In 1992, the first nest of a Honey-buzzard in the dunes between Camperduin and Wijk aan Zee (7189 ha) was detected. Since then, 20 successful nests were discovered: two in 1992-2002 and 18 in 2003-13. Juvenile Honey-buzzards were observed ten times prior to 1 September, without a nest being detected: eight times in 1992-2002 and two times in 2003-13. It is assumed that these juveniles represented successful breeding attempts in the study area. In 1992-2002, members of the local raptor working group - founded in 1994 - probably searched less intensively for nests of Honey-buzzards, whereas in 2003-2013, juvenile Honey-buzzards observed before the end of August were perhaps incorrectly attributed to a nest already known. The number of successful nests of the Honey-buzzard in the six subregions of the ‘Noord-Kennemerlands Duin’ correlated almost perfectly (r=.96) with the respective surface areas of coniferous forest (altogether: 1505 ha in 1990). The number of juveniles with no nest, observed before 1 September, correlated less well with the surface area of coniferous forest (r=.51). The colonization of the dunes by, and the subsequent increase of, the local Honey-buzzard population runs parallel to the planting of most of the coniferous forest in the 1930s and its subsequent ageing.

De Takkeling

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Werkgroep Roofvogels Nederland

J. Vroege. (2014). De Wespendief Pernis apivorus als broedvogel in de duinen tussen Camperduin en Wijk aan Zee: aanvullingen en herzieningen. De Takkeling, 22(3), 189–199.