Here in the islands, we enjoy the annual migrations of various species of birds. When we heard that kestrels were observed hunting in one of our meadows, we mounted a special kestrel bird box near that field, in the hopes of supporting these littlest of falcons in North America. It’s a large box with the right size hole to attract a bird that nests in natural cavities. But wouldn’t you know it, we ended up with a starling family!
Nonetheless, we got our kestrels! Apparently, a couple decided that our barn’s outbuildings had just the right type of cavity for nesting. So fledgling kestrels, with adult colors, but still with bits of fluff, started showing up — hopping around our farm road and in the shop, where we work on equipment. The two kestrels in our shop we captured and relocated to our chicken run, where the cat wouldn’t be able to get them.
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- kestrel on an oil container
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- kestrel on T-post pile
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- kestrel in the drive thru
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- kestrel in the chicken coop
Amazingly, a parent was observed flying around inside the chicken run, which is not bird-proof around the roof. Although I fed the fledglings in the chicken run a little ground beef and offered a water dish, I think a parent was pitching in.
And then they were all gone without a trace… Happy hunting, little kestrels;-)
