[texbirds] Re: American Kestrels nesting in Tarrant County as well
- From: Brady Surber <supersurber@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: Brush Freeman <brushfreeman@xxxxxxxxx>, "jjones4fwas@xxxxxxxxx" <jjones4fwas@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 6 Jun 2013 09:31:20 -0500
They have been breeding in Central and southern Wilbarger county for several
years now. There is a pair breeding on the ranch I do work on in Cooke county
south of Muenster. I have Summer records for almost every county around and
suspect the breed throughout the region, as NorthCentral Texas away from the
Metroplex is one of the most under-birded regions of Texas.
> Date: Wed, 5 Jun 2013 15:23:31 -0500
> Subject: [texbirds] Re: American Kestrels nesting in Tarrant County as well
> From: brushfreeman@xxxxxxxxx
> To: jjones4fwas@xxxxxxxxx
> CC: texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
> 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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