Manx BirdLife Buzzard Citizen Science Project
The common Buzzard is a medium sized bird of prey often seen perched by the side of the road. A recent addition to the Manx Avifauna, the first brood of chicks were hatched on the Northern Plain in 2010. Since then, the population has increased dramatically across the Island, particularly in 2017 when there was a large influx of birds from the UK. However, despite this increase, knowledge regarding the species' current distribution and numbers is limited.
Their versatility is a huge part of their success. The buzzard is now the most numerous bird of prey across the UK but this wasn’t always the case. Due to persecution and the impact of pesticides, buzzards were lost from many areas but the population has quadrupled since the 1970s.Buzzards are impressive hunters with a very variable diet. Generally they feed on small mammals and rabbits but will also feed on carrion, earthworms and even small birds. They will nest in a variety of habitats, usually in trees but buzzards have also be recorded nesting on crags, sand dunes and even top of an old ruined building.
The Buzzard is amber listed in the Isle of Man Birds of Conservation Concern.
Manx BirdLife would like to engage with nature enthusiasts across the Island to help identify and report buzzard sightings to help establish a clearer understanding of the buzzard population on the Island.
Why are we doing this?
In order to be able to fully protect our amazing wildlife, we need to understand what we have, where it is and what it is doing. Understanding the population of any species is an important part of conserving the wild birds and their habitats in the Isle of Man.
Sadly, resources are limited for surveys such as this one, so Manx BirdLife would like to recruit the people of the Isle of Man to help record buzzard sightings in 2025. By participating, volunteers can help increase our capacity, be our eyes across the Island and make a real contribution to conservation on the Isle of Man.
Our Aims
The Project aims are:
- To establish the number of breeding pairs of common buzzards on the Isle of Man.
- To identify key breeding habitats across the island, including inland and coastal areas.
- To engage the local community in citizen science, fostering a sense of involvement in wildlife conservation.
- To contribute to the broader understanding of the species’ distribution and behaviour.
How can I get involved?
If you can inform us of your participation and location of survey then we can hopefully prevent any duplication, although as this is a passive survey the birds will not be impacted by multiple people watching the same site.
If you regularly see buzzards, we ask you use our specially prepared recording sheet which can be sent to you, just fill it in and submit it at the end of the summer or if your sightings are more adhoc, just drop us an email and let us know where the buzzards were, when you saw them and what they were doing. The more accurate your location information is, the better and don’t forget to include photos, we would love to see them!
You can also use the Manx BirdLife sightings system to record your buzzard sightings as well as sightings of other birds.
Email enquiries@manxbirdlife.im for more information or to request a recording sheet.
What should I be recording?
We are looking to identify breeding locations across the whole of the Island, including inland and coastal cliffs/crags as tree nests.
We require people to report the following:
- pairs of buzzards circling/displaying and/or calling over suitable nesting sites
- buzzards seen carrying nesting material suitable nest sites
- buzzards actively using a nest site, if determinable from a distance
- recently fledged buzzards taking to the wing
(Please note, under the Wildlife Act 1990, all birds and their nests are protected and cannot be killed injured or taken. Buzzards are listed on Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Act and are therefore afforded additional protection for the birds and their dependant young at or near their nests.)
What will happen to the data submitted?
At the end of the summer, the data will be collated by experienced surveyors and, where possible, different buzzard territories will be identified.
We will share the results (but not details of nest sites) through our website, social media and newsletters as well as sharing the information with other interested organizations.
All of the data will be entered onto the Manx National Ornithological Database, making it available for conservationists to carry out further studies to continue to expand our knowledge about the common buzzard, their distribution and their interactions with other species on the Island.
Want to do more?
You can also submit sightings of other species to Manx BirdLife such as Swifts, Barn Owls or Tree Sparrows through the sightings system on the Manx BirdLife website (Submit your sightings - Manx BirdLife) or take part in the Manx BirdLife Garden Birdwatch Scheme (Garden Birdwatch - Manx BirdLife). All of your records contribute to the conservation of wild birds and their habitats across the Isle of Man.
The Manx BirdLife Buzzard Citizen Science Project 2025 offers a unique opportunity for the residents of the Isle of Man to contribute to wildlife conservation efforts and gain a deeper understanding of the island’s bird species. By working together, we can build a comprehensive picture of the common buzzard population and ensure its continued protection for generations to come.
