Kestrel Nesting Behavior

[Napper]

At 9:30 am today I noticed  a kestrel returing with prey to it's nest (I assume)

I realize that Kestrel's  use cavities for nesting. This spot is a bit unusual..

The Nest Appears to be in the side of an my industrial style building through a 3 to four inch hole in the outer cladding..The hole is about 25 to 30 feet above ground level (estimate).  My office/desk is less than 50 feet from that location on the same level. I had a look around that area from the inside behind a false wall but I could not see anything.  I hope they are between two layers of metal cladding and not inside the building.  The hole must have onced served a purpose (drain or exhaust pipe). My office  was formerly a factory space with very high ceiling, a drop ceiling (at about 10 feet) was put in place with ventilation and lighting etc..At lunch today I watched the kestrel enter and leave the hole a number of times.  My industrial complex is adjacent Downsview park, just East of the railway.Napper.:lol:    If there are young in the nest what stage would they be at ? Here I am watching this happen in and amongst 10 or so other people and not one of them even noticed the bird .

[Napper]

hello. I have been watching these Kestrels since last Tuesday.  I see them daily during my breaks and at lunch. It is interesting to watch them harrass the starlings on the adjacent buildings.  Spotted two today and 9:30 am  one soaring and and another flying low over a wharehouse style building..
No luck at lunchtime. To Hot nothing was moving.. Unfortunately no cameras allowed on company property otherwise I would have an image or two I'm working on it..

The few birds I did see on my travels home seemed to be panting beeks open trying to cool down..  It was 93 deg F :shock:  in Milton when I got home at 4 ish..


I also spotted a female Ruby throated  Hummingbird yesterday in front of my house. My neighbours claimed they were there but I have never seen one here.
I have only seen them at my Outlaws house West of Thunderbay..

Napper

    :lol:

[Napper]

Hello all

today at lunch while everyone was sleepy I borrowed a company digital point and shoot  camera and took this.

I think this it is the female, not sure, I didnot see the male today.  Very few people have noticed the Kestrels which is a good thing. A woman in my office complained to facilities engineering about bird noises above her. The next day Orkin Wild life showed up. I started asking questions and told/showed him the type of bird. The Orkin man said he would do nothing about them.  He also said some companies have so many wildlife issues that they wished they had a Hawk or a Kestrel nearby.  the Sparrow and starling population in and around the plant seems to have diminished.  This also explains the bird body parts I have spotted in the last few months.  At one point the had fake owls hanging in the rafters of the hangers to scare away Rock Dove/Pidgeon or what ever they call them now....Napper :lol:

[Napper]

I was going to wait until Friday to detail this weeks activities but I am busy both Thursday and Friday.

Monday

     Male very active around 9:30 and at noon.  I witnessed at least two starling nest invasions in different areas of the facility by the male.

     The male enters the nest kills and then brings the results back to his nest.   There are very few starlings around and at least  four nests have been                        
     emptied..
 
Tuesday

     only the female visible peeking out of the nest.

Wednesday

     Kestrels qty 2 soaring over Downsview park 9:30 am attacking a Redtail at quite high altitude.

     Noon female peeking out of nest only.


These guys have decided to nest at  an increasily busy facilty now 24hr operation with hundreds of people passing unknowingly beneath them.
I keep a good distance away but During breaks Some of the guys actually sleep outside almost directly under this nest and don't know about if they do they don't care. The male bringing food back is rarely noticed.

I was thinking of talking to the 'Orkin dude' next time he visits to ask him to suggest to the company, a Kestrel nest box.(next year). I have no authority to suggest that but I am sure the 'Orkin dude' does. I am pretty sure he visits weekly...


I didn''t think of this until last week, should this nest be reported to the ontario breeding bird atlas? or are they that common that they don't need to be?
If so Do I need a "rep" to confirm it?

Napper :lol:

[David the park stroller]

thanks for the story... I'm enjoying your post.

[Pat Hodgson]

The data collection period for the atlas ended 12/31/05, so no report can be made for that.  You could file a report with the Ontario Nest Records Scheme.
If you do not have a particpant number from the atlas, I don't think you can enter the records online - see at the bottom of that webpage for how to request data cards.

[Napper]

thanks for the advice regarding the  nest  report Mr. Hodgson I will look in to it. :lol:

It is late, I just got home....


today and yesterday  not a whole lot happening,  kestrel  or kestrels in the nest are starting to make some noise.   Many gulls around lately near the nest.

If any of you birders are out near Downsview park  go north on Keele past wilson, turn right at the first entry into the park.
follow the road towards the baseball diamonds(or where they used to be not sure haven't been there in a while). You should be able to  see what I am seeing (between 7 am and noon) toward those big grey buildings East of the Railway.

Keep a keen eye out for  "Mockingbirds" in the area. I have seen them at Wilson and the railway(East of Keele) and  one at Ancaster and Powel ( early morning between 6:00 am and 6:30 am) very interesting sounding birds....Napper  



 

[Napper]

I think that there might be a sad ending to this little saga.

Unfortunately no action at the nest this week. I only spotted one kestrel like bird flying over.

From underneath was mostly white body and appeared to have to many bands across its tail. flying with its talons hanging below it. It actually looked at the

nest location as it flew over

It could have been an young Kestrel but it happened really quik.  Watched most of the week  and nothting.


Maybe I am wrong but it seems a bit early for the young ones to ready to leave..  Napper  :cry:

[Napper]

I Can't believe I started this thread almost three years ago !

Today may 27. 2009 at  3:00 pm I watched an unusually large looking American Kestrel enter the Nest again.

It spent  five  minutes inside then sped away towards Downsview park.

Will keep an eye on it ..It seems I will have a lot of time after work to do this. waiting for the carpool.

Napper:))

[Napper]

Hey!

At 3:00pm today while waiting for my carpool I decided to have a look at the nest

The hole is 30 feet up in a metal clad building.. Right away from a distance I  could see something

moving at the opening..  I moved in closer and there was a Kestrel, head out the hole looking down a me.


I watched for about 5 minutes during that time I had  two Kestrels looking out the hole and an adult flying around

above the building..

Napper:))