Catbird wrote:
Beleef de Lente
Both adults were there on the ledge. But after two failed attempts at nesting, I think they have probably given up on nesting for the year.
Interesting image you caught there, Catbird! I had stopped checking in, just now I read their blog and it says there could still be a so called "follow up" clutch - what happens after a failed clutch - but chances are slimmer by the day. However, there is sufficient food now and the female is clearly trying to get the male to bring her prey (she was seen in the nestbox for longer periods), so that egg production would start.
Ferenz wrote:
Luxembourg - sad news:
Benjamin the smallest of the 6 chicks died on June 13th.
He had only 50g weight and didn't eat...
Glad you are again reporting, Ferenz! Beautiful pictures there from the Luxemburg nest. But this is always sad news - esp. since it seemed they were doing so well even with 6. Of course, one is always "the smallest" - yet I always feel a bit helpless ...
In the
Lesser Kestrel nest in Alta Murgia, chick #4 most probably hatched on the 14th (not very clear to distinguish).
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June 14, 12:50 - Big egg shells - most prob. hatch # 4
and so is 1-1.5 day younger than its siblings. It is just simply behind in development, but needs to compete with the bigger and stronger ones. I'm afraid here as well the last hatched won't make it.
A while ago, I saw a real beautiful scene, but lost my 2 best screen captures
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!
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The male arrived with prey while the female was on the nest (I would say "of course", since they are just a few days old, but in the Matura nest we saw that this is not a given).
He started to feed the chicks (pic lost,
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) while she watched him in disbelief, then proceeded to feed her! (pic lost,
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), then handed over the prey to her, watched her feed them for a while and left.
Again, what a difference with the
Matura Lesser Kestrel nest ...:
Male arrives without prey, chicks get all frantic "What's up with that, Dad?!"and male retreats:
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Today, 10 AM