Harper Asprey Wildlife Rescue encouaging through knowledge a natural balance

kestrel

 

Falco Tinnunculus, Hen, Cock, Chicks

 

Most Kestrels die before they reach 2 years of age; mortality until the first birthday is said to be as high as 85% but there has been a record age of 10 years in the wild. The kestrel is a small mid brown bird that has pointed wings with a long tail that has a black stripe at the end. The breast is cream with black speckles.

I love the character and agility of these fiesty birds of prey. Their intelligence allows for rehabilitation and a controlled soft program is essential. We have raised kestrels for many years now from egg to flight.
They live mainly in pine woodlands, heaths, open meadows and fields. In recent years motorways and city centers have become favorite haunts too. Their head and body length is around 25 - 35 cm with a wing span of 60 - 65 cm. They weigh 140 – 200 gm.

The Kestrel does not build its own nest. It often finds old crows nests, holes in trees or even motorway bridges, they will also use nest boxes. Kestrels are territorial and begin to establish a small territory in February when pre-breeding seasons begins. Kestrels only tend to defend areas close to their nests and their feeding range can trespass into other Kestrel areas. Territories for feeding can range for 1 – 10 sq. km, this will largely depend on availability of food.

The usual clutch, laid in April to May, is 5 - 7 eggs. The incubation period is approximately 30 days. Both males and females sit on the eggs. The young birds are fed at first by the male kestrel, which also brings food for the female. When the chicks are large enough to be left on their own both parents will feed them. They are fledged in about one month, but will stay close to the parent birds throughout the summer during which time they learn to hunt and fend for themselves.
The young birds will become sexually mature at the next breeding season.
Their diets consists of small mammals such as voles, mice, birds, beetles and worms. They require 4 – 8 voles a day depending on the time of year and the amount of hovering and energy used.They often take their food back to their perch and store them for later, preferring to do most of their eating at the end of the day, so that they can roost on a full stomach. They have been known to catch several voles in succession and cache some for days.

As kestrels can see ultra violet light they are able to track rodents that have marked their territory. Rodent urine glows in UV light. Their alternative feeding method is to swoop from a high perch, such as a pylon or telephone pole. Many have adapted to city life, nesting and perching on high ledges and feeding on small birds, insects and earthworms.
This bird of prey is diurnal and prefers open habitat such as fields, heaths, shrub land and marshland. It does not require woodland to be present as long as there are alternate perching and nesting sites like rocks or buildings. It will thrive in treeless areas where there are abundant herbaceous plants and shrubs to support a population of prey animals.
Kestrels hover-hunt, which means that they will stay in one position with wings and tail outspread, making only a few adjustments to allow for changes in the wind. When its prey appears, the bird will swoop down to grab it. Kestrels are often seen in the sky above roads or motorways, or perched on a high spot, such as a branch, telephone pole or wire. The rodent population at the edge of motorways attracts them there.
Kestrels are quite small but look bigger in flight. They can be identified by their pointed wings and long tail. The male has blue-grey head and tail with a black tip after a year old. The females remain a fawn and black colour. Males until a year old are the same colour as the females.
Kestrels are now protected in the UK, which means that it is a criminal offence to kill kestrels or disturb their nest

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This page was proof read by Sandra

why we do it

Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.

One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance on the beach, and so he walked faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean READ MORE

 

How we started

Whilst out walking with my dog in the early 1980's I found a small hedgehog stuck in a fence. He was too fat to go through and his prickles wouldn't let him go back.

He had been pushing so long in an attempt to free himself that the wire had cut into his body and his leg was bleeding where he had pushed and pushed against the ground. READ MORE

 

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