Angry breeding buzzards attack people in the Netherlands

[Palinurus]

Source: http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2017/05/dutch-wood-closed-to-public-after-buzzard-attacks/

Dutch wood closed to public after buzzard attacks

May 31, 2017

A regional park organization in Zuid-Holland has closed a popular wooded area near Lisse to the public because several people have been attacked by buzzards.

The Keukenhofbosch, close to the popular tulip park, is home to a breeding pair and several people have been left with bloody injuries, a forestry worker from Het Zuid-Hollands Landschap told news agency ANP [in Dutch].

Reports about the buzzards’ aggressive behavior were first recorded several weeks ago. ‘They attack people who come too close or enter their territory,’ the spokesman said. ‘Sometimes they pretend to attack but some people have actually been pecked, resulting in nasty head wounds.’

The young buzzards will likely leave the nest within six weeks or so, and then the wood can be reopened to the public.

The Lisse buzzards are not the only ones causing problems this breeding season. In Drenthe, cyclist Theo Rook told broadcaster NOS [video in Dutch] he had been attacked by a buzzard four times within a week while out cycling.

He recorded one of the attacks with a mini camera mounted on his helmet.

Source: http://nltimes.nl/2017/05/31/angry-buzzard-terrorizing-drenthe-cyclist

Angry buzzard terrorizing Drenthe cyclist

By Janene Pieters on May 31, 2017 - 12:45

A buzzard living in Drenthe seems to have taken a disliking to a certain cyclist. Theo Rook from Westerbork was attacked by the bird of prey four times last week. The attacks always happen in about the same spot on his cycling route from Westerbork to Emmen, RTV Drenthe reports [in Dutch; with video].

The first attack happened last week Monday. Rook felt something on his head while cycling between Orvelte and Wezup. He initially thought a branch had fallen on his head, but when the same thing happened that evening, he quickly looked up and saw a bird flying away. The next morning it happened again. "And then I looked a giant bird right in the eyes", he said to the broadcaster. "Truly a whopper." The fourth attack happened this morning.

Falconer Jan de Vries calls the attacks remarkable. "Usually the fear of man is so great that the bird wouldn't dare. But this bird seems to have the courage to chase away man too." he said to RTV Drenthe. "The intruder, in this case a human, is too big to tackle completely, so he deals out a fierce tap with his sharp nails. That is quite something, to be tapped by a bird of prey." Some birds of prey can fly up to 150 kilometers per hour.

Two years ago another Dutch town was terrorized by a bird of prey. An owl attacked 50 people in Purmerend before being caught and taken to a bird sanctuary.

 

[Palinurus]

One more: http://nltimes.nl/2017/06/22/birds-prey-attacking-dutch-cyclists-joggers

More birds of prey attacking Dutch cyclists, joggers

By Janene Pieters on June 22, 2017 - 14:05

The municipality of Meierijstad is warning joggers and cyclists to watch out for birds of prey. Another runner was recently attacked by an angry bird near Het Melven in Veghel, Omroep Brabant reports [in Dutch].

The municipality thinks that they are dealing with angry buzzards. "They don't usually attack people, but are known to do mock attacks in the breeding season to protect their nest and young." The birds have sharp claws and can easily injure an unwary jogger or cyclist.

The breeding season will last for another couple of weeks. "Then the chance of meeting an aggressive buzzard is minimal."

If a bird is threatening to attack you, make a lot of noise and wave your arms, the municipality advises.

In May a cyclist was attacked by a buzzard four times in a week while cycling between Westerbork and Emmen.