Could a buzzard take a cat?
Discussion
Bluerain33 said:
Actually you are very wrong... I have rescued a buzzard before and you couldn't comprehend how huge they truly are not to mention the length of their talons ... yes they will take a cat given the opportunity... I have just been watching 2 of them come very close to my home ... they were watching my 3 cats very carefully... please don't assume your cats are safe in the presence of a buzzard... always be safe not sorry
They were not watching your cats as potential prey. They were wary of the threat.I have a 'pet' buzzard who frequents our garden daily, our cat isn't bothered and the buzzard flies away if he gets too close.
Crappy phone pic
Bluerain33 said:
Disastrous said:
Take as in take them away somewhere? No chance. Buzzards aren't big enough and know that cats aren't their prey.
Maybe a defenseless kitten or a sick old cat but I'd not mess with a healthy cat if I was a buzzard.
Actually you are very wrong... I have rescued a buzzard before and you couldn't comprehend how huge they truly are not to mention the length of their talons ... yes they will take a cat given the opportunity... I have just been watching 2 of them come very close to my home ... they were watching my 3 cats very carefully... please don't assume your cats are safe in the presence of a buzzard... always be safe not sorry Maybe a defenseless kitten or a sick old cat but I'd not mess with a healthy cat if I was a buzzard.
As a reasonable counterpoint --
I live in Sevenoaks, Kent, and as Red Kites are now seen soaring gracefully over the M40, buzzards are soaring over the Kent sector of the M25 and M26 and A21. They tend to be very high indeed but sometimes, if lucky, you can see them low and see how good they are at riding the current wind conditions.
Buzzards are enlarging their influence which is to be rejoiced
One can only hope Bill Oddie takes you out
You probably won't get that joke ....
I had to (gingerly) release this juvenile golden eagle which had gone for one of my hens. Well and truly stuck between rylock and trees. It, and the hen are both fine. My old bedlington terrier likes to lie out on the croft for a snooze. He has been warned that he might become a sky burial if he doesn’t watch out! 
Rosedene said:
I had to (gingerly) release this juvenile golden eagle which had gone for one of my hens. Well and truly stuck between rylock and trees. It, and the hen are both fine. My old bedlington terrier likes to lie out on the croft for a snooze. He has been warned that he might become a sky burial if he doesn’t watch out!
Awesome, that's an amazing bird to get close to. Well done on releasing It, I hope it has a long life eating people's dogs and cats.Rosedene said:
I had to (gingerly) release this juvenile golden eagle which had gone for one of my hens. Well and truly stuck between rylock and trees. It, and the hen are both fine. My old bedlington terrier likes to lie out on the croft for a snooze. He has been warned that he might become a sky burial if he doesn’t watch out!
Superb you must in in the Highlands or Islands to have one of those around. Although they’ve just released 6 on the isle of wight down here on the south coast...
HarryW said:
Superb you must in in the Highlands or Islands to have one of those around.
Although they’ve just released 6 on the isle of wight down here on the south coast...
I hate to be pedantic but the isle of wight birds are white tailed sea eagles not golden eagles. Would have been awesome to have some juvenile goldens released in England but then again they would probably just get blasted out of the sky like other birds of prey like hen harriers I suppose....Although they’ve just released 6 on the isle of wight down here on the south coast...
HarryW said:
Superb you must in in the Highlands or Islands to have one of those around.
Although they’ve just released 6 on the isle of wight down here on the south coast...
Isle of Harris. He still flys over most days, but seems to have learnt his lesson re the fence. We are lucky to have both goldies and sea eagles here, and see them regularly. Luckily no cats or dogs have been scoffed...yet.Although they’ve just released 6 on the isle of wight down here on the south coast...
Rosedene said:
HarryW said:
Superb you must in in the Highlands or Islands to have one of those around.
Although they’ve just released 6 on the isle of wight down here on the south coast...
Isle of Harris. He still flys over most days, but seems to have learnt his lesson re the fence. We are lucky to have both goldies and sea eagles here, and see them regularly. Luckily no cats or dogs have been scoffed...yet.Although they’ve just released 6 on the isle of wight down here on the south coast...
isaldiri said:
HarryW said:
Superb you must in in the Highlands or Islands to have one of those around.
Although they’ve just released 6 on the isle of wight down here on the south coast...
I hate to be pedantic but the isle of wight birds are white tailed sea eagles not golden eagles. Would have been awesome to have some juvenile goldens released in England but then again they would probably just get blasted out of the sky like other birds of prey like hen harriers I suppose....Although they’ve just released 6 on the isle of wight down here on the south coast...
HarryW said:
Wasn’t sure if they were golden or white tailed eagles. white tailed are bigger I think? Apparently one absconded, flew in land around London to Essex, then flew back to the Isle of Wight. Who would have thought captive breed eagles would fly back to their release site, bodes well for the future.
Yep that was quite fascinating following the satellite track of that particular bird that took a loop around to London/Essex then back. Was a bit gummed I missed seeing it flying right over central London I have to admit!. And yes sea eagles are bigger and heavier than golden eagles but much less agile fliers. no real reason why they wouldn't thrive in the south coast area of england too so would be good to see some of them stick around.Bluerain33 said:
Disastrous said:
Take as in take them away somewhere? No chance. Buzzards aren't big enough and know that cats aren't their prey.
Maybe a defenseless kitten or a sick old cat but I'd not mess with a healthy cat if I was a buzzard.
Actually you are very wrong... I have rescued a buzzard before and you couldn't comprehend how huge they truly are not to mention the length of their talons ... yes they will take a cat given the opportunity... I have just been watching 2 of them come very close to my home ... they were watching my 3 cats very carefully... please don't assume your cats are safe in the presence of a buzzard... always be safe not sorry Maybe a defenseless kitten or a sick old cat but I'd not mess with a healthy cat if I was a buzzard.
Our 4 kilo female cat goes out hunting in the field behind the house every day, with Buzzards and Red Kites being frequent visitors due to all the rabbits. No chance will they try and take her on, even with her being relatively small.
My old cat (badass, called Daisy) lived at my parents. We hardly ever had to feed her, she’d catch her own rabbits. In more than one occasion she’d murder a pheasant. She even used to kill stoats and weasels, which apparently can kill cats. We weren’t particularly happy about her murder spree and did our best to release things before anyone chips in.
One day a buzzard flew into the french windows, stunning (but not killing) itself. Cue Daisy charging out thinking she can have a quick snack. Quite visibly she looked at the birds beak and talons and reversed...
Her brother (Foggy) got run over by a (small) tractor in a (muddy) yard. He lay there for a sec, then got up, gave the tractor a dirty look, and wandered off. He was x-rayed afterwards, not a bone broken. Miss them both, they loved humans but were the special services of cats!
One day a buzzard flew into the french windows, stunning (but not killing) itself. Cue Daisy charging out thinking she can have a quick snack. Quite visibly she looked at the birds beak and talons and reversed...
Her brother (Foggy) got run over by a (small) tractor in a (muddy) yard. He lay there for a sec, then got up, gave the tractor a dirty look, and wandered off. He was x-rayed afterwards, not a bone broken. Miss them both, they loved humans but were the special services of cats!
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