Welcome all to our 2026 observations page #1. Here you will see updates of our American Kestrels as the season progresses.
MK. male Kestrel (aka Mr. Manitoba) FK. female Kestrel (aka Lady Winnipeg) H.M.K.T. Heavy Metal Kestrel Tree K-2 Kestrel nest box JFK. junior female Kestrel JMK. junior male Kestrel KP Tree poles we have installed, there are 4, click here to view.
Your will see a reference to the wheel house click here to view and also door branch click here to view.
February 27/26 We have installed all 1300 feet of cables for the nest boxes today. Warm -4 but winds 59 gusting to 75 Km/h.
March 02/26 We have installed the H.M.K.T. nest box and its cameras.
March 04/26 We have installed the K-2 nest box and its cameras.
March 22/26 At 11:22am FK (Lady Winnipeg) has arrived. She checked out both nest boxes then perched on the KP-3. Around 12:49pm MK (Mr. Manitoba) arrives. Both sat on several different perches and entered both nest boxes scraping out a nest bowl. Copulations occurred.
March 23/26 FK stayed the night in H.M.K.T. nest box MK slept elsewhere. Around 7am FK out of nest box and perches in tree, then shortly after MK lands near her. Over the next few hours both sat on several different perches, entered both nest boxes scraping out a nest bowl and copulations occurred. There were no sightings until later in the afternoon when both again sat on several different perches and scraping in both nest boxes. At 7:54pm FK in H.M.K.T. nest box, then sleeping.
March 24/26 FK stayed the night in H.M.K.T. nest box MK slept elsewhere. Around 7am FK out of nest box. In the morning both perched in tree, copulation occurred. There were no sightings for a couple of hours then when they returned both sat on several different perches and hydro wires, multiple times they entered both nest boxes scraping and copulated on H.M.K.T. a couple of times. FK on H.M.K.T. with a vole and stored it close by. At 7:51pm FK in H.M.K.T. nest box, then sleeping.
March 25/26 FK stayed the night in H.M.K.T. nest box MK slept elsewhere. Around 7am FK out of nest box. Throughout the day both sat on a few different perches and hydro wires and copulated. Both entered nest boxes a couple of times. In the morning FK got a vole that had been stored in some tall grass near H.M.K.T. and later in the afternoon FK was eating another vole. At 7:33pm FK in H.M.K.T. nest box, then sleeping.
March 26/26 FK stayed the night in H.M.K.T. nest box MK slept elsewhere. Around 7am FK out of nest box. For the majority of the day both perched in tree. A few times throughout the day they looked in or briefly entered both nest boxes. MK delivered a vole to FK. At 7:31pm FK in H.M.K.T. nest box, scraps in nest bowl then sleeping.
March 27/26 FK stayed the night in H.M.K.T. nest box MK slept elsewhere. Around 7am FK out of nest box and left H.M.K.T.. FK and MK sat on a few different perches and copulation occurred. Shortly after, FK went back in H.M.K.T. nest box and slept for over an hour. Throughout the rest of the morning and day both sat on a few different perches. Multiple times both looked in H.M.K.T. nest box, sat on door branch and entered H.M.K.T. nest box scraping. At 7:53pm FK in H.M.K.T. nest box, preens then sleeping.
March 28/26 FK stayed the night in H.M.K.T. nest box MK slept elsewhere. Around 7am FK out of nest box and left H.M.K.T.. Throughout the day FK and MK sat on several different perches; trees, KP poles, door branch, hydro wires and copulation occurred. Numerous times throughout the day FK and MK entered both nest boxes scraping. By 8:00pm FK in H.M.K.T. nest box sleeping.
March 29/26 FK stayed the night in H.M.K.T. nest box MK slept elsewhere. By 6:45am FK out of nest box and sits on hydro wire. Throughout the day FK and MK sat on several different perches; trees, KP poles, door branch, wheel house, hydro wires and a few times copulation occurred. Numerous times throughout the day FK and MK entered both nest boxes scraping, with the majority being in the H.M.K.T. nest box. MK chased intruder kestrel out of the area a few times and one time a female intruder was confirmed. A couple of times FK had a vole and once she stored it in an evergreen. At 8:11pm FK in H.M.K.T., preens then sleeping.
