Dear birders:
This brief reporting
is from observations during this month of May. The farm is situated in Isinya,
Kaputei North, Kajiado County ,
Kenya . The
rains have been on and off.
A pair of the Greater
Kestrel Falco ruficoloides, has been
breeding on a nest approximately 6-metres off the ground. The nest is situated
on the tallest tree around the farm, a Casuarina
sp. What drew my attention were the continuous calls from the pair
near the occupied nest. Mock and actual copulations took place on diverse dates
from May 6th to 12th May, mostly on the power line posts.
As from 13th the female took charge of the incubation period to the present
day.
The male has been observed
hunting food prey mostly locusts and large grasshoppers. Before descending down
on the prey, a hovering and active hunting maneuver follows, mostly over the
grassy areas.
The main disturbance
is coming from the Pied Crow Corvus albus.
They congregate to around C.15 – 20 individuals to mob the breeding
pair. This fight usually, occurs between 07h00 and 09h00. In defense, the male,
has shown great resistance and put up a defiance fight in return. The
female, also has been noted to aid of the male, when the crows tend to be drawn
very close to the nest site. Both do overwhelm the crows, which, they force
them out of their territory.
I will keep you
updated on further observations.
Regards and happy
birding always,
James Kuria NDUNG'U
Managing Director
FRONT TRAILS
SAFARIS...taking you closer to nature
Off Isinya -
Kajiado Highway ,
Kajiado
County .
P.O
BOX 60903 - 00200,
Nairobi , KENYA
+254.734.287.802
+254.728.583.520 +254.20.230.1705
E: james.ndungu@fronttrailsafaris.net
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