General Discussion : Immature preener, or waiting for enough lizards?

Hi, Kestrel experts! 

We have a kestrel pair that has been courting and doing all the "right stuff" for over a month, we thought as a prelude to egg laying. Both visit the box--the male with lizards to entice the female, and the female to do her "faceplant shuffle" as Delora so aptly calls it. But no eggs thus far. 

I have been wondering how to tell if either of our pair is immature? Is there a way to tell kestrel age from plumage? Here is a photo of our female, impressively balancing in substantial wind to preen. Our male is decked out in his blue wing feathers. Are there some markings that would indicate egg-viable maturity?

Thanks for your insight!
--Laura

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Comments:

Nu-Sun Cinema's picture

Be patient, in 2016 our Kestrels did not lay their first egg until 42 days from their arrival.

Link to our information page KESTREL KORNER 

http://www.nu-sun.com/html/kestrel_korner.html

Who had recomened the Viotec camera?  We use Viotec. Which model I may be able to tell you a few tricks to make the camera better. Great photo of male inside box.

Thank you, Nu-Sun Cinema

NM-Kestrel-Laura's picture

Thanks, Nu-Sun. Appreciate the guidance. I'll look it up when I get back to the box and let you know.

NM-Kestrel-Laura's picture

oops. mistakenly posted twice and do not see how to delete this second one... sorry!

NM-Kestrel-Laura's picture

Hi, Nu-Sun,

We are using the Vivotek model FD8151V for our nest box. Is that one you are familiar with?
 

Nu-Sun Cinema's picture

Yes, thats the same camera we are using. When you have constructed the nest box add 7-8 inches to the height to accommodate the camera. A little trick is to NOT face the camera to the 3inch door opening but to the side. Also if your roof of the nest box is slanted put a piece f wood to make a false ceiling so the camera is the same plain as the box floor.  This will give you better zoom without cutting off anything important. Have a great day. Nu-Sun Cinema

NM-Kestrel-Laura's picture

Great! Thanks for the tips!

Delorahilleary's picture

Hi Laura!
Sometimes courtship can take a while, but worry not. Once a kestrel is a year old, they are fully capable of breeding successfully, and both of your kestrels are surely adults. Although immature kestrels do not look much different from adults, at this point in the season, there are no immature kestrels around, as they are all yearlings now.

Pair behavior is a good sign, so worry not - we are just starting the egg laying season for most areas :)
-D

NM-Kestrel-Laura's picture

Many thanks, Delora! Guess I just thought they'd be well on their way with eggs by now if they were capable. I suppose it is possible they have identified another place to lay eggs since they are not sleeping in the box. But they are spending a lot of time in and out of it! I remain hopeful!

:)

--Laura

NM-Kestrel-Laura's picture

Finally an egg! We're so excited!

Delorahilleary's picture

Eggscellent! Congratulations ;)

NM-Kestrel-Laura's picture

Haha. Thanks, D.! Hoping the eggs will do ok, now that the kestrels have worked so hard to expose the bare bottom of the box. :-/

 

Posted in General Discussion by NM-Kestrel-Laura 6 years 11 months ago.