Category: Kestrel

“Our” kestrels online

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A virtual window into our balcony…
Click the camera image or its number to open the  camera page…
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.

Currently, the kestrel couple appear on our balcony to spend here the night or to find shelter in case of bad weather. From mid-February we can see them much more often even during the day. As they stayed together throughout the winter, we observed courtship behaviour very early. The courtship involves the male passing food to the female to prove he’s a great provider and that this territory is a suitable rodent-packed place to nest. She gradually stopped hunting and is fully dependent on the supply from the male. She also invited him more and more often to mate. This year, the first egg appeared early on April 8. She successively laid 6 eggs, the last one on April 19. Incubation began on the evening of April 18.

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. Hopefully they will be back in early May.
On April 15, a group of starlings appeared and decided to nest in the swift nestboxes.

 

Kestrel seasons
Season 2024 (in Czech only).

 

Updated 20/04/2024 11:37

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)

Statistical calendar 2007-?
Kestrel ringing

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

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