Wild Honey-Buzzard Nest Cam

A Secretive Raptor

The European honey-buzzard (Pernis apivorus) is a long-distance migrant that returns each spring from sub-Saharan Africa to breed in Britain's oldest forests. With only around 120-150 breeding pairs nationwide, sightings of active nests are exceptionally rare, making this camera one of the few authorized windows into their private lives.

Life in the Canopy

Despite its name, this raptor feeds mainly on the larvae of wasps and bees rather than other birds, a specialised diet that sets it apart from typical hawks. The nest sits high among the oaks and birches of Ashdown Forest, where the parents shuttle between foraging grounds and their growing chicks.

Ashdown Forest

Spanning heath and ancient woodland in the heart of East Sussex, Ashdown Forest is one of the largest free public access spaces in South East England and a stronghold for rare wildlife. The forest's mosaic of open heathland and mature trees provides the seclusion these elusive raptors need to nest successfully.

A Conservation Partnership

This feed is the result of a collaboration between local conservation groups and specialist camera engineers, designed to study and protect the species without disturbing it. Watching responsibly helps build public support for the habitat protection these birds depend on.