Good morning everyone! This topic has been created for you to discuss events you see on the Bosch KestrelCams. Please ask questions, post observations and share knowledge about what our kestrels do during this 2015 nesting season.
If you prefer to see postings displayed with the most recent at the top, go to http://hub.peregrinefund.org/akp-2015-cams-discussion
Comments:
One of the chicks seems to be
One of the chicks seems to be eating less.
are we thinking that one
are we thinking that one chick is not well, despite being well fed?
am so impressed how these chicks wait patiently in a line to be fed.....
I do not see the chicg
I do not see the chicg getting weaker at this point of time- they were lucky to be born at the same time more or less, so there is no " runt"
It seems like different
It seems like different chicks are spending time "in the corner," and they still all seem about the same size and health. We can't tell if they are all going to survive until they actually do, but my personal perception is...so far so good!
Delora, you are absolutely
Delora, you are absolutely right - they're all holding their own in the sibling rivalry game and their feathers are all growing in so beautifully, too. Also - I can see the 'eyes in back of their little heads' now. So cute! :)
The banding went successfully
The banding went successfully, and we can confirm all of the chicks are healthy. The males all weigh about the same, and the two females weigh about the same. Thus, there is no "runt" this year, and I predict that all five will fledge within a week!
The bands are silver, and each has an individual ID number. Thus, if these birds are found again, we will know where they went!
So delighted to be able to
So delighted to be able to see the Kestrel Cam again. They all look so beautiful!
Delora - is there a video on YouTube of the banding this year?
Not yet - this time, the
Not yet - this time, the local news media came to record the banding. I don't have a digital link to that yet, but I will let you know when I do!
In the meantime, here is a radio interview that discusses the AKP!
http://boisestatepublicradio.org/post/famous-boise-kestrels-thriving-species-decline
Teensy FLIGHT! Our intrepid
Teensy FLIGHT! Our intrepid male 'ringleader' actually leaped into the air and flapped his wings at about 2:55 - 2:56 Boise time. It never ceases to amaze me how plucky this year's little nestlings are.
This next week I will be
This next week I will be looking for these milestones amongst our Kestrel Kids:
1. eating something that their parents deliver without having to be fed
2. perching in the cavity and looking out of it
Here is a link to a TV clip
Here is a link to a TV clip about the AKP and the banding that happened yesterday!
http://www.scrippsmedia.com/kivitv/news/BSU-biologists-are-leading-worldwide-effort-to-save-American-Kestrels-306212391.html
Thanks for the clip, Delora!
Thanks for the clip, Delora! Did they try to bite when they were initially handled or did they act, more or less, docile? Just curious.
I wasn't able to watch the kestrel cam for a few days because the page wouldn't load for me but everything is working fine now. It is so amazing how fast they grow! In the few days I wasn't able to watch, all of their feathers came in. Before downtime: Feathers were still coming in. The next time I see them, they look like their parents, even with the 'eyes' around their necks.
Will miss these little guys when they fledge. It's also amazing how fast small birds mature in comparison to larger birds. For example, I'm also currently watching a barn owl cam and an albatross cam. The barn owls and Laysan albatross hatched in late March through early April and in January, respectively, but they are not even close to fledging, yet.
American kestrels generally
American kestrels generally are not very "bitey" - but they do lie on their backs and try to sink their talons into your hand. Luckily as chicks, the chance of taking some damage from their talons is small - but it can definitely hurt!
Most birds of prey know that their best weapons are their talons, even at an early age, so lashing out with their feet is the most common defense of both adults and chicks.
Thanks for watching with us this year! :)
Ouch! I wouldn't want them to
Ouch! I wouldn't want them to sink their talons into my flesh. Just think of all the harmful bacteria you would also get! I learned from a raptor expert that bald eagle talons can penetrate bone.
Then there is the cassowary, the large flightless but very territorial bird of Australia...
Hi, Delora - thank you so
Hi, Delora - thank you so much for the clip! It was very interesting, and to see how big the chicks are in relation to a human hand is a lesson in itself. Amazed that the birds held so still when they were being held/restrained.
By the way - I was wondering if one more description of what the little kestrels are doing might be helpful. To me there would be a momentous difference between perching on the inside ledge and actually perching in the cavity as opposed to just looking out of it. Lately I see one chick perching on the ledge beside another one looking out of the cavity. But perching in the cavity seems very close to preparing for that first flight!
The kestrels could fledge any
The kestrels could fledge any day now - their feathers are about long enough to enable flight. So get in all your kestrel chick watching while you can! :D
I'm guessing, like the
I'm guessing, like the previous two years of watching, the males will fledge first and the females last. Is this due to their size difference (males slightly smaller and lighter)?
OT...
Can they see their reflections in the cam lens? Sometimes, they seem to intently watch the camera as though they are watching us watching them, LOL.
poor kids....no room to
poor kids....no room to exercise....parents did excellent job of providing food... now the kids need to fledge just so they can muscle up those wings! thanks for the cam, been fun watching
poor kids....no room to
poor kids....no room to exercise....parents did excellent job of providing food... now the kids need to fledge just so they can muscle up those wings! thanks for the cam, been fun watching
the kids make such
the kids make such interesting sounds, like water dripping....
