Ringing the Kestrel Chicks

The Kestrel chicks are finally old enough to ring!  Luckily there was a break in the rain long enough to measure and weigh the chicks without letting them get chilled.  
Peter Wilkinson specialises in ringing owls but he also records any accessible birds of prey at Kingfishers Bridge. 
Kestrels start incubating from the first or second egg resulting in a staggering of eggs hatching, this in turn leads to a range in chick sizes across the brood.

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Collecting the chicks from their nest in the hollow willow

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Measuring the length of the last joint of the wing and primary wing feathers gives the best indication of the age of each chick

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Weighing the Chicks, this gives the best indication of their health and progress

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Ring numbers and any information are passed on to the BTO (British Trust for Ornithology) 

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The Barn Owls are also doing well, both pairs have raised broods of two, despite the bad weather.  One brood has now fledged but we'll continue to keep an eye on them and record any sightings.