Ak ?

[Alf]

The first Video was from yesterday she wasnt looking too bad the AK has made two scrapes started about a 10 days a go but now prefers one and its quite pronounce.
Looking at the way she is performing this afternoon the AK was trilling to me as she heard my approach head down in the nest box tail up parting the ways and viewing the smiley face she looked like she was drawing in but I never had my glasses on cant focus on small things without them and believe you me her **** flaps are small. She really stood well and looked good.
This evening the second video later in the day she started out good but for the first time I have ever seen this hawk became aggressive never has this AK shown nothing but affection.
Now is this little girl only now starting to come into condition hence the attacking or do you think otherwise?
I honestly haven’t got a clue with this hawk, AK are unlike a normal falcon chupping in the nest telling you they want it, they make little shrills every now and then.
What do you guys reckon? Alf

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f177/goshawk4/th_2007_04_04002-1.jpg (http://s47.photobucket.com/albums/f177/goshawk4/?action=view&current=2007_04_04002-1.flv)
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f177/goshawk4/th_2007_04_08.jpg (http://s47.photobucket.com/albums/f177/goshawk4/?action=view&current=2007_04_08.flv)

[Tim Laycock]

Still a bit early I reckon Alf.
If she is drawing she aint rampant with it :lol:
Might take an egg to get her in full flow :heart:

[Alf]

Thinking the same thing! Just would like to think I could catch the first egg. I know the Euro kes is nowhere near just yet but these AK seem to be a little harder to suss out. Alf.

Still a bit early I reckon Alf.
If she is drawing she aint rampant with it :lol:
Might take an egg to get her in full flow :heart:

[Tim Laycock]

Thinking the same thing! Just would like to think I could catch the first egg. I know the Euro kes is nowhere near just yet but these AK seem to be a little harder to suss out. Alf.

Only one thing to do then Alf.
Keep putting it in and watch her eyes for the fill level :yawinkle:

[Alf]

Tim I honestly don’t know how these falcons go about there breeding cycle. She may not lay for another month yet she might lay tomorrow looking at her today she looked pretty good. Might turn out in a few weeks to look even better and then this is the time to inseminate I really don’t know. I am shipping semen in from my mates birds so I don’t want to waste any, just have to give her more time and make sure. Alf.

[Tim Laycock]

Alf,
Didnt know you were shipping it in.
In that case I would resign myself to missing the first egg and pull her a little :yawinkle:

[Stoaty]

Hi there. Please bear in mind I have not much experience with these either apart from a pair I have recently put together.
The female was creche reared and has been making moves on both me and the male like your clip showed for the last month. He has now started to get the idea but she is not interested just yet and when he siddles up to her in an 'oh so cool manner' she just shouts at him. I can only presume that things are getting near but a little early yet.
Are you still going with the Peregrine cross or have I lost the plot?
Cheers
Ian

[Alf]

Tim I will give her a little more time see how things progress If I knew anyone on this list who has inseminated AK before to say yes this is how they react before laying or coming into condition and they call like this when ready then I would have a half idea where I stood.
Anyway these short video posts of mine might help someone out in the future. Alf.


Alf,
Didnt know you were shipping it in.
In that case I would resign myself to missing the first egg and pull her a little :yawinkle:

[MitchellBrad]

Alf,
Didnt know you were shipping it in.
In that case I would resign myself to missing the first egg and pull her a little :yawinkle:

I think that's great advise Alf. I figure she could probably lay 4-6 eggs for ya in the clutch. Once you feel an egg in her go ahead and AI. I think most of us don't know a thing about American Kestrels as breeding birds. They could be easy as pie or much like some gyrfalcons ie copulate, swell and still produce nothing. A friend had a gyr for a long time that did that. He eventually called her the Black Hole. A lot went in but nothing came out. My last imprinted peregrine wouldn't stand too good until she had an egg in her. I often had to hit her on the run, it worked a lot of times too.

good luck

Brad

[Nemesis]

Hi alf good luck with them hope all turns out ok for you /dave

[Alf]

Ian my mates got a pair together and it seems to sound pretty much the same situation, to early yet. Do you have an open nest box for your AK? Alf.

