Kestrel chicks need to be fierce to survive in the wild. And it's surprising how young they begin to demonstrate this fire! Watch this film to see how kestrels Apollo & Athena's three fluffy chicks spread their wings ready to take on the world.
Kestrel Chicks
From just two weeks old, kestrel chicks are left alone in their nest. Their parents, Apollo & Athena only visit to bring them food. But their mother, Athena, doesn't stray far and is there to defend them when a squirrel strays too close to the nest.
Kestrels Are Fighters
Now they no longer have their food carefully shared out amongst them by their mother Athena, it's up to the chicks to grab their share of deliveries and fights often break out among them.
Kestrel Calls
The chicks spend their days inside the nest waiting for the sound of their kestrel parents. The chicks can recognise the characteristic calls and are ready to jump for the food when they hear their parents arriving.
Kestrels Food
Kestrels are carnivores and favour small mammals such as voles, mice, and shrews. But in hard times they will take what they can get. This has been a tough year for Apollo & Athena, and they’ve had to work hard for small rewards - resorting to small items like young birds and even worms!
UK Kestrel Population In Decline
Apollo & Athena originally had 5 chicks but sadly lost two because of a lack of food. Kestrels are in decline in the UK, with an amber status, so, to ensure the remaining two survived I supplemented their diet.
Learning To Fly
At nearly three weeks, the chicks begin practising flapping their wings. Young kestrels fledge 30 days after hatching, give a take a day or two.
And Getting Ready For Hunting
The eldest of Athena's chicks is a day older than its siblings and getting ready for independence. Watch it grappling at the nest floor with its talons - this is how it will eventually catch its prey.
Bird Ringing And Weighing
At 28 days old, the kestrel chicks get identification rings and I discover how feisty they have become when one of them digs its sharp talons into my finger. Ringing the chicks doesn’t hurt them in any way, and the unique ring number is added to a national database so that the birds can be identified in the future. After the ring is fitted, it’s time to weigh the chick. These measurements will be sent on to the BTO, contributing important data about kestrel development.
Time To Fledge
At 31 days old the eldest kestrel chick is ready to leave the nest for the first time. This is known as fledging and is when the young bird takes its first short flights. And two days later the remaining kestrel chicks also take to the wing.
Learning To Hunt
The juvenile kestrels remain close to nest for another month where their mother Athena continues to feed them until they have learned to hunt for themselves.
This Kestrel Story
It’s been incredible to watch this kestrel family. Apollo & Athena have come such a long way, and become a great team. Thanks to their hard work, these chicks have grown into tough young falcons.