I've noticed that interesting
I've noticed that interesting sound as well! It's definitely one I didn't notice last year, due to their being a lack of microphone. It's neat that we can pick up the more subtle calls with it this year.
I'm ready to run out with a camera when the chicks fledge, and I'll try my best to snap photos of their first forays into the world.
Thanks for watching with us, Madeline! :)
any recordings of the sounds
any recordings of the sounds the kids are making? priceless
so much more room, with two
so much more room, with two kids on the ledge. Last year one was accidentally pushed out to fledge, with the amount of activity they spend at the viewing hole, i suspect this might happen again!
the gutteral water sound the
the gutteral water sound the kids are making, i do believe it sounds similar to grouse sounds!
It must be hot there in Idaho
It must be hot there in Idaho. Looks like all the chicks are panting and very sleek, slightly hanging wings. What is the temperature shift from, say, 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. ? Is it a little cooler out of the box?
It's actually very hot today
It's actually very hot today - here is a local forecast: http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=boise+ID&MR=1
Temps will be close to 100 degrees F today. Two years ago, a 104-degree day helped prompt fledging, and it could happen again. It definitely feels cooler outside of the box, I suspect, due to air flow.
Thanks for the quick reply!
Thanks for the quick reply! Yeah, kind of hoping for the fledging to happen, and yet not hoping, because I am so addicted to watching them, and well, when they fledge, it's pretty much over. How much time will they spend on the rooftop area? Days? Hours?
The nestbox overlooks open
The nestbox overlooks open field with some trees and bushes, and is turned away from the rooftop. In the past, the fledglings flapped/dropped right to the ground initially, before making it to the bushes and trees with some effort and encouragement from the parents. I was able to get photos of them in the past years during that initial phase when they were running around on the ground.
At 1:47 - 1:48 Boise time,
At 1:47 - 1:48 Boise time, one of the little males was actually perching in the cavity as opposed to the ledge inside, seeing what he could see. It won't be long now!
Good Kestrel Morning, folks!
Good Kestrel Morning, folks!
Just wondering. Between 7:30 and 7:50 AM Boise time, there was a report that one of the birds fledged
. I double checked when I saw only two males and two females there. Now, however, I spy one male fledgling and four nestlings in the box at 7:50. Is returning to the box pretty common once a bird has fledged?
Indeed, a Peregrine Fund
Indeed, a Peregrine Fund employee confirmed that one chick fledged this morning! I do not know how common it is for a fledgling to return to the box, but such behavior was observed last year as well. Last year's fledglings returned to the box a couple times right after fledging, and a couple of them used the nest box to roost after that.
actually, two kestrel chicks
actually, two kestrel chicks perching in the cavity.
Interesting. One of the
Interesting. One of the parents(male?, resolution not enough) brought something what looked like a vole, let the chicks pull on it and flew away with the rest. Like showing them that food is waiting outside.
How do I report what I saw?
How do I report what I saw?
Just saw one of the chicks
Just saw one of the chicks take flight. 6:55 Central
Man, I keep thinking these
Man, I keep thinking these chicks will make the jump any second. I'm definitely getting some neat screenshots though, while I wait! Their flight feathers grew in beautifully.
Link to HD picture #1
Link to HD picture #2
I expected two of them to
I expected two of them to fledge this morning, but they decided to wait, LOL I wo9uld say tomorrow for sure.
3 chicks perching in the
3 chicks perching in the cavity, really crowded, lol.
So three of our little
So three of our little darlings flew the coop while I was on the road! One handsome little male left.
Hypothesis: even if the kestrel chicks hatched within a brief span of time this year, all robust, do the birds fledge when they are biologically ready, according to when the egg was laid?
If I don't keep my eyes peeled I will miss the little fellow's milestone.....
Another happy kestrel day!
I missed the fledging this
I missed the fledging this morning , when I tuned in they were already gone, one sitting in the tree.
I got some pictures of the
I got some pictures of the fledglings! You can view the photo album here:
http://hub.peregrinefund.org/node/339
I'll add more photos to it as we get more.
You can do it!!! Go find
You can do it!!! Go find your siblings!!
Thank you!
Thank you!
Great!! Thanks a lot.
Great!! Thanks a lot.
Quiet in the box with only
Quiet in the box with only one chick left- missing all the chirping, lol.
Permalink: I have enjoyed
Permalink: I have enjoyed this site all season. Thank you for providing the cams for the Kestrels and the Peregrines. However, if I had a complaint, it would have to do with this KestrelCams conversation section, could you reverse the order of the comments, i.e., most recent comments first & oldest listed last. Please look at making a change next season. Many, many of us would appreciate it.
Hello Owluver!
Hello Owluver!
Thanks so much for your feedback, and I'm glad you have enjoyed the cams! You may have missed it - at the very top of this thread is a link that lets you view the comments in reverse order. Perhaps we can make that link more prominent next year?
Fledgling on the roof- i have
Fledgling on the roof- i have reported is as male, but the cam resolution is not good enough to tell. Grain of salt here.
kestrels flying around the
kestrels flying around the box. Female fledgling entered the box. The remaining male chick got confused and showed a bit of aggressive behavior toward her.
Some of them have real difficulties flying and lending. One of the chicks slipped down the brick wall and tried to get hold there.
It's crowded in the box again
It's crowded in the box again- 3 kestrels fighting for food. And one on the roof top. LOL