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The Hawk Conservancy Trust
Charity No: 1092349 - Company No: 4304161
Sarson Lane, Weyhill, Andover, Hampshire. SP11 8DY, UK
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Rare UK visitor is rescued from the Solent

Falconer Kim Kirkbride holding the Honey Buzzard, with Amy Lester

Left: Kim Kirkbride, Falconer, Hawk Conservancy Trust
Right: Amy Lester, rescuer of the Honey Buzzard

A Honey Buzzard, rare to the UK, was found floating in the Solent and saved in a dramatic rescue by a couple in an inflatable dingy. It is thought that the bird had become exhausted on its migratory route to Britain from its winter home in Africa.

Amy Lester and her fiancé Richard Fawson saw the bird floating in the sea and, even though they were in a busy shipping lane, knew that they had to rescue it. Amy said ‘We were worried that being a wild bird of prey it would struggle and burst the dingy but I really couldn’t leave it to die. The Isle of Wight ferry was bearing down on us and it was quite a scary experience. In the end I just scooped the bird up in my hands and it was too exhausted to struggle.’

Amy took the bird to her father who is an experienced birds of prey handler. Tim Lester runs NBC Bird and Pest Solutions, which uses specially trained hawks and falcons to disperse and deter nuisance bird populations. He said ‘As soon as I identified the bird as a Honey Buzzard I realised that it would need professional care, as these birds have a specialised diet, and that’s when I called the Hawk Conservancy Trust.’

The Hawk Conservancy Trust has a specialist birds of prey hospital in its visitor centre, at Andover, Hampshire, where it’s staff were able to treat the Honey Buzzard, which was believed to have lost approximately two-thirds of its body weight.

Chief Executive of the Hawk Conservancy Trust, Ashley Smith, said ‘This Honey Buzzard has been incredibly lucky, firstly to have been spotted at all in the Solent but then to have been found by such a knowledgeable family. Their quick reactions undoubtedly made a big difference to its survival chances. We were able to place the Honey Buzzard in a special recovery aviary at our hospital and were encouraged as it began eating virtually straight away. Our staff at the Trust, particularly Kim Kirkbride who cared for the bird, have been absolutely marvellous.’

Kim with BBC Springwatch's Gordon Buchanan

Kim with BBC Springwatch's Gordon Buchanan
Falconer Kim Kirkbride holding the Honey Buzzard, with Amy Lester

Kim is interviewed by Gordon

The bird was kept at the Hawk Conservancy Trust where it received treatment until it had gained enough weight to be able to be released back into the wild.

The story of the honey buzzard was featured on the BBC Springwatch programme on Wednesday 10th June. Presenter Gordon Buchanan talked with hospital manager Kim Kirkbride about how the bird was found and its subsequent care at the Trust.

The Honey Buzzard was successfully released at a secret location on Wednesday 10th June by Hawk Conservancy Trust staff.

Kim with BBC Springwatch's Gordon Buchanan

Kim releases the Honey Buzzard
Click on the image to play a short video clip (load size 1 megabyte)

The Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus), sometimes known as the "pern", is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, eagles and harriers.

Despite its name, this species is not related to the true buzzards in the genus Buteo, and is closer to the kites.

It is a summer migrant to most of Europe and western Asia, wintering in tropical Africa. It is a specialist feeder, living mainly on the larvae and nests of wasps and hornets, although it will take other small prey. It is thought that honey buzzards have a chemical deterrent in their feathers that protects them from wasp attack. The specific name apivorus means "bee-eater", although bees are much less important than wasps in its diet.

The Honey Buzzard breeds in woodland, and is inconspicuous except in the spring, when the mating display includes wing-clapping. Breeding males are fiercely territorial.

The 52-60 cm long Honey Buzzard is larger and longer winged (with a 135-150 cm wingspan) than the Common Buzzard Buteo buteo. It appears longer necked with a small head, and soars on flat wings. It has a longer tail, which has fewer bars than the Buteo buzzard, usually with two narrow dark bars and a broad dark sub-terminal bar.

The sexes can be distinguished on plumage, which is unusual for a large bird of prey. The male has a blue-grey head, while the female's head is brown. The female is slightly larger and darker than the male.

Being a long distance migrant, the Honey Buzzard relies on magnetic orientation to find its way south, as well as a visual memory of remarkable geographical features along the way (Mountain ranges, rivers etc...). This species follows precise migratory routes that avoid large expanses of water over which it cannot soar. Accordingly, great numbers of Honey Buzzards can be seen crossing the Mediterranean sea over its narrowest stretches, such as the Gibraltar Strait, the Bosphorus, or in Israel. The call is a clear peee-lu.

(source Wikipedia).