Kestrels Become Perfect Team in Face of Adversity | Full Story | Apollo & Athena | Robert E Fuller

Date Filmed: 2022

Kestrels Apollo & Athena become the perfect parenting team as they overcome a series of challenges to raise five chicks.

Watch kestrels Apollo & Athena interact live on my nest cam: ASHWOOD: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx09JDaWUEFPocIUijCjOMU5rY8a_QugD&si=Yy9nmOelo4f2x1R2] and follow their story in this playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx09JDaWUEFOZ-jHdba9bm0HrYDJyT8X8&si=lkO_e0OsWpu79uWW

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*ABOUT THIS FILM*
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After a rocky first year, in which this kestrel couple's relationship was clearly strained, the male Apollo now knows just how to appease his older, more dominant mate, Athena. Watch him shower her in gifts as their courtship develops.

Kestrel courtship
Kestrel courtship rituals begin with the male securing a site and 'presenting' it to the female for her approval. But when Apollo chooses Ash Hollow, the nest box I built especially for this couple in Ash Wood, he finds he has to fight off competitors, including jackdaws, a buzzard, and once even a stoat!

Egg laying
On April 1st Athena lays her first egg and then lays a further five - producing one roughly every two days.

Relationship strain
But the strain of egg-laying means Athena occasionally lashes out. Watch poor Apollo climb the walls to get out of her way.

Nest attacks
But the couple learn to come together when jackdaws attack. Watch them fight as a team to see them off.

Chicks hatch
35 days after it was laid, the first chick hatches. It’s covered in white downy feathers and it’s eyes are closed. Then, four hours later, the second emerges and Apollo arrives to inspect his new offspring.

First days
The two older chicks eyes are already open at less than 12 hours old, the 5th hatches the next day but it is a full two days before the sixth and final chick hatches.

Apollo hunts
Apollo must now work hard to feed his family. But the drought means there is little food about and Athena steps in to help.

Chicks hungry
It soon becomes clear that food is scarce and when Athena returns from hunting episodes with just a few worms I grow worried.

Youngest chick dies
The youngest chick is a lot smaller than the others …and eventually I decide to intervene but I cannot save it.

Chicks grow independent
The remaining chicks grow increasingly competitive and mealtimes become ferocious as they fight over food. Often there is a tug-of-war.

Ringing
Before their first flights, Jean Thorpe of Ryedale Rehabilitation, a licenced British Trust for Ornithology bird ringer, places ID rings, or tags, on their legs. This will ensure these birds can be identified if they're found in the future.

Weights
The kestrels are also weighed and their weights, 270g, 225g, 300g, 255g, 260g and a little one at 215g, are recorded.

Fledge
At 33 days old the first chick fledges the nest, followed one by one and over the course of two days by all four of its siblings.

First month
They remain close to the nest for another month where Apollo & Athena continue to feel them.

New generation
I too help this incredible kestrel family out by leaving food. It's amazing to see a new generation of kestrels thrive.
*ABOUT ME*
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I am a British wildlife artist and filmmaker on a mission to share my love for wildlife with the world. As well as creating detailed animal film and art portraits, I promote wildlife tours around the world and do all I can to help conserve and protect wildlife here at my home in Yorkshire. I hope that by putting nature in the frame I can foster a deep love for wildlife amongst my followers.

You may like to purchase my artwork which you can find on my website: https://www.robertefuller.com. Many of my paintings are portraits of the wonderful characters you watch here!

You can also follow me on these platforms:
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*CHAPTERS* (VIDEOS OVER 5 MINUTES)
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00:00 Courtship
05:42 Egg laying
09:40 Incubation
13:56 Hatching
14:40 First Feed
18:15 Young Chick Rehab
20:15 Five Remaining Chicks
22:08 Ringing
28:15 Chicks To Entrance
29:28 Fledging
32:14 Out In The Wild
32:53 Summary

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© Robert E Fuller

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