Question:

What is the best way to keep buzzards off your property?

Answer:

By buzzards I presume you are talking about vultures—either Turkey Vultures (in most parts of the country) or Black Vultures in the Southeastern United States. During colonial days, Black Vultures used to get in the way in southern cities, but they were protected by law because they recognized the valuable role that they played in cleaning up trash and dead animals.  Nowadays, they are still busy doing the same, but sometimes they choose to roost in large groups in inconvenient locations like power towers or residential trees. If you have a roost of vultures, the first thing to realize is that they have to roost somewhere for the night, and that they generally roost together for safety.  They usually roost in a tall tree, cliff or quarry wall, or other structure with an unimpeded flight path around them (they would rather soar and glide than have to flap and maneuver through trees).  The most effective way to drive birds from a roost is to hang an effigy—essentially what looks like a dead vulture hanging from its feet—from the roosting area.  That will make the birds think the area isn’t safe and they will go elsewhere. After leaving their roost, sometimes vultures spend time perched on rooftops of homes.  If birds are regularly perching on your home or buildings, you can use various physical bird deterrents  to block the birds from being able to use those areas.

For more information on vulture control, you can contact the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service for their Turkey Vulture fact sheet or check out more info from them here PDF. The Vulture Society  has additional info, and recommends using a sprinkler system like the Bird-B-Gone Scarecrow . As a final resort, your state wildlife control agency may be able to assist you with additional measures.