March 30/26 FK stayed the night in H.M.K.T. nest box MK slept elsewhere. Before 7am FK out of nest box. Throughout the day FK and MK sat on a few different perches and several times copulated. FK and MK entered the H.M.K.T. box several times. MK chased intruder kestrel off of H.M.K.T. At 7:59pm FK in H.M.K.T. nest box, on edge of nest bowl avoiding snow inside during today’s snowfall, then sleeping.
March 31/26 FK stayed the night in H.M.K.T. nest box MK slept elsewhere. Shortly after 7am FK out of nest box. Throughout the day FK and MK sat on a few different perches. Several times FK and MK entered H.M.K.T. nest box and a few times in K-2 nest box. At 7:55pm FK in H.M.K.T. nest box, scraps in the nest bowl, preens and then sleeping.
APRIL 01/26 FK stayed the night in H.M.K.T. nest box MK slept elsewhere. At 6:49am FK out of nest box and left H.M.K.T. Throughout the day FK and MK sat on several different perches and copulation occurred. FK and MK entered H.M.K.T. several times. Intruder female kestrel on H.M.K.T. with FK and MK. Both females fight on H.M.K.T. then MK chases after intruder. At 8:11pm FK in H.M.K.T. nest box, scraps in the nest bowl, preens and then sleeping.
APRIL 02/26 FK stayed the night in H.M.K.T. nest box MK slept elsewhere. At 6:38am FK out of nest box. Throughout the day FK and MK sat on several different perches and copulation occurred. FK and MK entered both nest boxes scraping, with the majority being in the H.M.K.T. nest box. At 7:52pm FK in H.M.K.T. nest box, scraps and sits in nest bowl, preens and then sleeping.
APRIL 03/26 FK stayed the night in H.M.K.T. nest box MK slept elsewhere. At 6:32am FK out of nest box on door branch. Throughout the day FK and MK sat on several different perches and copulation occurred. Red Squirrel in K-2 nest box, FK and MK protecting area and dive at squirrel when it tries to get out. FK and MK entered H.M.K.T. several times. At 8:08pm FK in H.M.K.T. nest box, scraps and sits in nest bowl, preens and then sleeping.
APRIL 04/26 FK stayed the night in H.M.K.T. nest box MK slept elsewhere. At 6:32am FK out of nest box on door branch. Throughout the day FK and MK sat on several different perches and copulation occurred. Crow on tree near H.M.K.T. and FK dives at it and chases it away. FK and MK entered both nest boxes scraping. At 7:59pm FK in H.M.K.T. nest box, scraps, preens and then sleeping.
APRIL 05/26 FK stayed the night in H.M.K.T. nest box MK slept elsewhere. At 6:30am FK out of nest box on door branch. Throughout the day FK and MK sat on a few different perches and copulation occurred. Blue Jay on tree near K-2 nest box and MK dives at it and sits close by protecting area. FK and MK entered both nest boxes a couple of times scraping. At 7:59pm FK in H.M.K.T. nest box, preens and then sleeping.
APRIL 06/26 FK stayed the night in H.M.K.T. nest box MK slept elsewhere. At 6:28am FK out of nest box on door branch. During the day FK and MK sat on a few different perches and copulation occurred. FK and MK entered the H.M.K.T. nest box a couple of times scraping and FK picked at shavings while sitting in nest bowl. At 8:02pm FK in H.M.K.T. nest box, preens and then sleeping.
APRIL 07/26 FK stayed the night in H.M.K.T. nest box MK slept elsewhere. At 6:34am FK out of nest box on door branch.Throughout the day FK and MK sat on several different perches and copulation occurred. Crow near nest box and FK and MK chase it away. FK and MK entered both nest boxes several times, scraping and picked at shavings. At 7:35pm FK in H.M.K.T. nest box, preens and then sleeping.
