When squirrels take over kestrels Athena & Apollo's nest site, there seems little hope of evicting them. Watch the struggle as this pair try to hang on to their nest site for the coming season.
When squirrels take over kestrels Athena & Apollo's nest site, there seems little hope of evicting them. Watch the struggle as this pair try to hang on to their nest site for the coming season.
Kestrel nest
Athena & Apollo have nested in this kestrel box for the past three years, but after their chicks fledged last summer, a grey squirrel moved in. The most common type of squirrel nest is a drey, built between the branches of a tree, but when squirre
Tawny owls
A pair of tawny owls living nearby, named Bonnie & Ozzy, have already lost their favourite nest to a grey squirrel family this winter and have had to roost elsewhere whilst this grey squirrel family grow. Apollo & Athena's nest is custom built for kestrels, but seems popular with all the local wildlife. Athena, who continues to defend it outside the breeding season, must also contend with approaches from tawny owls.
Squirrel takeover
But she's fighting a losing battle. As she roosts at the entrance, a squirrel emerges from inside the nest and pushes her out. However, now the squirrels must also defend the site, watch them fend off a pair of jackdaws. Grey squirrels were introduced from North America in the 19th century and are considered invasive due to their detrimental impact on other wildlife, crops and trees. They have had particular impact Britain's native red squirrels through competition and spread of disease. So, with the squirrel out of the nest, I make the decision to remove its den.
Squirrels take over
But before long the squirrel returns and wastes no time starting to build a nest all over again. The squirrel is joined by another and the two begin to tussle. This behaviour can be seen in courting pairs, but in October, it’s more likely that these two are scrapping for dominance. Whatever their relation, they get to work, building a new den in just over an hour! Again the kestrels are slow to understand the occupation. That night, Athena gets a surprise as a squirrel sneaks up behind her. Eviction x2 I wait for an opportunity to oust the squirrels again and when they leave the den I clear it of their nesting material once more. While kestrels aren’t considered endangered in the UK, their populations have declined to around 30,000 breeding pairs, so they need all the help they can get.
Kestrels return
Only a few days later, Athena is back to stake her claim. It’s December now, only a few months before the breeding season begins and it seems the kestrels are going to have their work cut out to hold onto this nest this year!
