Film | Kestrels Unite to Win War Against Jackdaws | Apollo & Athena

Relations between kestrels Apollo & Athena are often tense. But when a flock of jackdaws threaten their nest, they unite.

 

Kestrel nest

It’s the start of the breeding season and kestrels Apollo and Athena return to their favourite nest, Ash Hollow. But this nest is in a prime location and jackdaws are also looking to nest. The jackdaws are bigger, stronger, and extremely persistent. When Athena finds a pair rearranging her nesting material a vicious fight ensues. Apollo, the male, rushes to his partner’s aide, but in his hurry he accidently knocks her out of the nest. The scuffles continue for weeks, and the battles become increasingly ferocious.

Nest shortage

It is important this kestrel pair secure this nest, since there is a shortage of suitable sites for kestrels which is one reason these birds are on the amber list for UK birds of conservation concern. But the kestrels are determined to start a family and their courtship continues. Apollo, the male, spends his time finding gifts for his mate Athena – some get a better reception than others. In March a blanket of snow covers the Yorkshire Wolds and now Apollo must work even harder.  But poor Apollo can never do enough and Athena complains noisily when he fails to deliver, trapping him in the nest as she berates him. This kestrels pair are known for their turbulent relationship but it isn’t long before they are working as a team, digging shallow depressions into the nest floor for their eggs.

Egg laying

By mid-April, Athena lays her first egg, ignoring a twig left in the nest by the pesky jackdaws. It is 3 days before the second egg. The next two are laid 2 days later. Now the kestrels cannot afford to let their guard down and Athena keeps one eye open even as she sleeps. Known as unihemispheric slow wave sleep, this is a survival tactic she shares with other bird species. Athena needs to be vigilant more than ever.

Competition from jackdaws and more

When the jackdaws invade again, grabbing at her tail feathers, she rounds on them and this time the jackdaws don’t return – for a while at least. But Athena’ gets little peace and is soon disturbed by a rival kestrel, Jenny who has flown across form Fotherdale.

Male and female kestrel take turns to sit on the eggs, but Athena takes the night shifts. Both birds hunt, but Apollo continues to bring Athena gifts, even delivering live prey. After so much action, the monotony of incubating is getting to Athena. But as she chases flies around the nest, Apollo continues to guard the nest from squirrels and yet more jackdaw threats.

In May the first chick hatches and now this kestrel pair must work even harder to feed their young family.