That is the story of Mr Kes, a kestrel who raised his six chicks alone after their mum disappeared. Male kestrels will not be recognized to brood chicks, nor do they feed them, however this outstanding kestrel father realized to do each.
MR & MRS KES
The story begins absolutely of hope as Mr & Mrs Kes, a longtime kestrel pair, begin a brand new season and Mrs Kes lays a clutch of six eggs in Ash Stump, a nest field I’ve designed particularly for them.
NEST INTRUDERS
However incubation proves hazardous and Mrs Kes is interrupted from her brooding to combat off jackdaws, barn owls and even a purple kite after they threaten to invade the nest.
CHICKS ALL HEALTHY
Regardless of these dramas, all six chicks hatch efficiently and Mr Kes rapidly adapts to his new function, looking around the clock to offer meals for his new household. In the meantime it’s Mrs Kes’ job to interrupt up the meals for the chicks.
MRS KES DISAPPEARS
However Mrs Kes appears exhausted and her behaviour adjustments dramatically. More and more, she leaves the nest, leaving the chicks on their lonesome for brief durations. Then, when a tawny owl seems on the nest she is visibly shaken and after a second encounter with the owl she flies off, by no means to return.
MR KES FINDS CHICKS ALONE
Mr Kes returns to the nest to seek out his chicks with out their mom. He drops a vole on the nest flooring however he has no concept learn how to feed them. In the event that they don’t eat quickly, they’ll die.
KESTREL CHICK RESCUE
I resolve to intervene. I open the again of the nest and verify the chicks. Three are weak and so I deliver them into my studio for some intensive care, however I return the opposite three to the nest within the vein hope that Mrs Kes will return.
MR KES TRIES TO BROOD
Once I discover Mr Kes attempting to brood the chicks later that day, one thing male kestrels will not be recognized to do, it provides me an concept.
I SUPPORT MR KES
I depart further meals out for Mr Kes within the hope that he can even attempt to feed them. After which the unbelievable occurs – I discover him attempting to interrupt up meals for his younger and slowly this male kestrel does the unattainable and learns to feed his chicks.
RESCUE CHICKS
In the meantime, I fed the youthful three chicks six instances a day and saved them heat indoors till they’re prepared to return into the nest with their wild siblings.
FAMILY REUNITED
Finally the three rescued chicks are able to return to the wild. Once I place them again within the nest their siblings look so shocked, however Mr Kes barely breaks his strike, he’s so focussed on feeding the brood!
RINGING DAY
When it’s lastly time to present the kestrel chicks their ID rings I’m so proud. After such a troublesome begin it felt like they’d lastly made it and had been now able to graduate to maturity.
TIME TO FLY
And when, one after the other, all six chicks lastly unfold their wings and elevate off for his or her first flights it feels wonderful. Mr Kes defied all of the textbooks to lift this clutch on his personal and, with a little bit of assist from me, all six chicks are nonetheless flying free!
#kestrels #wildliferescue #robertefuller