Ratreeper 441 Posted May 31, 2012 Report Share Posted May 31, 2012 I have commented in a buzzard thread in the general area, and to be fair I am looking a proper tit as the dicussion goes on. I was just wondering if many people on here can comment on how common it is for a buzzard to take a pheasant, because I have grown up under the assumption that this isn't common at all, based on falconry experience and just general conversation. Thanks Quote Link to post Share on other sites
squab 2,875 Posted May 31, 2012 Report Share Posted May 31, 2012 (edited) i find a lot of carcasses around the pens on the land where i rough shoot(i dont shoot near the pens obviously) all seem to have their guts still in them but the choice bits have been removed im told by the keeper this is characteristic of buzzards taking them Edited May 31, 2012 by hunter1372 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
j j m 6,566 Posted May 31, 2012 Report Share Posted May 31, 2012 as above bud Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Catcher 1 639 Posted May 31, 2012 Report Share Posted May 31, 2012 Had them try to take magpie/crow/pigeon decoys over the years.Came across them on dead rabbits that are still warm.Recon they would poults no probs. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ratreeper 441 Posted May 31, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2012 i find a lot of carcasses around the pens on the land where i rough shoot(i dont shoot near the pens obviously) all seem to have their guts still in them but the choice bits have been removed im told by the keeper this is characteristic of buzzards taking them Were these adult birds? Were they plucked at all too? I know they take young birds when they can and definitely capable of rabbits but I am now really unsure on their ability to take phessies adults regularly. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
paulus 26 Posted May 31, 2012 Report Share Posted May 31, 2012 i find a lot of carcasses around the pens on the land where i rough shoot(i dont shoot near the pens obviously) all seem to have their guts still in them but the choice bits have been removed im told by the keeper this is characteristic of buzzards taking them Were these adult birds? Were they plucked at all too? I know they take young birds when they can and definitely capable of rabbits but I am now really unsure on their ability to take phessies adults regularly. buzzards are lazy b*sttards as you will know from your falconry expierences. they will take an easy meal anyday and release pens afford these easy meals the same as our road networks 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lab 10,979 Posted May 31, 2012 Report Share Posted May 31, 2012 i find a lot of carcasses around the pens on the land where i rough shoot(i dont shoot near the pens obviously) all seem to have their guts still in them but the choice bits have been removed im told by the keeper this is characteristic of buzzards taking them Were these adult birds? Were they plucked at all too? I know they take young birds when they can and definitely capable of rabbits but I am now really unsure on their ability to take phessies adults regularly. They dont often take adult birds, you are correct in saying that. Its the damage they do before that stage though........ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
iworkwhippets 12,819 Posted May 31, 2012 Report Share Posted May 31, 2012 Dunno about pheasants, but last summer i witnessed buzzard taking leverets Quote Link to post Share on other sites
paulus 26 Posted May 31, 2012 Report Share Posted May 31, 2012 Dunno about pheasants, but last summer i witnessed buzzard taking leverets i witnessed one try to take hare and got a right kicking for its trouble :laugh: i belive it thought it was a rabbit as it came over a low hedge Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ratreeper 441 Posted May 31, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2012 i find a lot of carcasses around the pens on the land where i rough shoot(i dont shoot near the pens obviously) all seem to have their guts still in them but the choice bits have been removed im told by the keeper this is characteristic of buzzards taking them Were these adult birds? Were they plucked at all too? I know they take young birds when they can and definitely capable of rabbits but I am now really unsure on their ability to take phessies adults regularly. They dont often take adult birds, you are correct in saying that. Its the damage they do before that stage though........ Do you reckon it is the odd persistent bird, or if that bird 'disappeared' and another pair moved in would they still do it? Because that is really all I was trying to say in the other thread before I started doubting myself, is that simply because there are so many buzzards another can just move in and it would be an endless cycle until their numbers were back down again. I have seen impressive pheasant pens though with double fences with about 6' inbetween, would that stop them being shocked to death? I am just trying to get my head around the problem now and see if there is a win-win solution. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
colint5 47 Posted May 31, 2012 Report Share Posted May 31, 2012 Dunno about pheasants, but last summer i witnessed buzzard taking leverets im pretty sure its the buzzards round here that have made a big impact on the hare numbers. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
patterdale boy 1 Posted May 31, 2012 Report Share Posted May 31, 2012 ive seen them take full grown michigan blueback hen pheasants, these type are slightly smaller than average though and it was during the winter when there wasnt much else for them. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest vin Posted May 31, 2012 Report Share Posted May 31, 2012 I bet the goshawks are accountable for more than the buzzards by a long way. . . maybe buzzards are caught scrounging the carion from gos's kills more than they actually take themselves.. there lazy and slow.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lab 10,979 Posted May 31, 2012 Report Share Posted May 31, 2012 i find a lot of carcasses around the pens on the land where i rough shoot(i dont shoot near the pens obviously) all seem to have their guts still in them but the choice bits have been removed im told by the keeper this is characteristic of buzzards taking them Were these adult birds? Were they plucked at all too? I know they take young birds when they can and definitely capable of rabbits but I am now really unsure on their ability to take phessies adults regularly. They dont often take adult birds, you are correct in saying that. Its the damage they do before that stage though........ Do you reckon it is the odd persistent bird, or if that bird 'disappeared' and another pair moved in would they still do it? Because that is really all I was trying to say in the other thread before I started doubting myself, is that simply because there are so many buzzards another can just move in and it would be an endless cycle until their numbers were back down again. I have seen impressive pheasant pens though with double fences with about 6' inbetween, would that stop them being shocked to death? I am just trying to get my head around the problem now and see if there is a win-win solution. 100% no its not 1 or 2 persistent birds as problem birds 'disappear' as you say. Even the best pens with maximum ground cover has to have feed rides and sunny ares and thats where you'll find your kills. The spar' uses the feed rides to swoop in fast and kill. I see folk saying the buzzard is lazy, yes it is, but it doesn't need to do much in a pen full of inexperienced poults, it just drops on top of them in seconds. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
danw 1,748 Posted May 31, 2012 Report Share Posted May 31, 2012 i find a lot of carcasses around the pens on the land where i rough shoot(i dont shoot near the pens obviously) all seem to have their guts still in them but the choice bits have been removed im told by the keeper this is characteristic of buzzards taking them Were these adult birds? Were they plucked at all too? I know they take young birds when they can and definitely capable of rabbits but I am now really unsure on their ability to take phessies adults regularly. They dont often take adult birds, you are correct in saying that. Its the damage they do before that stage though........ Do you reckon it is the odd persistent bird, or if that bird 'disappeared' and another pair moved in would they still do it? Because that is really all I was trying to say in the other thread before I started doubting myself, is that simply because there are so many buzzards another can just move in and it would be an endless cycle until their numbers were back down again. I have seen impressive pheasant pens though with double fences with about 6' inbetween, would that stop them being shocked to death? I am just trying to get my head around the problem now and see if there is a win-win solution. 100% no its not 1 or 2 persistent birds as problem birds 'disappear' as you say. Even the best pens with maximum ground cover has to have feed rides and sunny ares and thats where you'll find your kills. The spar' uses the feed rides to swoop in fast and kill. I see folk saying the buzzard is lazy, yes it is, but it doesn't need to do much in a pen full of inexperienced poults, it just drops on top of them in seconds. you should know mate the cure for all our problems is to just net the pens!!! :icon_redface: :D :D Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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