The Common Buzzard

About this book

Soaring majestically on its broad, raised wings, the Common Buzzard is a familiar sight for many people in Eurasia. Recently, this highly adaptable raptor has demonstrated an uncommon ability to reach high densities in western Europe, returning to old haunts to impress, inspire and connect people with nature. This new Poyser monograph brings together a wealth of research on the species’ origins, feeding and breeding behaviour, along with information on movement and survival from the authors’ own studies. It concludes by examining the conservation conundrums that such a successful predator raises in the modern world.

Contents

Preface

1 A Common Buzzard
2 Prey
3 Hunting
4 Habitat use
5 Territoriality and nest defence
6 Courtship and nesting
7 Incubating and chick-rearing
8 Dispersal and migration
9 Longevity and survival
10 Common Buzzard populations
11 Our relationship with the Common Buzzard

Appendix 1 Scientific names of species mentioned in the text
Appendix 2 References for figures with many sources
Appendix 3 Map of UK study sites and flightpaths
Appendix 4 Abbreviations

References
Index

Biography

Awed and inspired by wildlife, and especially raptors, both authors read Zoology at Oxford University before going on to track and carry out research on a variety of animals. Sean Walls has spent 30 years advising people on the best animal-tracking equipment and currently directs the Avian department for Lotek. Robert Kenward spent 40 years conducting fieldwork and writing books to inform and help ecologists, including A Manual for Wildlife Tagging and , with interludes for wider technology transfer. He now chairs groups for the IUCN and still enjoys work with raptors and engendering stakeholder-conservation networks for global and local cooperation.