Common Kestrel

In 2004, Shay Mori of "Gilat Satellite Communications" informed Dr. Yossi Leshem regarding a Common Kestrel that had begun nesting in a window box at his office window, in Petah Tikva.

An online camera was placed near the nest, and thousands of viewers followed the nesting season with great excitement, 24 hours a day.

In April 2011 a camera was placed again near the window box, and viewers are welcome to watch the progress.

Stay tuned!

 25.5.2011: "Planting" New Chicks:

After a long period of time, during which we followed the incubation of the 3 eggs with great concern, we saw that the eggs did not hatch on time. We addressed Dr. Igal Horowitz, CEO of the Israeli Wildlife Hospital, and asked him to provide 2 Kestrel chicks, which are collected at the hospital and treated, before being released back to the wild. We received the approval of Ohad Hatzofe, Avian Ecologist of the Israeli Nature and Parks Authority, and arrived at the hospital to collect the chicks.

The 3 eggs which had not hatched after a long incubation period (photo: Yossi Leshem)

Dr. Igal Horowitz during the "planting" procedure (photo: Yossi Leshem)

The new chicks which were brought from the Wildlife Hospital (photo: Yossi Leshem)

Dr. Yossi Leshem, along with M.Sc. student Ori Peleg, collected the chicks and brought them to the nest at Gilat Satellite Communications. Yossi examined the 3 eggs that were still in the nest, and after confirming their infartility, broke 2 of them, in order to resemble natural hatching. The female returned to the nest after a 25 minute absence, and began immediatley with feeding behavior (even though she had no food). After additional 5 mintues, the male arrived and fed the eldest chick with a lizard he had hunted.

We hope the couple will "adopt" the young chicks, so that they grow up healthy and return safe to the wild.

 The window box, after 2 of the eggs were broken in order to resemble hatching (photo: Yossi Leshem)

The chicks in their new home (photo: Yaron Koler)

Stay tuned!

Photos: Yaron Koler, Gilat Satellite Communications

The Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) is the most common falcon in Israel, active in daytime. The Common Kestrel does not build nests, but rather lays its eggs in a variety of places: a niche in a wall of natural or quarried rock, in an abandoned crow’s nest, on a high tension pole, in buildings (on a windowsill, ledge, etc.), among palm branches, even in artificial nesting boxes, half-open in front.

Common Kestrel (photo: Amir Ezer)

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The Common Kestrel and the Barn Owl are raptors who feed on rodents (among other prey), and thus are able to aid farmers in dealing with pests, and allowing them to reduce the use of pesticides.

In the past 3 decades, an outstanding cooperation has developed between Tel-Aviv University, the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel and farmers throughout the country. The project is held with the help of the Ministry for the Protection of the Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry for Regional Cooperation, the Hoopoe Foundation and other funds. Since 2007 it has been regarded a National Project.

In the past few years, the project has expanded rapidly, and nowadays there is unprecedential cooperation between Israeli, Jordanian and Palestinian farmers, to promote the use of Barn Owls and Kestrels as biological pest control agents in agriculture.

The Use of Barn Owls and Kestrels as Biological Pest Control Agents in Agriculture

Director and Editor: Yuval Dax

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