Danger of buzzards in Maidstone, Kent

This is a message received from one of our RWAF members- as below.

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I have just been working in the garden in MAIDSTONE just south of the North Downs . I have been watching a pair of BUZZARDS circling high above. They will eat lots of things but rabbits are a favourite. Could you please advise all members to be very aware. According to my bird book they are steadily moving eastwards. Regards Dave Gomar

Buzzards oh no!

I think this is a little alarmist. Buzzards are mainly carrion feeders.

We have woods at the back of us which are filled with buzzards. I often see them circling high above. What they are doing is riding the thermals to get high to look for prey. It is true that they take rabbits, but to take a healthy adult rabbit is rare. They tend to look for sick, injured or young rabbits. This time of year there will be plenty of rabbits on the downs just coming out of their burrows.

In the five years that my rabbits have been loose during the day - along with other neighbours who keep rabbits - none of them have been in any danger from buzzards.