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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.
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
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 The Goshawk, 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.
"This book provides a thorough review of the distribution, taxonomy, food, hunting behaviour, habitat use, breeding, dispersal, survival, population size and trends, and relationship with humans of the Common Buzzard Buteo buteo. [...] The book will appeal to a wide range of enthusiasts, from casual birdwatchers to ornithologists with a more scientific background, and is a welcome and timely update on the previous monograph on this species, published by Colin Tubbs in 1974."
– Innes Sim, Ibis 163(1), January 2021
"Based on many years of personal research, and a thorough knowledge of the European literature, the authors provide an eminently readable account of the biology of the Common Buzzard. Whatever your interests in birds, I can recommend this book for its content of information and insight."
– Professor Ian Newton OBE, FRS, FRSE
