The Common Kestrel: a Micro - Documentary

The Common Kestrel is one of Britain's most popular birds of prey. But now the species is facing more challenges here in the UK than it has for a long time.
Join our Kestrel Casper with Naomi, to learn about Kestrels in the wild, the science behind the perfect hover and what you can do to help protect this Amber listed species for the future.

[@nicoletteboater62]

Another wonderful micro documentary - inspiring us all to do all we can to treasure and preserve the ecosystems that nurture such beauty and talent!

[@birdofpreyproject]

Thank you Nicolette for your comment, we really appreciate it!

[@3DGrafficdesing7578]

​@@birdofpreyprojecthelp me

[@smg7602]

Star of the show is obviously the stunning Casper but Naomi you supported him extremely well. Thank you for another great video. 💖

[@birdofpreyproject]

Thank you very much, Casper sure is a character!

[@createmorebiz7652]

Beautifully balanced majestic and noble creatures, with almost other worldly powers!

[@birdofpreyproject]

Thank you for the comment! They are amazing raptors for sure.

[@Templar7832]

These are fantastic videos! My girlfriend and I spend our weekends with Buzzards and Kestrels and photograph them. They are such amazing creatures. We;ve been studying them and trying to learn their habits that way. But please do some more videos on them!! very much subscribed!!

[@birdofpreyproject]

Thank you so much for commenting and subscribing! Great to hear that you enjoy watching and photographing kestrels and buzzards in the wild. Perhaps you would enjoy the microdocumentary we produced about the Common Buzzard? Keep up the good work!

[@masguapoako]

*Kestrel's grows fast that when I missed a week of visiting them, they went from only the head is visible to them standing outside the nest*

[@birdofpreyproject]

They certainly do. Within 6 weeks from hatching they will be full size.

[@thewildlifephotographer297]

Love kestrels

[@birdofpreyproject]

They are amazing birds, thank you for commenting

[@jeremyfairclough1854]

Naomi has created a fantastic video - - a joy to watch. She is such an easy, effective communicator, delivering a vital call to action.

[@birdofpreyproject]

Thant is incredibly kind Jeremy, thank you so much!

[@saniabdullah7239]

Kestrel is a wonderful rap[tor found mostly all year rouind in the north western Nigeria especiall in kaduna airport where i workb as a Bird/wildlife biologist. they are very amazing in thier quest for food . i once had it on video trying to pry on lizard. i will be very happy to offer my professioinal assistance as an experienced bird enthusiast to help concerve this amazing creature.

[@birdofpreyproject]

Wow, sounds like a brilliant sighting, keep looking out for them!

[@DocGoneRogue]

Hi saniabdullah, they perch atop our window rails on the third floor in the mornings and evenings at Abuja. Gorgeous creatures.

[@davidmclachlan6592]

When I was a boy back in the 70's Kestrels were extremely common, Buzzards were very rare, today it is the other way round. Tawny Owls also used to be common but not so much today, It is noticeable that since the introduction of Red Kites in the 90's there has been a decline in numbers of both these birds while Kites have flourished.

[@birdofpreyproject]

It is normal to see fluctuations in these populations as a result of the big increases in Buzzards, Kites, Goshawks and Peregrines - given that these species were previously in mass decline. What we need to look out for is continued rapid decline today, as these species are operating in an environment heavily influenced by human activity.

[@davidmclachlan6592]

@@birdofpreyproject thank you for your reply. For what it's worth my opinion is that Buzzard numbers have increased dramatically over the past thirty years because of the increase in traffic and therefore an increase in road kills ( rabbit, badger , fox , pheasant etc) this is why Red Kites have done so well in my own neck of the woods ( east Northamptonshire) because road kill is extremely abundant and these birds have never had to work hard for a meal . However It is difficult not to notice the rapid decline in Tawny Owls and there is an argument that this is due to the increase in numbers of Kites who have been known to kill young tawny owls who have just left the nest These are just my opinion on observations I've made over the past fifty years of watching birds of prey in my region.

[@birdofpreyproject]

@@davidmclachlan6592 Tawny Owls have declined and nest site/prey competition from increasing populations of other species such as Red Kites has definitely played a part - but Tawny Owl numbers were high in previous years because other species were drastically low 30 years ago. Other factors are causing Tawny Owl decline which must be monitored, but predation from other raptor species is probably a small factor.

[@davidmclachlan6592]

@@birdofpreyproject . ..... thanks for your interesting reply.

[@sarahfairclough9267]

Another absorbing insight into the tremendous work you do to protect the delicate balance of the precious life around us, with some stunning photography too! Keep ‘em coming Naomi!

[@birdofpreyproject]

Thank you Sarah for the kind words! Watch this space!

[@Sandwich13455]

There's loads above me in the high-rise

[@birdofpreyproject]

Fantastic!

[@TheRaginghalfasian]

great documentary

[@ibrahimshah8645]

Today we found a common kestral species bird which is unable to fly . please guide us about its treatment . thanks

[@birdofpreyproject]

Hi Ibrahim, we'd be happy to provide you with as much advice as we can remotely - you can send us an email using [e-mail] and we will get back to you.