Hi there. Please bear in mind I have not much experience with these either apart from a pair I have recently put together.
The female was creche reared and has been making moves on both me and the male like your clip showed for the last month. He has now started to get the idea but she is not interested just yet and when he siddles up to her in an 'oh so cool manner' she just shouts at him. I can only presume that things are getting near but a little early yet.
Are you still going with the Peregrine cross or have I lost the plot?
Cheers
Ian

[AK Gavin]

my euro kessy have 3 eggs and harris have 1:yawinkle: ak's and spars have nothing yet

[Alf]

Brad like you and Tim say the only sure fire way is to wait for the first egg either forming in her or dropped either way I know she will be ready. If I had semen on tap I would go before hand, as I don’t and I want to be sure I think this is the course I will take. Not unless of course she shows me some new form of soliciting I haven’t seen before. :yawinkle: Alf.

I think that's great advise Alf. I figure she could probably lay 4-6 eggs for ya in the clutch. Once you feel an egg in her go ahead and AI. I think most of us don't know a thing about American Kestrels as breeding birds. They could be easy as pie or much like some gyrfalcons ie copulate, swell and still produce nothing. A friend had a gyr for a long time that did that. He eventually called her the Black Hole. A lot went in but nothing came out. My last imprinted peregrine wouldn't stand too good until she had an egg in her. I often had to hit her on the run, it worked a lot of times too.

good luck

Brad

[ScuffMan]

Hi there, Stoaty here, just swapped machines.
I have put in an old round bbq, would you believe. Filled it with confier branches and will see how she gets on. What size is your box?
Ta
Ian

[FredrickFogg]

Hey Alf,

I am on a Kestrels group on Yahoo and I believe there is a breeder on there that has bred AK. I will ask her if she can join and watch your videos and possibly give you some insight into the little AK's.

Fred

[HRH]

hi alf

fred sent me, but he has me confused with someone who knows what she is talking about. ;-)

i'm just learning how to breed AKs-- actually i'm just learning how to breed raptors.

i have an 8 year old eyass, new to me last fall, who just got her nest box yesterday. She got all fired up in the box and is doing some pretty displays. Today, she even moved her tail out of the way for me.

I am new to this forum and don't know my way around. Where are the videos you talked about?

helen

[FredrickFogg]

hi alf

fred sent me, but he has me confused with someone who knows what she is talking about. ;-)

i'm just learning how to breed AKs-- actually i'm just learning how to breed raptors.

i have an 8 year old eyass, new to me last fall, who just got her nest box yesterday. She got all fired up in the box and is doing some pretty displays. Today, she even moved her tail out of the way for me.

I am new to this forum and don't know my way around. Where are the videos you talked about?

helen


Hey Helen,

Go to the very first post of this thread and there are 2 pictures that if you click on them, they are videos. Also, later on, start a thread and introduce yourself and tell a little about yourself so everyone can get to know you. There is loads of info on here about any and everything in falconry and more importantly, a bunch of great folks.

Also, is there someone else on the Kestrel Group that has experience breeding AK's?

Fred

[HRH]

Alf-- i only watched the second video (i'm on dial-up), but you said she was aggressive? what did she do?

maybe she is -- ticked off -- that you gave her rocks? :yawinkle: Maybe she was expecting a nicer place to lay? :yawinkle: or maybe she was expecting a treat? :yawinkle:

I've seen pics of folks putting one hand on the back of the bird while they check out the vent. Have you tried that?

helen

p.s. Fred- thanks, i had my browser set to not show images that didn't belong to the originating site. I don't know if there is anyone active on KestrelFans that breeds AKs.

