Kestrel couple overcome tensions to start a family

Kestrels Apollo and Athena's relationship was fraught. But now the kestrel pair have a new family to prepare for, it's time to bury the hatchet.

When this kestrel pair got together, they didn't waste any time to find a home and settle down. However, their courtship was volatile and the browbeaten young male, Apollo, learned a few harsh lessons about who was boss.  But once their eggs were laid, the couple quickly established a routine and Apollo worked hard to support Athena as one by one she laid five reddish-brown kestrel eggs.

Unlike Apollo, Athena is experienced at the whole process of raising chicks. She also turns out to be an efficient layer and lays her third egg in just five minutes - a task that can take hours!

Young male kestrel Apollo is a delighted first time dad and is visibly excited by the arrival of each egg. Whilst Athena is out stretching her wings his curiosity gets the better of him and he settles down to brood the eggs.

Kestrel pairs share incubation duties once the third egg has been laid and then, once the clutch of five is complete, they brood in shifts. This ensures the eggs stay at the perfect temperature for development.

But as these kestrels become busy, the tensions in their relationship emerge and at one point Athena unleashes her frustrations at her inexperienced mate. As she enters the nest, she calls furiously at Apollo to swap duties and appears to be berating him - possibly complaining that he has arrived without bringing her any food. But there’s no love lost between the pair, and over the following weeks they develop a routine that works.

And then an intruding barn owl threatens the future of this new kestrel family. And Athena's feisty nature comes into its own as she leaps to the entrance to defend her eggs, fanning her wings to block the owl entering.

It’s not long before the first chick is ready to hatch, 33 days after it was laid. Athena shifts as the chick begins to crack out from the egg beneath her. Listen carefully to hear this new life quietly cheeping. It's amazing to see how this hard-working kestrel is now a parent, and it’s beautiful to watch as he sees his chick for the very first time.

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