Kestrels fight to keep eggs safe

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Kestrels fight to keep eggs safe🥚🦅 The fight goes on💪 Kestrels Apollo & Athena continue to fight off jackdaws - and even a barn owl - as they lay their 4th clutch of eggs in 4 years at Ashwood 🌳🦅

Transcript

00:01This female kestrel has just laid her first egg of the season.

00:06We call her Athena, and this is her fourth year nesting here.

00:11Thankfully, this experienced female is resilient.

00:15Over the last few months, Athena and her mate Apollo have battled jackdaws to keep their nest.

00:24And it seems today is no different.

00:26The jackdaws arrive outside.

00:31Athena eyes them up and lunges at the intruders.

00:37But as she drops back inside, her tail feathers knock the egg.

00:46I'm hoping there's no harm done.

00:50Despite Athena's efforts, the jackdaws are undeterred.

00:54Until male kestrel Apollo attacks, scaring them off for now.

01:04Laying an egg takes its toll.

01:07Each one weighs about 10% of Athena's body weight.

01:10So after laying this morning, Athena's in need of food.

01:17She perks up when she hears Apollo outside, who's arrived to deliver a vole.

01:25Female kestrels hunt less in the breeding season, and are mainly fed by males until their chicks are about 10 days old.

01:32Both male and female take turns brooding the eggs, so while Athena is out, Apollo gets comfortable.

01:42Kestrels begin incubation in short bursts, gradually increasing their time on the eggs as the clutch grows.

01:49Apollo leaves a few minutes later, but the egg isn't unguarded for long.

02:01Athena arrives, pursued by jackdaws, fending them off from entering.

02:06And thankfully, they soon leave.

02:16In the afternoon, Athena rests in the entrance.

02:20She starts calling when Apollo arrives for the lizard.

02:24But as he rushes inside, a jackdaw lands in.

02:26And both kestrels make a speedy exit.

02:30The egg is left unattended, but the jackdaws aren't overly inquisitive today.

02:36Kestrels choose nests with a layer of substrate on the floor, as cushioning for the eggs.

02:43But in recent weeks, the jackdaws have removed a lot of the nesting material, making the floor hard and unforgiving.

02:50To make the eggs safer, I put in some new wood chippings while her kestrels are out.

02:59Athena is first to return, taking a quick look at the home improvements,

03:05before jumping in to settle down on the egg.

03:15After a short bout of brooding, she heads outside.

03:18Spending the night, guarding the nest.

03:33Just after dawn, Apollo lands on a branch with a vole.

03:42He almost seems to tease Athena with her.

03:44Eventually flying off.

03:50With Athena close behind.

03:53Having passed on his catch, Apollo arrives to guard their egg.

04:02But he's barely stepped in, before he hears Athena outside.

04:05She hops in, and carefully tucks the precious egg under her feathers.

04:20Meanwhile, Apollo is busy hunting.

04:25As Athena sits in the entrance, he returns to the lizardies court.

04:32It's great to see Athena is so well cared for.

04:37That night, Athena guards the entrance once again.

04:39And in the morning, she returns to her egg.

04:42Kestrels lay eggs once every two days.

04:43And right on cue, she settles in, looking ready to lay.

04:45Apollo lands outside, as if protecting his mate.

04:46Apollo lands outside, as if protecting his mate.

04:47As Athena sits in, looking ready to lay.

04:49Apollo lands outside, as if protecting his mate.

04:50With her body close to the floor, she lays her second egg.

04:53And in the morning, she returns to her egg.

04:55And in the morning, she returns to her egg.

04:56And in the morning, she returns to her egg.

04:57Kestrels lay eggs once every two days.

04:59And right on cue, she settles in, looking ready to lay.

05:04Kestrels lay eggs once every two days.

05:09Apollo lands outside, as if protecting his mate.

05:14With her body close to the floor, she lays her second egg.

05:19Forty-seven hours after the first.

