Part 1 of ...."I Fell In Love With The Kestrel Family" or "What did I do this Summer"

Somewhere around the middle of May is when, on a  daily basis the frantic vocal calls and the chase in pursuit of a bird about the size of a Mourning Dove, started taking place in my front yard.

 Robins, Red Winged Blackbirds,Grackles and a few other" defenders of the near by nests where all involved in this  annoyance , so I decided I was going to find out what was going on!!
I was very upset when I saw this bird with a baby bird !!  Well then it was me and the annoying group trying to chase this bird away !!

As I stepped outside one one morning during the first week of June, I caught a fleeting look at this bird fly up into the branches of a tree in the front yard!!
Little did I realize that this bird  would turn out to be the American Kestrel that was nesting in a cavity of a large branch of the Weeping Willow tree that is hanging out over my driveway in the front yard!!

Well now you can just about guess what I did for much of the month of June and July....yup ...I parked myself with the camera pointed at that hole in the tree!!

American Kestrel (Falcon Sparverius) female

June 26th

This is the first decent photo I was able to get (many in the trash lol).

 They move quick, dropping of a mouse into the cavity like a fast food delivery!!  

At this point I believe they are feeding there young!

They lay 3 to 7 eggs, 24 to 27 hours apart with a 30 day incubation period mostly done

by the female , and hatching takes place over a period of 3 to 4 days!! 

If my math is right "which is questionable" this would means that it was that last week in

may that these eggs where layed ....no wonder the poor bird was so vocal with the shrill rapid

call ~~ klee~.klee ~klee !!!

Another quick delivery !!

Drop!

And of for another tasty meal !!

July 6th

July 6th

My first sight of two babies...this is when I fell in love!!

Hmm.. okay my math is questionable...June 26 to July 6 ???

July 6th

I came outside and saw this little one had a Ooops moment!!

Missed the first fledge..darn!

Now I am confused ...30 day incubation...28 to 31 days before wings develope

and they leave the nest!!

??

Made his way down into the inner branches of the Cedar tree!!

And like... remove one tissues and and another pops up there is two again!!

Don't you just love the convenience of the lower hole. : }

Not sure ,but I think this is a "this is how you do it junior"

And I think this is what junior thought of it... : }

I'll staying here, bring home the mice!!

Tomorrow:  Junior takes the plunge!!