JJ BIRDS OF PREY(3)

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BIRDS OF PREY

<NOTE desc="written vertically next to import">(sparrowhawk)</note>

by <name key="Jim Johnson">

AUGUST '96

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CONTENTS

TITLE	PAGE NO.
INTRODUCTION <gap desc="dot leaders">	1
KESTRELS <gap desc="dot leaders">	2-3
BUZZARDS <gap desc="dot leaders">	4-5
OWLS <gap desc="dot leaders">	6-9
BIBLIOGRAPHY <gap desc="dot leaders">	10

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INTRODUCTION

I have chosen to do my project on birds of prey because I like the way birds of prey hunt their food and we went on a school visit to Leighton Hall where there was a birds of prey exhibition, where a lady looked after quite a few species of rare birds of prey.

I am going to talk about the KESTREL and the COMMON BUZZARD and some types of OWLS.

I hope you enjoy this project and find out some interesting information.

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KESTRELS

The kestrel (falco tinnunculus) is a hunter like all birds of prey - they have sharp talons as can be seen on the diagram - these are used for catching their victims - such as small mammals and other birds. They often eat them whole or tear them up with their curved and pointed beaks. Kestrels are often around motorway areas, around villages and towns.

MALE Kestrels have blue <sic> a blue</sic> head and nape, reddish back and wings with dark spots and a blue tail.

FEMALE Kestrels have barred reddish brown upper side and it has black claws, the male has lighter claws.

The kestrel hovers at approximately 20-30 feet with its tail fanned out looking for its prey it often glides along before hovering.

There is a <reg>kestrel's</reg> nest in St <reg>Peter's</reg> Cathedral on St <reg>Peter's</reg> Road, my dad gave me this information, there is a kestrel nesting there every year.

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SOME FACTS ABOUT THE KESTREL

The length of the bird is approximately 13.5 inches (34.5) cms. The wings have different types of feathers, some are to help to reduce turbulence, some are light and stiff, some are packed closely together to give a smooth edge. they are all light so they can be flapped easily. The wings are broad and flat so they can push the air downwards and give lift for flight.

To hover as the kestrel does in mid air takes great control, and delicate balance, it often has to adjust its <sic>wingbeat</sic> to cope with even the slightest breeze.

The beak on the bird is strong and hooked as can be seen on the previous diagram.

The kestrel I saw at Leighton Hall had only been there for a few weeks, its name was midge and the lady had a leather pouch with a dead baby chicken attached to it, so midge flew to it, caught it and then ate it. She was iust starting to train it to do this, this was the starting point of <reg>midge's</reg> training at Leighton Hall.

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THE COMMON BUZZARD

The common Buzzard (buteo buteo) is spotted in wooded areas, in winter it can also be spotted on moors and in extensive open areas. In all seasons it can be seen on rocky coasts and hillsides. Buzzards vary greatly in colour from almost all white to black.

There are various types of buzzard including Rough Legged, Long Legged and the Honey Buzzard.

THE ROUGH LEGGED BUZZARD (Buteo lagopus)

This has black carpal patches, it has a black shield on its belly and a white tail. It is similar to the common buzzard but in flight looks heavier, it soars and often hovers.

LONG LEGGED BUZZARD (Buteo rufinus)

This is a fairly uncommon buzzard, it inhabits dry open plains. This buzzard has two colour phases, a more common light phase with a light coloured head, and a chocolate coloured phase which from a distance can look almost black. It is quite difficult to tell this bird from the common buzzard but it does have longer wings and a longer tail

HONEY BUZZARD (Pernis apivorous)

This bird tends to nest in open forests. Its plumage varies greatly from a chestnut brown colour to a creamy white, a brown colour with a grey head is most common in the Honey Buzzard.

This bird is not as sluggish in flight as the other buzzards, and it does not hover.

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Some facts about the Buzzard

most birds have broad rounded wings.

They have rounded tails which you can see when the bird is soaring. When the Buzzard is hunting for food it is most likely to hover. It hunts over low ground and drops on its prey.

It is approximately 20-22 inches (51-56cms) in length.

The buzzard <reg>disappeared</reg> in the last century from England and has not as yet made a full comeback.

The unlawful killing of the buzzard (as well as other birds of prey) is still rife and was partly to blame for the disappearance of the bird. The R.S.P.B. is totally opposed to bird of prey control in any shape or form, they say it is totally unnecessary.

Sadly the buzzard is one of the commonest victims of illegal <reg>poisoning</reg>.

A common animal which the buzzard hunts is the rabbit.

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OWLS

In the final part of my project I am going to tell you about the Barn Owl and the Short Eared Owl. During the summer holidays we had a family day out to Docker Park Farm where there were lots of farm animals. They have just started a collection of birds.

As you can see from the photograph below which I took they had a pair of barn owls.

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THE SHORT EARED OWL

The short eared owl (asio flammeus) is fairly common in open country, over plains, moors and marshes. Their ears are very short and are very hard to see. When or if you see one notice the amount of black on the facial disc. It has yellow eyes, a black patch near its bend of the underwing, and a large buffish area on the upper wing surface. Active even before dark, it quarters low over fields in irregular flight. Wings are tilted upwards like a <reg>harrier's</reg>. Occasionally in winter they are found in small groups. Usually their silent territory call is a fast series of "po" sounds, they also clap their wings in the air.

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THE BARN OWL

The barn owl (tyto alba) is common but local.You usually find <NOTE desc="word/s missing?"> in or around buildings or ruins. It is the only owl with a heart-shaped facial pattern. The West and European subspecies is dark breasted but still lighter than other owls except for the snowy owl. usually <reg>nocturnal</reg>, it hunts rats and mice in farmyards, <reg>marshes</reg> and fields. It has a peculiar <reg>habit</reg> of lowering its head and moving it back and forth. Does not hoot, but it has a soft wheezy cry and a shriek. At the nest it gives a toneless hiss, some people say it can be compared to a human snoring like my dad!

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SOME FACTS ABOUT BARN Owls

This owl is known as the <reg>farmer's</reg> friend because it catches rats and mice that live in barns and eat grain.

This owl is well known throughout the world.

The barn owl always forms pairs, probably for life and uses the same nest.

The rats and mice that it catches form about 70% of its diet.

Its most common nesting place is in barn lofts and churches.

Its feathers are a sort of creamy white colour.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

The Hamlyn guide to birds of Britain and Europe

Pocket Bird Guide (R.S.P.B)

Birds magazine (R.S.P.B.) monthly magazine.

The <reg>Children's</reg> Illustrated Encyclopedia (Dorling Kindersley)

Big Book of Nature (Maurice Burton)

The Hamlyn <reg>children's</reg> encyclopedia.

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