Kestrels fight to keep eggs safe🥚🦅
The fight goes on💪
Kestrels Apollo & Athena continue to fight off jackdaws - and even a barn owl - as they lay their 4th clutch of eggs in 4 years at Ashwood 🌳🦅
The fight goes on💪
Kestrels Apollo & Athena continue to fight off jackdaws - and even a barn owl - as they lay their 4th clutch of eggs in 4 years at Ashwood 🌳🦅
Category
🐳
AnimalsTranscript
00:01This female kestrel has just laid her first egg of the season.
00:06We call her Athena, and this is her fourth year nesting here.
00:11Thankfully, this experienced female is resilient.
00:15Over the last few months, Athena and her mate Apollo have battled jackdaws to keep their nest.
00:24And it seems today is no different.
00:26The jackdaws arrive outside.
00:31Athena eyes them up and lunges at the intruders.
00:37But as she drops back inside, her tail feathers knock the egg.
00:46I'm hoping there's no harm done.
00:50Despite Athena's efforts, the jackdaws are undeterred.
00:54Until male kestrel Apollo attacks, scaring them off for now.
01:04Laying an egg takes its toll.
01:07Each one weighs about 10% of Athena's body weight.
01:10So after laying this morning, Athena's in need of food.
01:17She perks up when she hears Apollo outside, who's arrived to deliver a vole.
01:25Female kestrels hunt less in the breeding season, and are mainly fed by males until their chicks are about 10 days old.
01:32Both male and female take turns brooding the eggs, so while Athena is out, Apollo gets comfortable.
01:42Kestrels begin incubation in short bursts, gradually increasing their time on the eggs as the clutch grows.
01:49Apollo leaves a few minutes later, but the egg isn't unguarded for long.
02:01Athena arrives, pursued by jackdaws, fending them off from entering.
02:06And thankfully, they soon leave.
02:16In the afternoon, Athena rests in the entrance.
02:20She starts calling when Apollo arrives for the lizard.
02:24But as he rushes inside, a jackdaw lands in.
02:26And both kestrels make a speedy exit.
02:30The egg is left unattended, but the jackdaws aren't overly inquisitive today.
02:36Kestrels choose nests with a layer of substrate on the floor, as cushioning for the eggs.
02:43But in recent weeks, the jackdaws have removed a lot of the nesting material, making the floor hard and unforgiving.
02:50To make the eggs safer, I put in some new wood chippings while her kestrels are out.
02:59Athena is first to return, taking a quick look at the home improvements,
03:05before jumping in to settle down on the egg.
03:15After a short bout of brooding, she heads outside.
03:18Spending the night, guarding the nest.
03:33Just after dawn, Apollo lands on a branch with a vole.
03:42He almost seems to tease Athena with her.
03:44Eventually flying off.
03:50With Athena close behind.
03:53Having passed on his catch, Apollo arrives to guard their egg.
04:02But he's barely stepped in, before he hears Athena outside.
04:05She hops in, and carefully tucks the precious egg under her feathers.
04:20Meanwhile, Apollo is busy hunting.
04:25As Athena sits in the entrance, he returns to the lizardies court.
04:32It's great to see Athena is so well cared for.
04:37That night, Athena guards the entrance once again.
04:39And in the morning, she returns to her egg.
04:42Kestrels lay eggs once every two days.
04:43And right on cue, she settles in, looking ready to lay.
04:45Apollo lands outside, as if protecting his mate.
04:46Apollo lands outside, as if protecting his mate.
04:47As Athena sits in, looking ready to lay.
04:49Apollo lands outside, as if protecting his mate.
04:50With her body close to the floor, she lays her second egg.
04:53And in the morning, she returns to her egg.
04:55And in the morning, she returns to her egg.
04:56And in the morning, she returns to her egg.
04:57Kestrels lay eggs once every two days.
04:59And right on cue, she settles in, looking ready to lay.
05:04Kestrels lay eggs once every two days.
05:09Apollo lands outside, as if protecting his mate.
