A significant increase in poaching in the Italian region of Calabria. The increase in poaching this year is largely due to the drastic reduction (for lack of funds) in the NOA’s staff (the anti-poaching operative task force of the State’s Forestry Corps), by the authorities. This year, the NOA had only three patrols covering a migratory season of 25 days.

European Honey-buzzard

The European Honey Buzzard - Pernis apivorus – is a species closely related to kites. It is a summer migrant to most of Europe and western Asia, wintering in tropical Africa. It is seen in a wide range of habitats, but generally prefers woodland and exotic plantations.

Description

These raptors have at least ten distinct colour morphs. The ‘typical’ adult bird is grey-brown on the upperparts, with a grey crown and face, and a whitish throat with dark streaks. The underbody is most often white or cream, or occasionally pale rufous in colour, and usually has defined bars in cinnamon, rufous, brown or black. Some individuals may be less heavily barred, and instead have splotches, or spots, in black, brown, or rufous. The tail is usually greyish or pale brown, with a creamy-white tip and contrasting dark bands. The male has a blue-grey head, while the female's head is brown. The female is slightly larger and darker than the male.

Food

It is a specialist feeder, living mainly on the larvae and nests of wasps, bees and hornets, although it will take small mammals, reptiles and birds. It is thought that Honey Buzzards have a chemical deterrent in their feathers that protects them from wasp attack.

Breeding

It breeds from Scandinavia and western Siberia to the Mediterranean in woodland and is inconspicuous except in the spring, when the mating display includes wing-clapping. Breeding males are fiercely territorial. Breeding occurs from mid-June onwards, and is timed to correspond with peaks in abundance of bees and wasps. The nest built by the female. A clutch of between one and three eggs are laid. The male and female take turns to incubate the eggs for 30 to 35 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge at 40 to 44 days.

Conservation Status – Least concern

Not threatened, although it is severely persecuted when it passes over the Mediterranean in its migration.

Birdwatching

Ask Aves Birding Tours/Safaris/Adventures to create a tour for you to see these raptors.