Date: 4/20/26 10:06 am From: Timothy Barksdale via groups.io <timothy.barksdale...> Subject: Re: [sd-birds] Kestrels in Davison county
Jeff,
Normal range of hatching dates for Kestrels in Missouri is right now and up
to May 1, This data goes back to 1968.
Remember, nearly every bird species, upon returning to the breeding
grounds, or at least breeding latitude, begins immediately to assess the
food supply to feed young on. With Kestrels, we are talking about voles,
mice and even grasshoppers. The ability to lay the number of eggs "to plan"
to feed those mouths, always put me back in a humble place.
My first Broad-winged Hawk this year flushed from a roadside with a prey
item "in talon." I need to return the same route later in the afternoon,
and behold (!) - there were 2 Broadwings together , on a branch AND they
WERE copulating!!!!
I thought A) it was an early date for Broadwings to begin with and B) to be
on territory and already advancing to nesting blew my mind.
Nature never ceases to astound me.
Tim Barksdale
Mokane, MO and Choteau, MT
On Sun, Apr 19, 2026 at 6:45 PM Ricky Olson via groups.io <olsonr088=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> Sparrows & starlings have been nesting a couple weeks here. Probably early
>
> On Sun, Apr 19, 2026 at 6:41 PM Jeff Hansen via groups.io <jeff.hansen.sd=
> <gmail.com...> wrote:
>
>> I was doing nest box maintenance at my mom's. I opened the kestrel box to
>> find five eggs and they warm. Doesn't it seem too early.
>>
>> I don't even think starling or house sparrows have active nests.
>>
>> Jeff Hansen
>> https://www.youtube.com/BackyardBirdsUS >>
>>
>
>
