Kestrel Chicks Grow Thanks to Tender Care of Adults | Mr & Mrs Kes | Robert E Fuller

This film follows a clutch of six kestrel chicks as they reach important developmental milestones and shows how quickly these falcons develop under the protective care of their parents.

Watch Mr & Mrs Kes interact live on my nest cam: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx09JDaWUEFM-u8Q8V11cI1Ghk_-byaPM and follow their story in this playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx09JDaWUEFNlZRjHjh1HSq7kGuuFBVE3

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*ABOUT THIS FILM*
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Kestrels of Fotherdale

All six kestrel chicks hatched inside my Sycamore Stump nest box despite a very shaky start. Here they are just over a month old and nearly ready to leave the nest.

Hatching

When they hatch, these tiny kestrels are blind and helpless, unable even to hold up their heads, but thankfully they have round the clock care to ensure they are kept warm and safe.

First feeds

Mrs Kes, the adult female, is in charge of distributing dinner and she is a very fair mother. Watch how she circles her clutch to make sure each gaping mouth gets its fair share.

Brooding

Although both male and female kestrel share care of the chicks, Mrs Kes is their main carer and broods the youngsters almost constantly for the first 10 days of their lives to keep them warm.

Eyes open

But kestrel chicks grow fast and it isn't long before their eyes begin to open and they can hold their heads up. Once they can see, and move, they become a little more unruly and Mrs Kes has difficulty keeping them together so that she can sit over them.

Mr Kes

The male's main role is to bring food in for his growing family. But beyond providing, he has little clue how to actually feed the chicks. Watch as he brings in a lizard and presents it to one of the chicks whole. At this point the chick is unable to swallow a meal this large. Thankfully Mrs Kes returns to break up the food into smaller pieces for them..

Danger

Life in the wild is always a challenge and danger is never far away. Watch what happens when Fotherdale's barn owl pair, Ghost and Willow, decide to try to take over the nest.

No time to rest

Mrs Kes soon sees the intruders off, but the next morning she looks exhausted and still her growing brood are demanding more food. She joins Mr Kes to hunt, night and day, to provide for their chicks. Now, over 10 days old, the chicks can regulate their own temperature, and don’t need their mother to brood them.

First wing flaps

Before long the chicks begin to flap their growing wings and, by two weeks old the first of their feather pins are showing.

Glimpsing the outside world

Within three weeks the kestrels can stand on their own and start to venture to the nest entrance for a first look at the world outside! With their attentive parents there for them, night and day, these young kestrels are well on their way to becoming independent young birds.

Fledge

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*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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© Robert E Fuller

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