What do Red Kites and Buzzards Eat?

[nightshade]

I wondered what Kites and buzzards would eat if feeding stations stopped feeding, so I did a shallow search and earthworms came up time after time then I found this piece, it certainly made me think.
Buzzards and red kites are on the rise - Telegraph

[IanP]

I've not seen a Red Kite in the UK but, as we say in Yorkshire, Buzzards are becoming as common as muck. I've seen them quite close to urban settings in S Yorks and on a recent trip to N Wales and back, must have seen at least eight. Their size, colouring and profile is so obvious I couldn't have been mistaken.

[Pete Collins]

An interesting point about the unavailability of earthworms. I'm sure that roadkill also plays a part in the diet of Kites and Buzzards.

I've certainly noticed that Red Kites are attracted to fields that are being ploughed, presumably because of the worms that are turned up. They also seem attracted to freshly mown meadows, but I'm not sure why.

Both species seem to be doing very well. Red Kites are still not too common at this end of the Chilterns, about 30 miles from where they were released, but we do see them maybe once every couple of weeks or so. Buzzards are everywhere in this part of the country (northern home counties), I've seen them in all the local parishes and everywhere I've walked in this area. It's unusual not to see a Buzzard when I go for a long walk nowadays - on my last walk I saw one on Dunstable Downs, competing for airspace with the paragliders!

[Adam Cheeseman]

Originally Posted by nightshade

I wondered what Kites and buzzards would eat if feeding stations stopped feeding, so I did a shallow search and earthworms came up time after time then I found this piece, it certainly made me think.
Buzzards and red kites are on the rise - Telegraph

If feeding stations stopped feeding then the local populations would most likely fall to the level that available food sources could sustain. Yes they do eat worms and carrion but they will also take live prey. Buzzards hunt rabbits regularly and Red Kites will take small mammals too as seen on Springwatch.

Cheers,

Adam

[rossy]

Originally Posted by Adam Cheeseman

If feeding stations stopped feeding then the local populations would most likely fall to the level that available food sources could sustain. Yes they do eat worms and carrion but they will also take live prey. Buzzards hunt rabbits regularly and Red Kites will take small mammals too as seen on Springwatch.

Cheers,

Adam

yes adam and they love squirrels, and snakes, thats buzzards that is, plus little birds, no red kites up here, but know they do have feeding stations in parts of the country. rossy.

[Ukwildlifeo]

lol what a laughingly right wing biased piece. Yes they have a more varied diet, but the bulk of there prey is as suggested. The swallow case with the kite sound like the kite swiped out after being harassed and decided to keep the swallow as a meal anyway.

[John B (NTS)]

Ah.... Mr Page and his prejudices again. Beats me why the Telegraph gives him column space.......

Or there again.......

[nightshade]

Well he keeps people off the streets and at their computers
Around the Axebridge area I have seen around 20+ Buzzards "following the plough" so it does bring them into competition with Rooks and Jackdaws which have enough competition already from Gulls.

[Acipiter]

Originally Posted by John B (NTS)

Ah.... Mr Page and his prejudices again. Beats me why the Telegraph gives him column space.......

Or there again.......

This is one of his quotes, sparrowhawks are killing "all the song birds" and should be culled. As you can guess, not on of my Favourite people!

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by Pete Collins

They also seem attracted to freshly mown meadows, but I'm not sure why.

When the field has been freshly cut it often suddenly leaves a lot of invertebrates and small mammals vulnerable and exposed, the loss of cover means they they become easy prey for predators like red kites. Short grassland is also quite productive earthworm foraging habitat especially when the ground is wet after rain.