Press Release: Regarding the jogger who claims to been attacked by a BoP
Falconry – Inscribed by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Mankind
Press Release
7 August 2017
This is the time of year when Common Buzzards have young fledging from the nest. The species has been a major recovery success story in recent years and they have expanded into Derbyshire and the east of England. It is not unusual for them to swoop at anyone passing unwittingly near their nest or one of their youngsters. They can show real aggression to dogs. Our advice is to keep away from Buzzard nesting areas for a while until fledging is over. They do not defend their nests or young at other times of year. Many species of birds of prey as well as gulls defend their young and so it is really a question of keeping an eye open, remaining aware of your surroundings and being sensible.
Harris Hawks, which are often confused with Common Buzzards, are the most popular hawk species trained in falconry in Britain. Occasionally they get lost but all responsible falconers use telemetry - radio tracking that enables the owner to recover the hawk. Anyone seeing a bird of prey suspected of being a lost trained bird should report it to the Independent Bird Register, (0161 790 5613), so that it can be recovered and returned to its owner.
Harris Hawks naturally occur in central and south America and do not cope well with cold and wet weather. Their natural range does not extend into temperate zones. In British winters they have to be kept in dry, sheltered accommodation and certainly do not do well out in the wild.