“Our” kestrels online

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A virtual window into our balcony…
Click the camera number to open the  camera page; you can also select it from a list of our cameras.
We are also testing a live stream on our Falco tinnunculus brunensis  YouTube channel. See also YouTube live.

The story so far: Kestrels have been nesting on our balcony regularly since 2007. The male of the kestrel pair has been living with us since November 2019. With the previous female (she lived with us from July 2018 to January 2022), they brought out 6 young in 2020 and 4 young in 2021. With the current Mrs Kestrel, who  appeared here on February 12, 2022, then 4 young ones in 2022, 6 ones last year.

They both spent this winter 2023—24.. Courtship began in early February. The first egg was laid on April 8. She successively laid 6 eggs, the last one on April 19. Incubation began on the evening of April 18. on May 14, hours, the fifth on May 15, in the morning, the last sixth, May 17, in the morning. The nestlings were ringed on June 1.
The young kestrels flew from the balcony to the street for the first time between June 14 and 17. Approximately one month from this date, they were still fully dependent on the food supply provided by their parents.
The chicks are 191 days188 days old.

Currently, only the kestrel parents appear on the balcony.

When the kestrels are not present, you can see also other birds: tits, nuthatches (regular winter visitors in small mixed troops), sparrows…  and also pigeons, whose presence is a permanent source of conflicts with kestrels.

The swift nestboxes next to the kestrel’s balcony had been empty since July 25 of last year. They came back to our street in the first days of May, but their home seemed already to be occupied. Since May 29, however, we have observed at least two swift pairs nesting in the swift nestboxes.
On April 15, a group of starlings appeared and decided to nest in the swift nestboxes.

 

Kestrel seasons
Season 2024
(in Czech only).

 

Updated 15/08/2024 09:10

Of Mice and Kestrels

Kestrels (common or european kestrels) stay with us in our flat in a housing estate in the suburb of Brno for a long time. Initially they used our balcony only as a shelter and dormitory, but since the fire in 2006, the situation changed. Starting with the 2007 season kestrels are nesting here. History of nesting can be found here. Photo and video archive here. Continue reading “Of Mice and Kestrels”

Kestrel seasons

  • 2007
    • 5 + 1 eggs laid (before 2007/05/10).
    • 5 eggs hatched (2007/06/03—2007/06/04).
    • 5 juveniles fledged successfully.
  • 2008
    • 5 eggs laid (2008/05/05—2008/05/14).
    • 0 eggs hatched.
    • 5 eggs eaten by parents (2008/06/09—2008/06/23).
  • 2009
    • 4 eggs laid (2009/04/24—2009/05/01).
    • 3 eggs hatched (2009/05/27—2009/05/28).
    • 3 juveniles fledged (2 prematurely 2009/06/24 – one of them disappeared, second returned after 3 days; third juvenile fledged 2009/06/30)
  • 2010
    • 6 eggs laid (2010/04/12—2010/04/22).
    • 6 eggs hatched (2010/05/17—2010/05/20).
    • 1 young died (2010/05/31—2010/06/01); 5 juveniles fledged successfully.
  • 2011
    • 5 eggs laid (2011/04/09—2011/04/18).
    • 5 eggs hatched (2011/05/14—2011/05/15).
    • 5 juveniles fledged successfully.
  • 2012
    • 5 eggs laid (2012/04/13—2012/04/23).
    • 5 eggs hatched (2012/05/19—2012/05/21).
    • male absent from 2012/05/30 // new male 2012/07/02
    • 5 juveniles fledged successfully.
  • 2013
    • 5 eggs laid(2013/05/02—2013/05/11).
    • 5 eggs hatched (2013/06/06—2013/06/08).
    • 1 young died (2013/06/17—2013/06/18).
    • sixth juvenile landed and was adopted (2013/07/06—2013/07/25).
    • 4 native juveniles (+ 1 adopted) fledged successfully.
  • 2014
    • 6 eggs laid (2014/04/09—2014/04/20).
    • 6 eggs hatched (2014/05/14—2014/05/18).
    • 6 juveniles fledged successfully.
  • 2015
    • 6 eggs laid (2015/04/13—2015/04/23).
    • 6 eggs hatched (2015/05/18—2015/05/21).
    • 1 young died (2015/06/20).
    • seventh juvenile landed and was adopted (2015/06/23).
    • 5 native juveniles (+ 1 adopted) fledged successfully.
  • 2016
    • 5 eggs laid (2016/04/13—2016/04/21).
    • 5 eggs hatched (2016/05/17—2016/05/19).
    • 3 young died (2016/05/18—2016/05/31).
    • 2 juveniles fledged.
  • 2017
    • —–
  • 2018
    • 5 eggs laid (2018/05/12—2018/05/19).
    • 4 eggs hatched (2018/06/13—2018/06/16).
    • male absent from 2018/06/26 / female absent from 2018/07/03.
    • 4 nestlings ringed (2018/07/04).
    • 4 juveniles transported to bird rescue center (2018/07/08).
  • 2019
    • 5 eggs laid (2019/04/29—2019/05/09).
    • 5 eggs hatched (2019/05/31—2019/06/05).
    • 2 young died (2019/06/15).
    • 3 nestlings ringed (2019/06/22).
    • 3 juveniles fledged successfully.
  • 2020
    • 6 eggs laid (2020/04/23—2020/05/04).
    • 6 eggs hatched (2020/05/26—2020/06/01).
    • 6 nestlings ringed (2020/06/16).
    • 6 juveniles fledged successfully.
  • 2021
    • 5 eggs laid (2021/04/27—2021/05/06).
    • 4 eggs hatched (2021/05/29—2021/05/31).
    • 4 nestlings ringed (2021/06/17).
    • 4 juveniles fledged successfully.
    • 1 juvenile (EC 65001 ring) stays until 2021/09/30.
  • 2022
    • 4 eggs laid (2022/05/02—2022/05/14).
    • 4 eggs hatched (2022/06/07—2022/06/11).
    • 4 nestlings ringed (2022/06/29).
    • 4 juveniles fledged successfully.
  • 2023
    • Male marked in 2021 with ring ES 65004 found (2023/04/06).
    • 6 eggs laid (2023/04/15—2023/04/27).
    • 6 eggs hatched (2023/05/22—2023/05/24).
    • 6 nestlings ringed (2023/06/14).
    • 6 juveniles fledged successfully.
    • Juvenile marked in 2023 with ring ES 65016 found (2023/08/02)
  • 2024
    • 6 eggs laid (2024/04/08—2024/04/19)
    • 6 eggs hatched (2024/05/14—2024/05/17).
    • 6 nestlings ringed (2024/06/01).
    • 6 juveniles fledged successfully.

Kestrels nesting results
Statistical calendar (Google Sheets)
Kestrel ringing

Photo + video
Weather archive
About this blog Of Mice and Kestrels

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