This summer, we are asking the residents of the Island to collaborate with us on a brand new citizen science initiative to help establish just how many pairs of breeding buzzard now call the Isle of Man home.
The common Buzzard is a fairly recent addition to the Manx Avifauna, with the first brood of chicks hatching in the North of the Island in 2010. Since then, the population has increased dramatically, particularly in 2017 when there was a large influx of birds from the UK but our information, so far, is limited. Until now, no survey has been conducted to determine just how many breeding pairs there are or just how widespread across the Island.
So, to remedy this, we are asking people to start sending us their sightings of buzzards, in particular we are looking to record specific behaviours which may indicate breeding.
So we are asking people to report the following:
- pairs of buzzards circling/displaying and/or calling over suitable nesting sites
A newly hatched buzzard chick in the nest (James Leonard) - buzzards seen carrying nesting material suitable nest sites
- buzzards actively using a nest site (if determinable from a distance)
(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.)
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 ad hoc, just drop us an email to enquiries@manxbrdlife.im 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!
