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        Daily Chat >> General Posts >> They're Baaaack
        
(Message started by: George_J on Mar 17^th, 2008, 12:52pm)

Title: They're Baaaack
Post by George_J on Mar 17^th, 2008, 12:52pm

Changed my icon (again) to reflect that our "resident" American Kestrel female seems to have returned today to reclaim her territory. I presume it's the same one we've had for the past couple of years, because she habitually uses the same perching spot on the black locust alongside the creek at the back of the house. She's not banded, so I can't tell for certain.

Good to see her again.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Kestrel

Generally, she and her mate nest somewhere in the area. I haven't wanted to inquire too closely, since I don't want to scare them off. Haven't seen the male yet.

They usually hang around all summer and keep things stirred up...the smaller birds don't like them at all. Nothing sneaky about a kestrel--they're eternally hovering over the neighbor's horse pasture and patrolling the creek, uttering their loud "killy killy killy' calls. Last year the male nailed a mouse on the back porch, right outside the glass slider. The (indoor) cats didn't forget about that incident for a long time.

I'll try to get some pics of them this year to show you.

Best,

George

P.S. I have a real soft spot for this species--when my daughter was small, her teacher (who had a permit) kept a wing-injured kestrel named "Cloud" in the classroom for the students to get to know. Ellen's frequent "job" was to feed it--a chore that she eagerly took on.

Title: Re: They're Baaaack
Post by LeeS on Mar 17^th, 2008, 2:36pm

Chuffed for you - my favourite bird George 8)

Looking forward to the pics.

-Lee

Title: Re: They're Baaaack
Post by Sean_C on Mar 17^th, 2008, 8:13pm

I am a huge fan of birds of prey George. There are so many, and most aren't seen very often.

I look forward to the pics.

Sean.................................

Title: Re: They're Baaaack
Post by coach_bill on Mar 17^th, 2008, 8:15pm

sweet, wish i could get those at my feeder.i will be looking for the male pics now thanks. coach bill

Title: Re: They're Baaaack
Post by Linda_Howell on Mar 17^th, 2008, 8:31pm

Quote:

The Swallows of San Juan Capistrano
Back from winter vacation in Argentina

by Gerry Brown

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The interior of the San Juan Capistrano mission.
They're on their way.

The famous cliff swallows of San Juan Capistrano, that leave town every year in a swirling mass near the Day of San Juan (October 23), are returning from their winter vacation spot 6,000 miles south in Goya, Corrientes, Argentina.

They land at the mission in San Juan, California, on or around St. Joseph's Day, March 19, to the ringing bells of the old church and a crowd of visitors from all over the world who are in town awaiting their arrival and celebrating with a huge fiesta as well as a parade.

Seeking Solace in the Mission

Legend has it that the swallows took refuge in the Mission San Juan Capistrano from an irate innkeeper who destroyed their muddy nests. The swallows return to the old ruined church each spring knowing they will be protected within the mission's walls. In fact, the city has taken their safety seriously passing an ordinance against destroying their nests.

So-called "scout swallows" precede the main flock each year by a few days but the majority of the small birds usually arrives on the 19th and begins rebuilding the mud nests that cling to the ruins of the old stone church and throughout the Capistrano Valley.

The Oldest Building in California

The mission, originally built from 1776–1806, was seriously damaged in 1812 by a deadly earthquake and was never fully rebuilt. It is the seventh in a chain of 21 California Missions all supposedly separated by the distance of a day's walk. The Mission was named for the Crusader, Saint John of Capistrano, who had taken the name of his Italian birthplace. Padre Junipero Serra was a Spanish Franciscan priest who founded the church on November 1, 1776, and the adobe Serra Chapel section of the mission has been rebuilt and it is now the oldest building in California still in use today.

RELATED LINKS
San Juan Capistrano

swallow

Junipero Serra
The mission is located near two rivers and was an ideal spot for the swallows to nest for years because of the abundance of the insects on which they feed. The reduction in numbers of the insects, largely as a result of the development of the area, has caused some of the swallows to locate further from the center of town and explains why there are no longer huge clouds of swallows descending on the Mission. Still, it's quite a sight.

We get our migrators too, George. I was there once (at the Mission) and believe me, it was a sight to behold. In fact it was awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!

Linda

Title: Re: They're Baaaack
Post by Mosaicwench on Mar 18^th, 2008, 8:40am

We have a pair of Cooper's hawks that nest nearby. The little birds give them plenty of room but I still find bloody carcasses strewn about the yard. It's easy to tell when they lay eggs - all activity stops for about a month!!

Love those "laughing" hawks.