Film | Kestrels Fight to Secure Nest & Lay Eggs | Apollo & Athena

Kestrel pair Apollo and Athena face tough challenges as they prepare to raise their chicks. Watch them fight off rival jackdaws and avoid dangerous predators like stoats and even a buzzard. 

This nest box was built especially for this kestrel pair. Located in a restored woodland habit, it is clearly a desirable spot.

And despite staking their claim early, this kestrel must fight to keep it. Kestrel courtship rituals begin with the male, Apollo, securing a site and ‘presenting’ it to the female for her approval.

But Apollo’s has his job cut out for him. First he faces competition from a pair of jackdaws. One of the most intelligent birds on the planet, these birds are fearsome and toy with the male kestrel, pulling at his feathers.

At night, the onslaught continues. This time a neighbouring tawny owl, named Ozzy by followers of this channel, visits the nest. Tawny owls are much larger, heftier birds and Apollo quickly concedes.

But Apollo’s persistence pays off and by mid-February he is ready to show off the nest site to his mate, Athena. Watch him bow courteously as she enters. Her approval is essential for the next stage of their courtship.

Thankfully she approves and soon Apollo is showering her in gifts, proof he can provide for her and their future chicks. Their romance blossoms as he delivers a succession of voles, and even a lizard – a rare kestrel delicacy and hard to find here on the Yorkshire Wolds.

Athena demonstrates her approval by digging out a shallow hollow in the floor of the nest ready for her eggs.

But the couple cannot afford to let down their guard. The jackdaws return and this time it is Athena who leads the defence.

Then a stoat creeps into their nest looking for eggs and things become scary when a buzzard swipes at Apollo, only narrowly missing him. Buzzards are much larger birds and the knock could have easily hurt the kestrel. Then, to make matters worse a fierce storm hits blowing snow into the nest.

But on April 1st Athena lays her first egg and then lays a further five – producing one roughly every two days.

Kestrels share brooding duties and Apollo is a dutiful partner. But the strain of egg-laying must be getting to Athena because shortly before she is due to lay her fourth egg she returns to find Apollo brooding the clutch and shouts at him to move.

But Athena is so busy clacking she doesn’t seem to realise she is blocking his exit! He seems so confused and tries to climb the walls just to get out of her way.