APRIL 08/26 FK stayed the night in H.M.K.T. nest box MK slept elsewhere. At 7:13am FK out of nest box on door branch. Throughout the day FK and MK sat on several different perches. FK and MK entered H.M.K.T. nest box several times, scraping and picked at shavings. FK eating vole and MK delivers another vole to FK. At 8:00pm FK in H.M.K.T. nest box, preens and then sleeping.
APRIL 09/26 FK stayed the night in H.M.K.T. nest box MK slept elsewhere. At 6:32am FK out of nest box on door branch. Throughout the day FK and MK sat on a few different perches and copulations occurred. FK and MK entered both nest boxes scraping, with the majority being in the H.M.K.T. nest box. At 8:07pm FK in H.M.K.T. nest box, sits in nest bowl, preens and then sleeping.
APRIL 10/26 FK stayed the night in H.M.K.T. nest box MK slept elsewhere. At 6:37am FK out of nest box on door branch. Throughout the day FK and MK sat on several different perches and copulations occurred. FK and MK entered both nest boxes scraping, with the majority being in the H.M.K.T. nest box. At 8:33pm FK in H.M.K.T. nest box, preens then sleeping.
APRIL 11/26 FK stayed the night in H.M.K.T. nest box MK slept elsewhere. At 6:12am FK out of H.M.K.T. nest box then in and out of K-2 nest box. Throughout the day FK and MK sat on several different perches and copulations occurred. FK and MK protecting area, and a couple of times do not allow crows to land and chase them away. FK stored vole and later in the day finishes eating it. FK and MK entered both nest boxes scraping, picking at shavings and sitting quietly in nest bowl. At 7:53pm FK in H.M.K.T. nest box, preens and then sleeping.
APRIL 12/26 FK stayed the night in H.M.K.T. nest box MK slept elsewhere. By 6:51am FK out of H.M.K.T. nest box on wheel house. Throughout the day FK and MK sat on several different perches and copulations occurred. FK being protective of K-2 nest box and stops Female Wood Duck from entering. FK and MK strike at crows and chase them away. FK and MK entered both nest boxes scraping, picking at shavings and sit in nest bow. At 8:09pm FK in H.M.K.T. nest box, preens and then sleeping.
APRIL 13/26 FK stayed the night in H.M.K.T. nest box MK slept elsewhere. At 6:13am FK up in nest box door looking out. At 6:16am Female Wood Duck goes in K-2 nest box, FK followers her in and a battle begins. Female Wood Duck gets out and FK stays in for several minutes. Throughout the day FK and MK sat on several different perches and copulations occurred. FK and MK chase crows away a couple of times. FK and MK entered both nest boxes scraping. At 8:32pm FK in H.M.K.T. nest box, preens and then sleeping.
APRIL 14/26 FK stayed the night in H.M.K.T. nest box MK slept elsewhere. At 6:10am FK up in nest box door then out of box. Throughout the day FK and MK sat on several different perches and copulations occurred. FK and MK entered both nest boxes scraping and picking at shavings. MK delivers vole in H.M.K.T. nest box and a half hour later FK goes in, takes the vole out and stores it in a nearby evergreen. 8:42pm FK in H.M.K.T. nest box, preens and then sleeping.
APRIL 15/26 FK stayed the night in H.M.K.T. nest box MK slept elsewhere. At 6:05am FK out of nest box on door branch. Throughout the day FK and MK sat on several different perches and copulations occurred. FK and MK entered H.M.K.T. nest box several times scraping, picking at shavings and FK is beginning to spend time sitting quietly in nest bowl. FK and MK chase female Wood Duck away from K-2 nest box a couple of times. At 8:35pm FK in H.M.K.T. nest box, preens and then sleeping.
