The American kestrels that hatched in the maintenance barn at the Mercer Meadows Pole Farm a few weeks ago fledged last week while I was away in Texas. Today, I was delighted to get a good look at some of them.
I had completed my walk and was pulling out of the parking lot when I spotted three of the young birds perched on a wire stretching to the barn from the street. I stopped, popped out of the car and took several shots.
The best of the lot, of one of the birds flying down from the wire, tops this post.
While I was shooting, two more kestrels flew by from behind the barn, and I”m reasonably certain they were one of the fledglings and the mother, who’s been regulary stationed at one of the roof peaks most days.
Kestrels are in decline, although not listed as threatened or endangered. I’m rooting for the Pole Farm newcomers to help turn things around for the species.
The Jersey Birder 