Raptor Wednesday

Saturday morning, there was movement inside the American Kestrel cavity. I could see two nestlings.

On Sunday morning, they could see me. Two females and a male. Very possibly more in this spacious rust-bucket of a cornice.

To re-cap: for three seasons, American Kestrels bred on the corner above the Valentina bodega. This spring, that cornice was painted. The painters also sealed the hole in the cornice that led to the nest. These small falcons are unique among North American raptors because they nest in cavities. Rotting cornices provide such spaces here in the city.

Within a day or two, the kestrels had a new cornice hole, a long avenue block away from their old haunts.

Through all this, and a lot more: because the block they ultimately settled on has been the scene of tremendous street construction for weeks. Nevertheless, first incubation and then raising has been going on inside this metal den above a bus stop. (Coincidently, in previous years, another 5th Avenue nest was also right above another B63 bus stop.) And now they are emerging!

4 Responses to “Raptor Wednesday”


  1. 1 Linda Musial June 23, 2021 at 7:53 am

    I love this story.

  2. 2 Chuck McAlexander June 27, 2021 at 7:07 pm

    It would be interesting if you could get a close look and maybe some photos inside the nest cavity. I was fortunate to receive the nest of some kestrels on 25th street when the building renovated the associated space . The terraforming was extensive and the engineering very impressive. The number of different species of bones was surprising in that it included pigeon! Wonders await if you can get permission and have the capability to study the nest.


  1. 1 Raptor Wednesday | Backyard and Beyond Trackback on June 30, 2021 at 7:00 am
  2. 2 2021, Part I | Backyard and Beyond Trackback on December 30, 2021 at 7:00 am

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