Well I'll be danged if I did not have two Met. Geckos WAY out here in the boonies of Throckmorton Co. under the lights tonight while watching Poor-wills and Nighthawks...This is like in the middle of nowhere....Global Warming is for real. but this is so remote.?? Photos if needed. B ************************************************************************************************************* Brush Freeman 361-655-7641 Cell http://texasnaturenotes.blogspot.com/ Finca Alacranes., Utley,Texas On Wed, Jun 5, 2013 at 3:23 PM, Brush Freeman <brushfreeman@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > That is very interesting...I actually didn't realize that there are > the numbers of kestrels breeding in N. Texas as there seems to be. > What I also find interesting is your report of geckos in Ft. Worth. > That is news to me but I guess warmth marches on. > ************************************************************************************************************* > > > Brush Freeman > 361-655-7641 Cell > http://texasnaturenotes.blogspot.com/ > Finca Alacranes., Utley,Texas > > > > On Wed, Jun 5, 2013 at 3:14 PM, JimJones-FWAS <jjones4fwas@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: >> After reading B Freeman's report I figured I should add my observations. >> >> >> I have been observing 4 pairs of Am. Kestrels this year on my morning walks >> on Bedford Trails in Bedford, TX. (Tarrant County) The 1.8 mile trail runs >> along the power lines that run east-west from Walmart on HWY 121 west over >> to the ball fields on Meadow Park Drive. >> >> >> >> This morning I enjoyed watching two adults trying to keep up with their 4 >> fledglings scattered around the play area behind Spring Garden Elementary. I >> also heard nestlings from the nests on two other power line poles; one >> located west of Scenic Hills Drive and the other just east of Sage Lane. The >> fourth pair observed up over the hill west of Walmart apparently failed >> having young this year. But they are still protecting their 'pole'. >> >> These kestrels have been successfully raising young at this location for >> about 5 years now. They have discovered that the cross-arms of these tall >> 345KV power line poles are 'hollow', the perfect place to make a nest >> protected from larger raptors and from ground predators (the lowest >> cross-arms are probably 50 feet from the ground.) If you have this style of >> power line in your area, look closely where the arm is bolted to a bracket >> on the vertical support pole. The cross-arms are hollow and the hole is >> facing inwards towards the vertical pole. The birds access the hole by >> dropping down through the support bracket. >> >> >> >> The trail runs through a neighborhood with lots of backyard gardens. Food is >> plentiful with lots of lizards and geckos, and the grass along the path has >> plenty of insects. >> >> When I first observed the kestrels I thought they must get awfully warm >> inside of these metal supports in our Texas heat.... but later learned the >> nestlings leave the nest in June, long before it gets too hot. By mid-July I >> usually see only 2 or 3 kestrels on the path. >> >> >> >> When I report these on eBird, I am questioned as to the 'numbers' that I am >> reporting as being high. >> >> >> >> Jim Jones >> >> Bedford, TX >> >> >> >> Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at >> //www.freelists.org/list/texbirds >> >> Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission >> from the List Owner >> >> Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at //www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List Owner