Birds of prey of the Aurunci Mountains

The Common Buzzard (buteo buteo), is one of the largest, most attractive and common bird of prey on the Aurunci Mountains.The Buzzard prefers the areas of the park with wooded hillsides and therefore its easier to spot some in the northern side of the park. It is a real nature show to have the privilege of observing the buzzards while hunting. Its plumage is an intense brown, with lighter markings beneath even the local variety in southern Italy are slightly paler on average.

Excellent flyer, the buzzard is a bird that glides to and from at a remarkable height. It is a slow flier, and has little chance of catching its prey on the move. The usual tactics which it adopts is to perch motionless on a branch of a large tree, its markings being excellent camouflage, rendering it almost invisible.

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It is a patient bird, quite content to sit for hours at a time until a young rabbit, a rat or a mouse chances to pass beneath it. Then it will swoop down on to its unsuspecting prey. Its presence in the park is important. In fact, being a birds which prefers well wood areas and Fortunately and feeding on a great variety of preys (rabbits, snakes and many small rodents, its presence means that the environment still present a good natural balance and that nature is still surviving well somehow.

When buzzards are on the increase (as is happening recently) it means that the rabbit and rodents population re-established itself to natural levels. Here on the Aurunci it has only one natural enemy and competitor: the beautiful Black Raven (Corvus corax).

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Territorial disputes are not uncommon between Ranvens and Buzzards. Although the Buzzard is a strong bird the size of the Raven, the world’d largest crow, is almost equal. The battle between a raven and a buzzard occurs sometimes during the early part of the breeding season when territorial rights are being disputed. This aerial spectacular combat may last for an hour or more. More often is the raven who emerges as winner. Its faster flight and razor-sharp beak are no match for the more laid-back counter-attacks of the large hawk.

These and other special nature encounters await to be enjoyed by patient birdwatchers on the Aurunci Mountains. As the night unfolds and the mountains shadows get longer new creatures are ready to start their night….ops! their day we mean. The dusk has arrived. Long-heared Owl hunt mainly from late dusk to just before dawn, flying low to the ground, usually 1 to 2 meters (3 to 7 feet)), with the head slightly turned to one side listening for prey. The Long-eared Owl is a medium-sized that here on the Aurunci prefer the woodland to the more urbanised countryside. They are easily recognisable by their prominent ear tufts that appear in the middle of the head and are usually held erect. Plumage is brown and buff, with heavy mottling and barring over most of the body.

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Male plumage tends to be lighter than females. The eyes are golden yellow, facial disk paler. As nocturnal bird they are buoyant fliers, appearing to glide without a sound even when their wings are flapping. They are very manoeuvrable and can fly through rather dense woodland. Their flight is moth-like, often hovering and fluttering while looking for prey. When prey is spotted, the Owl pounces immediately, pinning the prey to the ground with its powerful talons. Larger prey is carried in the talons while smaller prey is usually swallowed immediately, or carried away in the bill.

They nest rarely in rock crevices, tree cavities, or on open ground. Long-eared Owls nest almost exclusively in the park’s old stick nests of crows, magpies, ravens, hawks, or herons. Nests are often screened by shrubbery or branches and are normally 5 to 10 meters (16 to 33 feet) above ground, almost always located in wooded sites. Even though is only a middle-size bird Long-eared owls have an extraordinary nest defence display. When intruders are close to the nest the female spreads her wings out widely facing the intruder, and lowering her head flares her flight feathers. With this trick-display she appear 2 to 3 times as large as she really is. Eventually they may use a distraction near nests, where pretends to feign injury by flopping away from the nest on the ground making various noises. As last resource Long eared owls may occasionally attack fiercely, aiming the talons at the face and throat of the intruder.

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