1 Female nestling fledged on June 24/2020 at 9:00 am and the last Male fledged on June 29/2020 this has been the longest fledge we have witnessed.
With 4 of the fledgelings retuning to the nest box several times and some staying the night. Banding done June 19/2020 see at bottom of page.
We have set up cameras, blind and will continue to film until fledglings are gone as long as weather permits.
A shout out to one of our loyal USA viewers LAURIE for naming FK LADY WINNIPEG & MK MR. MANITOBA Thanks.
Here are the abbreviations we use. (FK female kestrel....aka LADY WINNIPEG) (MK male kestrel....aka MR. MANITOBA) (H.M.K.T. heavy metal kestrel tree nest box) (K-2 kestrel 2 tree nest box)
March 13/2020 A falcon was sighted 5 times today but we could not make a definite ID that it was a Kestrel ( we have Merlin Falcons in our area ).
March 14/2020 We have sighted and confirmed at 7:35am FK (LADY WINNIPEG) in near by tree. Later this day FK has been in area and had entered the H.M.K.T. nest box briefly. This the earliest in our records the Kestrels have returned.
March 15/2020 FK entered the H.M.K.T. nest box approximately 6:38pm; pruned, preened and stayed the night in the H.M.K.T. nest box.
March 16/2020 FK left the H.M.K.T. nest box approximately 7:24am and sat on a near by tree. FK arrived in the H.M.K.T. nest box approximately 6:45pm and stayed the night.
March 17/2020 FK left the H.M.K.T. nest box approximately 7:29am and sat on near by tree. Still no MK. 6:08pm FK eating a Kill. 7:05pm again eating a kill on H.M.K.T.
FK then relaxed on the H.M.K.T. then at 7:44pm entered the H.M.K.T nest box.
March 18/2020 FK stayed the night in H.M.K.T. nest box. FK left the H.M.K.T. nest box approximately 7:12am and flew from area. 3:25pm (2) FK’s on H.M.K.T. then one FK in nest box. 7:08pm FK in
H.M.K.T. nest box. Still no MK.
March 19/2020 FK stayed the night in H.M.K.T. nest box. FK left the H.M.K.T. nest box approximately 7:35am and flew to near by tree. Later at 4:27pm FK stored a vole/mouse in the snow,
never have witnessed a snow cashing before and still lots of snow on the ground. FK returned to the H.M.K.T. nest box approximately 7:25pm.
March 20/2020 FK stayed the night in H.M.K.T. nest box. FK left the H.M.K.T. nest box approximately 7:24am and sits on near by tree. FK sits in several different locations during the day.
FK returned to the H.M.K.T. nest box at 7:42pm.
March 21/2020 FK stayed the night in H.M.K.T. nest box. FK left the H.M.K.T. nest box approximately 7:08am and sits on near by tree. FK returned to the H.M.K.T. at 7:31pm.
March 22/2020 FK stayed the night in H.M.K.T. nest box. FK left the H.M.K.T. nest box 7:10am and sits on H.M.K.T. Last sighting of FK she was sitting on H.M.K.T. at 6:44pm. Still no MK.
March 23/2020 FK DID NOT stay the night in H.M.K.T. nest box. Today marks MK’s arrival date in 2018 & 2019. Will he show up ?? FK on H.M.K.T. at 7:04am then at 7:17am sat on near by tree.
Well this is incredible MK has arrived at 8:21am same date 3 years in a row. MK has been in the H.M.K.T. nest box several times. FK also now doing nesting dance in H.M.K.T. box.
At 8:57 MK going to work already, copulation!! On near by tree. Both FK & MK in and out H.M.K.T. nest box several times today. FK already making a nest bowl.
Well this is incredible MK has arrived at 8:21am same date 3 years in a row. MK has been in the H.M.K.T. nest box several times. FK also now doing nesting dance in H.M.K.T. box.
At 8:57 MK going to work already, copulation!! On near by tree. Both FK & MK in and out H.M.K.T. nest box several times today. FK already making a nest bowl.
March 24/2020 FK & MK DID NOT stay the night in H.M.K.T. or K-2 nest box. 7:07am MK in H.M.K.T. nest box FK. on wire. 7:09 copulation. Both were in area most of the day, in and out of
H.M.K.T. nest box several times. 4:30pm (2) FK’s in H.M.K.T. nest box fighting. Right after the battle copulation occurred for the winner. Both left the area for the night at 7:45pm.
