Kestrel Dad Raises Chicks Alone After Mum Disappears | Full Story | Mr & Mrs Kes | Robert E Fuller
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Published 2023-02-23
Watch Mr & Mrs Kes interact live on my nest cam: • Live From Fotherdale | Robert E Fuller and follow their story in this playlist: • Kestrels 🦅 Mr & Mrs Kes | Wild Lives ... …
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ABOUT THIS FILM
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Mr & Mrs Kes
The story begins full of hope as Mr & Mrs Kes, an established kestrel pair, start a new season and Mrs Kes lays a clutch of six eggs in Ash Stump, a nest box I designed just for them.
Nest intruders
But incubation proves hazardous as Mrs Kes is interrupted from her brooding to fight off jackdaws, barn owls and even a red kite threatening to invade the nest.
Chicks all healthy
Despite the drama, all six chicks hatch successfully. Mr Kes quickly adapts to his new role, hunting round the clock to provide food for his new family, while Mrs Kes takes to breaking up the food for the chicks.
Mrs Kes disappears
Suddenly, Mrs Kes' behaviour changes dramatically. Increasingly, she leaves the chicks alone in the nest for short periods. Then, when a tawny owl appears at the nest she is visibly shaken and after a second encounter with the owl she flies off, never to return.
Mr Kes finds his chicks alone
Mr Kes returns to the nest to find his chicks without their mother. He drops a vole on the nest floor but has no idea how to feed them. If they don’t eat soon, they’ll die.
Kestrel chick rescue
I decide to intervene. I open the back of the nest and check the chicks. Three are weak, so I bring them into my studio for some intensive care, but return the other three to the nest in the vain hope that Mrs Kes will return.
Mr Kes tries to brood
When I notice Mr Kes trying to brood the chicks later that day, something uncommon for male kestrels, it gives me an idea.
I support Mr Kes
I leave food out for Mr Kes in hopes that he will try to feed them. And then the impossible happens - he tries to break up food for his young. Slowly this male kestrel learns to feed his chicks.
Rescue chicks
Meanwhile, I fed the younger three chicks six times a day and kept them warm indoors until they are ready to reunite with their wild siblings.
Family reunited
Eventually the three rescued chicks are ready to return to the wild. When I place them back in the nest their siblings look so shocked, but Mr Kes barely notices, he is so focused on feeding the brood!
Ringing day
It is finally time to give the kestrel chicks their ID rings and I am so proud. After such a difficult start, they had made it and were now ready to graduate to adulthood.
Time to fly
One by one, all six chicks finally spread their wings and lift off for their first flights and it feels amazing.
Mr Kes defied all the textbooks to raise this clutch on his own and, with a bit of help from me, all six chicks are still flying free!
ABOUT ME
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I am a British wildlife artist and filmmaker on a mission to share my love for wildlife with the world. As well as creating detailed animal film and art portraits, I promote wildlife tours around the world and do all I can to help conserve and protect wildlife here at my home in Yorkshire. I hope that by putting nature in the frame I can foster a deep love for wildlife amongst my followers.
You may like to purchase my artwork which you can find on my website: www.robertefuller.com/. Many of my paintings are portraits of the wonderful characters you watch here!
