When I spotted Jenny the kestrel with a new male I was excited to find out his identity. The truth is a little more complicated than I expected.

Date filmed: Feb March 2024

Watch Jenny & Apollo interact live on my nest cam:    • Live From Fotherdale | Robert E Fuller   and follow her story in this playlist:    • Kestrels  Apollo & Athena | Wild Liv...  

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ABOUT THIS FILM

Jenny the kestrel
Jenny's first partner, Jeff, sadly died and so when I spotted her with a new male this spring I was full of hope

Identifying new male
But when I scrutinised the footage from the live cameras, I discovered a whole new angle to the story. Kestrels have unique markings that can distinguish one bird from another and this male kestrel had a dark spot on his central tail feather similar to the markings on the tail feathers of Apollo, the male kestrel at Ash Wood

Comparing tail feathers
I found a freeze frame taken from video of Apollo at Ash Wood and held it up next to images of the kestrel spotted with Jenny. The evidence was unmistakable: Jenny's new mate is Apollo.

Apollo & Athena
Apollo is already paired up with a female, Athena, with whom he has raised three broods at Ash Wood. He's also been spotted courting her again this year in preparation for the breeding season.

Is this courtship?
And yet here he is apparently flying over to Fotherdale to also court Jenny, a single female kestrel. Of course he could just be prospecting new nest sites here, but I have known a male kestrel with two females in one season so it is possible.

Will this kestrel remain monogamous?
Apollo and Athena's relations are famously strained and for years my cameras have captured the tension as Athena regularly berates Apollo and frequently traps him in the nest.

What if Athena finds out
But these are kestrels and I doubt their behaviour is quite as clear cut. Still it’s going to be interesting to see what happens with Jenny & Apollo and if there are chicks, will Apollo be able to feed two broods?

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.

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