The cameras are located at Hatikva School in Elyakim, in the framework of the Lesser Kestrel project which is jointly run by the Megiddo Regional Council, the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI) and the Israel Electric Corporation (IEC).
At Ramat Menashe, in the Megiddo Regional Council, is the largest concentration of lesser kestrels im Israel. The kestrels nest in the settlements Dalia Gilad, Ramat Hashofet, Eliakim, Ein Haemek, Givat Oz, Mishmar Haemek, Midrach Oz, Ramot Menashe and more, recently in Yokneam Illit. 5th Grade students in schools "Hatikva" and "Omarim" learn about the lesser kestrel and engage in community activities to protect the falcon: Advertising people to contact in settlements regarding chicks that fall from nests, appeals to residents about the renovation of roofs, and training young students on the kestrel.
The cameras are posted in the "Kestrel neighborhood" which was created at 2006, during the renovation of the roof in which kestrels formerly nested.
The neighborhood is designed to allow continuation of nesting for the kestrels in the building, and offer more nesting sites in the face of the shortage of suitable nesting in the moshav.
A designated concrete shelf was built under the wind box, and divided into 18 nesting boxes. The façade was closed by wooden doors which can be opened when the necessity arises. The size of the entrances to the nests is 7 cm, and in every nest there is a set-up for communication. Pidgins are unable to enter the nest, despite repeated attempts.
photo of the "Kestrel neighborhood" from outside
View the boxes design plan
The building of the kestrel neighborhood was completed at the beginning of 2006, and cameras were posted inside four of the nests. The kestrels embraced the place immediately and since nest there every year: one pair at the first three years, and three pairs from 2009.
With the arrival of the kestrels in February, the cameras filmed the examination of the nests by the kestrels and conflicts between the kestrels on the matter of the neighborhood and mates. For example, once the camera filmed a stormy battle between two females that lasted for quite a few minutes in the nest. The egges are layed at the end of March, and the incubation starts towards the end of the laying, a week later. If we thought struggles ended with the laying of eggs, we learned a different reality for the cameras, for example: a female that laid eggs in nest no. 4 deserted them for a night, and went to sleep in nest no. 3, together with the nest's occupant female incubating her clutch. When the male came to feed his incubating partner, the invading neighbor got to him first and stole the food!
The chick hatching occurs after a month of incubation, at the beginning of May. In the early days, the female stays with the chicks in the nest, and later takes an increasing part in hunting and bringing food to the nest.
Even during this period we documented complex neighboring relations: In another instance, a male was seen in nest no. 4 together with his chick when a stranger (male) entered the nest with food in his bill. The male separated between the chick and the intruding male, and prevented the feeding, and in the end succeeded in banishing the intruding male.
So far, every year three chicks fledged from the nest. During the first year, the camera helped save a chick that had a tendency to fall out of the nest often. The students checked the number of chicks in the nest every day, and every time a chick was missing, they would go out to the yard, pick up the chick and return it to the nest.
Late May - early June the chicks fledge from the nest and shortly thereafter the lesser kestrels leave the area.
Project coordinator on behalf of the Israeli birdwatching Center:
Menachem Adar menachem.adar@gmail.com
052-3689680