You can also follow me on these platforms:
Website: www.robertefuller.com/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/RobertEFullerArt/
Twitter: twitter.com/RobertEFuller
Instagram: www.instagram.com/RobertEFuller/
CHAPTERS
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00:00:00 Introducing Mr & Mrs Kes
00:00:31 House Hunting
00:03:31 Courtship
00:04:48 Egg Laying
00:08:25 Brooding the Eggs
00:12:50 Chicks Hatch
00:17:24 Mrs Kes Unsettled
00:21:10 Mrs Kes Disappears
00:22:48 Kestrel Chick Rescue
00:26:48 Mr Kes Broods Chicks
00:28:47 I Feed The Rescued Chicks
00:29:09 Mr Kes Tries To Feed
00:34:29 Mr Kes Defies The Odds
00:36:40 Family Reunion
00:41:25 Checking On The Chicks
00:42:46 Ringing Day
00:51:14 Chicks Fledge
01:00:58 A Unique Story
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© Robert E Fuller
Copyright Disclaimer: Please feel free to share my videos but do not download any content without permission with the intent to re-upload. If you would like to license any content, please get in touch: [email protected]
#robertefuller #kestrel #wildlives
All Comments (21)
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I hope you've enjoyed the video! Watch more Mr & Mrs Kes films: bit.ly/43x2rxL See them 24/7 on my livestream: bit.ly/44ScRZT Support my work with wildlife: www.robertefuller.com/support_and_donate/ Shop my kestrel artwork: www.robertefuller.com/product-tag/birds-of-prey/ Follow me: Facebook - bit.ly/43LiisV | Twitter - bit.ly/43yuiO9 | Instagram- bit.ly/3XV7rLA | TikTok - bit.ly/3XUnEAJ
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Unfortunately female kestrels will leave their nest if they are too stressed 😢 Mrs Kes couldn't take all the activity from the other predators in the area and it's amazing that the father tried feeding them when they were so young still. Most certainly would not have not made it if Robert hadn't stepped in. This was a fantastic team effort 🥰
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I love when you reunited the chicks, their faces were just in bewilderment like "I thought you died?" And the younger chicks probably was like "A god took us and gave us food and a warm place to sleep, so you could say we were in heaven."
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I love how, at the final feed, one of the chicks recognized his steps on the ladder and actually came towards the sound rather than hiding. They're still wild, for sure, but they know Robert means them no harm.
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I’m rewatching this in honour of Mr Kes getting to be on BBC for Father’s Day 😊 Thank you Robert for having made it possible for all of us to see this, and for sharing Mr and Mrs Kes’ story with the world 🤗❤️
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When he returned the 3 little ones to the nest, I couldn’t stop laughing at the way the biggest one looked completely flabbergasted, backed up in the corner 🤭😆😍
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That the male could adapt and take over the roll of his lost mate is enchanting. That there was so much human interaction without imprinting is great. Thank you for this video
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Lets hear it for all the single dads out there doing what it takes. You are all amazing! Anything is possible with a bit of faith in yourself, and the support of a friend or two.
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What an amazing daddy. How extraordinary for a male to work out how to feed his brood. Life prevails.
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A full hour of Mr. Kes….how lucky are we? I miss you Mr. and Mrs. Kes. You truly touched my ♥️
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The moment Mr. Kes tore up the food to feed to the chicks, my heart lept, such an uplifting moment. So proud of Mr. Kes, and thankful to you Robert. Only recently discovered your channel, although I think I've seen you on the BBC? Anyway, you're doing some magical work, and long may it continue
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Mr. Kes, a single father of 6 babies and doing so well. Picking up the extra tasks. He's awesome. I hope that even though he hasn't been sighted in 2 months, he's still doing okay
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Sir, I am crying watching the 2/3 of the video. You have done a really remarkable job with the chicks. I am so happy they are okay with you and your wife there. Stay healthy and safe, sir.
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It is heartbreaking that Mrs. Kes disappeared and we will never know why. You are such a good advocate for Mr. Kes and his brood. What a joy to see them flourish with you and Mr. Kes tag teaming their support! Thanks for an fascinating and informative video!
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Just a single Dad just doing his best
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Mr Kes is so smart and determined for his children, my heart 🖤
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What a love story! These six little kestrel chicks had TWO devoted fathers ( unlikely a pair as they were) who worked hard together to raise them. So beautifully documented. Thank you so much, Robert.
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The hour long journey of Mr Kes and Robert, surrogate fathers to six beautiful little kestrels. Thank you for this saga!
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Shout out to all you single dads out there busting your butts to provide for your kids. You are appreciated!
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Mr. Kes definitely deserves father of the year! Hopefully he finds an amazing mate deserving of him and we'll get to watch him and her again next year. He's an amazing father! Hoping Mrs Kes is looking down and I'm sure if she is, she is very proud of her mate.
