I have recently built and mounted a Kestrel box and the back of my shop. I live in western Wisconsin near farms. (Both dairy and corn/bean farms) living near these places has attracted European starlings. They have spotted the kestrel box on my property. With this bad news there has been good: What seems to be a pair of kestrels has found interest in the box. They seem to be roosting there at night and come out to roost high in a tree line opposite the box. The starlings seem to want to nest in the box also. They will fly over to it. And check it out. The kestrels will usually fly down to the nest box to defend. Lately I've seen only one kestrel roosting in the trees. The other I have not seen lately. I was wondering if and when I should check the box. I don't know if the female is laying eggs now or if she has left and only the male is using it at night.
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Comments:
As you know, the mating
As you know, the mating season for Kestrels and Starlings in your area is just getting underway, and it seems like it's too early to tell which species will wind up nesting in your box. Continue to watch every day. At this early stage the only thing you can do to dissuade the Starlings is to daily remove any nesting materials they bring to the box. Learn to identify their nests and eggs by looking at photos online. Know the difference between species. Remove and destroy them if found. Always leave the bedding you have prepared as the Kestrel doesn't add nesting material. It's essential never to allow a bare floor. The Kestrels defending the box is a favorable sign.
One more question about the
One more question about the checking if boxes: When should one check? I know the Kestrels are using the box and I'd rather not disturb them too much as to make them irritated and move on. I have only seen one bird out at a time. I have not seen the pair of them together for some time. Should I go and check the box? This is my first nest box so thanks for being patient with me.
Early May is a good time to
Early May is a good time to check for much of the United States, for most kestrels are likely incubating eggs during that time. I hope that helps, and good luck!
Well I have some bad news
Well I have some bad news with my box: It seems the starlings have evicted the kestrels. I saw this morning that starlings were aggressively flying around the nest box. The two kestrels were perched in a tree line not far from the box. Recently I had only seen one kestrel at a time. I thought that the female may have laid eggs. The sight made my stomach drop. I checked the box on my study hall to find that the box had been filled with nest material. I didn't see starlings or kestrels. I checked for eggs and found no sign. I left the nest. Maybe tonight the kestrels or the starlings will return. I only hope it's the former.
It's a good idea to remove
It's a good idea to remove the nesting material - Kestrels do not add anything to nestboxes (they just make a little scrape in whatever is there) so that means the nesting material is definitely from starlings! Removing starling nest material can help discourage them, and encourage the kestrels.
Do you think the Kestrels
Do you think the Kestrels will come back to the nest site?
If you saw them around, there
If you saw them around, there is definitely a chance of it still! It's not too late for egg-laying yet.
Hi all. I thought I'd post a
Hi all. I thought I'd post a second to last update here on my nest box. Lately, over the past week I have been unable to spot any kestrels around the box. Actually, I had not seen any at all. Last evening at around 4:30-5 P.M. I thought I'd go check the box for any other inhabitants. I set up my ladder and climbed up. I knocked on the side of the box three times and still nothing flew out. I unhooked the lid and opened it only to have a female kestrel staring up at me. I quietly took everything down and vacated. No kestrel or bird left the box. I do hope that I didn't scare the bird away, but I thought that the kestrels had left.
I bet she is incubating eggs,
I bet she is incubating eggs, then! Sounds like things are going well
Do you think such a
Do you think such a disturbance could cause the bird to abandon the nest? I was right above it.
Luckily, kestrels are quite
Luckily, kestrels are quite resilient to disturbances, so quick looks in the box hardly ever cause them to abandon the nestbox, especially if they are incubating a clutch or raising young! Most of our partners check the nestbox at least once during incubation to count the eggs, and then come back within a month to check the hatchlings. It's okay if the parent is frightened from the nestbox during the check - they return after you clear the area!
I would just like to say
I would just like to say thank you for your comments and information. It is now July and after handling a great many things with work, graduation from high school, and the fixing of this computer I have finally been able to update my nest box observations. There are two kestrel chicks in the box and I have not seen any starlings here in the last two months. Hopefully two american kestrel chicks fledge here in Trempealeau,Wisconsin in the next couple of weeks. Thanks again.
Hi drelys, thanks tons for
Hi drelys, thanks tons for entering in your data, and thanks for the kind words. I am glad I could help out