Kites V Buzzards (1 Viewer)

[Tobi]

Is there any evidence of competition between Kites and Buzzards

They have similar feeding habits, they have similar nesting requirements.

 

[Mouldy]

Hi Tobi,

speaking from an area where a Red Kite re-introduction scheme is taking place, (now in its' second year), the Kites have attracted Buzzards to a previously barren area with up to five having been recorded in the borough this year, and one adult is seen with the Kites almost daily. They interact with each other without any problem but strangely the local crows and jackdaws mob the Buzzard ceaselessly but the kites are more or less left alone.
As far as being competitors feeding-wise, the Kites are more likely to eat carrion, taking only small live prey, wheras the more powerful Buzzard regularly takes live prey up to the size of a rabbit and is not much of a carrion eater. That is my observation on the situation anyway.

Cheers :flyaway:

 

[IanF]

There does sem to be an association between them, more a Kites and Buzzards from what little I've seen. One spot I know in Teesdale has held wintering Buzzard for several years and hey presto the Northern Kites are released and one moves in straight away in the first year and now two more have joined the Buzzards.

When visiting a Kite feeding station in Cumbria in June this year, Buzzards were coming to feed with the Kites as well.

Maybe it's just the same habitat and similar feeding style and that as yet at least not enough numbers of either for competition to be an issue.

 

[Tobi]

Hi Tobi,

speaking from an area where a Red Kite re-introduction scheme is taking place, (now in its' second year), the Kites have attracted Buzzards to a previously barren area with up to five having been recorded in the borough this year, and one adult is seen with the Kites almost daily. They interact with each other without any problem but strangely the local crows and jackdaws mob the Buzzard ceaselessly but the kites are more or less left alone.

Have the Buzzards been attracted into the area due to the feeding of the released Kites?

I too have noticed this lack of interest from corvids when a kite is in the area.

Perhaps someone could offer a theroy as to why that should be.

 

[Mouldy]

Have the Buzzards been attracted into the area due to the feeding of the released Kites?

I too have noticed this lack of interest from corvids when a kite is in the area.

Perhaps someone could offer a theroy as to why that should be.

Not just Buzzards, the presence of the Kites has attracted a fair share of raptors, local Sparrowhawks and Kestrels are often seen interacting with them, Peregrine sightings have been on the up in their regular roost areas and a passage Osprey was noted with them earlier in the year.

They do occasionally get mobbed by the local corvids still, but at the local winter roost site they don't get a lot of attention, yet as soon as the Buzzard appears it is hounded out of the area. It does seem strange as I would have thought the Kites feeding habits would clash more with the corvids than the Buzzard, maybe Buzzards are considered more of a threat to the actual birds themselves.

 

[yanimal]

Kites v buzzards

They do occasionally get mobbed by the local corvids still, but at the local winter roost site they don't get a lot of attention, yet as soon as the Buzzard appears it is hounded out of the area. It does seem strange as I would have thought the Kites feeding habits would clash more with the corvids than the Buzzard, maybe Buzzards are considered more of a threat to the actual birds themselves.

The corvids round my way will mob Kite and Buzzard equally. The Kite will also try to harry a Buzzard - presumably because a Buzzard would take a Kite chick on the nest. I also see Buzzards eating carrion just as much as Kites and the the majority of food items brought back to the Kite nest are rats - way-to-go you Kites!

Mark

 

[Tobi]

How is it determined that rats feature so highly in the Kites diet

 

[yanimal]

How is it determined that rats feature so highly in the Kites diet

The rat's remains (mostly tails) were found when the Kite chicks were ringed and tagged.

 

[Tobi]

The rat's remains (mostly tails) were found when the Kite chicks were ringed and tagged.

OK

Thanks for that