Mt. Nusatsum

Mt. Nusatsum

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Noisy Kestrels

For a  month or more in our neighbourhood we've listened to a noisy family of Kestrel hawks raising a family in some large trees on the neighbour's property.  They're noisy but entertaining, in the various squawks and calls between the parents and the young.  They are also very effective hunters and have put the 'fear of the hawk' into the dozens of robins which live on our lawn and eventually strip our cherry trees about now when the cherries ripen.  I watched one pursue a robin one day until it became baby Kestrel food after a dramatic window collision of the robin and the final take down on the lawn.  While our neighbor has had to put up with the noise of the busy family and we've enjoyed their antics, this week it was time for the fledglings to fly.  One of them made an unsuccessful attempt at flying and had to be given a little bit of direction by the tree owner to a safe perch.  I'll miss them when they grow up and the neighbourhood is quiet again.  Thanks to DeeDee for the picture.  Grizzly

3 comments:

  1. there was more flying lessons this afternoon. very screechy in the neighbourhood,I must say! I sure hope they only raise one batch of babies a year!

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  2. Great photo, must be nice to have such entertaining visitors!

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  3. I could use some kestrels in my neighbourhood! The robins dig in my vegetable garden and disturb the sprouts. Had one knock over a 7 inch brocolli because it just kept digging around the roots. I didn't think that was even possible. Could use some 'fear of the hawk' my way.

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