cam link: http://nestkastlive.nl/Torenvalk/

Great cam with panning, IR and sound. Female is sitting on 5 eggs now. There's a lot of info on the homepage but it's in Dutch.

The cam operators pan to the big open fields where the kestrels hunt and perch to eat their catch. AWESOME!








Videos published by Leo Ceelen

Checking out the dinner table.

Published by Leo Ceelen

These little kestrels don't waste any time switching places. One is in and one is out. I can't wait to see these chicks and wish I knew when hatch time was.


Published by Leo Ceelen

They're playing King of the Hill


Published by Leo Ceelen

OUCH! OUCH! STOP IT! LET ME UP!



Published on Apr 26, 2014 By Leo Ceelen
Het mannetje torenvalk verorberde vandaag maar liefst 5 muizen recht voor de camera die bij z'n favoriete paal staat. In dit filmpje heeft hij een nog levende muis.

I used Google translate and this is what that says:
The male kestrel devoured today no less than five mice in front of the camera with his favorite pile. In this movie, he has a living mouse.

Quote: patticake wrote in post #5

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OUCH! OUCH! STOP IT! LET ME UP!

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1st HATCH!

I see at least 4 hatched this morning!

FIVE HATCHES!!!

I hope the little one gets enough to eat and gains some strength quickly.

Pop I don't see how any of them are going to go hungry in this nest. I watched off and on today and it looks like they are getting fed about every 20-30 minutes. I wish we could see all the way inside the box because it looks like the pantry is stacked along the right side wall with frequent deliveries adding to the stash. The babies are funny with their mouths open wide for a bite of food no matter if they're facing away from the parent or not. Their eyes are open but I wonder if they can see right now?
Every thing is fast forward with these kestrels. Feed fast, warm them up fast, jump up and fly out of the box fast, back inside fast, settle down on the babies fast. I'm surprised they were able to sit on the eggs long enough to hatch them!

kestrels 4-29-14.PNG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Whoa! Watch this fly being tracked and then the kick action at the end. LOL!

This is a great video showing catching and feeding.

Surely these chicks can't see yet even tho their eyes are open? Can they? I've tried to find some info on this but haven't had any luck so far. They act like they have no idea where the food is and just open their mouth and wait for it no matter which way they are sitting.


Published by Leo Ceelen

All 5 chicks are looking great and getting lots of rat snacks. Only problem here is that pesty fly is back that Mom doesn't like.


Published by fleur3979

Look how much they're grown in just a couple of days! WOW! Both parents are so patient and feed all of them till they are full.




Published by Leo Ceelen

Wow! Look how these 5 have grown in just a few days! If this is not the perfect pic of 5 food comas I don't know what is. LOL

I'm convinced these nest boxes are life savers. These little ones are sleeping right through this storm without a care in the world.




Published by GoshawkeyesII