05:14With her body close to the floor, she lays her second egg.
05:19Forty-seven hours after the first.
05:22She tucks the new egg safely under her.
05:25Apollo sets out to hunt.
05:36Athena will be hungry again soon.
05:40When she hears him return, she rushes to the entrance, calling out.
05:48He's brought a vole, which he passes to her inside the nest.
05:52And as she eats outside, he sees the second egg for the first time.
06:11But when jackdaws arrive, Athena starts calling.
06:14And Apollo's back in action, leaping outside to deal with them.
06:23Athena soon goes in.
06:28Settling down to take a nap.
06:31Laying eggs is hard work.
06:33Two days later, Athena takes in the sunrise.
06:52It will soon be time for a third egg, so she takes a moment to tidy up inside.
06:57But as she gets comfortable, jackdaws arrive.
06:58Thankfully, Apollo's around.
06:59But after he leaves, the jackdaws are back.
07:00Athena's clearly distressed.
07:01But then Apollo returns to guard.
07:02But then Apollo returns to guard.
07:04After he leaves, the jackdaws are back.
07:05Athena's clearly distressed.
07:06But then Apollo returns to guard.
07:07After he leaves, the jackdaws are back.
07:08Athena's clearly distressed.
07:09But then Apollo returns to guard.
07:13Calmed by a mate protecting her.
07:14Athena settles in, ready to go.
07:15After he leaves, the jackdaws are back.
07:16Athena's clearly distressed.
07:17But then Apollo returns to guard.
07:18After he leaves, the jackdaws are back.
07:20Athena's clearly distressed.
07:21But then Apollo returns to guard.
07:28Calmed by a mate protecting her, Athena settles in, ready to lay.
07:44After he leaves, she reveals her third egg.
08:00Before long, Apollo's back to take over incubation duties.
08:12He's been busy hunting for himself and his mate.
08:15So he takes this time for a well-earned rest.
08:21Athena's not gone long.
08:23And Apollo soon makes a quick exit.
08:32She starts to settle down, aware of the jackdaws outside.
08:38With so much disturbance, this laying period has not been easy on her.
08:41Kestrels.
08:42That night as she sleeps, Athena hears a noise outside.
08:48This time it's a barn owl, interested in the nest.
08:54When the owl peeks inside, Athena leaps at the intruder.
09:07And thankfully, it soon takes flight.
09:20But this isn't the last of her troubles.
09:22In the morning, the jackdaws return.
09:26Athena's quick to react.
09:31But this doesn't put them off for long.
09:35They're soon back, this time with sticks.
09:39There's a real risk Athena could be trapped inside.
09:49But she's not giving in without a fight.
09:54She leaps at them repeatedly.
10:07Defending her eggs with determination.
10:11Despite her best efforts, the jackdaws continue to bring in nesting material.
10:21So she heads to the entrance, coordinate them aggressively.
10:26And takes flight to take them on.
10:31Apollo arrives to guard their clutch.
10:36And Athena is soon back.
10:42Calling at the jackdaws to see them off.
10:53It's great to see the pair working together to protect their eggs.
11:00The following morning, Athena tidies up inside.
11:04It's time for her to lay again.
11:16She soon reveals her fourth egg.
11:21Over the following days, Apollo continues to provide for her.
11:27Despite bother from the jackdaws, she goes on to lay a fifth egg.
11:49And then a sixth, to complete the clutch.
11:56Despite relentless battles with jackdaws.
11:59And even a barn owl encounter.
12:02The Kestrel's determination has never wavered.
12:06Together they fiercely defended their nest.
12:09With Athena bravely guarding the eggs.
12:12And Apollo providing food and protection.
12:19Through teamwork and resilience, Athena's laid a full clutch of six eggs.
12:24And with such a strong partnership, these Kestrels are ready for whatever lies ahead.
12:29And the lies ahead.
12:30And the lies ahead.
12:31And the lies ahead.
12:36This is
12:53at this moment, Athena's feet to stop light.