Written by: Ranald Strachan
2022
This spring, our resident Kestrels in our hand-built nest have had a good season with plenty of prey, enough to hatch 6 chicks, all doing well. Just a few weeks old, we managed to ring the six chicks, carefully removing them and placing a small metal identity ring on their left leg. Then popped back in the nest where mum was swiftly back in with more voles. This work allows us to track and record the age if the birds or their rings are recovered.
These birds are in steep decline as birds of open spaces, their habitat and prey have dwindled. They almost exclusively prey on small mammals but do take small birds, so they are very vulnerable to changes in their prey habitat, especially grassland. So golf courses make good hunting grounds if the course is open and has plenty of natural grasslands and rough in good health. The Castle is prime habitat for mice and voles and its no surprise these little birds are well fed. In the last 3 years, we have managed to fledge 15 juveniles, if this lot take to the sky, that would tally at 21. Remarkable work from the greenkeeping team. They even have their own wifi which allows us the privilege to watch them grow.
