Long-legged buzzard (Buteo rufinus). Photo: © Christoph Moning via e-bird https://ebird.org/species/lolbuz1
The winter has passed, and most of the raptors that wintered at Al Jahra have migrated. During the winter of 2021-22 we were able to deploy GPS tracking devices on more raptors, so that currently we are tracking six Greater Spotted Eagles, two Steppe Eagles, and two Long-legged Buzzards. All of those have embarked on their spring migration, and some have already reached breeding areas in Europe and Asia. In the next few posts, we'll catch up with what the tracked birds are doing.
In late March we captured two Long-legged Buzzards (Buteo rufinus), and fitted them with transmitters. Long-legged Buzzards are rather large buzzards with a very big distribution (See below). They are considered of Least-Concern in terms of conservation because of their wide distribution and large population size (See here). They feed on a variety of animals, including snakes, lizards, and small to medium sized mammals. You can read more about them here.
Distribution of Long-legged Buzzard. Yellow = Native Breeding, Dark Green = Native Resident, Light Green = Passage, Dark Blue = Native Non-breeding.
After wandering around a bit in Kuwait, both birds (8696 and 8697) recently started on migration. 8696 started proper migration on 12 April, and 8697 started on 6 April. See the maps below. As of today, both birds are in north-central Iran. Although both birds are currently within the breeding grounds, we'll have to wait to see where they eventually settle. In fact they might not settle, but could spend the summer living a rather nomadic lifestyle, moving from place to place in search of food. Of course if they do that, they will not hold a territory and will not breed.
Movements of a Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus, 8696) during 22 March - 15 April 2022. ©KEL and IAR.
Movements of a Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus, 8697) during 27 March - 15 April 2022. ©KEL and IAR.
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