Kate spent a bit of time trying to get settled. As I watched she spun around 360 degrees twice before finally settling in with a little egg buff.

We have at least 2 hatches! I watched for a few minutes this morning and was surprised to see little white fuzzy babies underneath Kate as she rearranged herself on the nest. She doesn't let us see for very long but it was long enough to catch a snip. Another time when she rolled her eggs I believe I saw a pip in one of her other eggs. This is going to be so much fun to watch something completely different to what I've seen before. I expect it will be like watching Michelle and Travis with little screamers begging for food. We shall find out soon!

She gave me another look!!! THREE babies! They are SO cute and look so tiny. Kate was busy tossing egg shells out of her way.

Update 12:50 pm ET.
Mom Kate left the nest for only seconds and was back with food for her babies so her pantry is very close by. Their tiny peeps sounded so sweet.
The FB info only says that 1 chick hatched 5 hours ago but now there are 3! Could all 3 have hatched today?

I don't understand how she does it. She must have some pretty strong wings and stuffs them under there tight. I keep imagining the little puff balls popping out from under her like cotton or popcorn...

It's getting harder for Mom to cover all those little chicks of hers. While I was watching one popped out from underneath her to get a breath of fresh air. Mom left for a few minutes and dad promptly came to stand guard while she was gone.
Their chatters talk about what a good mom Kate is and how she always makes sure that every chick gets fed. Every time I've seen a feeding she has her back toward the cam and I can't see very much of what's going on. She does feed them often though so maybe I'll get to see a better view one of these days.

These 5 are so funny already! I watched today and couldn't resist trying my hand again at making a video. Poor Kate and Chris. They've got a long, hard road ahead trying to feed these kids.

Food is plentiful at the Kestrel house today with rapid rat deliveries. While I was watching, one of the chicks stepped up onto the rim of the box and just stood there for a few seconds before hurriedly getting back down and running to the back. It was almost like it had been told not to do that but had to try it anyway while nobody was watching. It was too fast for my snippy. They are really getting curious and beginning to think about life "outside the box."

I keep thinking back to the magpie visit and how they all were chattering and stretching before it arrive. After the visit you could have heard a pin drop for a good five minutes as they all stood frozen staring out at the world.

Little white one has been missing out on food for the last few days because the bigger ones take it away from it. Chatters are calling the little one Tiny. Parent brought food and again the big one got it, Tiny was chasing the big one and when big one got close to the front mantling the food, Tiny gave it a shove out the door from behind. LOL It was hanging by one talon and managed to fight it's way back inside the box but in all the commotion, another big one standing at the front went overboard backward. We'll call that an accidental backward fledge? Tiny ain't talking.

I opened the Kestrel site about 1 minute before this all took place and didn't have enough time to record the fall. I did grab snips and you can see that talon hanging on for dear life. LOL I did record immediately after the fall and since nobody else that we can find has a recording, I went ahead and processed what I have. I still hope we can find a video of the actual fall. It was so fast I need to see a rerun! The Raven in the background sounds scary. I hope the little one that fell is ok. (I did clap for Tiny just a little bit tho)

There are 5 in the box this morning so the one that fell out has made it back. LOL Chatters are saying the little one has eaten today, too.

A little bit ago, one of the parents brought what looked like mouse #4 to the nest box. One of the middle kids grabbed it and ran to the side of the box and just stood there shielding it from view. The oldest and Little Bit were both toward the front of the box and must have missed the hand off. The middle child casually reached down and started pulling, stopping every once in a while so as to not draw attention. It then moved to the back of the box to continue eating and was joined by one of the other middle kids. Big Sis finally caught on and went to the back, grabbing and chugging a big chunk. Big Sis is getting very impatient with the confined space. There is a lot of flapping and running back and forth this morning.

3 of the 5 babies are branching today. I thought I saw one of them fly into the box yesterday but it was during a food delivery and there was a lot of panic and flapping going on so I wasn't completely sure about what I saw. Kestrel chatters reported that the little one got the last food drop last night and got to eat the whole thing. With the 3 in and out of the box now, Little one's chances to grab the deliveries are better maybe?
I love watching their facial expressions when the food comes and the fight to steal ensues. Yes, I know the experts say that birds can't have expressions. Look at these pics and tell me that with a straight face.

I watched these little kestrels for awhile this afternoon and took some video of their antics. I've really enjoyed watching them grow and I've especially loved watching that little feisty one sneak around and outsmart the bigger siblings. Little one got the last food delivery last night and did it again tonight! The big ones were trying to mob it and take it away but it got in the corner and mantled it's food until it was gone. They are all so cute but I think that little one is my favorite.

It looks like all the kestrel kids have fledged. The little one was in the box by itself yesterday for awhile and at one point it actually fell out but managed to flap it's way back inside. I looked in later in the evening last night and the box was empty and it's still empty this morning. I'm sure some of them will venture back inside the box a few times yet, but for all intents and purposes, they are now officially "Big Kids." I've enjoyed watching them so much! I'm gonna miss them but it was a great show!

Good Luck Little Kestrels! You are awesome!

I was surprised to see one of the babies in the box when I opened up the site this morning. Sure did look and act like our little Tiny, too! It was begging for food and a few minutes later a parent delivered. "Tiny" mantled even though nobody else was there. LOL I was amazed at how much it's voice had changed from baby peeps to more complex big bird vocals. It was good to see this little one. I took some video to share.