Birds of prey and motorways

[Oxdent]

On a recent journey in France, I noticed large number of birds of prey on fence posts etc next to the motorway. You can see as many as 3 or 4 per mile! Why are they attracted to the motorways? Is it the vibrations attracting large numbers of rodents etc to prey on ?

[solus]

With some carrion-eaters (and corvids) it'll be for the high incidence of road-kill!
Motorway verges, being relatively undisturbed bits of habitat, are also home to probably larger numbers of voles, mice etc. than some carefully managed agricultural areas.

[Bobby D]

If as in England the motorways have grass strips between the lanes then you are more or less right.The grass strips have the usual small rodents etc that these birds of prey feed upon.
Sorry solus if I was treading on your toes, we must have been replying at about the same time

[aeshna5]

I suspect you saw many Buzzards as I've seen many of these along French roads. They will take any carrion but also Rabbits + other creatures from the verges + adjacent fields too.

[Deb London]

I'd like to know what France has that we don't (in the context of this thread).

[Tringa]

It used to be kestrels by the motorway. When the kids were small one of the games we played on long car journeys was counting the number of kestrels. They are not nearly as common these days.

We may get to what happens in France, Deb. Buzzard are much more common now so they may start(if they have no already) to look to motorways as sources of food.

It is not a busy as a motorway but last year I saw a kite fly up from a road kill on the A832 near Conon Bridge.

Dave

[~T~]

Originally Posted by Deb London

I'd like to know what France has that we don't (in the context of this thread).

On the small stretch of motorway I travel each morning to work I usually see 2-3 buzzards on the grass verge or sitting on fence posts as well as kestrels hovering over or sitting on road signs.

[Deb London]

Thanks ~T~ (and Tringa)

I'm envious. We have them near where I live, but I don't get to see them in these numbers or this close up.

[Adam Cheeseman]

I did a journey up to North Yorkshire and then down to the west country in 2006, a distance of around 1,000 miles and saw ONE Kestrel the entire journey.

There are also plenty of Black Kites along the roadsides in France as well as Buzzards.

Cheers,

Adam

[~T~]

Last time I was landing in Schipol airport I saw loads of what looked to be buzzards all along the runways.