[Alf]

Hi Helen it’s really nice to see you here on this list.
First off I know the pea gravel looks like large rocks but the AK has made a scrape and seems happy enough to want to lay in her box I might take a look see if I can find something a little less large for her .
Never had a problem touching any part of the AK body been gently pressing on her back from when she was a couple of months old, obviously when I am filming I only have one free hand available but when I am not she excepts a little pressure on her back as I part her vent feather with my other hand.
I find with this AK if she is ready for some food she won’t play ball, She won’t go in her nest box and won’t solicit to me she is more interested in being fed.
The way things are working I go in give her some food and leave her to it an hour later I then go in she is then jumping in her box wanting courting.
Yesterday was the first time I have ever seen any form of aggression from this hawk 2 hours before she was standing nose down tail up wanting it the second time the one on the Video she was starting to show like she was wanting courtship but then for some reason she turned and pounced on my hand with both feet hackles up.
Hope this has clarified a few things. Alf.

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f177/goshawk4/IMG_1623.jpg



Alf-- i only watched the second video (i'm on dial-up), but you said she was aggressive? what did she do?

maybe she is -- ticked off -- that you gave her rocks? :yawinkle: Maybe she was expecting a nicer place to lay? :yawinkle: or maybe she was expecting a treat? :yawinkle:

I've seen pics of folks putting one hand on the back of the bird while they check out the vent. Have you tried that?

helen

p.s. Fred- thanks, i had my browser set to not show images that didn't belong to the originating site. I don't know if there is anyone active on KestrelFans that breeds AKs.

[Matt]

alf great thread you have pm .

[Jastreb]

Great vids Alf!

I was always interested in AKs. It would be great to try one of these birds on quails here in Croatia.
I think they could be excellent quarry for them.

Cheers Viktor

[Alf]

Thanks Dave. Alf.

Hi alf good luck with them hope all turns out ok for you /dave

[Alf]

Ben are your Euro kes on time? This female I have looks far from laying. Alf.

my euro kessy have 3 eggs and harris have 1:yawinkle: ak's and spars have nothing yet

[Alf]

Thanks for that Fred need all the help I can mate. Alf


Hey Alf,

I am on a Kestrels group on Yahoo and I believe there is a breeder on there that has bred AK. I will ask her if she can join and watch your videos and possibly give you some insight into the little AK's.

Fred

[Alf]

Victor I don’t think they would have the speed for a strait pursuit flight at quail having said that I haven’t seen wild quail fly.
You should give one a go mate I guarantee you will fall in love with them.:yawinkle: :heart: Alf.


Great vids Alf!

I was always interested in AKs. It would be great to try one of these birds on quails here in Croatia.
I think they could be excellent quarry for them.

Cheers Viktor

[Matthew Patching]

Exceptionaly interesting thread there Alf, will be very interesting to see how everything develops.

All the best mate, and I hope that you find the answers to your questions.

Matt.

[Alf]

Thanks Mat pleased folk are enjoying it. Alf.

Exceptionaly interesting thread there Alf, will be very interesting to see how everything develops.

All the best mate, and I hope that you find the answers to your questions.

Matt.

[Jastreb]

Victor I don’t think they would have the speed for a strait pursuit flight at quail having said that I haven’t seen wild quail fly.
You should give one a go mate I guarantee you will fall in love with them.:yawinkle: :heart: Alf.

Maybe not in strait pursuit but is there possibility for wait on flight with AK?

If there is, that would be great to try. I was already thinking about that :wink:
I think we will have loads of qualis this season cos it was warm winter and I hope I will enjoy them this year with german male. But maybe in the next few years during gos moult :wink:

Cheers Viktor

[Alf]

Victor I would be interested if you could get an AK to wait on. I didn’t try kite training possibly this would be the only way to get one up above 30 ft. This little falcons and I know very little about them seem to prefer low fight hunting. I found it almost impossible to get the imprint AK I have to fly to the lure she much preferred to go out circle back and land on my head I ****ed up big time with the lure training.
I really think imprints are not what you want when flying these little babies you need some sort of fence that allows the hawk more chance to be independent of the falconer otherwise they just want to sit on your head and nibble your ear. :yawinkle: Alf.


Maybe not in strait pursuit but is there possibility for wait on flight with AK?

