Buzzard (Common Buzzard)
Buteo buteo
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Distribution Britain 1,544 (8.4%) Ireland 93 (272%)
Numbers breeding: Britain 14,500 Ireland 150 + European status: 410,000 (4% in Britain and Ireland =8) British population trend: expanding quite rapidly (+29% CBC){+224%} How likely are you to record it? 1009 squares (22.5%) Ranked 47[84=] |
The mewing of the Buzzard is now a traditional sound of upland Britain. Two centuries ago it was everywhere and in the northern part of Ireland but, considered as vermin, it was extinguished from all lowland England (save the New Forest) and Ireland and rendered rare elsewhere, even Wales, by 1910. Then it gradually began to increase and returned (1933) to Ireland — up to 10 pairs by 1954 — but then the dearth of rabbits (myxomatosis) caused another extinction by 1964. Buzzards were soon back and now may number 200 pairs. Apart from the lack of rabbits, organo-chlorine pesticides and illegal persecution have been problems — and the latter persists. However a steady, but slow, expansion east in England seems to be accelerating and this bird looks set to take its rightful place, alongside the Red Kite, as a widespread large bird of prey over most of the country. Prospects excellent.
The following Bird On! sketch is available:
Buzzard
From
The
State of the Nations Birds
Copyright © 2000 by Chris Mead