Film | Brave kestrel mum raises chicks alone | Jeff & Jenny | Wild lives

Jenny the kestrel showed incredible fortitude as she brought up her three chicks alone. Watch her work tirelessly to feed and care for them.

Female kestrels don’t normally hunt to provide food for their chicks, but after Jenny’s partner Jeff disappeared following an altercation with a red kite, Jenny was forced to provide for her brood. Thankfully, she was already accustomed to feeding from a post in my garden where I usually leave out extra food for the birds of prey here. Whilst Jenny’s chicks were young, I put out extra food so that this single mum kestrel could collect meals for her chicks without leaving the nest for too long.

At two weeks, Jenny could leave them for longer periods. At mealtimes they became boisterous. Watch one chick snatches the food from her, but despite its can-do attitude, it hasn’t worked out how to feed itself just yet. Now the chicks are older, Jenny can hunt for her family again. On her first hunting trip, she returns with a vole she’s caught. By July, the chicks are 18 days old and can now tear up their own food. Now that their feathers have grown through, they even start flapping practice. And as they grow in confidence, one chick even peeks out of the entrance for the very first time.

But one night when she falls asleep, she doesn’t hear a barn owl landing on the branch. A barn owl’s flight is almost silent, so it’s only when it takes off again that Jenny reacts. But she is too late, and the barn owl swipes her into the nest. Kestrel’s struggle to see in the dark, and poor Jenny looks completely bewildered. But thankfully the chicks are safe inside.

As the time approaches for their first flights Jenny brings in more and more food. Interestingly, although the chicks can now feed themselves, Jenny occasionally enters the nest break up and share out the food. She seems keen to ensure they’re each getting a share. Over the following days, the chicks fledge one by one! Chicks remain close For the first time in months, the nest is empty, but it is another month before the young fledglings are able to live independently. Until then, Jenny continues to deliver food for them. During this time the kestrels become increasingly confident, exploring further around the garden… and bothering Jenny at the feeding post.

This kestrel story has been an emotional rollercoaster. It was so special following Jeff as he grew from inexperienced fledgling to confident bachelor and watching him woo Jenny. But when tragedy struck and Jenny was left alone with three chicks, it was touch and go. I’m so glad I was able to support Jenny on her journey as a fantastic single mother, and to watch all three chicks fledge successfully.