Monday, June 13, 2022

Owls And Kestrels

A nest box with camera is a great way of monitoring birds so as not to disturb the family unnecessarily until the time comes to ring the youngsters. The images of 31 May and then 8 June from Jamie’s camera documented the Kestrel’s progress so well that we were able to set the date for ringing the chicks as Monday 13 June. I met Andy on site at 1000 where we borrowed Steve’s ladder to investigate. 

Kestrels - 31 May

Kestrels - 8 June

We expected to find three chicks but were happy no see four young and feisty Kestrels at an ideal stage to accept their new rings. 
 
Kestrel

Kestrels - 13 June 

Ten minutes after ringing both adult Kestrels returned with animal food for the chicks. The same site has breeding Barn Owls and Kestrels together with Little Owls nearby, a variety of predators that points to a healthy population of voles, mice, rats and small birds in the adjacent and sympathetically farmed land. 

You can follow the progress of this Kestrel family on Jamie’s live nest box streams at https://www.facebook.com/NestBoxLive. There are birds from all over the world including Tree Sparrows, Swifts, Bluebirds plus owls and raptors alike. Be warned, the site is very addictive! 

Our visit was also timed to check the Barn Owl box that had not sent images for weeks. Andy climbed the ladder because he’s the youngest but not by much. He reported the camera lens buried in debris from many meals and their aftermath and advised the camera be cleaned and placed higher once the owls had finished. Of the four young Barn Owls just three were big enough to ring. 

Barn Owl Box
 
Barn Owl
 
Barn Owls lay 4-6 eggs but not all eggs hatch though 4 is the average as some may be infertile. Most bird species don’t start to incubate (sit on and warm) their eggs until the clutch is complete, so the eggs hatch at more or less the same time. 

Barn Owls begin incubation as soon as the first egg is laid and lay additional eggs over a period of around 8-21 days. After 31-32 days’ incubation, the eggs hatch every 2-3 days, usually in the order they were laid. This is known as “asynchronous” hatching. The age difference between the oldest and youngest nestlings can be as much as three weeks. This age variation serves to reduce the peak in food demand and spread it over a longer period. 

Today’s smallest chick will remain un-ringed because if we were to return to ring that one there is a real risk that its larger siblings might leave the box prematurely and thus be in danger in an outside world that they are not quite ready to enter. 

Back home three young Dunnocks (from 5 eggs) were old enough to be ringed and their details recorded on the BTO database, each with their personal ring number, the place of birth, their approximate age and the number of siblings in the family. 

Dunnock chicks
 
Back soon with more birds, news and pictures on Another Bird Blog. 


19 comments:

Linda said...

The kestrels are so cute and fluffy! The barn owl looks like a grumpy Muppet.

Carol @Comfort Spring Station said...

the young ones are so fluffy and cute - question will their legs grow more? just wondering

Rostrose said...

Dear Phil,
this was a particularly exciting post for me today! I've never been to a ringing - and now I was at least virtually... more or less. I can only vaguely imagine how to attach the ring to these little creatures. Anyway, it was lovely to see the four young kestrels, the little fluffy barn owl and the dunnocks :-)
All the best and have a good week,
Traude
https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2022/06/italien-reisebericht-grado-und-aquileia.html

Rostrose said...

PS: I find the concept of “asynchronous” hatching very clever! Well, owls are said to be wise.

EricaSta said...

Wow, what a wonderful work with the birds. Many thanks for sharing.

eileeninmd said...

Oh wow, it is great to see the babies doing well. Both the Kestrel babies and barn owl baby are adorable. Have a great day and happy new week!

Veronica Lee said...

Loved the photos, Phil. Especially that shot of the Dunnock chicks.

So happy to see the babies doing well.

Have a great week ahead.

Jenn Jilks said...

What wonderful work you all do!
(ツ) from Cottage Country Ontario , ON, Canada!

NCSue said...

Looks like mama has her work cut out for her feeding those hungry dunnock chicks! They will keep her busy!
Thanks for sharing this week at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2022/06/feeding-time-at-ncsue-zoo.html

Wally Jones said...

You have given us a new perspective on the term "robbing the cradle". In this case, it's a good thing!

Baby bird season is an exciting time as there is a lot of activity what with parents zipping back and forth trying to keep up with the food demands. Pretty much like when our own "chicks" were still in the nest.

Happy to see you had a "youngster" available for the ups and downs of working with a ladder.

Gini and I are well and embracing our sub-tropical version of the monsoon season. Out early before heat, humidity and biting bugs take too much of a toll.

Lowcarb team member said...

What a great post, such amazing photographs Phil.
I did enjoy seeing the fluffy youngsters.

All the best Jan

kathyinozarks said...

Hi I really enjoyed your post-my husband and I have always enjoyed watching the birds, years ago we raised exotic birds from the incubator.

My name is Erika. said...

Wow, these are great photos. It is really fascinating to see the kestrel babies in their nest.

DVArtist said...

OMGosh these are just fabulous photos.

Gillena Cox said...

Lovely photos. Thanks for sharing. Happy Thursday

Much❤love

Christine said...

Cute kestrels

Christine said...

Cute kestrels

Rain said...

What a treat to see those baby birds growing! The Kestrels are something else! And the barn owl! Oh, what a beautiful bird!!

Mike Attwood said...

Thankyou Phil, Wonderful post and very informative.
Take care. Mike.

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