AKP 2017 cams discussion

This view of the 2017 Bosch KestrelCams discussion is ordered with the newest comments at the top. The main discussion page is located at http://hub.peregrinefund.org/kestrelcams-2017-discussion

Shauna's picture

I wonder if having the beginnings of a wasp nest in the box is what you want?  I'm all for natural, untampered-with developments, but wouldn't that be off-putting for a late-comer kestrel couple?  

 

TerriFla's picture

2018 Male in the box 6:49 AM Eastern time

TerriFla's picture

No one in the box right now. 3:06 PM eastern

TerriFla's picture

SNowing this morning. 6:56 Eastern time

TerriFla's picture

Nope no egg yet.

TerriFla's picture

Is there a new 2018 place to post?

Maybe 1 egg this am?

TerriFla's picture

Yay! The Kestrel cams are live 2018!!!

TerriFla's picture

Awwwww Another year of Kestrel Cams has ended! See you all next year!

cb0324's picture

looks like the kestrels family is spreading farther away and not coming that often back to the box.

 

cb0324's picture

Thanks. I actually observed one chick being starved ( the youngest one indeed) in the box here a few years ago.

Delorahilleary's picture

Hello!
It is quite typical for the norm to be 4-5 fledglings for American Kestrels, which is quite a bit higher than other falcons in terms of clutch size. In less than ideal conditions, the adults would exclude the youngest nestling in feedings, focusing their attention on the larger ones, which is why one nestling may die when there isn't enough food for all five. While I have not observed it in my nest boxes, I imagine that is a trend that could continue - if conditions are unfavorable, perhaps selective exclusion would continue beyond one.

Other things can occur as well, such as adult abandonment or takeover by another species. However, these things can happen in any nest box - it's hard to say what causes these things.

Delorahilleary's picture

Congratulations on the fledging :)

cb0324's picture

A question here for deborah:

So far I have seen real successes with the nesting box here. If I am not mistaken I can onky remember two cases when one chick did not make it, which means that every year average 5 juvs fledged. The box has pretty ideal co9nditions as  a nesting p0lace I wonder how is the success rate under " normal" , thus less ideal conditions?

Nu-Sun Cinema's picture

Hi All, We had a very successful feather plucking on June 18/17 which was done in morning hours. Our nestling male was very cooperative. Later on that evening we had noticed he was not in the nest box. Not knowing what had happened (did he fall out??) we went and searched for him. We found him about 100 feet away from the nest box. Thinking he had fallen (due to his age, 23 days old.) We returned him back to the nest box. Now we watched what he would do. At about 8:30 CDT he had a mouse meal from mom and then wings open sailed to the ground below . Now seeing he fledged on his own we did not interfere again. We wish him well on his life's journey.  Thanks, Nu-Sun Cinema

TerriFla's picture

I feel sorry for him all alone in the box no one to cuddle with.  :)

He looks very healthy.

Maybe next year try to make a comments page?

Nu-Sun Cinema's picture

Jill you were acurate in saying Junior is a male. He will not be banded. We are looking into banding for next years brood.

June 17/2017 Junior had his first look out the door and watching him look at the new world outside was entertaing.

We will be plucking feathers today June 18/2017 as for a time we don't know as the weather is unpredictable at the moment.

Thank you for your intrest and watching our stream. 

http://www.nu-sun.com/html/2017_report.html

Nu-Sun Cinema

Jill from MN's picture

I have done more Junior watching, and wondered how he manages without any siblings to 'egg' him on (so, sorry, awful pun).  I needn't have worried about that, because he chows down on mice?voles? quite properly for his age and is flapping his wings.  Still being fed by his mama, and very assertive, too!  He tugged on her tail!

Jill from MN's picture

Will Junior also be banded?

He is a beautiful bird.  I see a few pinfeathers and less baby fuzz on him as he dozes off this morning.

TerriFla's picture

ouch.

Nu-Sun Cinema's picture

Hi All, This weekend June 17or18 (weather permitting, lots of rain here.) we will be plucking junior. We will remove a couple of breast feathers for DNA sampling.

Watch it live on our stream.   http://www.nu-sun.com/html/2017_report.html

Have a good day and thanks all for the comments, Nu-Sun Cinema

 

Jill from MN's picture

More about Nu-Sun's beautiful little male - he has a wonderful strong little chortling call that sounds like he's ravenous!  No brothers or sisters, no fights...

Jill from MN's picture

A lovely, alert little bird!  It now looks to me from the tail feathers and the growing primaries that this is a male.

TerriFla's picture

Making a donation. Thank you for a great Kestrel Season!

Started a Givalanche!

Nu-Sun Cinema's picture

Our nestling is doing great. Junior is getting ready for some feather plucking for DNA test/Genoscape.

Photo, Mom feeding junior on June 11/17.

Link to our live stream    http://www.nu-sun.com/html/2017_report.html

We will notify all when we are plucking feathers and all can watch it live !!

Have a great day,  Nu-Sun Cinema

cb0324's picture

Well, the good news did not last long- the microphone is dead again.

But they keep on coming at times, just I did not catch them going into the box.

 

On edit : Is suddenly on again, but somewhat screechy. 

accipiter