Last night at about 7:15 I struck three pretty hot gobblers. There was a hen close by calling, but the toms responded to all my calls and seemed to be getting a bit closer. They seemed a bit reluctant to come off the top of a hill they were on, but there was not much cover to sneak closer and I was in unfamiliar territory to know the lay of the land, so I stuck it out where I was. They were getting pretty fired up. Just when it seemd I was making progress two buzzards circled over head. All the birds shut up like someone flicked a switch. I tried for another 15 minutes without a peep. I decided to move closer to the hill top while pausing to call every 50 yards, still nothing. Crawled over the top and no sign of them. Decided to hit the box one more time and one gobbled from the other side of a rock I was behind not more than ten yards from me. I slowly raised up gun ready, and in a matter the few seconds it took me to ease up he was gone. No more gobbles from anywhere. I hit the coyote howler and all three gobbled from the next hill top over. I was out of legal shooting time so I had to pack it in for the night. I had an early morning presentation this AM so I could'nt get back after them.
Anyone ever have birds turn off due to overhead predators?
Its possible, but I doubt the buzzards shut them up. I figure they saw the hen that was calling close by, or they saw or heard something they didn't feel comfortable with other than the buzzards. But who knows.
yea I've never heard of buzzards bothering them. Like guesswho said it was probably somethimg on the ground!
When I had pet turkeys years ago they would sho 'nuff get fidgety whenever a hawk, buzzard or even a crow flew over top of them. Don't know as that would spook a wild bird but you never know.
Turkeys are definitely aware of predators from the sky. Hawks and eagles will definitely kill turkeys. I am not sure if a turkey can distinguish between a hawk and a buzzard. I have seen crows swoop down at turkeys many times cawwing and making tons or racket and haven't ever had that mess up a hunt.
I had this half crazed flock of chickadee's once....