Kestrel Nest Box Field Notes

Kestrel Nest Box Field Notes - 2001

The Kestrel Box - an Arizona Non-Profit Corporation

See Also Field Notes from 2000 for comparison

12/17/2001: The nesting pair have been in our neighborhood year-round this year due to the second clutch, but they were more scarce for about 6 weeks during August and early September. Since September we have seen them almost daily. They seem to visit the nest box briefly a couple of times per day, but we haven't seen them spend the night. The kestrels are establishing their territory as they have each winter since they started nesting here.

In November we cleaned out the nest box and retrieved the 3 unhatched eggs. We were able to determine that at least one of the eggs had been fertile, and had a chick that probably survived at least a week before dying. We suspect the heat was too much for them even with our new box design.

Recently I was in the yard visiting with my father-in-law with our educational peregrine on my fist when one of the kestrels rousted a group of grackles from the tree with the nest box in it. The kestrel seemed oblivious to us and the peregrine as it swooped down over our heads then up to the tree to knock the grackles loose. It made two passes before all of the grackles left in protest. A group of 6 or 8 grackles followed the kestrel back to it's perch in the neighbors tree making a lot of noise, but the kestrel ignored them, and they quickly left.

They don't seem bothered by us or the educational birds, and we are expecting another successful year in 2002.

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7/19/2001: It looks like either we are watching 3 infertile eggs, or the heat was just too much for this clutch. We have had temperatures up to 116 degrees Fahrenheit during this clutch, and the heat, combined with the stress of caring for the 4 fledglings from the first clutch early on in the sitting period might have prevented a successful second round.

We expect that the kestrels will continue to sit on these eggs for a while before they give up. To be successful we should have seen them hatch out around 7/15 at the latest.

6/15/2001: Third egg of the second clutch was laid. This tells us that the eggs came on 6/11, 6/13, and 6/15 2001.

6/13/2001: For about a week we have seen kestrels consistently visiting the tree where the nest box is located. This morning we watched a pair (male, then female) come to the opening of the box as if they were nesting. We turned on the camera to check and to our surprise we found 2 eggs!

We have heard of kestrels having a second clutch, but this is a first for our nest box. The four chicks from the first clutch have only been out of the nest for about two weeks and they are still very present in the neighborhood. We think they are still learning to fly, hunt, etc. from their parents, but with a second batch of eggs coming their education might get cut short. It should be interesting to see what happens.

5/31/2001: Each of the past two mornings we have been able to count six kestrels (4 chicks, 2 adults) in nearby trees. Here is a picture of four together in a tree taken this morning. I think these are the four chicks, as the other two kestrels were higher up in a taller tree. This picture was taken with a digital video camera. It is easier to see them with the motion, but I think you can make them out.

(click on the image for a larger picture)

5/27/2001: The last two chicks left the nest this morning. We have seen Phyl (the youngest Male) flying from tree to tree in the area, while the female that we returned to the nest has stayed pretty close to home. She spent the day in the tree the nest box is located in, but was moving around in the tree and receiving plenty of attention from Mom and Dad. All the chicks seem to have fledged successfully, and as near as we can tell they are all doing well. This is a busy time for the parents. The chicks are easier to care for when they stay together, but while they are learning to fly they end up in several different trees.

I went outside in the morning with my binoculars and while I was watching the youngest female in the tree I could see her mother in a neighbors tree. Mother came out of the tree and started to stoop towards our yard - she came down right in front of me, then veered up and knocked a grackle off of our roof! The grackle squawked and flew away indignantly - needless to say, the chicks are well protected.

5/26/2001: We were able to positively locate all four chicks this morning. One male and one female were still in the nest box and the other two (a male and a female) were in nearby trees. They seem to be well cared for by their parents.

5/25/2001: We returned one of the females to the nest this evening. She was spooked out of the tree yesterday by the garbage truck when it came down the alley. She ended up in a neighbor's yard with several dogs and cats, and after considering the options we decided to retrieve her. We held her and fed her for about 24 hours until evening when things were settling down, and then we returned her to the nest. Our concern was that in our efforts to return her, we might spook the other chicks out and in fact one of the other chicks did leave the nest. However, he flew well, and landed high up in a neighbors tree.

