Kestrel Update

There is very little detailed data out there on the behavior of nesting American Kestrels. A lot of general facts but it doesn't seem to answer my questions about this pair I'm observing. Up until last Friday I had been observing them in the tree at work during the day. Sometimes one or both them would show up and often eat a mouse there.


Since this is my first encounter with the Sparrow Hawk as it is called I did not know what to expect. According to Cornell Lab 'All About Birds'

It is the most colorful raptor in the world. Nests in cavities of trees, buildings and nest boxes. Sprays feces around nest. 4-5 eggs.. nestlings helpless when born.

Nesting time is Late April to early May. The female will then incubate the eggs for around 30 days, while the male hunts for the family. The young fledge 30 days after hatching, but will remain part of the family unit for quite some time.

Having said all that ... I am reporting what I am observing.

Fred, the Male Kestrel
sits on the highest point....seen here on a pipe on top of a
building near the nest.

Sometimes when he was sitting and watching...I can
assume she is in the nest , he would scratch and make
funny faces which was entertaining.

Other nights he would fly from one place to another.
This perch had added 'greenry' to compliment
his beautiful colors.

My friend commented he looked like a parakeet in this photo.

But... all that sitting and watching and waiting changed last
Friday evening. When I came out from work I could hear the
loud klee klee klee of an excited Kestrel. I could not stay
and search the tree for the sounds as I had an appointment to keep.
I did go back up on the week end but saw and heard nothing.
The tree and nest sight were as quiet as a tomb. No activity.
I assumed the young fledged and I missed it.
Or, they had abandoned the nest for some reason.
I have no idea what all the fuss was about on Friday.
Then...... tonight I thought I heard the familiar call once again
right after work so I stationed myself under the nest
sight and immediately he came looking agitated.
click for a closer view.

He sat for only a moment and was gone.

About 25 minutes later Ethel showed up with what looks
like a cicada.

She looked around very quickly...

All this took about 3 seconds

Then in she went... if you click you can just see her tail.
Then out she flew.

They are not calling to each other now....... they are all
about going in and coming out. Intent upon the job of feeding
I am guessing. Another 30 minutes pass and they both fly
in ...I only got him.

But a second later he disappears into the nest and she flies out.

It is no wonder I didn't see anything the last few times I
looked. I hope this means there are babies...
Stay tuned..
To God be the Glory ~ Great Things He Hath done.

'Wren't Free housing...

That would be something to sing about!

I have so many House Wrens in my yard that at times
they sing in unison and it sounds like stereo.

The one in the little red house has babies and is in and out
all day feeding while it's mate sits in the tree above and
sings!

When she stands at the door I can hear many little
chirpers inside. They must know mommy is out there.

They are the happiest sounding bird I have ever heard.
Their tee kettle tee kettle tee kettle is loud.

No nest yet in the pink house but being checked out by
a different pair of happy singers.

This is yet another one in a tree in my backyard. singing
loudly of course.

under the tree in low light they look so different

While watching Wrens this morning I caught this Northern
Flicker stopping for a drink.

Kestrel keeping 'High' profile

It's hard to know what goes on with these Kestrels .. they fly
back and forth from the tree to the nest and it has
become very very quiet. No babies being seen.
Ethel has been seen in the tippy top of the tree for a couple
days. She can pretty much see the nest from this vantage
point.

The telephone pole also gives her a nice view.

Being this far away and with leaves it is really hard to spot
the birds at all now.

On this day she must have been bored because it looked
like she was doing stretches and 'Kestrel' exercises.

Wings up now!

Higher...

How about a flip over with the tail extended to the sky.

Left and right wing up!

Make like you're gonna fly...

Wow! That feels so much better.

This picture I called 'hiding in plain sight' I saw her fly
in and without the zoom of the camera couldn't see her
at all with my eye.

More to come..... stay tuned to window on nature.
To God be the Glory ~~ Great Things He Hath Done!

(these picts were taken with H5 before I got my H9 back with the
added tele-conversion lens..sorry so far away)

What a Difference the Camera makes.....

Raystown Lake Huntingdon County

I recently bought the Sony DSC H9 and a 1.7x Tele Conversion Lens for it. Until then I had a Sony DSC H2 and a DSC H5. I was quite content with the first two cameras until I found out how close you can get with the lens on the H9. After my trip to Central Park I had to send the camera back for repairs and I have been crippled ever since. I'm always seeing things that I can not get and it is really frustrating...

The H2 and H5 are excellent for scenery and close up macros. A perfect example is the pink water lily I got over the week end at Black Moshannon State Park.

Or the close up of some Rhododendron (H5)

And it does an excellent job with bog, boat, trees and sky...

This was the cutest place where you could buy a bird house
from the shelf, and using the honor system put your
money or check in a drawer underneath the Eagle
at the far left.

I could even get in close enough to shoot this baby
E. Starling eating one of my oranges.

I thought he was kinda cute... He is right outside my window
so I didn't need the extra lens power.

This was a bit of a stretch for the H5... It was further out in
the yard and I had to crop it hence losing some of the clarity.
Mom Starlinig feeding baby.

But... pictures like the Eagles nest at Raystown Lake really
shows what a difference the camera and lens makes.

This was the H5... no crop.

Cropped it still isn't that great...

I borrowed my friends H9 to take this one...

It cropped much better than the H5...

By the way... we saw no babies only the one lone Eagle
guarding the nest. He kept looking down into the nest
but we saw no movement. Too far away.

Moving on to the Kestrels.... I took this one today with the H5

Last week with the H9

H5

Last week with the H9.

The camera and lens is very important. Good to know that
a 1.7 conversion lens makes such a difference added to the H9.