This is the story of Mr Kes, a male kestrel who must learn to care for his six chicks after his mate suddenly disappears.

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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Male kestrel must learn to parent

Female kestrels are the primary caregivers for the chicks, keeping them warm and tearing up food for them. With her gone, this male kestrel doesn’t know how to fill the role.

Taking care of the weakest

After 10 hours without their mother, I take the six kestrel chicks out of the nest for a health check. Three were small, cold, and weak, and needed to be cared for. I placed the three older, stronger chicks back in the nest, to keep them wild.

Mr Kes tries to brood

Mr Kes has the right instinct and when he arrives, bringing in food for the chicks, he tries to brood them. But he isn't very good at it and soon gives up.

He doesn't know how to feed

The kestrel returns to the nest with a vole but makes no effort to tear it up. They’re starving but are too small to feed themselves.

Mr Kes slowly learns to break up food

It is some time before he realises and begins to tear a vole into smaller morsels. But he is impatient and soon gives up. That the afternoon, I head down to the nest to feed the chicks myself. They haven’t had a meal since I took them out this morning, so they’re hungry. I’m careful not to give them too much, I still want them to call for food.

Mrs Kes briefly returns

At dusk, Mrs Kes suddenly returns. The chicks perk up as they hear her outside. She’s been gone for over 20 hours but doesn’t enter the nest… and when a tawny calls, she bolts off.

I take the chicks in

It’s such unusual behaviour for her, in previous years she’s taken on any threats to protect her own.
Without their mother to protect and brood them overnight, they’re vulnerable to predators and could die if they get cold. So, as darkness falls, I collect them from the nest. They’ll be safer with me overnight.

Placing the chicks back in the nest

The next morning, I pop the three chicks back into the nest, thankfully before Mr Kes returns with a vole. The chicks don’t immediately grab it, and he looks a bit unsure, so he settles for the safe option, brooding again! He seems confident with this task now.

At last Mr Kes learns how to feed

Later, Mr Kes comes in with a special catch, a common lizard. Thinner and easier to swallow, and one chick guzzles it down whole. It seems like a lightbulb moment for Mr Kes, who at last begins to realise that the prey needs to be smaller. He returns with a vole and starts tearing the meal up for the chicks. Against all the odds, this male kestrel has learned how to feed his chicks.

Next time

Mr Kes settles into his new role, and the chicks grow fast. Soon, with a bit of help from me, it’s time to get the younger chicks back into the nest!

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: https://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: https://www.robertefuller.com
Facebook:   / robertefullerart  
Twitter:   / robertefuller  
Instagram:   / robertefuller  

CHAPTERS
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00:00 Single Dad With An Impossible Task
00:14 Male Kestrels Don't Feed Chicks
00:32 Recap
01:20 Mr Kes Tries To Brood
02:01 No Idea How To Feed
02:44 Three Chicks In My Care
03:07 Mr Kes Tears Up Food
03:43 A Helping Hand
04:27 Mr Kes Calls For His Mate
05:06 Female Kestrel Briefly Returns
05:35 Bringing The Chicks In
06:03 Back To The Nest
06:33 Mr Kes Tries Again
07:03 Chick Swallows Lizards
07:27 Male Kestrel Successfully Feeds Chicks
08:07 Next Time...
08:26 End Credits

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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 reupload. If you would like to license any content, please get in touch: [email protected]

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