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By Leland Osten
Weekly monitoring of the box was necessary due to strong Starling competition. This was the first year Kestrels successfully fledged from this box. BAN’s Kestrel nestboxes are located along Interstate 80 in cooperation with Nebraska Game and Parks and the Nebraska Department of Roads. |
Six Kestrels fledged from the
nestbox located at the 27th Street and I-80 interchange shortly after June 13.
This young Kestrel was wanting to leave the nest but it seems the parents have
control over when the young birds leave. The other young were equally anxious to
leave, as they were pushing this fellow from behind. While I was watching the
one blocking the hole and looking for mom and dad, he was almost pushed out, but
those strong feet held on long enough for him to get back in the nestbox. There
seemed to be constant movement inside the box as each bird was trying to look
out. (Maybe the one at the opening gets all the food as it is brought in).