Kestrels Overcome Adversity as Chicks Hatch & Grow | Apollo & Athena | Robert E

Kestrels Apollo & Athena faced many challenges as their chicks hatched. This story follows this kestrel couple as they overcome their differences and work together to fight off intruders and find enough food for their chicks during the lean 2022 breeding season. To support my channel and my wildlife rehabilitation and conservation work, please donate here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=A52ZHAMJZC3J4 or join one of my supporter communities in exchange for behind the scenes content here: https://www.robertefuller.com/support_and_donate/ BIRD OF PREY ATTACK Not only did the kestrels have to battle buzzards and tawny owls, but jackdaws and a barn owl also threatened to enter their nest SIX EGGS With a full clutch of eggs to protect, the pair worked tirelessly to keep their nest safe. Watch as Apollo chases a jackdaw away. APOLLO & ATHENA For this kestrel couple, battles are commonplace. Not only must they constantly fight to keep their eggs safe, but there is often also a lot of tension inside the nest too. ATHENA Athena is a formidable falcon and in this relationship she is the one who calls the shots. Watch her cluck angrily at Apollo when it is her turn to brood. She is impatient for her turn and is so busy berating him she barely notices that she is blocking his exit. INCUBATION Meanwhile Apollo does his best to please. Watch him squeeze past her and head off to hunt. Later, when the eggs are due to hatch, she takes over the role full time. CHICKS HATCH 35 days after it was laid, the first chick hatches. It’s covered in white downy feathers and it’s eyes are closed. Then, four hours later, the second emerges and Apollo arrives to inspect his new offspring. FIRST DAYS The two older chicks eyes are already open at less than 12 hours old, the 5th hatches the next day but it is a full two days before the sixth and final chick hatches. APOLLO HUNTS Apollo must now work hard to feed his family. But Athena is hard to please and he looks increasingly confused. LEAN PICKINGS It soon becomes clear that food is scarce and when Athena also returns from hunting episodes with just a few worms I grow worried for the chicks. YOUNGEST CHICK IS WEAK The youngest chick is a lot smaller than the others …and eventually I decide to intervene. It is always a difficult decision when animals are wild, but at 11 days old this chick was closer to the size you would expect a 4 or 5 day old chick to be. SAD LOSS Despite my best efforts this tiny kestrel chick sadly passed away. It is such a shame but with less beaks to feed the other five chicks soon began to thrive. NEXT TIME Join me next time to see these kestrel chicks get their ID rings and prepare to take their first look at the world beyond the nest. #kestrel #commonkestrel #robertefuller #wildlives #apolloandathena I'm a British wildlife artist based in Thixendale, North Yorkshire, UK. I build habitats to encourage wildlife into my garden and use nest cams to study their behaviour. These studies inform my paintings. I share the best of my video research on this channel for free. If you would like to support my work please consider a small donation here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=A52ZHAMJZC3J4 Or of course you may like to purchase my artwork which you will find on my website: https://www.robertefuller.com. Many of the paintings are portraits of the creatures you watch here! © Robert E Fuller Copyright Disclaimer: Please feel free to share my videos but do not download any content without permission with the intent to re-upload. If you would like to license any content, please get in touch: [email protected] CHAPTERS 00:00 Athena and Apollo in nest 00:23 Jackdaws intrude 00:48 Athena traps Apollo in nest 01:45 Apollo delivers prey 02:22 Barn owl Orion visits 02:53 Kestrel food pass 03:42 Athena incubates eggs for last time 04:08 First chick hatches 04:19 Second chick hatches 04:36 Apollo sees chicks for first time 05:08 Third chick hatches 05:15 Fourth chick hatches 05:39 Fifth chick hatches 05:53 Sixth chick hatches 06:21 Apollo delivers food 07:56 Athena also hunts 08:28 Chicks get just worms 09:04 Trying to rescue youngest chick 10:26 Next Time... Stay Connected! You can also follow me on these platforms: Website: https://www.robertefuller.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RobertEFullerArt/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/RobertEFuller Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/RobertEFuller/