The Adventures of Old Mr. Buzzard
By Thornton W. Burgess
Published in 1919
Ol’ Mistah Buzzard is a familiar summer visitor to the Green Forest and Green Meadows. Each spring he travels north from the warm South, where he spends the winter, and can often be seen sailing high overhead or resting in his favorite dead tree. Although his neighbors know him well, Peter Rabbit soon discovers that there is a great deal about Ol’ Mistah Buzzard that he doesn’t know.
Peter’s curiosity leads him to learn about the Buzzard family’s unusual habits, including where Mrs. Buzzard lays her eggs and how fiercely she protects her young. Along the way, Peter hears plenty of opinions from Sammy Jay, listens to one of Ol’ Mistah Buzzard’s old family stories, and learns why the Buzzards do some things very differently from other birds.
Filled with humor, woodland adventures, and observations about the natural world, The Adventures of Old Mr. Buzzard reminds readers that an animal’s habits may seem strange until we understand the reasons behind them.
Main Themes: Discovery, Seasonal Changes, Understanding Differences
Nature & Character Connection
The Turkey Vulture: Nature’s Cleanup Crew
Ol' Mistah Buzzard is a Turkey Vulture. In the real world, these birds do not hunt live animals like hawks or eagles do. Instead, they eat things that have already died. Burgess shows us that while some forest animals think this is unusual, Ol' Mistah Buzzard is actually doing a wonderful service. This teaches students that vultures are nature's cleanup crew, keeping the forest clean and healthy for everyone.
Riding the Wind: Soaring Without Flapping
Ol' Mistah Buzzard rarely flaps his wings when he flies. In nature, vultures use warm rising air called thermals to lift them high into the sky. They can glide for hours without getting tired. In the book, Peter Rabbit is amazed at how Ol' Mistah Buzzard can move so smoothly without making a sound. This helps children learn how birds use the wind to save their energy during long journeys.
The Seasonal Traveler: Annual Migration
When the weather begins to turn cold and the leaves fall, Ol' Mistah Buzzard packs up and flies back to the Sunny South. In science, this movement is called migration. Because there is no food for him in the snow, he must travel to a warm place for the winter. This teaches students how different animals respond to the changing seasons to stay safe and well-fed.
Simple Activity Ideas
Glider Wind Test: Make simple paper airplanes. Have students test throwing them gently to see how they "glide" on the air like Ol' Mistah Buzzard without flapping.
The Forest Cleanup Game: Scatter clean trash or toys around the room. Pick a few students to be the "Cleanup Crew" like Ol' Mistah Buzzard to tidy up the space for the rest of the forest.
High-in-the-Sky View: Have students stand on a sturdy step stool or look down from a high window to see how things look different from up high. Discuss how Ol' Mistah Buzzard sees the whole meadow at once.
Discussion Prompts
On Curiosity: Peter Rabbit is determined to discover where Ol’ Mistah and Mrs. Buzzard keep their eggs. When can curiosity help us learn something new? Can being too curious ever cause problems?
On Judging Others: Sammy Jay thinks Ol’ Mistah and Mrs. Buzzard are lazy because they don't build a nest. What does Peter eventually learn about the Buzzards? Why is it important to understand someone before deciding what we think about them?
On Different Ways of Living: Peter is surprised to learn that Mrs. Buzzard lays her eggs without building a nest. What other unusual animal habits does Peter discover in the story? Why might something that seems strange to us make perfect sense for an animal?
Morals & Values Learned
Respecting Differences: The Buzzards do many things differently from other birds, including raising their young without building a nest. The story reminds us that being different doesn’t mean being wrong.
Don’t Judge Too Quickly: Sammy Jay decides that the Buzzards must be lazy and shiftless because they don’t build a nest. Peter learns that we shouldn’t make judgments about others simply because we don’t understand their ways.
Honesty Builds Trust: When Peter is caught searching for the Buzzards’ nest, he chooses to tell Ol’ Mistah Buzzard the truth. Throughout the story, Peter also learns the importance of taking others at their word rather than immediately assuming they are being dishonest.
Public Domain Notice: The original text of this book is in the public domain. Site layout, study guides, and supplemental materials are © burgess-books.com.