March 25/2020 FK & MK DID NOT stay the night in H.M.K.T. or K-2 nest box. 7:17am MK (aka Mr. Manitoba) sat on the H.M.K.T. then at 7:30am Mk & FK on hydro wire. (2) FK’s on H.M.K.T.
March 26/2020 FK & MK DID NOT stay the night in H.M.K.T. or K-2 nest box. This seems to be a trend since MK showed up. The both arrived this morning at 6:57am an sat on nearby tree.
March 27/2020 FK & MK DID NOT stay the night in H.M.K.T. or K-2 nest box. They arrived at 7:07am and sat on near by tree. Typical mating, hunting, flying here to there and in out H.M.K.T. box.
March 28/2020 FK & MK DID NOT stay the night in H.M.K.T. or K-2 nest box. Seems the routine is repeated every day. We will discontinue daily updates until something significant happens.
April 01/2020 FK & MK DID NOT stay the night in H.M.K.T. or K-2 nest box. FK showed up at 6:45am and was constantly flying searching for MK. FK was also in and out of H.M.K.T. nest box
several times calling and looking for MK. We had not seen MK most of the day yesterday and he did not show up until 8:18am this morning.
Now FK in H.M.K.T. nest box for longer periods of time calling and nesting dance. MK at this times looking in H.M.K.T. nest box at FK and sitting on H.M.K.T.
April 02/2020 MK DID stay the night in H.M.K.T. nest box. Winter storm has hit high winds and snow. MK spent most of the day and evening in H.M.K.T. nest box. FK in and out a few times.
April 03/2020 MK DID stay the night in H.M.K.T. nest box. MK. needs to shovel out H.M.K.T. nest box. Still snowing this morning. At 10:05am Mk in H.M.K.T. nest box out at 10:39am -19 wind chill.
MK and Fk in and out H.M.K.T. nest box a few times.
MK sleeping in H.M.K.T. nest box. K-2 nest box.
(LEFT)
MK sitting on H.M.K.T.
What the heck am I doing in Winterpeg !
(RIGHT)
MK looking in our kitchen window.
What ya cooking ??
April 04/2020 MK DID stay the night in H.M.K.T. nest box. Snow storm & cold temperatures (wind chill -22)has slowed down courtship. MK has spent most of the day sleeping in H.M.K.T. nest box.
FK has spent most of the day on near by trees and flying around area.
April 05/2020 MK DID stay the night in H.M.K.T. nest box. Temperature is warming up and FK and MK are resuming courtship procedures again with an early copulation 7:10am. In the
late afternoon courtship excelled with FK spending major time in the H.M.K.T. nest box digging a nest bowl (nesting dance) calling MK and copulating. This went on until 7:57pm,
then both were gone from viewing area.
April 06/2020 MK or FK DID NOT stay the night in H.M.K.T. or K-2 nest box. Both arrived at 6:34am but did not stay very long. 8:07am (2) FK’s and MK on H.M.K.T. but no fight between the (2) FK’s.
There has been frequent copulation and constant visits to the H.M.K.T. nest box.
April 07/2020 FK DID stay the night in H.M.K.T. nest box. Again copulation is frequent and MK is bringing FK voles/mice as a sign of courtship and a good provider.
April 08/2020 MK or FK DID NOT stay the night in H.M.K.T. or K-2 nest box. The cooler weather has put a damper on the courtship. Either are not in the nesting boxes much.
We will resume updates when there are significant changes. Stay tuned !
April 15/2020 Some changes were observed, unfortunately is isn’t the weather ! MK and FK have been frequently staying and sleeping together in the H.M.K.T. nest box. This is very unusual.
There has been some successful hunting and copulation. The pair are acting very different from previous years and we are hoping is it the weather that is causing this.
We will again report when any significant changes occur. Thanks for stopping by.
April 17/2020 They have not been around much and we are concerned of what is happening. There were (2) FK’s and the battle took to the ground. MK just watched, may the best FK win.
April 19/2020 MK and FK have not slept in the H.M.K.T. nest box since April 15. They have not been around much and we are concerned of what is happening. We have never seen such strange
behavior. We are hoping the weather is the problem. Going from spring, fall and winter in a mater of a few hours. Hopefully the weather stabilizes and we get some eggs.
April 20/2020 FK slept the night in the H.M.K.T. nest box. She was up and gone at 6:00am. Did not see FK or MK till 8:06am. FK had chased off a flicker from K-2 and H.M.K.T. nest box.
