When kestrel Jeff disappears, leaving his partner Jenny to care for the chicks alone, if feels like history is repeating itself.

Date filmed: June 2023

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ABOUT THIS FILM
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Jeff the kestrel
Jeff is a kestrel I helped raise after his mother sadly disappeared. I was so delighted when he made it through to adulthood and began to raise a family of his own, but then fate took a turn and it felt like history was repeating itself.

Kestrel parents Jeff & Jenny
Jeff and Jenny are first time parents and utterly devoted. It’s male kestrel Jeff’s job to bring in food for the chicks, while female Jenny actually feeds them, tearing the food into bitesize pieces and sharing it out equally. She is also responsible for brooding the chicks, since they won’t be able to regulate their own temperature until they’re at least a week old.

Threat from above
Whilst Jeff is out collecting food for his family, a red kite swoops down. These birds of prey are much larger than kestrels and pose a serious threat. But Jeff puts up a brave fight and a fierce aerial combat ensues. Thankfully Jeff appears unscathed.

Like father, like son
At five days old, the chicks are old enough to be left alone for short periods and Jenny takes the occasional break. Whilst she is out, Jeff does something extraordinary he feeds the chicks! Feeding chicks isn’t usually a male’s job and I’ve only seen one male kestrel do this before, Jeff's own dad, Mr Kes. However Jeff is inconsistent and sometimes has no idea what size of food they can manage!

Jeff disappears
One day, when the chicks are 11 days old, Jeff doesn't return to the nest and Jenny seems unsettled. I check the cameras to see if I can spot him, but there's no sign and I begin to suspect the red kite that attacked him the week before. Red kites will kill kestrels to eliminate competition for food.

Sad loss
Having followed this kestrel's story since he hatched last year, I feel his loss keenly. Jeff is a favourite of mine, since I helped raise him after his mother sadly disappeared.

Helping Jenny
But now Jenny needs my help. She can’t venture too far from the nest to hunt herself… but she knows to get food from the feeding post and so I leave extra mice for her, to replicate these birds diet of wild prey.

Next time
Subscribe to this playlist and hit the notification bell to find out how Jenny gets on as a single parent.

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 also 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  
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CHAPTERS
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00:00 Kestrels’ First Chicks
01:38 Jeff Brings Food
02:01 Red Kite Attacks Jeff
02:57 Jeff Is Back
03:40 Jeff Feeds Chicks
05:07 Joint Parenting And Growing Chicks
07:35 Jeff Disappears
09:16 Jeff’s Life Story
09:41 Helping Single Parent Jenny
11:19 Next Time

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© Robert E Fuller

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