Backyard and Beyond

Starting out from Brooklyn, an amateur naturalist explores our world.

As John Burroughs said, “The place to observe nature is where you are.”

Raptor Wednesday

A pair of American Kestrels have been much in evidence around the main entrance to Green-Wood. Here’s the male on the chapel.
Here’s the female on the chapel, eating a lizard.
That day they were both on the chapel at the same time. The next day, the same.
Female on the Neo-gothick pile of the gatehouse.
Female in one of the Monk Parakeet holes in the nest.

I’ve now seen both male and female Kestrels fly into the Monk Parakeet nest several times over the years. They don’t spend much time there. I’ve never seen them emerging with prey (I’ve never seen a baby parakeet here). There’s evidence that these small falcons use parakeet nests as places to roost overnight in Florida. I wonder if they do the same here? Need to be there at twilight…

mthew

One response to “Raptor Wednesday”

  1. Chuck McAlexander

    I wonder if Monk Parakeet in on the menu? Kestrels have a varied diet and parakeets probably taste like chicken. Not a big stretch in my way of thinking.

    Reply

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