All six kestrel chicks are now thriving, despite a very shaky start. This film takes a look back at their extraordinary story and pays tribute to the resilience and determination of their parents, two formidable falcons Mr & Mrs Kes.

Watch Mr & Mrs Kes interact live on my nest cam:    • Live From Fotherdale | Robert E Fuller   and follow their story in this playlist:    • Kestrels 🦅 Mr & Mrs Kes | Wild Lives ...  

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ABOUT THIS FILM
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Survival against the odds

Despite a very turbulent beginning, all six kestrel chicks have survived and are now almost ready to fledge the nest and begin their lives as independent falcons. Their story is one of survival against all the odds and shows how the fortitude shown by their parent birds kept them safe.

Danger never far away

Throughout their short lives, the adult female kestrel, Mrs Kes, has had to fight off raids on her nest but despite these dangerous disruptions all six chicks hatched!

Hatching

This film shows you the moment the first chick hatches, still damp from the egg and completely helpless, and captures the tender moment Mrs Kes looks down to see her chick for the first time. Two hours later a second hatchling makes an appearance.

First meals

By the time they are just a few hours old, the hatchlings instinctively call and raise their beaks to be fed. Mrs Kes is a good mother and tears up tiny morsels with care. In contrast, Mr Kes hasn't a clue. His job is to hunt for food, but he does not know how to actually feed his chicks. When he arrives with a vole and Mrs Kes is not there, he simply dumps it on top of them. These chicks are only a few hours old, and the vole is bigger than they are! Thankfully, Mrs Kes comes to the rescue. Unlike the male, she knows what to do and tears it into small pieces to feed the chicks.

First night - and the nest is attacked

As night falls and the new family settle down for a well earned rest, an unwanted visitor appears at the entrance to the nest. Its a barn owl and it is on the attack. Mrs Kes jumps to attention, grappling the intruding barn owl by its face. She evicts the owl, but, 20 minutes later, it's back!
Mrs Kes doesn't hesitate to rally her strength yet again to do everything she can to protect her chicks, skilfully grasping the barn owl’s legs until the owl retreats.

Identifying the intruder

I have a network of surveillance cameras in my garden and know all of the animals that live here individually. Using close-ups and a review of each camera I can determine the whereabouts of each barn owl at the time of the attack. It is soon clear that the perpetrator is Willow, a female that roosts in a box I built on a tower behind my workshop. At one time Willow used this nest box, perhaps she still feels a claim to it.

Kestrel resilience

Despite her ordeal, Mrs Kes gets straight back to her eggs and gathers them back under her, revealing just what a remarkable bird she is. She is rewarded the next day with a third hatchling. Over the next two days, the three remaining eggs hatch out successfully.

Kestrel life

It’s a pleasure to get an insight into the lives of these special birds and to see how their resilience and determination in fighting off threats ensured the survival of this brood.

Watch the kestrels fly

Keep an eye on the livecams to watch them looking out of the entrance and flapping their wings as they prepare for their first flights.

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:
Website: https://www.robertefuller.com
Facebook:   / robertefullerart  
Twitter:   / robertefuller  
Instagram:   / robertefuller  

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© Robert E Fuller

Copyright Disclaimer: Please feel free to share my videos but do not download any content without permission with the intent to re-upload. If you would like to license any content, please get in touch: [email protected]

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