Buzzard Rescue and Release
A sick bird of prey was rescued by one of our frontline workers while on his way to a job – thanks to his razor-sharp eyesight.
Film clip of Buzzard release
A sick bird of prey was rescued by one of our frontline workers while on his way to a job – thanks to his razor-sharp eyesight.
Jason Arlett, a process operator, at Southern Water whose day-to-day job is part of a team who supply fresh water into the customer network, was driving his work van on Whiteways Down towards Arundel, when he spotted the stranded buzzard on the side of the road – inches from passing tyres.
After taking it under his wing, James has worked with local vets and charities so that the bird could be released back into the wild, near the location he found it – with its dramatic release filmed.
Jason said: “I was in my work van driving on Whiteways Down to Arundel when I spotted the bird lying on the kerbside.
“The buzzard was inches from the road with cars and lorries whizzing past. So, I turned round and parked up next to the bird. The buzzard let me pick him up without a struggle or pecking at me.”
Jason first took the bird to Grove Lodge Vets, who confirmed that the creature didn’t have any broken bones but was worryingly underweight.
Ferring-based Wadars Animal Rescue Charity then stepped in to transport the bird to their wildlife rehabilitation centre, where it was cared for over two weeks until it was fully fit and ready to return to the wild.
Billy Elliott, Rescue Officer at Wadars Animal Rescue Charity, said: “It’s always very rewarding when we are able to release a beautiful bird like this back into the wild.
“The rescue, rehabilitation and release of the buzzard was a real team effort, and whilst we wouldn’t always recommend attempting to pick up a bird of prey, Jason did a great job, so many thanks to him.”
The Buzzard is the most common UK bird of prey and it is estimated that there are between 57,000 and 79,000 breeding pairs that can be found in every county in England, Scotland, and Wales.
They are large with broad wings and a short neck and tail. When gliding buzzards will often hold its wings in a shallow 'V' and the tail is fanned. They vary in colour from all dark brown to much paler variations, but all have dark wingtips and a striped tail.