Buzzards and Red Squirrels

[FUDGEY]

At my feeding station I used to have 7 different Red Squirrels visit regularly. Eventually they dwindled away until none came. I couldnt understand why they were all dissapearing when they had a constant food supply. Eventually a couple of new Reds came back (I know they were different as they have dark tails) and in the Summer they brought two youngsters with them. After a week only one was seen and a week later I saw a Buzzard take the other one. Over the past few weeks a friend witnessed a Buzzard attack one of the remaining Squirrels 3 times in a few hours and the other day I witnessed the closest call this Red will ever have. It was feeding with its back to me and a Buzzard came from no where and just as it was about to latch on the Squirrel darted a couple of feet and the Buzzard missed. I think the Red must have heard the swooshing noise made by its wings and quickly reacted. I know that all the Squirrels that have went missing wont have been predated by Buzzards, but I reckon that they must take quite a lot of them. I remember seeing on Springwatch that Greys were taken to the Buzzard nest several times. I was just wondering if any one else has noticed this?

[htcdude]

I've not seen this myself.

I would imagine a Squirrel would be quite a slippery character to catch, being they're always so aware and nervy. I don't think I've ever seen Squirrels out in the open as it were, in Buzzard hunting territory, they're always either in the woods or the cities or parks.

Maybe Scottish Buzzards have been able to make themselves more stealthy to catch their prey

There's me babbling nonsense again!

Nige

[dunkeld]

I very often see Buzzards when I'm out with the dog in the woods. the Buzzards sit in the trees a lot. It was gamekeepers who first told me about them taking squirrels and although I have not witnessed that I have seen them take Pheasant(poults and full grown) partridge and the occasional rabbit. If oppertunity knocks, the Buzzard always answers.

[Dogghound]

Whats the time scale of this fudgey? What time of year did you have the group of squirrels? when did they disappear?

Buzzards and other predators often dont put huge amounts of pressure on red squirrels as long as the population density is not low and the habitat quality is good. So the squirrel population can keep regenerating. Problems arise with isolated small populations in poor or sub-optimal habitats. A surplus of (young) squirrels may result in buzzards temporarily specializing in them, as most predators often do. In most cases direct predation is a relatively low factor in terms of overall mortality in comparison to seed availability, temperature, competition, disease and habitat degradation.

We dont have Red's here, however buzzards and more commonly goshawk hunt greys.

[FUDGEY]

Dunkeld, that is exactly what they do. My hide is in a deciduous wood that is fairly open. The floor is all grass so this tells you plenty of light gets in, also plenty of flying space. I have watched the Buzzards for a few months now. Perched for half an hour then fly 100 yards or so and perch again. Occasionally diving to the ground. I seen one get a mouse yesterday and other times Ive seen them what must be small insects and the likes.

Dogghound, for two years I have had between 5 & 7 reds there and this was constant. About 9 months ago the numbers seem to drop by 1 a week until 2 months later I had none. Once again great input from you with a very interesting post. I feel partly to blame because I think they are more vulnerable where I put all my food out. It is beside a pile of cut branches, but the food is in the open. I have now made a 8ft by 6ft cage that is a foot high so they can feed with out getting predated. It seems to have worked as both are there nearly all the time now.