Seems like they are protecting there area more aggressively at this time, this is a good sign.
April 21/2020 FK slept the night in the H.M.K.T. nest box.
Below 2 frames from video side camera H.M.K.T. nest box.
LEFT FK
RIGHT MK
April 24/2020 FK has slept the night in the H.M.K.T. nest box since April 21/2020. FK is spending more time in the H.M.K.T. nest box in her nest bowl. MK has an issue with the side camera seeing
his reflection or he is just having bad hair (feather) days. The weather is slowly starting to warm up and stabilize, hopefully we will have some eggs soon.
Latest egg laid since cameras were installed is May 7/ 2016.
April 25/2020 FK has slept the night in the H.M.K.T. nest box. MK is feeding her well. Surprise !! FK laid her 1st egg at about 1:29pm YEAH !!! 2nd egg in 2 days?
April 26/2020 FK and 1 egg have slept the night in the H.M.K.T. nest box. Awesome!!
April 27/2020 FK and 1 egg have slept the night in the H.M.K.T. nest box.Lady Winnipeg aka FK went into egg laying mode at about 11:33am and around 11:50am is our guess that she already
laid egg 2. Then 2nd egg was verified at 12:56pm April 27/2020. Will there be an egg #3 ? Check in on April 29/2020 for the update!
April 29/2020 FK and 2 eggs have slept the night in the H.M.K.T. nest box.FKaka Lady Winnipeg went into egg laying mode at about 9:35am and around 11:00am is our guess she laid egg 3.
FK stayed on eggs much longer than the first 2 eggs. About 12:53pm she left the H.M.K.T. nest box and there they were 3 eggs. MK checked on his eggs a few times and even sat on them. MK has been providing an abundance of voles and mice to FK. Will there be and egg 4 ???
MAY 1/2020 FK and 3 eggs have slept the night in the H.M.K.T. nest box.FKaka Lady Winnipeg went into egg laying mode at about 7:41am she had laid the 4th egg by 8:30am. She was out
of the H.M.K.T. nest box at 11:39am and MK took over rolling and sitting on the 4 eggs. EGG 5 ?????
MAY 3/2020 FK and 4 eggs have slept the night in the H.M.K.T. nest box. FK has laid her 5th egg between 10:30am and 1:40pm MK is also helping and sitting on the eggs at times. EGG 6 ???
MAY 6/2020 FK and 5 eggs have slept the night in the H.M.K.T. nest box every night. Well, it looks like the egg laying is over FK and Mk have 5 eggs. Both are sharing the incubation with FK
doing about 90% and MK the other 10% which is quite normal. MK has been a good food provider and keeps FK well fed. The next while it will be incubation, incubation and more
incubation. We estimate the eggs will start hatching nearing the end of May. Stayed tuned for our HD LIVE STREAM and the eggs hatching!!!
MAY 9/2020 FK and 5 eggs have slept the night in the H.M.K.T. nest box every night. MK is sharing incubation and feeding FK well. We have started our HD LIVE STREAM TODAY.
Incubation, incubation, incubation and more incubation. Stayed tuned for the hatching.
MAY 11/2020 What can we say, incubation, incubation !! Weather has been cool and windy. Keep those eggs at the proper temperature. FK and MK doing well.
Interesting fact, the eggs can handle the cold better than to much heat. Updates will not be posted every day unless something significant happens.
MAY 14/2020 During this covid 19 infection FK and MK are taking no chances and are wearing masks to help prevent the spread of covid to there 5 eggs.
Thanks to Sandra S. one of our loyal viewers for making them masks during the pandemic. Oh yea, incubation ,incubation, incubation ! Tune in often and watch for the hatch !!
MAY 19/2020 What can we say, incubation, incubation !! Weather has been warming up. FK and MK still doing a great job, protecting there nest. THE HATCH IS GETTING NEAR !! STAY TUNED !!
Mr. Manitoba’s and Lady Winnipeg’s
Five eggs.
Soon to be five fluff balls.
We can only hope.
LADY
WINNIPEG
Mr. Manitoba
MAY 27/2020 Weather has warmed up. FK and MK still doing a great job, protecting there nest. There has been some action with FK and MK defending their nest box from a gray squirrel and a
female mallard duck. We have been very excited about the new view from the side camera which has show us never seen postures and egg rolling. We are now on PIP watch.
