Buzzard in Snow

Avibus – Birding for Trackers

Andreas Wenger, December 2020

Actually, I had planned a different topic to get started. However, one of my  tracker principles tells me:
“Watch  out for tracks and signs” – even in a broader sense. And another
“Be careful  with the gifts you receive.”   Therefore, I start like this …

It was one of those days that couldn’t be long enough. Finally, snow had fallen even in the lowlands, a tempting invitation to investigate so many questions that had accumulated over time. Like a book with glossywhite pages and densely filled with writing, nature was waiting for deciphering. Hurry was necessary, the “föhn- wall” was pushed up from the south and this warm wind was going to clear inexorably all the messages.

The goal for today were birds of prey. Among the bird tracks I have been collecting for years, this order is rather sparsely represented. Now there was a chance to fill this gap. Therefore, we made our way over the rolling hills to have an eye on raptors sitting on the ground. I instructed my wife beside me, “You have to spot the buzzards, then we’ll stop, look at the tracks, take the necessary photos – that’s what I expect from you!”

Her gaze expressed a mixture of emancipated resistance and benevolent compassion.
So we let ourselves drift across the landscape – not entirely unintentionally, not really open-minded to results. On a slight hill there was still enough snow and it also offered an opportunity to gain an overview. I stopped the car at the edge of the field, twenty meters below there was a dark spot. In fact, there sat a Common Buzzard, it flew up and we started the procedure. First, there was nothing to find, very little snow on the rough surface of the slope. Then a little success – an unclear icy track, definitely a buzzard but not exactly brilliant. Then Maria already shouted, “Come here.” And as a matter of fact this bird had given us a clear track as it sat on this patch of snow, changed position and flew up. Thank you very much!
A predicted Royal Flash counts twice.

Reading sample for free!

“Avibus” is a new format developed in cooperation with Dr. Andreas Wenger.
We want to present interesting and partly new findings on bird tracks and signs briefly and clearly.

Who can benefit from “Avibus – Birding for Trackers”?
Avibus is for everyone who is deeply interested in the tracks and signs of European birds. Previous knowledge does not harm, but is not a requirement. Even experienced bird watchers might find it attractive to read about often-neglected aspects of ornithology.

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