APRIL 16/26 FK stayed the night in H.M.K.T nest box MK slept elsewhere. At 6:10am FK in nest box door then at 6:32am out of box. Throughout the day FK and MK sat on several different perches and copulation occurred. FK and MK entered H.M.K.T. nest box several times. At 8:12pm FK in H.M.K.T. nest box, preens, sits in nest bowl, scraping and picking at shavings and then sleeping.
APRIL 17/26 FK stayed the night in H.M.K.T. nest box MK slept elsewhere. At 6:33am FK in nest box door and back in nest bowl sleeping, then at 6:50am out on door branch. FK back in H.M.K.T. nest box for over an hour sleeping. Throughout the day FK and MK sat on a few different perches. In the afternoon FK back in H.M.K.T. nest bowl for almost two hours, scraping, preening and sleeping. MK and FK briefly together in H.M.K.T. then MK out on H.M.K.T. while FK sleeps in nest bowl. FK spending multiple periods of time in the nest bowl during the day suggests an egg may be laid any day now. At 8:05pm FK in H.M.K.T. nest bowl, preens and then sleeping.
APRIL 18/26 FK stayed the night in H.M.K.T nest box MK slept elsewhere. At 6:37am FK in nest box door then at 6:47 out on door branch. Throughout the day FK and MK sat on several different perches and a couple of times eating vole. Three times during the day FK back in H.M.K.T. nest box for an hour each time, sleeps, preens, scraps and sits quietly. At 8:23pm FK in H.M.K.T. nest bowl and sleeping.
APRIL 19/26 FK stayed the night in H.M.K.T. nest box MK slept elsewhere. At 6:20am FK in nest box door then at 6:33am out of box. Throughout the day FK and MK sat on several different perches and copulations occurred. FK and MK chase Wood Ducks when female Wood Duck leaves K-2 nest box and also chase Crows away from area. MK and FK entered H.M.K.T. nest box several times scraping and twice FK stayed in H.M.K.T. nest box and slept. At 8:23pm FK in H.M.K.T. nest box, scraps, picks at shavings, preens then sleeping.
APRIL 20/26 FK stayed the night in H.M.K.T. nest box MK slept elsewhere. At 6:07am FK in nest box door then at 6:20am out of box. Throughout the day FK and MK sat on several different perches and copulation occurred. MK and FK entered H.M.K.T. nest box several times scraping and one time FK slept. FK was eating a vole on a nearby tree when an intruder female kestrel lands on H.M.K.T., FK (with vole) goes in H.M.K.T. then out and helps MK chase intruder away. At 2:31pm FK lays egg #1, thank you Laurie from U.S.A. for reporting this observation. At 8:33pm FK in H.M.K.T. on egg, chirping at MK on H.M.K.T. eating a vole. MK finishes eating then flies away and FK preens then sleeping.
APRIL 21/26 FK & 1 Egg stayed the night in H.M.K.T. nest box MK slept elsewhere. At 7:29am FK out on door branch. Several times during the day FK back in H.M.K.T. nest box on or beside egg and at times sleeping. Throughout the day FK and MK sat on several different perches and copulation occurred. MK brought FK four voles and one was dropped off in H.M.K.T. nest box. FK stored a vole in nearby evergreen. MK chases a Pileated Woodpecker trying to get in K-2 nest box. At 8:37pm FK in H.M.K.T. on egg then sleeping.
APRIL 22/26 FK & 1 Egg stayed the night in H.M.K.T. nest box MK slept elsewhere. At 5:53am FK out on door branch. Throughout the day FK and MK sat on several different perches and copulations occurred. Several times during the day FK back in H.M.K.T. nest box on or beside egg and at times sleeping. At 8:29pm FK in H.M.K.T. with one egg.
APRIL 23/26 FK & 1 Egg stayed the night in H.M.K.T. nest box MK slept elsewhere. At 6:39am FK in nest box door then out of box. Within an hour FK back in H.M.K.T. nest box and lays egg #2 at 7:57am. Throughout the day FK and MK sat on a few different perches and copulation occurred. MK brought FK several voles. Several times during the day FK back in H.M.K.T. nest box on or beside eggs and once MK was in and briefly sat on the 2 eggs. At 8:45pm FK in H.M.K.T. on eggs then sleeping.
