Kestrel Cam
Follow the nesting kestrels
(Click image to enlarge)
About Kestrels
The kestrel is one of the most widespread and abundant of European birds of prey. However recent years has seen declining numbers as a result of habitat degradation due to continuing intensive management of farmland. As a result they are now included on the Amber List. Kestrels have adapted well to man-made environments and can be seen in the centre of some cities.
Habitat: Variety of habitats including towns and cities but mainly seen in areas of rough grassland. Often seen hovering over the verges to motorways and busy roads.
Food: Small mammals, especially short-tailed voles. Has been known to takes larger prey such as rabbits and moles. Also hunts other birds like Starlings, Larks and Blackbirds.
Breeding: Kestrels do not build a nest, but scrapes a depression for the eggs. They use cliff-ledges, buildings, holes in trees, disused nests of larger birds and of course nestboxes.
Females lay 4-6 eggs around the end of April, incubation period of around 26-34 days. The young are then brooded by the female for 10-14 days before parents start to feed them. The young fly after another 27-32 days, but rely on their parents for another month.
To find out more about kestrels have a look at the RSPB website for more detailed information and a video.