I’ve seen a lot of fights between animals over the years. These battles are an essential part of life as animals compete for mates, resources and the future of their offspring. But it wasn't until I began hiding cameras inside animal nests that I've really understood the intensity of these conflicts.
Territorial disputes & nest box wars
Among the most dramatic animal fights I captured on camera was between a barn owl and a kestrel. This hour-long battle took place in 2015 and even though the footage is very grainy, there's no escaping how strong the instinct to fight over territory is. In this instance, these birds were fighting for the right to nest in one of my nesting boxes.
My cameras have come a long way since then, however the battle for nesting rights continues between these species each year. Just this year, barn owl Willow tried to oust Mrs Kes as she was brooding her eggs in a brutal battle in which the barn owl pinned down the kestrel by her legs. Thankfully brave Mrs Kes fought courageously and her eggs, and chicks, were unharmed, but the fight was vicious and shows you just how tough the competition for nests is for these birds.
Owl fight tactics
My cameras have allowed me to study the different tactics birds of prey use to secure territory. Last year they captured a little owl use speed and surprise to drag a barn owl, nearly twice its size, right out of a nest box. The cameras also captured tawny owls, Bomber and Luna, working together to launch a two-pronged attack on an intruding barn owl.
Animals fight to protect their young
Animals will do anything to protect their young. My cameras also caught the courage of a hare as it chased off a stoat and a tawny owl, both dangerous predators, that came too close to it's young leveret. Lots of animals seem to really enjoy a tussle. Stoat kits and badger cubs spend much of their growing years playfighting. It is an important part of their development and helps them develop the skills they’ll need later in life when they start to fight for real. Sometimes the instinct to fight can be hard to watch, like the time an old badger boar tried to take over a sett I built for two badger cubs I rescued. The battle that ensued as the younger badger fought off the intruder was gruesome. But although nature can be cruel at times, fights like these are vital for survival in the wild and help animals secure territory and safeguard the future of their young.
#fights #robertefuller #kestrel