[@markoarkaina8656]

What's her little hat for? It's adorable, but presumably not for fashion.

[@birdofpreyproject]

Hi Marko, That is a hood, a piece of falconry equipment and probably our best welfare tool as falconers. We use the hood to take stress and frustration out of the equation for the hawk - for example whilst being transported to the site where the hawk will be flown, for veterinary exams, for changing equipment or simply if an unexpected stress factor, say a farmers tractor, turns up whilst we are out and about. The hawks are made to the hood which means they are trained to take it as part of their routine.

[@Max-11-WW]

Is this in bath or near?

[@birdofpreyproject]

Yes we are in Newton St Loe, 3 miles from the centre of Bath!

[@neilhedger6569]

Amazing birds love all birds of prey great videos👍🦅

[@birdofpreyproject]

Thank you Neil, so pleased you enjoyed the video!

[@stephenphilpott6772]

I'd see kestrels all the time in the 70's, I adore them, but now I hardly see them, even in the places where I'd expect to see them. More needs to be done to bring the numbers up. There's nothing sadder than seeing an empty grass field's without Kestrels hunting.

[@birdofpreyproject]

Hi Stephen, thank you for your comment. Absolutely, it is tragic that kestrels are declining so quickly now since 2005. We will continue to spread awareness and hopefully gather useful data that can be contributed to conservation projects.

[@sachaaspen7392]

I mean I techincally knew how small the common kestrel was but I didn't actually realise how SMALL it is omg

[@birdofpreyproject]

They often look deceptively large in flight! Casper only weighs about 180-190 grams.

[@sachaaspen7392]

@@birdofpreyproject I do agree with that, and Casper seems like a sweet one too. I'm doing my bachelor's thesis on their ecology in the urban area where I live, and it's good to get to see one next to an actual human before I go searching for them in the city!

[@birdofpreyproject]

@@sachaaspen7392 Wow fantastic! Sounds like a brilliant research project. If there is anything we can help with we would be happy to. Good luck with it.

[@sachaaspen7392]

@@birdofpreyproject Thank you! It's quite a bit far from England though (Romania) but if you have any sources about their general behaviour and nesting tendencies within urban areas (or whatever information, anything might be helpful), I'd be more than happy to accept your help if you offer it!

[@Alucard45000]

I just found out I had a pair of Common kestrel nesting right behind my house, there is at least 5 individuals currently flying around the area!

[@simonfairclough1362]

A superb and sometimes spectacular video. The presenter is clearly passionate about these beautiful birds and has highlighted yet another bird species under threat of extinction.

[@birdofpreyproject]

Thank you Simon, that's really kind. Thankfully Kestrels are a way off extinction just yet, but we are in danger of seeing Kestrels slip away from some regions of the British countryside.

[@michaelclark4043]

Only occasionally does it catch anything that has feathers on it. By far the vast majority of its diet consists of rodents and large insects, so it stands high on the list of beneficial birds. Therefore the farmers like them because they consume a high percentage of pests which can be injurious to crops. 😊

[@KL53986]

Kestrels small Falcons, they deserve to enjoy some slack they are nice parents are nice birds of prey. And are friendly if you dont provoke or injure them

[@blondegirlsezthis8798]

Just beautiful photography! What camera do you use for video capture?

[@birdofpreyproject]

Thank you! Just a simple Canon 4000d with a nifty fifty macro lens!

[@oftheglovefalconry..huntin3223]

We have a lot of kestrels in Norfolk probably the most common or close to where I am I feel blessed to see so many

[@birdofpreyproject]

Glad you are seeing them in the wild, hopefully we can keep it that way.

[@3DGrafficdesing7578]

My bird is sick for three days, tell me how to treat it.

[@ThomasWeiskirch]

Very beautiful! Thank you for sharing. also love the quality of the video! I wish your a nice weekend. Thomas

[@birdofpreyproject]

Thank you Thomas! So pleased you enjoyed the video. Wishing you a nice weekend too.

[@ThomasWeiskirch]

@@birdofpreyproject Thank you

[@solomonjoel9571]

3:35

[@Elgendibusiness]

How much?

[@alirajab51214]

Please reply

[@alirajab51214]

Hello

[@Retro_Rich]

Nulli secundus Naomi !!

[@birdofpreyproject]

Thank you very much!

[@mrt0ab]

It is not big but one of my top 3 favourite birds. 👍

[@yeraycatalangaspar195]

No lie, one of my prefered birds.

[@f1pitpass]

thank you!

[@claudemontezin911]

A sentience (or God) must have created such a gorgeous animal. We are so thankful you look after them and enhance their future. Thank you so much. You are blessed.

[@birdofpreyproject]

Thank you Claude for the kind words!

[@petedunn795]

Casper!!! Brilliant name!

[@birdofpreyproject]

Thanks Pete! He's named after Billy Casper from the film 'Kes'.