I used to be all smiles when all six of unmarried kestrel dad Mr Kes’ chicks were given their ID rings. After this sort of tricky get started it felt like they’d in the end made it and have been now able to graduate to maturity.
THE STORY
When those six kestrel chicks misplaced their mom it was once contact and pass whether or not they would live on. However with a little bit reinforce from me, their superb dad, Mr Kes, realized to handle them on his personal. This was once truly fantastic for the reason that male kestrels don’t generally do that and most often motherless kestrel chicks die.
SINGLE KESTREL DAD
I helped Mr Kes by way of striking further meals into the nest, however most commonly he labored round-the-clock to stay his six chicks fed. I saved a detailed eye on their growth by the use of my nest cams able to interfere if essential.
KESTREL CHICKS GROW
It wasn’t lengthy prior to the chicks may just feed themselves and at 3 weeks outdated their flight feathers got here thru. At 3 weeks outdated the nest was once a little bit crowded and it was once virtually time for them to fledge.
ID RINGS
However prior to they left, we had to connect ID rings to their legs. That is finished by way of Jean Thorpe, a certified chook ringer. Jean suits a light-weight steel ring, completely sized to suit for lifestyles, to each and every kestrel. Then we weighed them able to ship the knowledge to the British Accept as true with for Ornithology. All this knowledge bureaucracy a countrywide database, offering necessary details about wild kestrel populations.
HEARTWARMING
After a difficult get started in lifestyles, it’s superb to look all six chicks so wholesome. After the tragedy of dropping their mom, who would have concept? Those chicks are thriving, and so they’ll be able to fledge in only a week’s time.