INTERNATIONAL KESTRELS ~ 2013

Catbird · **Posted:** Mon Apr 22, 2013 6:55 am

Thanks for the news about the Berlin cam, KF. And thanks for the news about the chicks at the Rehovot nest, Bosuil.

This morning, I found the Luxembourg kestrel at home . . .

And I witnessed a food exchange at the Poland (Castle) nest, when the male arrived with food for the female. Unfortunately, it was still too dark inside the nest to see if there are any eggs yet.

Bosuil · **Joined:** Thu Nov 12, 2009 9:27 am **Posts:** 235

Feeding time at the Kestrel balcony in Rehovot, Israel!

The prey was a small bird ... feeding lasted 5 min. and the rest was put aside.

Catbird · **Posted:** Tue Apr 23, 2013 7:28 am

Ah, cute picture of a feeding at the Rehovot nest. Thanks Bosuil.

In other news, the Luxembourg Kestrels have their first egg.

Mr. K was home at the Poland (Castle) nest.

And Bianca (I think) was home at the Muttenz nest.

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 63313

This is Esslingen, Germany....(a Pefa nest)..but they have been here every day..I bet they are gonna take it...

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 63313

First egg for Luxemburg

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 63313

Aston

Catbird · **Posted:** Wed Apr 24, 2013 8:05 am

Luxembourg

Bosuil · **Joined:** Thu Nov 12, 2009 9:27 am **Posts:** 235

Hatching is near at the Lesser Kestrels' nest 3 in Elyakim:

Male delivers mouse after his unusual short incubation shift of this morning. (In fact, he's been doing morning shifts of up to 4.5 hours! So much for active participation of Lesser Kestrel males!)

This morning, female returned after 1.5 hrs, and another 1.5 hours after that the male was back with a mouse - good food for a new hatchling!

Catbird · **Posted:** Wed Apr 24, 2013 8:19 am

Ah, what a cute video from the Elyakim nest! It was nice to see and to hear (I love the sweet chirps that the kestrels make). Thanks Bosuil.

At the nest of Claudia and Ics in Italy, Ics was taking his turn on the eggs just now.

Beth · **Posted:** Wed Apr 24, 2013 9:41 am

Aston-Birmingham blog reports first egg today :eggface:

Catbird · **Posted:** Wed Apr 24, 2013 10:11 am

Thanks for the hatch news at Aston, Beth. I'd checked there earlier this morning, but Ms. Kestrel was on the nest blocking any view of the eggs.

And Bosuil was right about the hatching being near at the Elyakim nest. I just checked in there and found a new video of the first hatch.

Catbird · **Posted:** Wed Apr 24, 2013 10:36 am

I caught a glimpse of the first egg at Aston . . .

And I happened to catch the Kestrel pair at Esslingen, the falcon nest in Germany that the kestrels might be taking over.

Catbird · **Posted:** Fri Apr 26, 2013 7:13 am

Beleef de Lente

Luxembourg - Second egg visible last night.

Berlin - This is the first time I've seen a kestrel here!

Rehovot - Ms. Kestrel has such a sweet face! The chat room is saying 4 chicks, possibly 5, now.

Beth · **Posted:** Fri Apr 26, 2013 4:02 pm

Nice pics :)) ... Thank you!

Aston has 2 eggs :eggthumbup:

Terka · **Posted:** Fri Apr 26, 2013 4:47 pm

Poland - Kwidzyn - Castle
http://www.ekokwidzyn.pl/index.php?opti ... e&Itemid=1

Bosuil · **Joined:** Thu Nov 12, 2009 9:27 am **Posts:** 235

Thx everyone for posting these images - so interesting to see these very different nestplaces! Haven't looked at the Berlin cam yet, very clear image. Will be back later with some news about the Elyakim Lesser Kestrels.

Here's an animation from one of the many daily attacks by the Mynah birds on the resident Lesser Kestrel female whenever she returns to the nest:

March 26, female returns to her nest with 2 eggs, "escorted" by the Mynah

Note how the Mynah "flies backwards" for another attack!

The animation pictures only 2 seconds, but given the fact that this behaviour continues up till now, it's clear the pair will have to work hard and spend extra time to keep the small chicks safe!

Common Myna's aren't indigenous to Israel (they are a South-Asian starling species) and are among the worlds worst invasive species (birds and plants), since they breed very succesfully and are extremely aggressive to nest and food competitors and their offspring.

Catbird · **Posted:** Fri Apr 26, 2013 7:58 pm

Oh my, what a scary video of a Mynah bird attacking the female Lesser Kestrel! That Mynah looks even more aggressive than the Starlings we have in the U.S.

I hope the Lesser Kestrels can keep their chicks and nest box safe!

Bosuil · **Joined:** Thu Nov 12, 2009 9:27 am **Posts:** 235

Clip of hatching time:

April 24, around 9 AM - first chick hatches

April 24, around 10 AM - first chick visible

Catbird · **Posted:** Sat Apr 27, 2013 6:41 am

Nice videos, Bosuil!

I finally caught a glimpse of the chicks at Rehovot. I only managed to get a picture with 3 of them, although I did see 4 for a moment.

Bosuil · **Joined:** Thu Nov 12, 2009 9:27 am **Posts:** 235

Catbird wrote:

I finally caught a glimpse of the chicks at Rehovot. I only managed to get a picture with 3 of them, although I did see 4 for a moment.

Then we were watching at the same moment, Catbird. I couldn't make a clip, but animated some frames:

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INTERNATIONAL KESTRELS ~ 2013

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