Kestrel chicks have hatched

By Michael Blencowe

Senior People and Wildlife Officer

Watch KESTRELCAM Live

The kestrel eggs hatched on 23rd May. We can’t see the chicks (they’re tucked in below the camera) but you can hear their cheeping! There were a few broken egg shells in the nest but the female has either disposed of (or maybe even eaten) these. For the next few weeks the female will stay with the chicks – and will still be brooding them. The male will be doing all the hunting. He wont be coming in to the nest yet – he’ll catch the food, call as he approached and then the female will leave the nest, pick it and return. Food can be stored by the entrance but will be discarded if its been there too long.

Things should start getting mighty crowded in the nest very soon. At birth the chicks will weigh just 14-18g but this weight will double in just two days. By the end of the first week some of them could weigh over 100g. This incredible weight gain is typical for birds of prey. Meanwhile the female kestrel has started to lose weight. Almost every last bit of mouse, vole and bird being delivered to her by the male is fed to the chicks. This does mean that when she joins in the hunting in about 10 days she'll be a bit more streamlined.

KestrelCam is part of Sussex Wildlife Trust’s celebration of 50 years at Woods Mill. Thanks to generous support from ScottishPower Foundation.