Sparrowhawk out of the air and killed it was something else also seen them killing a whole covie of wild Gray Partridges 1 at a time. Just wish I had the film camera at the time but as ever it was in the house.

[dog stone]

Originally Posted by Ukwildlifeo

Are u seriously suggesting barn owls numbers are decreasing because of the number of buzzards

I would have let things be : there both native animals, so let nature takes it course and all that

Why not, surely whenever a predator species is protected to the point of an ever increasing population, the things it feeds on must decline.
And I would always interfere to protect a barn owl over a common buzzard, any day of the week, and all that

[willing to learn]

Birds of prey are very good at detecting weakness and ill health even though they look fine to us. It probably fancied a easy meal. A fit agile barn owl should readily out manoeuvre a buzzard.
Regards
Colin

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by dog stone

Why not, surely whenever a predator species is protected to the point of an ever increasing population, the things it feeds on must decline.
And I would always interfere to protect a barn owl over a common buzzard, any day of the week, and all that

Its not the norm for buzzards to feed on barn owls. Human factors are the reason for declines not buzzards. Incidentally i wouldnt get involved let nature take its course.

[dog stone]

Originally Posted by willing to learn

Birds of prey are very good at detecting weakness and ill health even though they look fine to us. It probably fancied a easy meal. A fit agile barn owl should readily out manoeuvre a buzzard.
Regards
Colin

There was nothing wrong with the barn owl, I can set my watch by this chap every evening, it was taken completely by surprise as I was.

[hunterswind]

Who knows or cares it must have been great to see and a memory that will live with you forever, well spotted

[jcd123]

I dont know for sure , but I would imagine this to be a fairly rare occurance

but personally I dont look on Buzzards as being any less than Barn Owls , and so I would also not interfere.

If it was a cat however thats another story...sorry cat lovers

It would be interesting to know if anything else has been wriiten about this
John

[hunterswind]

I think the country court would come in favour or the Barn Owl, Sentence for the Buzzard to be passed next week

[dog stone]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

Its not the norm for buzzards to feed on barn owls. Human factors are the reason for declines not buzzards. Incidentally i wouldnt get involved let nature take its course.

My employer puts a lot of money into providing nest boxes, beetle banks, habitat, and crop rotations etc. to help birds like the barn owl, and struggling ground nesting species, when he could be making a lot more money. And I work hard to help them in the way that I know how, I try to tip the balance in their favour. If we are to let nature take it's course then should we all just stand back and give up on the Red Squirrel, Water Voles, Hedgehogs, grey partridge, et all?

[willing to learn]

Originally Posted by dog stone

There was nothing wrong with the barn owl, I can set my watch by this chap every evening, it was taken completely by surprise as I was.

A fit healthy Barn owl would have heard it coming its ears are finally tuned. Perhaps it was having a off day. Buzzard's can and do catch quarry, but the have small feet, not the long bird catching toes of the bird hunting specialists, like peregrines and sparrow hawks have.They are more suited to mammals, but are more than happy eating earthworms and carrion.
Regards
Colin

[hunterswind]

Originally Posted by dog stone

My employer puts a lot of money into providing nest boxes, beetle banks, habitat, and crop rotations etc. to help birds like the barn owl, and struggling ground nesting species, when he could be making a lot more money. And I work hard to help them in the way that I know how, I try to tip the balance in their favour. If we are to let nature take it's course then should we all just stand back and give up on the Red Squirrel, Water Voles, Hedgehogs, grey partridge, et all?

Huge support to you but hedghogs thats a no no.

The owner of the farm nextdoor has the same system and in Scotland has a wild bird shoot loads of Game there but hedghogs are not on the protected list.

[hunterswind]

Originally Posted by willing to learn

A fit healthy Barn owl would have heard it coming its ears are finally tuned. Perhaps it was having a off day. Buzzard's can and do catch quarry, but the have small feet, not the long bird catching toes of the bird hunting specialists, like peregrines and sparrow hawks have.They are more suited to mammals, but are more than happy eating earthworms and carrion.
Regards
Colin

As stated above I have seen a Buzzard kill a fit Sparrowhawk

[dog stone]

Originally Posted by hunterswind

Huge support to you but hedghogs thats a no no.

