Abstract
MR. ARTHUR BROOK has made a welcome addition to the “British Birds” Photographic Series; he deals skilfully with the buzzard at home, and gives us twelve fine pictures.1 During the last three or four years the buzzard has increased markedly in central Wales. It builds upon trees and in cliffs, or even amongst heather and rushes, and an inaccessible nest is the exception rather than the rule. The one studied by Mr. Brook was on a cliff, where with some difficulty a hiding-place was built for the observer. There were two young birds about a week old, and when observations began the nest contained several mice, one frog, one mole, half a dozen castings, and a quantity of fresh leaves FIG. s The hen buzzard alighting at the nest. From The Buzzard at Home. of the mountain ash. The cock did all the hunting, usually bringing his booty to the hen, who sat on a knoll near the nest. She carried the food to the young ones in her beak or talons. Occasionally the cock brought the food to the nest himself. The hen decorated the nest daily with fresh leaves, and she also brought tufts of mountain grass on which the young ones cleaned their beaks. One day the booty included four young wild ducks, about two days old, and one of these was swallowed whole. if food is scarce the stronger of the two young buzzards will kill its weaker companion. The observer saw the young birds practising flight and playing with the food. He captured one that flew off too soon, and replaced it in the nest, whence in the afternoon of the same day it took wing successfully. The buzzard is said to be a coward, but when the cock bird discovered Mr. Brook leaving the “hide” it showed great courage, making disconcerting swoops at a high velocity, and following him closely for quite two miles.
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The Romance of Bird Life. Nature 105, 746–747 (1920). https://doi.org/10.1038/105746a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/105746a0