Encouraging buzzards into the garden

[thinfourth2]

We live miles from anywhere and have two small forests either side of us which have loads of buzzards in.

What would be the best way to tempt them into the garden so we can see more of them.

The other half suggested a bird table with some bird food on it.

Would this work?

And no she didn't think the buzzard would be eating peanuts

[Kays vRS]

It might work, though buzzards are more likely to take birds from the ground than a bird table, so putting food on the ground might be a better idea. Buzzards will also need a fairly open area to land / take off from so if it's a small enclosed garden they might not land.
Another thing you could try is to get a pole (like a tall fence post) and situate it somewhere they could land and use as a vantage point. They land on posts right next to roads so it needn't be really distant form your house if you want good views.
The thing with encouraging raptors into your garden though is you are likley to get fewer songbirds visiting/nesting, so if you like watching those aswell it might be better to take a wander out to the edge of the forest and watch them there instead.
HTH

[mcelliott]

thinfourth2 said:

We live miles from anywhere and have two small forests either side of us which have loads of buzzards in.

What would be the best way to tempt them into the garden so we can see more of them.

The other half suggested a bird table with some bird food on it.

Would this work?

And no she didn't think the buzzard would be eating peanuts

If your garden is smaller than a couple of acres forget it. As stated, they like a large expanse. Failing that, you could always scrape up a few road kills and leave them on your lawn, as I think a common buzzard is quite a big carrion eater.

[tenex]

mcelliott said:

If your garden is smaller than a couple of acres forget it. As stated, they like a large expanse. Failing that, you could always scrape up a few road kills and leave them on your lawn, as I think a common buzzard is quite a big carrion eater.

Good advice. Rabbits in particular. I've got one here that will come to a telephone pole about 100 meters from the house and take a rabbit at about 50 meters. It won't come closer. This is only when there's snow on the ground. At this time of year their main diet is worms. They don't generally go for songbirds but can devastate any ground nesting bird populations with alacrity

Edited by tenex on Sunday 31st October 15:59

[goldblum]

It would have to be a HUGE bird table.There's lots of raptors around here (Peak District) and the Buzzards grow to be very large.

As the previous poster has said,they like carrion and are often spotted on country lanes having a 'snack'.Next time you see some

roadkill whip out the gloves and stick it in a bag.Probably rabbit's the best.

[thinfourth2]

Problem with road kill is it would quickly come into the house in the mouth of one of the dogs

A giant bird table with dead things on it might work

We do have 2 acres so loads of room

[goldblum]

OK then how about something like an old,large kitchen table.Quite high and four legs.High enough so the dogs can't get on it.

If they can then raise it on bricks or run some simple fencing around it.Top needs to be non slip so get some old carpet,fake turf etc

and nail it to the top.Place food on top and wait...

Or get a fence panel,cover as mentioned and place within branches of nearby tree,like a treehouse floor,and birds can feed off that.

[tenex]

Also wire whole rabbit to said table.
The first thing they'll try and do is fly away with the "bait" and usually drop it very quickly. Dog scoff.

You can chop it up later once they are used to coming to the table.

[parakitaMol.]

You need to ask Blindswelledrat - or, refer to the 'Feeding Red Kites' threads.

[Lordcalder7]

Hi,I have a regular buzzard visit each day,I do leave out the odd mice the cat brings back,but as long as there is somewhere for the bird to perch there likely to land,they are very wary and seemed to hear me taking pictures everytime,must put it on silent.

[BrundanBianchi]

I love B.O.P. If I can encourage them into my garden, I gladly will. Fortunately there’s lots of rabbits / rats etc. around, that attract them

Edited by BrundanBianchi on Friday 18th December 18:31

[Evanivitch]

I'd probably start by laying a few rat/mouse traps around and then place the kill somewhere out of the way of cats and dogs. Your neighbours might think it's a bit odd, but mutter a pagan curse and it should keep environmental health away.

ETA Depending how close to the coast you live, you might just attract guls.

[rxe]

We have kites and buzzards, and the bird table regularly looks like a slaughterhouse. We regularly have kites at the table - they start off swooping, but eventually get confident enough to sit. We once had 2 kites on the same table. I’ve never, ever seen a buzzard come to the table. Kites eat dead stuff, buzzards catch live stuff. I suppose if they were desperate in the winter they might come in, but clearly round our way, they’re not desperate.

[dlks151]

We’ve had them nesting in the plantation next to us for at least 20yrs, and despite there being about 100m between us the closest I’ve seen them is on an H pole about 60m away, I’ve yet to see one on the ground between us. Ours are the most elusive of creatures.