APRIL 24/26 FK & 2 Eggs stayed the night in H.M.K.T. nest box MK slept elsewhere. At 6:37am FK out on door branch. Throughout the day FK and MK sat on a few different perches and copulations occurred. MK brought FK several voles, and stores one. FK back in H.M.K.T. nest box several times on eggs and sleeping, and once MK was in on eggs. At 8:23pm FK in H.M.K.T. on 2 eggs then sleeping.
APRIL 25/26 FK & 2 Eggs stayed the night in H.M.K.T. nest box MK slept elsewhere. At 6:10am FK in nest box door then out of box. Throughout the day FK and MK sat on several different perches and copulation occurred. MK continues to protect the area and chases Blue Jays and Northern Flickers away. MK brought FK several voles and one he gave to her in the H.M.K.T. nest box, FK eat some and then brought the rest out of the box to eat. At 1:15pm FK lays egg #3. MK in H.M.K.T. and briefly sat on the 3 eggs. At 8:33pm FK in H.M.K.T. on 3 eggs then sleeping.
APRIL 26/26 FK & 3 Eggs stayed the night in H.M.K.T. nest box MK slept elsewhere. At 6:24am FK out of nest box. Throughout the day FK and MK sat on several different perches and copulations occurred. MK continues to protect the area and chases Crows away. MK brought FK several voles and one he gave to her in the H.M.K.T. nest box. A couple of times FK wasn't interested in taking the vole and once stored a vole immediately after MK delivered it. Several times during the day FK in H.M.K.T. nest box on eggs and one time MK in H.M.K.T. and sat on the 3 eggs. At 8:28pm FK in H.M.K.T. on 3 eggs then sleeping.
APRIL 27/26 FK & 3 Eggs stayed the night in H.M.K.T. nest box MK slept elsewhere. At 6:44am FK out of nest box and gets vole from MK on door branch. Throughout the day FK and MK sat on a few different perches. FK spent a lot of time in H.M.K.T. on eggs and twice MK in H.M.K.T. and sat on the 3 eggs. MK brought FK several voles and twice he brought a vole into the H.M.K.T. nest box for her. FK stores a vole in nearby evergreen. MK chases Crows away and one time both FK and MK chase Raven off of H.M.K.T. roof. At 8:19pm FK in H.M.K.T. on 3 eggs, swivels in the nest bowl for a while and then settles in and sleeping.
APRIL 28/26 FK & 3 Eggs stayed the night in H.M.K.T. nest box MK slept elsewhere. At 6:16am FK out of nest box on door branch. Throughout the day FK and MK sat on a few different perches and copulations occurred. At 9:58am FK lays egg #4. FK spent a lot of time in H.M.K.T. on eggs and once MK in H.M.K.T. and sat on the 4 eggs. MK brought FK several voles and twice he brought vole into the H.M.K.T. nest box and FK eat in the box. MK continues to protect the area and chases Wood Ducks away. At 8:11pm FK in H.M.K.T. on 4 eggs then sleeping.
APRIL 29/26 FK & 4 Eggs stayed the night in H.M.K.T. nest box MK slept elsewhere. At 6:41am FK out of nest box on door branch and gets vole from MK. Throughout the day FK and MK sat on several different perches. FK spent a lot of time in H.M.K.T. on and off the eggs. Three times MK in H.M.K.T. and sat on eggs and one time slept. MK brought FK several voles and is also storing voles when FK doesn't take it. MK brought vole into the H.M.K.T. nest box, FK eat some of it in the box then stored it in a nearby evergreen. MK continues to protect the area and chases Wood Duck trying to enter K-2 nest box. At 8:43pm FK in H.M.K.T. on 4 eggs then sleeping.
