Our kestrel

A magpie approaches the unguarded nest and steals one egg after another. The fact that the nest remained unguarded for so long and that the magpie had the opportunity to steal the eggs suggests that the female kestrel had abandoned the clutch.
This behaviour of the female confirmed once again that the eggs were unfertilised.

So, contrary to expectations, the 2024 breeding season has now come to an end. However, there is nothing we can do about the course of nature except look forward to the 2025 breeding season with hope and optimism.

On 1 May 2024, the fifth and final egg was laid and incubation began. For four weeks, everyone waited spellbound for the kestrels to hatch - unfortunately, they never did. According to our falcon expert, it is probably not unusual for the eggs of younger falcons - like our pair of falcons - not to be fertilised straight away.

A strange tercel visits the nest. The rightful landlord immediately rushes to the aid of the incubating female and chases the uninvited guest away. 

The fifth and probably last kestrel egg for this breeding season has been laid. A short time later, the female is already incubating.

Since this morning, a fourth egg has been discovered in the kestrel nest. How many more eggs do you think there will be this season?

The third egg is in the nest, presumably laid in the early morning of April 27th.

After the first egg was laid two days ago, the second egg is now also in the kestrels' nest. 

Today the female kestrel was attacked by a crow that wanted to steal its prey, a mouse. The female tried to defend herself, her prey and her freshly laid egg by making loud noises.

The crow had already stolen their eggs and food last year when pigeons were nesting there. The crow has apparently memorized the location and is now trying to steal the food from the kestrel pair.

Today at about 01:30 the female kestrel laid her first egg.

Now that the falcons have been spotted mating more often, it remains to be seen whether and how many eggs will be laid this year. 

A female appears at the nest box for the first time. The tercel immediately lures her into the box and the female looks around.

The kestrel has been visiting the nesting box regularly for some time now. Today, the tercel brought a captured mouse to the potential nest to attract a female.

The kestrel repeatedly appears at the nest box and prepares a nesting hollow.

The tercel shows up at the nesting box for the first time and lingers for a few minutes. We are delighted that the kestrels have found their place in the nesting box again this year.