Hello!
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-Delora Hilleary
Comments:
Indeed, this is true.
Indeed, this is true. Fledglings seemed to return to the box to sleep in as soon as they were able to make the flight up.
We also have camera footage from previous years that show adult kestrels using nest boxes to roost in throughout the fall and even the winter.
Camera is not cooperating
Camera is not cooperating much this afternoon, but I saw a few times how the Kestrel Kids jostle for position, peek out of the hole in pairs and sometimes one bird perching in the hole. It is very windy today. Are the spectator birds seeing their parents out there? And what do the parents do most of the time?
The parents are still
The parents are still spending the majority of their time hunting! The kestrel chicks definitely get excited when a parent swoops by to drop something off.
LOL both sticking out heads
LOL both sticking out heads from the hole at the same time.
Aaaaaallllllllmost. That was
Aaaaaallllllllmost. That was the craziest turn around. They are sooooo ready.
Aaaaaallllllllmost. That was
Aaaaaallllllllmost. That was the craziest turn around. They are sooooo ready. Thanks for the close-ups.
One of the male kestrels
One of the male kestrels perched in the cavity got his wings open and flapping outside the box. It looked like he might take off, but no, he went back inside the box.
Yes - looking fantastic and
Yes - looking fantastic and the close-up from the outside camera was superb. Hope none of them fledges unwittingly - it looks like jostling on the ledge could knock one out!
I saw that! Crazy close!!!
I saw that! Crazy close!!!
Well. Getting too late for
Well. Getting too late for me to watch. I hope someone puts that first fledgling on video, I'm sure it's going to happen just when I have to turn off the computer. Thanks to whoever did all the closeups, which were so intriguing to watch.
I think tomorrow morning (27)
I think tomorrow morning (27) they will start fledging.
Is there any chance the
Is there any chance the outside camera could close in a little on the box hole so we can see their little heads looking out better?
They have -- I am so glad,
They have -- I am so glad, aren't you?
They have -- I am so glad,
They have -- I am so glad, aren't you?
If that bird jumps out of
If that bird jumps out of that hole as soon as I get off here, after watching all day, I will just scream. LOL
Daddy keeps flying over there
Daddy keeps flying over there saying "Come on you guys!"
I just saw one of the male
I just saw one of the male chicks fledge! Will post photos shortly.
Yay! Saw it too!
Yay! Saw it too!
I was so glad I caught it. I
I was so glad I caught it. I was about to leave, too. Would have been really bummed if I missed the first fledge. Now, I can happily leave. ;-)
Here is the image I captured
Here is the image I captured before the little one flew away. Funny thing is that I was telling him, "Go, little one. Go on," and shortly after that he did just that!
Here is the "After" screen
Here is the "After" screen capture. One down, four to go.
Note: I think I hear him (the one that fledged) calling in the background.
wow, one must have fledged
wow, one must have fledged andIi missed it.
Great catch!! So glad you
Great catch!! So glad you witnessed the first fledge of the season! Everyone keep your eyes peeled for the next four to take the leap!!
Wow, great catch everyone!
Wow, great catch everyone! Little guy fledged before I was at the office! Worry not to those who missed it, I'll be grabbing the archived video and putting together a fledge video at some point! :)
Funny. I thought that the two
Funny. I thought that the two males and one female would go at the same time. And now, only one male took off and the others are hesitating. LOL.
Looks pretty windy out there
Looks pretty windy out there too. Has he come back yet?
Not yet, but i bet he will be
Not yet, but i bet he will be back in the evening. Probably sitting on a branch watching the new world.
He came back!
He came back!
yes, all five in safety.
yes, all five in safety. Tomorrow will be the big fledging day i think.
6:46 am est there's only 4 in
6:46 am est there's only 4 in the box.
oh wait there he is
oh wait there he is underneath somebody!
Female left early this am
Female left early this am then a male!!
3 down 2 to go! ANother male
3 down 2 to go! ANother male just left!!!
#5 isn't showing any interest
#5 isn't showing any interest in flying yet.
spoke too soon!
spoke too soon!
# 5 hopped up on the ledge.
# 5 hopped up on the ledge.
Last 2 peeking out!
Last 2 peeking out!
The male just went!!!! 1 left
The male just went!!!! 1 left!!!
And number four's away! One
And number four's away! One left in the box, a female.
That was a surprise!!
That was a surprise!!
mama just came in and fed the
mama just came in and fed the last female.
Both the male and female have
Both the male and female have brought rodents to the remaining chick within the last half hour or so. The female entered the box and spent some time actually feeding the chick.
I always tough that it would
I always tough that it would be the little male coming out last, I was wrong LOL
I thought so too. Surprise!
I thought so too. Surprise!
I can clearly ear the other
I can clearly ear the other kestrel chicks calling outside!
Kestrel dad just came by to
Kestrel dad just came by to check on the last one. As i can remember, one chick was born a day later, so she will probably thake her first flight tomorrow.
Come on little girl, fly. I
Come on little girl, fly. I have things to do! LOL
I think she will fly tomorrow
I think she will fly tomorrow. And BTW, the time after fledging is very interesting as well.
Oh I know. watched last year
Oh I know. watched last year also even if my profile says otherwise.
Maybe they can fix that.
Love seeing them come and go and sitting in the nearby bushes!
uhhhh ... someone please
uhhhh ... someone please remind me not to blink when this comes around next year. Gone for 24 hours and when I'm back, wham, only one chick left in the box. Dare I go and vacuum the house? And miss the only remaining opportunity to see this chick fledge???? Thanks for reporting, all you other watchers. It gives me a slight vicarious satisfaction.