If there is, that would be great to try. I was already thinking about that :wink:
I think we will have loads of qualis this season cos it was warm winter and I hope I will enjoy them this year with german male. But maybe in the next few years during gos moult :wink:

Cheers Viktor

[GyrXPeales]

Victor I would be interested if you could get an AK to wait on. I didn’t try kite training possibly this would be the only way to get one up above 30 ft. This little falcons and I know very little about them seem to prefer low fight hunting. I found it almost impossible to get the imprint AK I have to fly to the lure she much preferred to go out circle back and land on my head I ****ed up big time with the lure training.
I really think imprints are not what you want when flying these little babies you need some sort of fence that allows the hawk more chance to be independent of the falconer otherwise they just want to sit on your head and nibble your ear. :yawinkle: Alf.

Exactly right Alf, the best I could ever get is for the little fuzzheads to make a single pass and come back and hover until they could catch me out.
I only use the lure for recall now, just throw it on the ground in front of them.
Some of the guys over here are having some good success flying these little guys from a T-perch just like a Harris. That might be worth a try.
BTW, this is a great thread Alf, a lot of things will be learned because of it.
Keep us posted,
Jeff

[Alf]

Jeff you know these little guys better than most. For the first time I have realised just how powerful the AK feet are this little girl is making pincushions out of my hands and she is drawing blood. Today she really is becoming aggressive hackles up going for me good style probably showing her dominance I don’t like this side of her she turned like a woman ready to menstruate. :yawinkle: :lol: Alf.

Exactly right Alf, the best I could ever get is for the little fuzzheads to make a single pass and come back and hover until they could catch me out.
I only use the lure for recall now, just throw it on the ground in front of them.
Some of the guys over here are having some good success flying these little guys from a T-perch just like a Harris. That might be worth a try.
BTW, this is a great thread Alf, a lot of things will be learned because of it.
Keep us posted,
Jeff

[Jastreb]

Victor I would be interested if you could get an AK to wait on. I didn’t try kite training possibly this would be the only way to get one up above 30 ft. This little falcons and I know very little about them seem to prefer low fight hunting. I found it almost impossible to get the imprint AK I have to fly to the lure she much preferred to go out circle back and land on my head I ****ed up big time with the lure training.
I really think imprints are not what you want when flying these little babies you need some sort of fence that allows the hawk more chance to be independent of the falconer otherwise they just want to sit on your head and nibble your ear. :yawinkle: Alf.

Thanks Alf, I know much less than you :lol: I will definitely try one in the future.

Cheers Viktor

P.S. I hope Brad will not see this post :lol:

[GyrXPeales]

Jeff you know these little guys better than most. For the first time I have realised just how powerful the AK feet are this little girl is making pincushions out of my hands and she is drawing blood. Today she really is becoming aggressive hackles up going for me good style probably showing her dominance I don’t like this side of her she turned like a woman ready to menstruate. :yawinkle: :lol: Alf.

:lol: I remember when most people said these little falcons couldn't catch birds because their foot was too small. But I tell ya as long as the birds feathers don't fall out not much is going to get away from them. A Kestrel talon under your nail or in a cuticle will birng a tear to your eyes. I swear I'd rather get footed by a Red-Tail than a ****ed off Kestrel.
As for the other part, she sounds like an intermewed wife to me. The little beotch likes it rough, could be fun mate!8-)
ATB,
Jeff

[SnapeDek]

Here is a pic of my male cheers Rich





http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m198/snapedek/IMG_0194.jpg

[Alf]

Too right Jeff I would hate to be on the receiving end of these little needles if I were a small bird.
These little feet were made for gripping! Alf.

[Stoaty]

Perhaps we can have a few thoughts on which is best, an open nest ledge or box for these little birds. European Kessies use a wide range of nest sites and just wondered if the same was true for these birds.

[Talon]

they will nest on a open ledge. but i think they prefer a box with a hole in the front for the entrance.as they are naturaly a cavity nesters in the wild.

