THE HONEY BUZZARD 



{PERNIS AP IVOR us) 



rpHE reason why we have not included the Honey 

 Buzzard in our account of extinct species is 

 because we believe that the bird still breeds within 

 our area. We fear, however, that there is little 

 hope for saving the bird from extinction. Its fate 

 rests solely on the protection of the one or two 

 pairs that still visit us in spring ; when these are 

 gone, the Honey Buzzard will become as extinct 

 in England as the Crane and the Spoonbill, and 

 with as little chance of its being restored. Of all 

 our indigenous birds of prey, the Honey Buzzard 

 seems to have suffered the most from the various 

 exterminating forces which have been operating 

 during the past century or so. There can be 

 doubt that this bird formerly bred in many parts 

 of the British Islands. Willughby tells us that in 

 his day it was by no means uncommon. The last 

 stronghold of the Honey Buzzard appears to be the 



