General Discussion : 2017 KestrelCam Discussion

Hello! Welcome to the 2017 KestrelCam season!

We're back with a great camera courtesy of Bosch, and a new streaming platform on Youtube. If you notice a problem with streaming, try refreshing the page and restarting the streams. If you have technical issues or any other kind of issue, please use the contact staff link to get assistance. Please feel free to report any spam or disrespect to AKP staff.

Remember to be respectful and courteous to other viewers, and enjoy the show!

Stay on the lookout for live chats this year, every Tuesday and Thursday at noon MST. I'll be chatting with everyone to answer any and all questions.

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-Delora Hilleary

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TerriFla's picture

One egg to the side of the rest. is that number 5???

TerriFla's picture

Now she's pushed it under her.

Delorahilleary's picture

I saw four earlier but she hasn't budged in a long while. We shall see :)

TerriFla's picture

Visual confirmation of 5 eggs!!!!

Minot's picture

A few minutes ago the female kestrel stepped aside the 5(!) eggs, ate the rodent that the male delivered about three hours ago, and then went back to incubating the eggs. 

Delorahilleary's picture

Five eggs! Hoooray! You guys beat me to it :D

Jill from MN's picture

On an otherwise quiet morning in the 'maternity ward', it looks like Mama Kestrel seems to have a deep down itch just below the wing surface and her head goes back and forth deep down.  This could even be in her sleep, and has been going on for at least a few minutes and it's just before 9:00 Boise time.

Jill from MN's picture

Our handsome little male sits calmly atop those little treasures.  It snowed here in Minnesota a few days ago and I wondered about birds here coping with the regression to the cold, but if they are anything like our lovely resilient little family they will pick up where they left off. 

I always love peeking in.  Thanks again for all you do.

Delorahilleary's picture

I find it rather relaxing to peek in on the pair incubating. I wish I could nap like that right now, haha. Looks like they're being quite diligent now :)

Thanks for the kind words!

Jill from MN's picture

Good morning, folks!  I noticed that when the female came back to the box just now and got back on the eggs, she was breathing hard for a while there.  (Twilight setting in the box yet)

TerriFla's picture

SNOW again. come on Boise it's spring!!!

Delorahilleary's picture

I can't believe it's snowing again. I thought the forecast would be lying. What is this spring!? Hahaha.

Shauna's picture

Yes, but that little female is pretty snugly settled on the eggs.  Hope it isn't too cold there?  Because cold plus snow isn't great.  It looks windy.

 

TerriFla's picture

crud, it's coming the box again. Stupid snow.

TerriFla's picture

OMG I can't stand watching this snow, can't you go cover it up with a nice warm blanket?  :)

Jill from MN's picture

Ah, my precious little trooper!!!!!   I was watching an eagle cam based here a month ago as the parent bird sat patiently on eggs while snow was in the nest.  Our mama Kestrel is made of the same stuff... <3

TerriFla's picture

This Florida gal is so worried. :)

Jill from MN's picture

Mama Kestrel looking like her pretty little self.  Weather looks great.  Hatch day around May 7, right?

Delorahilleary's picture

The last egg was laid on April 8th, and then full incubation appeared to begin then. With incubation going for 27-31 days typically, May 7 or 8 is a great guess :)

TerriFla's picture

May 8th....my birthday!!! What a cool present that would be!

Delorahilleary's picture

Eggs for my birthday, hatchlings for yours? Haha. *high five*

TerriFla's picture

:)

Jill from MN's picture

Male kestrel looks very alert as he sits on the eggs at just about 12:00 PM Boise time.  Could be listening for something

Jill from MN's picture

Wonder if the Kestrel Kids will fledge for mine?   I was born on the ides of June....  :)

 

Jill from MN's picture

Dad Kestrel asleep on top of the eggs, breathing hard, around 9:30 Boise time.

