Howdy, friends.  I hope everyone is keeping it together, I know the news has been a lot lately.  Our bird this week was suggested by Art Cop Vandelay.  I’m writing it up at the circulation desk, but that still feels like less pressure than on an old laptop with no power cord.  

The European honey buzzard is relatively large, especially compared to the barbets we have been learning about.  It is 52–60-centimetre (20–24 in) long with a wingspan of 35–150-centimetre (53–59 in).  During the summer, it lives in most of Europe, almost as far north as the arctic circle, and southwest across Siberia to the borders of Khazakstan, Mongolia and China. During winter in the northern hemisphere, it migrates to sub-Saharan Africa.  It uses its ability to sense the Earth’s magnetic field, as well as large natural landmarks along the way.  Because it can’t soar over large bodies of water, it crosses the Mediterranean at geographic narrows like the Straits of Gibraltar and Messina, forming enormous flocks of as many as 125,000 individuals.

True to its name, the honey buzzard is a specialist at tearing apart and consuming the contents of the nests of wasps and bees.  It has long toes and long, straight claws, allowing it to pull the nests apart.  It also has dense, scale-like feathers on its head, particularly near its eyes, to protect it from stings.  I was able to find an academic abstract from 2016 with further details, including a unique “substance” found on the feathers which is thought to be a chemical defense against stings.  An excerpt follows:

“The small ‘scale feathers’ on the face had deep barbules with a curved, armor-like appearance, which may help prevent stings from reaching the skin. A unique filamentous substance was observed on all the honey buzzard feathers, particularly those from around the eye of a male bird. It is possible that this may be related to a chemical defense mechanism to deter bees and wasps.” 

There has also been at least one study on the efficacy of honey buzzards to attack and control the populations of the yellow-legged hornet, an Asian species which is invasive in Europe.  The presence of honey buzzards significantly impacted the number of worker hornets in a kilometer or so of a honey buzzard nest, but does not appear to impact the number of hornet nests.  Regardless, the authors recommend considering the honey buzzard an ally in controlling the invasive hornets.  The honey buzzard is intelligent enough to know that a bee or wasp will lead to a nest, and so will hold off on eating the first one it sees, waiting instead to be led by the unwitting insect to the real prize.  It is also clever enough to snip the stingers off of its prey before consuming it.  

The honey buzzard doesn’t feed on bees and wasps exclusively, and will occasionally eat small mammals, reptiles and birds.  I feel like long claws come in handy regardless of what one is rending in twain.    

Pairs will generally mate for life, and both work to build the nest and  incubate the eggs.  The eggs will hatch after 30-35 days, and the parents will feed their young for about three weeks before the fledglings are able to eat provided food on their own.  About six weeks after hatching, the young will take flight, but may still hang around the nest.  By the end of the summer, the young leave the nest for good and are ready to fly to Africa. 

The honey buzzard had a long history as a totem of infidelity, and killing one was considered a good luck charm to ward off a cheating spouse, I guess?  Its a whole thing.  Please enjoy this excerpt from an article I found by the Association of Avian Veterinarians.

“In addition to its role as a charm against infidelity, the “Adorno” was long associated with mystical symbolism in popular beliefs. Since it preys on bees, seen as symbols of purity and chastity (as they reproduce without mating), hunting this raptor symbolized a conquest over infidelity. In the medieval era, the falcon was also linked to seduction, surprise, and eroticism. Thus, the hunt for the “Adorno” became a ritual act to ward off fears and affirm one’s worth in the community, turning the raptor into a symbol of protection against the loss of honor.” 

As always, more info about this odd but deeply seated role of the honey vulture in European society can be found in the links.  

The European honey buzzard is considered as “of least concern” by the IUCN. It has a very large range, appears to have a high number of individuals, and no specific threats to its bee eatin’ ways is listed.

That does it for me this week, folks.  Be kind to yourselves and others, remember that rest is not a reward, you just get to do it. Have a good weekend, everyone. 

Links: https://tinyurl.com/3e45bnnf, https://tinyurl.com/bddm7y9u, https://tinyurl.com/4de8a5st, https://tinyurl.com/ykpecjn5, https://tinyurl.com/3djhdxcr, https://tinyurl.com/pm499jm2, https://tinyurl.com/cxnarbbx, https://tinyurl.com/264w3be7, https://tinyurl.com/3hrpcf45, https://tinyurl.com/528xe9yp