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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 (and still invites him) to mate. This year, the first egg appeared early on April 8.
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.
Kestrel seasons
Season 2024 (in Czech only).
Updated