[Stoaty]

Hi Talon, can you explain that a bit further. Not been funny but I am interested to hear what experience this is based on. Also what size nest box do you use and how large is the entry hole?
Ta
Ian

[Talon]

Hi Talon, can you explain that a bit further. Not been funny but I am interested to hear what experience this is based on. Also what size nest box do you use and how large is the entry hole?
Ta
Ian

it is based on me breeding them my self.
the box i use is roughly about 14 inch wide...8 inches deep..and 10 or 12 high.
and the entrance hole about 4 inches a cross.the box is the filled with a couple of inches of fine pea gravel.

and as for them nesting on a open ledge i have a friend who bred them that way in a half open front aviary.

[Stoaty]

Thanks for that info I will have to knock a box up. When I asked about how you arrived at that conclusion I meant have you given them a choice and they normally chose the box, or do they lay earlier and are more settled when using a box.
Ta
Ian

[Talon]

the pair i breed from are totaly parent reared birds.
and have been in open top aviarys from day one.so can be pretty nervouse and shy birds.i chosen to use a box for them to breed in. as they are natural cavity nesters. and seem to like nesting in nest boxes.as they do out in the wild in the USA from what i have seen and read.

my friends birds were imprints so were a lot more steadier and tamer than mine.so they were put in a spare imprint pen he had.
which was designed for larger falcons.hence the large breeding ledge.
in which they bred.

must point out when i say imprints.there birds WASNT imprinted individualy.


ALF sorry for hijacking this thread.:oops:

[Stoaty]

Now I see where you are coming from.
Thanks for that.

[HRH]

there are natural tree-cavity nesters. Even in the wild, they love a small box. the dimensions i've seen suggested are between 8x8 and 10x10. I think, however, for AI in the box, and rearing young in the box, that next season i will make a box about 18" wide.

the tree cavity thing is why i was trying to give Alf a hard time about the "rocks".

I just reread the Falcon Propagation Manual available from the P-Fund. You can download a PDF for free from http://www.peregrinefund.org/pdf_articles.asp

in it, it mentions that the female may be aggressive early in the season, but as the season progresses and frequent food transfers are made, the agression goes away.

I have not seen the agression in my bird, but i did not even try food transfers until i stopped flying her at game on April 1.

I bought some crickets (too cold for wild ones around here) and everytime i walk past the mews, she would call to me and I would feed her a cricket from my fingers.

After I put up the box, she started hopping into the box and calling to me from inside the box. Now she goes TAIL UP inside the box almost anytime she sees me.

Unfortunately, the semen i have access to is 4-5 hours away...

hope some of this helps!

helen

[Alf]

Helen things have started to calm down, went in with the AK after coming in from work and she was in her box standing lovely.
After mock inseminations there was no aggression form her just been out again and the same thing stood great.
Re nest boxes, I don’t think tree hole type small nest boxes would be any good for imprints you need to have some room to inseminate when there in the box the one I have seems just big enough.
Just for you! I went to a pet store yesterday to get some smaller aquarium gravel stroke of luck I met an old friend who owns the store £8 bag of gravel free gratis its nice when things work out. Alf.

[HRH]

glad to hear she is calming down for you.
things are heating up!

what species are you going to breed her with?

AND
is is possible to actually see the opening of the oviduct when she everts?
i need magnification, but i get the impression it is actually visible. (?)

helen

[Alf]

Helen I been offered both peregrine and gyr semen although the peregrine is only 2 miles away the gyr will have to be shipped up from down south possible 300 miles away.
I can’t really tell if she has averted my eyes aren’t that good looking at in pin hole here but it’s putting that’s for sure.
Just went in and low and behold she has kicked off again with the aggression although not as bad as yesterday.
Alf.


glad to hear she is calming down for you.
things are heating up!

what species are you going to breed her with?

AND
is is possible to actually see the opening of the oviduct when she everts?
i need magnification, but i get the impression it is actually visible. (?)

helen

[Grey_Squirrel_Hawker]

how are they comin along? very interested in this thread:)

[Alf]

Mark like the constipated man who swallowed a pound coin there is no change.
Alf.