Jill from MN's picture

Just saw the male kestrel jump off the eggs, flap his wings a moment and put his head in the corner, then get back on the eggs again.

 

Jill from MN's picture

This stint I see the male looking up at the camera a lot.  Since it is a very windy day I wonder if some motor makes noise when the camera focus has to readjust.   Very observant bird today.

 

 

Jill from MN's picture

raining in Boise, our Mama Kestrel is getting wet but she's faithful!  8:49 Boise time

 

TerriFla's picture

No body in the chat today and I had a good question. Maybe Thursday!

Delorahilleary's picture

That was my bad, sorry! I thought I'd clicked it on, but I'd accidentally double-clicked. Woops! Next time :)

Jill from MN's picture

Observations I wish I had a big block of time to make:

1.  How often a food delivery is made while the eggs are being incubated rather than after the eggs are hatched

2.  Any hints of a Circadian rhythm of when the two birds hand off the eggs to each other:  your turn to go hunt and eat/my turn to go hunt and eat

3.  Any time the kestrel couple spend in the nest together and what happens

Jill from MN's picture

Dad Kestrel looked at the cam, went killying for a bit, jumped off the eggs then got back on.  Second time I saw him do that.  About 6:31 Boise time.   He sure looks at the cam a lot....

 

NM-Kestrel-Laura's picture

I've been musing over possible reasons they look at the cam. Ours do that, too. Maybe there is a tiny but perceptible hum from the camera. There must be something to draw their notice, and the only thing I can guess is some kind of sound. Your guess is as good as mine! --Laura

Delorahilleary's picture

I wonder if it's them seeing the movement of their reflection, perhaps. They're highly visual animals, so I wouldn't be surprised if seeing something move on the cam surface catches their attention for a moment.

NM-Kestrel-Laura's picture

Oh! That's a good thought, too! Although, come to think of it, I'm not sure how much of ours they can see--it's mounted behind a hole in a separate housing that protects it from rain and desert heat. Maybe light bounces off it periodically. I'll have to see if there is any correlation with time of day. :) 

Jill from MN's picture

Delora, is the camera in a different spot this year in order to avoid a soiled lens?    The reflection could be more distracting this year than last or in past years.

 

Delorahilleary's picture

The camera is in the same place as last year, however we did cover some of the outside of it with a cone of plastic to prevent soiling. Perhaps the cone is interesting to look at, or makes for an odd shadow? Hard to say. Hopefully I won't have to bother them as much this year to clean the lens, however!

TerriFla's picture

LOL you were up there every day for a while! Little squirters.

Jill from MN's picture

I hear a Kestrel Kid!!!!!!!1

Jill from MN's picture

TWO Kestrel Kids!

Delorahilleary's picture

THE KESTREL NESTLINGS HAVE ARRIVED WOOO! Two indeed! :D

Jill from MN's picture

Yes, it's two Kestrel Kids.  One just very recently hatched.  I am crying for joy.

 

TerriFla's picture

There are 6 eggs? When did that happen?

TerriFla's picture

Are there 6 eggs or is that just part of a hatched egg?

TerriFla's picture

Babies!!!! My class will be so excited!!! Me too!!

TerriFla's picture

OK it turned over, it's just a shell. Dang I thought I missed something there.

Delorahilleary's picture

Yup! Just shells scattered about after hatching!
Don't worry if you missed any of the hatching or first feedings - I recorded video for everyone! I'll work on putting it together tomorrow :)
 

Jill from MN's picture

Dad Kestrel keeps looking into the box.  It's like the parents are so excited they hardly stay still.

Jill from MN's picture

Mama Kestrel needs to solve a problem about 8:21 Boise time.  Her two hatchlings are widely separated:  how to keep them both warm now?

Jill from MN's picture

The further away of the hatchlings is starting to straighten up and stretch wings in the absence of a parent.  Growing up already.....

 

Posted in General Discussion by Delorahilleary 7 years 3 weeks ago.