kestrel – Of mice and kestrels

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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 in 2023 and in 2024.

They both spent this winter 2024—25 with us. Courtship began at the end of February. The female laid the first egg on April 3, followed by others on April 5, 7, 9, 12, 14 and 16. In total there were 7 eggs. On April 14, the day she laid the sixth egg, the female started incubating them full time. The incubation period lasts for around 4 weeks, and chicks are brooded in the nest by the female for a further 2 weeks. During this time, the male is responsible for bringing food to the female and, later, the chicks. He returns almost every evening to spend the night on a perch on the opposite side of the balcony.

Currently, there are 7 chicks in the nest.. Hatching began as expected on May 11. The first six chicks hatched that day. The last chick hatched on the morning of May 14th.

The chicks are 7 days – 4 days old.

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 the end of July 2025. Swifts are returning to it from May 2, 2025. Tits are already nesting in the swift box on the windowsill next to the kestrel’s balcony.

Kestrel seasons
Season 2025 (in Czech only).

Updated 14/05/2025 08:28

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.
2025
- 7 eggs laid (2025/04/03—2025/04/16).
- 7 eggs hatched (2025/05/11—2025/05/14).