When Buzzards Choose Not to Feed

A common buzzard perched high above the feeding area, watching intently but choosing not to descend.

Initial Observations

Buzzards are large, capable birds, yet in practice they can be remarkably cautious. During a recent visit to a woodland hide, two birds regularly appeared high above the feeding area, perched or circling at an estimated distance of around fifty metres. They could clearly see the food below and would watch it intently for long periods. Their calls while circling were distinctive and persistent, signalling awareness rather than absence. Despite repeated passes and extended observation, neither bird chose to descend to feed.

From a photographic standpoint, this behaviour was neither surprising nor frustrating. It was measured, deliberate, and entirely consistent with birds assessing risk rather than opportunity. What was unfolding was not indecision, but evaluation.

Despite repeated passes and calling overhead, the birds remained cautious and kept their distance.

Awareness Without Commitment

The buzzards’ behaviour suggested they were fully engaged with the scene. They remained within view, returned repeatedly, and showed no signs of abandoning the area altogether. Their elevated vantage points allowed them to observe the feeding site while maintaining distance, a position of control that required no compromise on their part. Interpreting this behaviour as something to be corrected risks misunderstanding what is actually taking place.

The Question of the Hide

The hide owner understandably asked whether the structure itself might be too noticeable, or whether there were ways to encourage the buzzards to come down more frequently. These are common questions in managed wildlife settings, particularly when birds remain present but out of reach.

While reducing visibility or movement around a hide can sometimes help, in this case the birds’ behaviour suggested something more nuanced. They were not alarmed enough to leave, but neither were they sufficiently reassured to commit. This middle ground is often where the most difficult decisions are made, both by wildlife and by those observing it.

Adjusting Ourselves, Not the Birds

One possible adjustment discussed was to move feeding further away from the hide, placing it on the opposite side of the pond. The intention was not to draw the birds closer, but to increase their comfort by reducing perceived pressure. This would also allow other species to continue feeding in their usual locations without disturbance.

Rather than attempting to remove every trace of human presence, the aim was to shift the balance slightly back toward the birds’ terms. If they chose to feed, it would be because the environment felt acceptable to them, not because they had been enticed or conditioned into tolerance.

Distance as an Outcome, Not a Failure

The images made during this session reflect that distance. They show watchfulness rather than action, patience rather than spectacle. There are no dramatic descents or talons extended toward food, only birds assessing a situation and deciding, for now, to remain above it.

In wildlife photography, this kind of outcome is often overlooked in favour of moments that feel more conclusive. Yet there is value in recognising when restraint is the appropriate response. Accepting distance can be an acknowledgment of respect rather than a shortcoming.

The hide is privately managed, and the owner has outlined plans to develop and refine the site further in 2026. Discussions are ongoing, with any changes guided by an emphasis on reducing pressure and prioritising natural behaviour over proximity or frequency of encounters.

Looking Ahead

This experience reinforces the importance of patience and adjustment over intervention. Future visits will continue with careful observation, incremental changes, and an emphasis on reducing pressure rather than increasing temptation. The intention is to find, over time, a solution that may encourage the buzzards to come down to feed naturally, without forcing proximity or altering behaviour in ways that feel intrusive.

Whether that happens remains their decision.

More wildlife work shaped by this same observational approach can be found in the Wildlife section of the site.