[Chanting Goshawk]

Alf dont know if this helps but me and a mate have four pairs of aks 3 days ago the first pair laid yesterday the second pair and today my two pairs are looking really close to laying i have seen a pere/ak it can be done they are stunning good luck mate

[Alf]

Thanks Tony I am keeping a close eye on her at the moment not quite sure if I can feel an egg in her shes not leting me feel her long enough to be sure. . Alf.

Alf dont know if this helps but me and a mate have four pairs of aks 3 days ago the first pair laid yesterday the second pair and today my two pairs are looking really close to laying i have seen a pere/ak it can be done they are stunning good luck mate

[Grey_Squirrel_Hawker]

Mark like the constipated man who swallowed a pound coin there is no change.
Alf.

pmsl, never haerd that one before! cheers!:lol:

[HRH]

big smiles

first egg day!!!

helen
NE Iowa

[Alf]

Coagulations Helen excellent! Have you been inseminating if so what with? Alf. :supz:

big smiles

first egg day!!!

helen
NE Iowa

[GyrXPeales]

Coagulations Helen excellent! Have you been inseminating if so what with? Alf. :supz:

Hey Alf, Helen has a post for you on Kestrel Fans, Gyr/Pere semen!:oops: :lol:
Cheers,
Jeff

[Alf]

Thanks Jeff just checked it out I am watching with great anticipation Helens progress hope she succeeds mate. Alf.


Hey Alf, Helen has a post for you on Kestrel Fans, Gyr/Pere semen!:oops: :lol:
Cheers,
Jeff

[Matt]

sorry min hyjack here whats kestrel fans ? is it a forum .

great stuff guys .

[GyrXPeales]

sorry min hyjack here whats kestrel fans ? is it a forum .

great stuff guys .

Here's the link Matt, it's a Yahoo group.


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kestrelfans/

[Matt]

thats great thanks

[GyrXPeales]

My pleasure Matt.
Jeff

[HRH]

i am new to the breeding game, but my AK is living in my dining room and i am underemployed, so i spend loads of time in her presence.

her first egg this year was 1.5-2 weeks earlier than in all previous years. This is my first year with her, and i courted her with crickets and gave her a nest box-- she never had those provided before.

Here are a few things i have noticed about her behavior these past two days:
1. She hasn't been bathing the past two or so weeks, but in the past two days, twice I found her with wet jesses and wet feet. She has been standing in her bath to drink, something i have not seen before.
2. Over the past five days, her weight has skyrocketed. She started begging for food again. Her weight had been fairly stable, but during the past week, she gained 25g-- almost one ounce. So, she was eating and drinking far more than usual.
3. She seemed to have more, clear discharge right before and after she laid the egg.
4. She seemed to call to me less frequently the day she laid her first egg (and the next day as well)-- but that may have had something to do with the appearance of an AI tool 24 hours before she laid her first egg.
5. Over the past week or so, she has been more territorial-- wants to grab the cat as it runs up and down the hall, and tried to grab my son's face when he put it up to her mews. (silly human eyass)

helen

[GyrXPeales]

Helen, I'm really looking forward to your great experiment. It would be nice if you would start a diary here on the forum. It would be very nice to follow your progress through the summer.
We all wish you the best of luck with your endeavor. A hunting diary would be great once you get the little guys going.
I've followed your progress on Kestrel Fans, but this forum provides a much more interactive format.
I look forward to your posts.
My best regards,
Jeff, a fellow Kestrel hawker.:lol:

[HRH]

thanks for the interest, Jeff. it is nice to know that some folks are interested in my experiences and i don't mind writing and sharing them.

my hang-up with forums is that i am on dial-up access, so i have to be online to read and write in a forum like this. i may or may not stay, but i do have a ... dare i use the word ... blog? journal? online at the following address:

http://dovesabove.com/Hawk/Kestrel.html
that i keep updated-- not daily, but when i have something to say. (It helps me document stuff so i can look back and analyze it.)