What is a PIP you ask ?The hole pecked through the egg shell is called the external pip. After breaking the membrane with its egg tooth the chick can breathe the air that filters through the porous egg shell and vigorously starts the final process of hatching. THE HATCH CAN BE ANY DAY NOW !! STAY TUNED !!
MAY 31/2020 Hatch started on May 29/2020 with 2 eggs hatching between 12:15pm and 1:04pm and a 3rd egg at 5:54pm. May 30/2020 at 12:56pm 4th eggs hatches. All times are approximate.
Today May 31/2020 the 5th egg hatched 7:15am . FK does do a good job of trying to make sure each hatchling gets their share. MK is being a good provider.
Our new side camera is amazing, showing us a awesome different view of inside the nest box. Make sure you watch before the chicks get big and will block the side camera.
JUNE 3/2020 The nestlings are growing quickly, you would to if you consumed approximately 50% of your body weight in food every day. Soon they will be attending hunting school and the
cameras will miss them greatly. We will be watching them in the area while MK and FK teach them how to be American Kestrel Falcons. Enjoy 8 photos below.
JUNE 7/2020 Happy 1 week old birthday on June 5/2020 chick 1,2,3, chick 4 on June 6/2020 and chick 5 June 7/2020. About 23 more days and they all will be fledged.
JUNE 9/2020 On June 8/2020 we change the glass on our side camera for the first time. With our new non invasive nest boxes the whole event went well with no effect on the nestlings.
We did get great video and still shots. The clean glass lasted about 2 1/2 hours and then a strategically placed poop shot.
Oh well we will wait for a few days and change the glass again. On another note we will be having our nestlings banded on June 19 or 20/2020 this is the first time we have done this and are looking forward to the experience. Below are some pre-glass change, clean glass and pooped glass photos.
Below: before 1st glass replacement. Below: after 1st glass replacement
Below: after 1st glass replacement. Below: after 1st glass replacement.
Below: after 1st glass replacement. Below: after 1st glass replacement.
Below: after 2 1/2 hours of clean glass, lining up for the poop. Below: ha ha I nailed it, the V poop.
JUNE 14/2020 On June 14/2020 we changed the glass on our side camera and cleaned the top camera for the 2nd time. Went fantastic with new nest box design, quick and silent.
We also have birthday wishes to the Kid Kestrels today. (3) are 16 days old, (1) is 15 days old, and (1) is 14 days old. The party started early this morning.
Soon it will be time to band them. This will take place on June 19/2020 and a rain date of June 20/2020. Stay tuned !! they will be gone soon !!
JUNE 21/2020This year 2020 our first time banding our Falcon nestlings June 19. We are happy that all went well and all 5 nestlings are healthy.
We also had a good look at them and there are 3 males and 2 females. Our gratitude to Jim & Patsy Duncan ( scientists, biologists, researchers )
without them we could not have banded our nestlings. Here is a link to their web site. https://discoverowls.ca/Here are a few clips below.
Jim Duncan
Patsy Duncann
JUNE 24/2020The last few days there has been lots of wing flapping and the 2 females have been in the doorway looking out at the big world outside. FK and MK have been
providing plenty of food but not going in the nest box to feed. More like a drop off and the nestlings are sharing and learning to rip apart their meals.
Soon they will fledge (leave the nest box) and experience a big new world. The camera cleaning takes less time now, we have down to a science.
Female 30 minutes before she fledged
JUNE 25/2020The 1st fledged female is flying like a champ but her landings on trees need a little work. Mom gave here a full vole on the ground today and she had a hard time to
carry it but then ripped it apart with no problem. The other 4 nestlings are still in the nest box and fighting for the door way view. Who will fledge next ???
Left: Mom and Junior female on H.M.K.T.
Right: Junior FK on branch of H.M.K.T. enjoying her new found freedom.
JUNE 27/2020The 2nd female fledged. This year 2020 was very strange to us. The Nestlings fledged the nest box and then returned several times with some staying the night
and starting all over again the next day. This went on for days.
JUNE 30/2020Finally no fledges stayed the night in the H.M.K.T. nest box. We are out in the blind that morning filming. We have seen all 5 fledges at once that day several times.
They entertained us with their antics flying and hunting.
JULY 19/2020After all this time flying and hunting our 5 fledges have gone from the area and are on their own starting their new lives. We wish them well.
Hope all that watched our 2 camera HD LIVE STREAM enjoyed the lives of the
