The mystery of what happened to the fourth kestrel was revealed shortly after our last update. It turned up in front of our Visitor Centre on Saturday 16 June having left the nest early and was unable to fly or fend for itself. It was taken straight to our friends at Brent Lodge Wildlife Hospital but sadly did not survive. We then had to witness a second act of siblicide as the remaining three became two and on Wednesday 20 June they too left the nest. Like their predecessor, these two were unable to fly still and suffering with parasitic flat flies. They were promptly caught before being taken to Brent Lodge.
Unfortunately, it appears to have been a bad year for voles and small mammals and this summers’ warm hot weather has also reduced the amount of fresh shoots for them to feed on, in turn affecting their breeding success. This may have been a reason for the parents to reduce and eventually stop feeding their chicks, focusing on their own survival and the need to feed themselves, as they have still been spotted around the Visitor Centre. Without the food coming in from their parents, the chicks resorted to siblicide and eventually left the nest early. This breakdown of the food chain happens every few years quite naturally and we have no doubt small mammal numbers will bounce back.
The good news is the last two kestrel chicks are well, had their lice removed and are feeding themselves. They will be released when they are strong enough to look after themselves.
One the kestrel chicks taken to Brent Lodge.
The stock dove chicks are now as big as their parents but like many teenagers seem reluctant to leave home which is now getting very cramped…
…particularly when mum and dad return home too!
Meanwhile over on our Medmerry we have two pairs of nesting barn owls, one with three chicks and the other with four.