i'm a bit embarassed that i have gone public-- let it all hang out-- and now i am advertising it, but there it is. I created the site, not out of ego, but to share the exploits of my A.K. Melody with her previous caretakers. She had been in an education program for 7 years (basically all her life) and had never been flown. When they closed down their program, they had to find homes for all their birds. (strict FWS restrictions on raptor ownership in U.S.) There were tears involved in her transfer and i would get frequent phone calls asking about her and wanting to see pictures. And, the fact that she got to fly free and hunt for herself was the bright part of the transfer-- soothing-- so to speak. So, i tacked on a page or two to my business website, and well, i guess i do get ...diarreah (where is spell check???) of the mouth... finger flatulance... e-excess... so it has bloomed into nearly a dozen pages ...

helen

[StokeyBloke]

Just taken the 'rocks' out of my Ak's nest box. They are in and out all the time and made a scrape about two weeks ago but have not bothered since. I have put some finer bird grit in there. I think it may be getting a bit late now to hope for any results this year,but i'll keep my fingers crossed.
thanks Rob
www.thetaxidermist.co.uk

[SnapeDek]

Rob if its any consolation ours did not lay until end of april last year cheers Rich

[StokeyBloke]

Cheers rich that has cheered me up, i was starting to give up on them but it seems there is still chance.:D
www.thetaxidermist.co.uk

[SnapeDek]

Cheers rich that has cheered me up, i was starting to give up on them but it seems there is still chance.:D
www.thetaxidermist.co.uk

just checked the callender and it was the 29th when she laid, they have a scrape and have been copulating for a fortnight so they maybe a little early this year.cheers Rich.

[HRH]

just found this chart (for Am. Kestrels) in The Birds of North America

my gal began in May (for 4 years) but this year, with all my attention and solicitations, she began her clutch earlier this year.

helen

[Accipiter3]

they will nest on a open ledge. but i think they prefer a box with a hole in the front for the entrance.as they are naturaly a cavity nesters in the wild.

I've found them nesting in tree cavities of all description, old magpie nests, large bird houses, in the eaves of buildings, on beams in barns...... They do like it to be closed in some way, but they are adaptable.

We always just flew them off the fist, and the largest birds they took were mourning dove. There are poeple flying them now at starlings and having good success with the occasional grackle thrown in. They don't usually wait on real well, but they will hover in good wind conditions.

[HRH]

my A.K. update:

out of 4 fertilized eggs (gyr/per x A.K.), only two made it through development. One pipped yesterday, the other today.

we're close, very close, to having some kesgyrines :grin:

helen

[SnapeDek]

nice one Hellen i hope they make it. Rich

[HRH]

thanks, rich

i hope so too!

helen

[Stoaty]

well done Helen. Fantastic news. What are you planning on doing with them? Keep us posted on their development.
Ian

[Alf]

My fingers and everything else are still crossed. Good luck. Alf.

[HRH]

well done Helen.....
Ian


no congrats are in order, yet.

the first egg is 48 hours post pip. it cracked 1/4 the way around soon after i discovered the pip, but hasn't made any progress the past 24 hours.

the second egg pipped yesterday, 24 hours ago, (well, a star was visible when candled) but the chick has not yet lifted any part of the eggshell enough for me to feel the pip.

i am a complete, total, nervous wreck... i don't have a very good hatch record-- even with chicken eggs!

helen
keep 'em crossed, Alf!

[Accipiter3]

no congrats are in order, yet. the first egg is 48 hours post pip. it cracked 1/4 the way around soon after i discovered the pip, but hasn't made any progress the past 24 hours. the second egg pipped yesterday, 24 hours ago, (well, a star was visible when candled) but the chick has not yet lifted any part of the eggshell enough for me to feel the pip.
i am a complete, total, nervous wreck... i don't have a very good hatch record-- even with chicken eggs! helen keep 'em crossed, Alf!

Hi Helen,

Having gotten this far with your first attempt is monumental! Have you tried picking them up and peeping to them? They really respond to voices outside the shell! It seems to really encourage them to get with it.

Best of luck to you with them!