Buzzards Day – March 15, 2027

History of Buzzards Day

In 1957, a patrolman for Cleveland Metroparks named Walter Nawalaniec informed Robert Bordner of the Cleveland Press and local historian, Miss Eunice Morton of Richfield, that he had observed that the buzzards returned each year after their migration on the same day every year. Though he knew that the buzzards returned at the same time, he was thrilled to note that they returned on the same calendar date every year. This was also true during a leap year.

That year, it was recorded that almost 9,000 visitors came to see the birds return from their expedition. Since then, every year, Ohio receives thousands of bird lovers who visit to witness the return of the buzzards and, thus, Buzzards Day was created. The Chamber of Commerce decided to welcome these birds in a special way. A traditional American breakfast of sausages and pancakes was made to welcome the birds and Spring’s coming. Since then, Buzzards Day has been celebrated by enjoying pancakes and sausages for breakfast.

Buzzards are marvelous species of birds that have qualities that are not found in other scavengers. For example, buzzards vocalize throughout the year. However, there is a slight difference between the word buzzards used in the U.S. and other countries. In the U.S., when someone says buzzards, they mean turkey vultures which are a part of New World vultures. In other parts of the world, buzzards are a part of the Old World Vultures. In North America, the term refers to hawks or buzzard hawks.