Wespendief Pernis apivorus broedt succesvol op kunstnest

Bazuin E. & Bos J. 2024. Successful breeding of Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus on artificial nest. De Takkeling 32: 109-114. Since at least 2016 a pair of Honey Buzzards has been present in the small wood of Noordlaarderbos in the province of Groningen, breeding successfully on a nest in Scots pine in 2017 and 2018 and in a pedunculate oak in 2019. Although present in 2020 breeding was not confirmed and the pine nest was lost during stormy weather in the winter of 2020/21. It was replaced by an artificial nest made of willow branches, with a diameter of some 75 cm. Honey Buzzards were present in 2021 and 2022 but apparently did not breed. On 17 April 2023 a camera was placed at the oak nest, and an adult male Honey Buzzard made its appearance on 6 May and subsequent days, when some greeneries were added. However, a visit on 12 May showed that the birds had shifted to the artificial nest in the Scots pine, where two nestlings were ringed on 17 July (and a camera installed). The nest had been substantially expanded with twigs and fresh greeneries. The last visit of a fledgling, as witnessed by trap camera, was on 27 August. This case study showed that artificial nests can be accepted, even several years after provisioning, as also evident from published sources elsewhere in The Netherlands and the rest of Europe.