APRIL 30/26 FK & 4 Eggs stayed the night in H.M.K.T. nest box MK slept elsewhere. At 6:33am FK out of nest box. Throughout the day FK and MK sat on a few different perches and copulation occurred. MK continues to protect the area and chases Crows away. MK brought FK several voles and stores one when FK doesn’t take it. Twice FK eat only some of the vole and stored the rest in nearby evergreen. At 1:04pm FK lays egg #5, and likely the final egg or is it ? FK spent a lot of time in H.M.K.T. on the eggs and once MK in H.M.K.T. briefly with the 5 eggs. At 8:17pm FK in H.M.K.T. on 5 eggs then sleeping.
MAY 01/26 FK & 5 Eggs stayed the night in H.M.K.T. nest box MK slept elsewhere. At 6:54am FK out of nest box on door branch. MK brought FK several voles, leaving with one that FK didn’t take and one time FK took a vole and stored it. MK continues to protect the area and chases Crows away. FK spent the majority of the day in H.M.K.T. nest box on the eggs. Twice MK in H.M.K.T. on the eggs for a half hour or more and slept. At 8:23pm FK in H.M.K.T. on 5 eggs then sleeping. Now that the clutch is complete or is it ! FK will incubate the eggs, taking only a few short breaks out of the nest box. From time to time MK will incubate but he will spend most of his time hunting for food.
MAY 02/26 FK & 5 Eggs stayed the night in H.M.K.T. nest box MK slept elsewhere. At 6:14am FK in nest box door then out. Throughout the day MK brought FK several voles and a bird. FK spent the majority of the day in H.M.K.T. nest box on the eggs and twice MK in on eggs. 8:43pm FK in H.M.K.T. on eggs then sleeping. Now that the clutch is complete, maybe ! FK will incubate the eggs, taking only a few short breaks out of the nest box. From time to time MK will incubate but he will spend most of his time hunting for food. Well thanks to Laurie D. our good friend from the USA spotted that FK had laid egg 6 today, thanks for watching Laurie. To the best of our knowledge egg 6 was laid between 4:24pm to 8:20pm This is first time 6 eggs have been laid for our ongoing research.
MAY 03/26 FK & 6 Eggs stayed the night in H.M.K.T. nest box MK slept elsewhere. At 7:02am FK out of nest box and gets vole from MK on nearby tree. Throughout the day MK brought FK several voles. FK spent the majority of the day in H.M.K.T. nest box on the eggs, preened and slept. MK in twice on eggs. At 7:20pm FK in H.M.K.T. on eggs then sleeping.
MAY 04/26 FK & 6 Eggs stayed the night in H.M.K.T. nest box MK slept elsewhere. At 7:10am FK out of nest box on hydro wire, MK flies to her and copulation occurs. Throughout the day MK brought FK several voles. FK spent the majority of the day in H.M.K.T. nest box on the eggs, preened and slept. MK shared incubation three times and once spent almost 3 hours on the eggs and slept while FK sat on a few different perches and hunted. At 8:28pm MK was on H.M.K.T. with a vole, FK was in the nest box on the eggs and not interested. MK stores the vole in a nearby evergreen and FK then sleeping.
MAY 05/26 FK & 6 Eggs stayed the night in H.M.K.T. nest box MK slept elsewhere. Our 3 HD camera live stream has started. At 7:18am FK out of nest box, gets a vole from MK then on KP #3. Throughout the day MK brought FK a couple of voles. FK spent the majority of the day in H.M.K.T. nest box on the eggs and slept. MK shared incubation four times and slept. At 7:48pm FK came in H.M.K.T. nest box, MK got off the eggs and left then FK sleeping.
MAY 06/26 FK & 6 Eggs stayed the night in H.M.K.T. nest box MK slept elsewhere. Basically the same every day now, egg duty shared by FK and MK food deliveries and incubation, incubation, incubation.
MAY 07/26 FK & 6 Eggs stayed the night in H.M.K.T. nest box MK slept elsewhere. Observations will be put on hold for a period of time unless something changes.
MAY 18/26 There have been no significant changes to this point. Approximate hatching dates are May 24 to 26 /2026.