5/24/2001: Second Oldest female left the nest. She was spooked out by the garbage truck when it came down our alley this morning. She spent the day in a neighbor's tree, but because this neighbor has several dogs and cats, we retrieved her and put her in a holding pen to gather strength for a day or two before reuniting her with her family.

5/23/2001: Oldest female left the nest. They are starting to fledge earlier than we expected. We haven't been able to locate the first female yet and we aren't sure as to her fate.

5/18/2001: Banded the chicks. There are four chicks - two female and two male. Thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Bob Barry who took the time to come out and do the banding for us again this year. Bob is an experienced Wildlife Biologist with a current banding permit. He also sells top quality bird houses and bird feeders at Barry's Bird Boxes (http://www.barrybirdbox.com).

We actually banded 7 chicks - 4 from the nest featured in our nest box cam, and 3 from a nest box in Tempe that had been put up by a friend. The chicks were all healthy and in good condition.

Here are some highlight pictures of the banding
(Click on the pictures to see larger versions):


First Female	Applying Band	Outstretched Wing	First Male	Baskets	Youngest Male "Phyl"	Weighing

The pictures below are of Kestrels from a friends nest box in Tempe, AZ - also banded on 5/18/01:
(Click on the pictures to see larger versions):


Retrieving Chicks	On Ladder	Out of the basket	First Male	Applying Band	Weighing	Suspicious Mother

4/29/2001: Fourth Hatchling emerged.

4/26/2001: Third Hatchling emerged.

4/25/2001: First 2 hatchlings emerged one day earlier than we predicted. The rest of the chicks should hatch out in the next 2 or 3 days. Note that in both 1999 and 2000 we watched 4 of 5 eggs hatch for an 80% success rate. We are hopeful for 5 out of 5 in 2001, but time will tell. The parents will continue to sit on the eggs/chicks for a week or even longer, but the action should pick up as feedings need to happen on a regular basis. This is where the male proves his worth as a hunter.

4/2/2001: Five eggs (3/22, 3/24, 3/26, 3/28, 3/30). The eggs came every other day, with slightly more than 48 hours between them. The first egg came around noon on 3/22. There won't be a lot of visible change for a while during the incubation period which generally lasts about 30 days. The dates of laying match exactly what happened in our box during the 1999 season and we are going to guess that the hatching will follow the same schedule as well. Our prediction for the first chick to hatch is 4/26. During this time, it will be typical to see the female in the box, often with her head tucked under a wing. But it shouldn't be unusual to see the male take a turn also, sometimes for hours at a time. The primary role of the male during this time is to provide food and rest for his mate.

3/22/2001: First Egg came around noon today. Look for additional eggs to come one every other day until she is done laying. 3 to 5 eggs are typical. The female will start to spend some time sitting now that there are eggs, but until all the eggs come it won't be unusual for her to spend time outside the nest or to spend time in the box, but up off the eggs. The real sitting starts when all the eggs have arrived. This helps to ensure that the chicks hatch out at about the same time (in 2 to 3 days rather than the 6 to 10 it takes to lay them).

2/16/2001: The pair have established their territory. They have been mating and visiting the nest box almost daily since about mid January. We expect to see eggs around mid to late March. Check out the field notes from 2000 to compare timings.

2/13/2001: It was windy today and the female chose a perch right by the nest box so that I was able to approach and take pictures from the base of the tree. The first picture is looking straight up the tree with her looking right back down at me. The second picture shows you where she was perched (just to the side and below the box). Click on the pictures to see larger versions.

1/9/2001: Witnessed the female as she swooped in to the new nest box and spent some time inside. She has been more visible in the neighborhood the past couple of days, but today is the first time we have seen her in the new nest box. She has spent most of the day around the yard since entering the box. We even spooked her as she was cleaning a fresh kill at the base of the tree as we were taking garbage out to the alley. She has been in several trees in and around the yard throughout the day today.

10/15/2000: With the cooler weather the female has returned to the area. We have seen her regularly for the last week or so. Although I can't tell for sure, I think it is the same female as last year because she is using the same perches in the same trees - her behavior seems very similar. The nest box has been taken down as a beehive had moved into it just a couple of weeks ago. We will soon get the box up again, and I expect the female to start spending the night shortly after the box is in place.

Send comments and questions to: dave@kestrelbox.org