[texbirds] Re: American Kestrels nesting in Tarrant County as well
- From: Dan Smith <dan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: schueler@xxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 5 Jun 2013 22:30:39 -0500
When I visited the park near Conroe where the Red-cockaded Woodpeckers are
early last summer, I observed what appeared to be a pair of kestrels on
territory. My recollection is that I posted my observation to Texbirds at the
time and was informed that the pair had nested there previously, perhaps for
more than 1 year. I think that a lot of range maps are going to be revised as
birders make more and more use of venues such as this to report bird sightings
and behavior. As another example, Hutton's Vireo appears to be much more
widespread and in more varied habitats than shows in the field guides at
present. Some of you will recall that Don Shaeszler and I recorded the first
Guadalupe County record at Warbler Woods, but they almost turned into trash
birds there over the next several months and there was at least 1 nesting
attempt in the parking area.
Dan Smith
dan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
512-451-2632
http://www.wordsmithofaustin.com
On Jun 5, 2013, at 10:00 PM, "John and Emie Schueler/Stewart"
<schueler@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> I live in north Tarrant County (NE Fort Worth / Keller / Watauga area), and
> I saw a Kestrel just two weeks ago in my neighborhood. No evidence of a
> nest, but I did think it unusual to see one so late - usually the numerous
> Kestrels in our fields and park are gone by late April or early May. Based
> on Jim's report, I'll look more carefully for fledglings or other evidence
> of breeding.
>
> John Schueler
> Fort Worth (where we've had geckos in the yard/house for 15 years)
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: texbirds-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:texbirds-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
> On Behalf Of Brush Freeman
> Sent: Wednesday, June 05, 2013 3:24 PM
> To: jjones4fwas@xxxxxxxxx
> Cc: TexBirds
> Subject: [texbirds] Re: American Kestrels nesting in Tarrant County as well
>
> 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
>>
>>
>>
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