Latest news with #birdofprey
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Terrifying moment dive-bombing buzzard attacks woman in her dressing gown and slippers - as bird of prey's reign of terror forces primary school pupils inside at break times
This is the terrifying moment a buzzard swoops down and attacks a woman in her dressing gown and slippers, as the bird continues to terrorise a village. The bird has terrorised villagers in Havering-atte-Bower for months and has forced one local primary school to temporarily ban pupils from going outside during break time. The buzzard, nicknamed Brenda by local school children is believed to be part of a mating pair. Local resident and parent Louise Whittle, narrowly missed being injured by the buzzard, while in her dressing gown and slippers. Footage shows the moment a buzzard flies down from the roof of a nearby house, appearing to aim for the mum's head. She quickly ducks and manages to run away from the bird, which landed on a fence nearby. Louise said: 'It's absolutely bonkers that there is a buzzard attacking people.' Children at Dame Tipping Primary School have been forced to stay inside since Easter through fear of injury by the bird of prey, believed to be part of a mating pair. But, as buzzards are protected, the school says 'nothing which can be done' beyond the outdoor ban. Louise said the school has handled the issue 'brilliantly'. She added: 'The school have been absolutely fantastic in prioritising the children's safety and finding other alternatives for getting out. 'If anything, it's been a great learning experience for the children - they have learnt all about buzzards that they otherwise wouldn't have done.' However, Louise added that she is still concerned that 'the birds are being prioritised over the children' and said she is 'hopeful that they fly away so everyone can get back to normal'. Headteacher Stella McCarthy said the 'difficult decision' to keep the children inside was made after the birds became 'highly present' in the playground. She said: 'As a school, safeguarding and protecting children is of paramount importance.' The school has decided to use the situation as a learning experience for pupils, who have created posters promoting the protection of birds. Headteacher Ms McCarthy added: 'Luckily, as part of LIFE Education Trust, we have had excellent support enabling us to use the trust mini bus to regularly visit The Frances Bardsley Academy for Girls where our children have engaged in outdoor learning activities, PE lessons and visited the school's farm. 'We have also introduced additional indoor breaks with lots of engaging activities including traditional board games, cup stacking competitions and puzzles.' The bird also dive-bombed on local resident Nikki Dix, 37, as she took a walk in the park. Ms Dix said she was 'dead shocked' when the bird attacked her from behind and left scratches on her head. She said: 'I was scared, I was taken back by it. 'He was giving me an evil eye so then I carried on my journey for quite a while just swinging my bag above my head because I was just like 'hopefully this will deter him from coming to get me, because if he does try again to get me maybe he won't be so nice'. 'Nothing like that normally gets me so I'm a little bit on high alert at the moment, that's why I've stayed away from that area as well.' The school has been liaising with Havering Council and various bird organisations to find solutions to the issue. The council said its health and safety team has provided the school's trust with 'detailed advice' on legal deterrents and the hiring of a falconry expert. A Havering Council spokesperson said: 'The RSPCA has advised that the buzzard may be protecting its nest or chicks, which lines up with the information we have received. 'Buzzards are protected under UK law, therefore our intervention options are very limited, and we have advised that warning signs would be the easiest solution at this time. 'We completely understand how difficult and worrying this situation is for the school and local residents and we regret that there is not a quick or straightforward solution.
Free Malaysia Today
22-05-2025
- Science
- Free Malaysia Today
First confirmed nesting of elusive raptor recorded in Terengganu
An adult rufous-bellied eagle and its eaglet in Terengganu. (Anuar McAfee pic) PETALING JAYA : The first confirmed nesting in Malaysia of an elusive bird of prey was recorded in Terengganu earlier this year, a sight rarely documented even at the global level. The nest of the rufous-bellied eagle or Lophotriorchis kienerii, which typically inhabits mature hill and montane forests, was spotted by research fellow Anuar McAfee during a field trip in late February. Found primarily in Southeast Asia, the rufous-bellied eagle is considered 'near threatened' by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. McAfee, of Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA), said nesting records for the raptor were scarce even within its known range. An adult rufous-bellied eagle sighted in Terengganu. (Anuar McAfee pic) 'We know the species nests here, as the bird can be seen in our forests. Anuar McAfee. 'But no nest had been found before this. So that in itself is significant,' the author of 'Birds of Terengganu' told FMT. McAfee, a research fellow at UniSZA's East Coast Environmental Research Institute, said the discovery of the nest in Malaysia was especially valuable for conservation biology, biodiversity monitoring, and forest ecosystem assessment. He said it was also symbolically appropriate given the theme for this year's International Day for Biological Diversity, 'Harmony with Nature and Sustainable Development'. 'The presence of this eagle signals that our forests remain ecologically healthy and capable of supporting apex wildlife,' he said. 'To witness and confirm the nesting of such a special raptor in Malaysia is truly of great significance.'