The owner of the farm nextdoor has the same system and in Scotland has a wild bird shoot loads of Game there but hedghogs are not on the protected list.

I would'nt persecute anything to destruction, but the Badgers are decimating the Hedgehogs around here, the Badgers also do a lot of damage to ground nesting species, but again our hands are tied there.

[dog stone]

Originally Posted by willing to learn

A fit healthy Barn owl would have heard it coming its ears are finally tuned. Perhaps it was having a off day. Buzzard's can and do catch quarry, but the have small feet, not the long bird catching toes of the bird hunting specialists, like peregrines and sparrow hawks have.They are more suited to mammals, but are more than happy eating earthworms and carrion.
Regards
Colin

This chap did'nt attempt to catch him as a peregrine or sparrowhawk would do, he litterally dropped on to the owls back and hit him to the ground, I have no doubt what they outcome would have been had I not been there, as the owl was quite clearly "winded" and would not have got to his wings again.

[willing to learn]

Originally Posted by dog stone

B******s to letting nature take it's course. My employer puts a lot of money into providing nest boxes, beetle banks, habitat, and crop rotations etc. to help birds like the barn owl, and struggling ground nesting species, when he could be making a lot more money. And I work hard to help them in the way that I know how, I try to tip the balance in their favour. If we are to let nature take it's course then should we all just stand back and give up on the Red Squirrel, Water Voles, Hedgehogs, grey partridge, et all?

I worry about the grey partridge there is talk of taking it of the quarry list.
If this happens the wild partridge shoots along with shoots with put down birds. Will stop, the ground will not be keepered the land owners will look to replace the lost revenue. Ironically greys will pay the price followed no doubt by others. Fair play to you're boss I wish more was like him.
Regards
Colin

[hunterswind]

Look for roadkill chef on google he has great ways for cooking Badgers that might have run into something

[hunterswind]

Woops missed willing to learns post. Back in the old old days wel not to long ago I had a friend who was a Partridge keeper and he was ruthles with any vermin and always had a great shoot days. and the funny thing was there were thousands of finches on the farm. When the shoot stopped due to the death of the owner the finches and the partridges vanished due to intensive potato growing

[dog stone]

Originally Posted by willing to learn

I worry about the grey partridge there is talk of taking it of the quarry list.
If this happens the wild partridge shoots along with shoots with put down birds. Will stop, the ground will not be keepered the land owners will look to replace the lost revenue. Ironically greys will pay the price followed no doubt by others. Fair play to you're boss I wish more was like him.
Regards
Colin

It would be very misguided to take it off the quarry list, the only places it is hanging on in any sort of numbers are those wild bird shoots, where habitat production and conservation, work hand in hand with predator control. We are trying to reintroduce them here, but the problem is keeping them on us, if they move off, they are nailed.

[Ukwildlifeo]

Originally Posted by dog stone

My employer puts a lot of money into providing nest boxes, beetle banks, habitat, and crop rotations etc. to help birds like the barn owl, and struggling ground nesting species, when he could be making a lot more money. And I work hard to help them in the way that I know how, I try to tip the balance in their favour. If we are to let nature take it's course then should we all just stand back and give up on the Red Squirrel, Water Voles, Hedgehogs, grey partridge, et all?

I meant nature to take its course in the case of the two species interacting in a natuarl way. Who said anything about not helping squirrel, Water Voles, Hedgehogs and grey partridges? Theres a difference between providing safe havens and habitat for a species and stopping a predator feeding and natural selection taking place.

That said I dont blame you for scaring off the buzzrad. If I had put alot of work into providing for a barn owl, that I saw regulary (sorry Ive forgotten how to spell, is that right!? ), I think I would have a similar reaction to you and scare it off

[dog stone]

Originally Posted by hunterswind

Woops missed willing to learns post. Back in the old old days wel not to long ago I had a friend who was a Partridge keeper and he was ruthles with any vermin and always had a great shoot days. and the funny thing was there were thousands of finches on the farm. When the shoot stopped due to the death of the owner the finches and the partridges vanished due to intensive potato growing

It's funny you should say that, we have a lot of Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Tree Sparrows, plus the usual Tits. My boss also plants 15 acres of Phacelia, just for the insects, go out there on a summers day and it is alive with honey bees, bumblers, hoverflies, millions of them, fantastic!