05:22She tucks the new egg safely under her.

05:25Apollo sets out to hunt.

05:36Athena will be hungry again soon.

05:40When she hears him return, she rushes to the entrance, calling out.

05:48He's brought a vole, which he passes to her inside the nest.

05:52And as she eats outside, he sees the second egg for the first time.

06:11But when jackdaws arrive, Athena starts calling.

06:14And Apollo's back in action, leaping outside to deal with them.

06:23Athena soon goes in.

06:28Settling down to take a nap.

06:31Laying eggs is hard work.

06:33Two days later, Athena takes in the sunrise.

06:52It will soon be time for a third egg, so she takes a moment to tidy up inside.

06:57But as she gets comfortable, jackdaws arrive.

06:58Thankfully, Apollo's around.

06:59But after he leaves, the jackdaws are back.

07:00Athena's clearly distressed.

07:01But then Apollo returns to guard.

07:02But then Apollo returns to guard.

07:04After he leaves, the jackdaws are back.

07:05Athena's clearly distressed.

07:06But then Apollo returns to guard.

07:07After he leaves, the jackdaws are back.

07:08Athena's clearly distressed.

07:09But then Apollo returns to guard.

07:13Calmed by a mate protecting her.

07:14Athena settles in, ready to go.

07:15After he leaves, the jackdaws are back.

07:16Athena's clearly distressed.

07:17But then Apollo returns to guard.

07:18After he leaves, the jackdaws are back.

07:20Athena's clearly distressed.

07:21But then Apollo returns to guard.

07:28Calmed by a mate protecting her, Athena settles in, ready to lay.

07:44After he leaves, she reveals her third egg.

08:00Before long, Apollo's back to take over incubation duties.

08:12He's been busy hunting for himself and his mate.

08:15So he takes this time for a well-earned rest.

08:21Athena's not gone long.

08:23And Apollo soon makes a quick exit.

08:32She starts to settle down, aware of the jackdaws outside.

08:38With so much disturbance, this laying period has not been easy on her.

08:41Kestrels.

08:42That night as she sleeps, Athena hears a noise outside.

08:48This time it's a barn owl, interested in the nest.

08:54When the owl peeks inside, Athena leaps at the intruder.

09:07And thankfully, it soon takes flight.

09:20But this isn't the last of her troubles.

09:22In the morning, the jackdaws return.

09:26Athena's quick to react.

09:31But this doesn't put them off for long.

09:35They're soon back, this time with sticks.

09:39There's a real risk Athena could be trapped inside.

09:49But she's not giving in without a fight.

09:54She leaps at them repeatedly.

10:07Defending her eggs with determination.

10:11Despite her best efforts, the jackdaws continue to bring in nesting material.

10:21So she heads to the entrance, coordinate them aggressively.

10:26And takes flight to take them on.

10:31Apollo arrives to guard their clutch.

10:36And Athena is soon back.

10:42Calling at the jackdaws to see them off.

10:53It's great to see the pair working together to protect their eggs.

11:00The following morning, Athena tidies up inside.

11:04It's time for her to lay again.

11:16She soon reveals her fourth egg.

11:21Over the following days, Apollo continues to provide for her.

11:27Despite bother from the jackdaws, she goes on to lay a fifth egg.

11:49And then a sixth, to complete the clutch.

11:56Despite relentless battles with jackdaws.

11:59And even a barn owl encounter.

12:02The Kestrel's determination has never wavered.

12:06Together they fiercely defended their nest.

12:09With Athena bravely guarding the eggs.

12:12And Apollo providing food and protection.

12:19Through teamwork and resilience, Athena's laid a full clutch of six eggs.

12:24And with such a strong partnership, these Kestrels are ready for whatever lies ahead.

12:29And the lies ahead.

12:30And the lies ahead.

12:31And the lies ahead.

12:36This is

12:53at this moment, Athena's feet to stop light.

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