Our Kestrels are now live on the Arne website! The female has been sitting on the eggs for 32 days so the first should hatch any time. She seems particularly restless today and sometimes you can even hear the chicks calling from the eggs. Who will be the first to see a hatched chick? It would be great to see everyones observations on this forum so we can keep updated with all the excitement! To see the webcam follow: http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/a/arne/webcam.aspx
Have they ever raised more than 3 to maturity Michael? :-\
No, I think last year it was two out of five. Male came in with a food pass but a bit quick, both parents off now, still cant count anymore than three chicks, but does just like one mass of moving fluff in there at the momment!
Feeding time again. Keeping an eye on them as I'm sat here working but not posting all the time. The food supply has been rather plentiful all morning - every hour (give or take). Mr K doing a great job at providing. The last little egg still intact :(
Another vole bites the dust. The little chick missed out completely that time - its head was pointing the wrong way.
There is definately 4 chicks,,,, Been watching the family grow over the last week but i must say its not looking good for the little chap !!!!!
Well I did see all four chicks this time and that did look like a juicy vole!
it was a vole but i was hoping mrs K would be a bit more attentive to her younger babies, but i know thats how mother nature plays it...
Was that a lizard for the larder? He is doing well isn't he!
Good to have another pair of eyes/comments - welcome Mark!
Credit were it's due, Mrs K is doing a great job at protecting and keeping the little ones warm. She's also rather good at telling Mr K off sometimes!
Thank you Hazel, i am also watching the manchester peregrines and i find the food is more evenly distributed between her youngsters, which suggest to me that this pair of kestrels could be last years young as there seems to be plenty of food being brought in but not the experience to share it out,,, does anyone know if the chicks were ringed from last year ??
Another very bright green lizard brought in and fed to the chicks,,, at first most went to the biggest chick but she did eventually try and give the smaller chicks some but the food seemed to be to big a peices for them,,, she then tried to feed the whole wriggling tail to a chick before deciding that was wrong ....