BBC News
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Bedford visitor attraction searching for missing black kite again
A bird of prey who went missing and was found more than 100 miles (161km) away has flown from his home the black kite was chased from Herrings Green Activity Farm in Wilstead, near Bedford, on 10 April by other birds. He was later recovered by his trainer in Great Yarmouth, Saturday, the bird was taking part in a display at 14:30 BST when he flew so high his trainers lost sight of him. The farm has been pursuing several reported sightings but has not yet managed to locate the missing posted on Facebook: "We can't believe we are posting this but Tango has done it again!"Tango has been brilliant over the last few weeks but with this hot weather he just gained so much height."Black kites are slightly smaller than red kites with darker plumage and a more subtle fork in their can also be identified by his leather straps which should still be hanging from his Tuesday the attraction posted: "Please continue to keep your eyes open for him. We are hoping that he's not travelled as far as last time!" Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
16-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Thirsk Bird of Prey Centre owner's fears over electricity work
Work to replace electricity supply poles near a bird of prey centre could disrupt nesting birds during breeding season, its owner has Powergrid said it intended to replace two poles close to Thirsk Bird of Prey Centre in North Yorkshire next week, with the work expected to take several Badgery, who owns the centre, said as well as fearing that electricity engineers could disturb the birds at a vital time of year, he was also having to pay to hire a generator so the site could remain open.A spokesperson for Northern Powergrid said: "We have liaised with the customer to reassure that no works will take place directly over the aviary and provided appropriate advice." 'Cause distress' Mr Badgery explained: "The cables actually run over the top of our breeding pens, and bear in mind it's spring and it's the breeding season, so we've got breeding birds down there."One pair are Egyptian vultures, which are critically endangered, and there are only a few pairs within the UK as it is."So, our concern is that the wires would be dropped down onto the cages, as they've been done before, which can cause some distress."The centre also needed a generator to supply power to the tills, the cafe and the computer system, he said, but while he had asked Northern Powergrid to supply one, the company said it was his responsibility to pay for one. Mr Badgery said his concerns over the electricity work came at a time when bird flu restrictions were already affecting the business, meaning only certain birds could be used in the centre's falconry displays. "We've had to restrict ourselves to two displays a day, because the the current legislation is that if we lose sight of a bird for one minute, then we have to put them into two weeks' quarantine, which just isn't feasible. "We're only flying the birds we know we can keep within the boundaries of the arena or that we know are going to be tracked with the GPS so we know exactly where they are."The sight of people working nearby in hi-vis kit could also unsettle the birds, Mr Badgery said, though he added that the centre would still be open to visitors as normal. "We have asked the engineers if this work could be rescheduled after breeding season, however our request has been denied," he said. 'Appropriate advice' In a statement, a Northern Powergrid spokesperson said: "As part of our yearly maintenance and replacement of electricity poles, we have identified a need to carry out pole replacements next to the Thirsk Bird of Prey Centre."To safely perform this work, a power outage is planned between 9am and 2pm on 23 May and we estimate the works will be completed the same day. "We have liaised with the customer to reassure that no works will take place directly over the aviary and provided appropriate advice."The firm had "a statutory right to, on occasion, disconnect supplies to carry out work on our network", they added."Under these circumstances, Northern Powergrid is not obliged to provide business customers with generators."The spokesperson said the firm took its responsibilities "seriously" and worked hard "to deliver excellent service to all our customers"."However, whether planned or unplanned, power cuts do happen, and it is not possible to always guarantee a continuous electricity supply." Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
14-05-2025
- BBC News
Appeal after buzzard killed in North York Moors National Park
A buzzard has been shot and killed in the North York Moors National is thought the bird of prey was targeted near to Beck Hole Road, Goathland, on 2 May, according to North Yorkshire rural task force appealed for any witnesses or anyone who saw people acting suspiciously in the area at the time to contact and all other birds of prey are legally protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act, meaning to intentionally kill or injure one is a criminal offence. Anyone convicted of doing so could be at risk of receiving an unlimited fine or up to six months in jail, the force said. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
