Buzzards: love or war?

moo · #1 (**permalink**) 11-08-2008, 03:32 PM

I should start this by saying that I know absolutely nothing about birds, so apologies if this is something very obvious!!

We live next to a wooded scar with an old quarry in it, and there are quite a few buzzards resident. I love watching them circling and calling, and sometimes they land on the trees in and around our garden and the fenceposts around the fields. There have always been between 2 and 5 at any time in the past seven years.
But, for the past couple of days, one (at least?) of them has been making a horrendous racket - impersonating a seagull I think - at all hours. It's not visibly injured, but it is doing a lot more active flying at low level (rather than hanging out in the thermals and generally mooching), and it has had a bit of a go at one of the other buzzards - that is: I assume it was having a go and not chatting up - I did mention i know nothing about buzzards!
So - what is going on???

Lance Morgan · #2 (**permalink**) 11-08-2008, 03:42 PM

Sounds like a nice place to live. Its a bit late now for romance as far as buzzards are concerned. This could be a young bird still pestering its parents. Eventually it will get the message and buzzard off.

Helo · #3 (**permalink**) 14-08-2008, 11:08 PM

As Lance says, it sounds like you have a young buzzard. The same behaviour happens with the red kites. For several weeks, I have been watching 2 youngsters who like nothing more than perstering adults whilst it is perching in a tree! The adult simply ignores it! The youngsters soon learn they wont get anywhere with their pestering behaviour.

galanthus · #4 (**permalink**) 15-08-2008, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helo

The youngsters soon learn they wont get anywhere with their pestering behaviour.

Unlike human offspring

stephen p · #5 (**permalink**) 15-08-2008, 06:09 PM

Does sound like a youngster pestering its parents.

I saw this happen a lot at my Nan's farm.

cosycrafter · #6 (**permalink**) 18-08-2008, 12:36 PM

We saw this behaviour a few weeks ago with a young one after both it's parents, bit like both my kids really :-)

Tracey.A · #7 (**permalink**) 15-08-2008, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lance Morgan

Sounds like a nice place to live. Its a bit late now for romance as far as buzzards are concerned. This could be a young bird still pestering its parents. Eventually it will get the message and buzzard off.

Yep, what Lance said

Tracey