At this time of year, tens of thousands of European honey buzzards are heading south, to the wintering grounds in Africa. West European populations migrate over Spain and cross to Africa at the Strait of Gibraltar. Birds that breed further east reach Africa by flying over Turkey and across the narrow Bosphorus Strait which separates the Black Sea from the Sea of Marmara.

A smaller but substantial number fly south over Italy, Sicily and Malta from where they continue on their final leg to Africa.

The journey from Europe to Africa and back requires accurate navigational skills. Honey buzzards use the earth’s magnetic fields and geographical features to find their way.

Known in Maltese as kuċċarda, the bird migrates over the Maltese islands in spring and autumn. Most of the autumn migration takes place during September, usually reaching a peak during the third week. Smaller numbers can be seen in October.

Due to the nature of their migration, honey buzzards start arriving in the Maltese islands during late morning. They can be seen soaring and gaining height so as to be able to continue on their journey south. Those that arrive late in the day do not continue their journey over the sea and settle in large trees to roost, especially at Buskett Gardens, where birdwatchers have been monitoring their migration for many years.

Juvenile honey buzzards resemble buzzards, hence their English name, but they are related more to kites than to buzzards. It is believed that the resemblance is a form of mimicry known as ‘Batesian mimicry’. By resembling a buzzard, the young birds avoid attacks by the northern goshawk which has to think twice before attacking the stronger bird.

The honey buzzard lives in woodland. Most of the time it is difficult to spot it in its habitat except during spring when it is performs a spectacular courtship display above tree canopies or in forest clearings.

Its food consists mainly of the larvae and nest of wasps and hornets, although sometimes it adds small mammals, reptiles and even birds to its menu. To find its food it perches on a branch looking for wasps and hornets entering or exiting their nests and, when it finds one, it flies to the ground to digit up.

Digging up wasps’ nests exposes the honey buzzards to a very real danger. Wasps do not take the destruction of their nests lightly and no bird would survive a wasp attack unless it is well protected from them.

The honey buzzard has scale-like feathering on its head which protects it from wasp stings. It is also believed that its feathers have a chemical that protects them from such attacks.

portelli.paul@gmail.com

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