Teunizen AM (2023) Diet preferences of Common Buzzard Buteo buteo and Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus at Eindhoven Air Base. LIMOSA 96 (4): 188-192.

Raptors, especially Common Buzzard and Common Kestrel, forage in high numbers on the military airbase Eindhoven, the Netherlands. The species are attracted to the nutrientpoor grasslands surrounding the runways. The high number of raptors increases the chance of wildlife strikes, affecting aviation safety. To understand the attractiveness of the military airbase Eindhoven for raptors, I conducted a diet study based on the stomach content of 18 Buzzards and 22 Kestrels that died due to collisions or down wash, or that were shot for reasons of flight safety. Common Buzzards mainly foraged on earthworms followed by crickets. Common Kestrel mainly foraged on crickets followed by voles. The importance of crickets in the diet was a surprise. Knowledge on the birds' diet can be used to and implement preventive measures to minimize collisions with raptors in the near future.

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