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Kestrels at Aston

kestrels

What started off as a missing piece of glass in a technician’s study room at Aston University, has since become the nesting place for several generations of kestrels over an estimated 30 year period. Following the renovation of the study room, Estates & Facilities have since taken action to help preserve the birds’ habitat.

A state-of-the-art webcam has been installed in the nesting place enabling staff, students and the public to access a live feed for those wanting to watch the birds. The live feed is available here on the Aston site and the RSPB website. The footage will also form part of the RSPB roadshows.

5 eggs were laid last year resulting in an amazing 3 chicks that have now successfully fledged (one of last year's chicks is pictured above).

Working with the RSPB, The Wildlife Trust, and the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), this year’s chicks have now been ringed for identification purposes  – to monitor their movements and contribute to conservation research .

If you are interested in joining the Aston Campus Wildlife Group please email Carolyn Taylor.

For more information an the Aston Kestrels see the press releases below:

For more information on kestrels visit the RSPB website.

For up to the minute information on the Aston Kestrels follow them on Twitter.

Listen to Carolyn Taylor (founder of the Aston Campus Wildlife Group) and the RSPB discussing the Aston kestrels on Radio WM.

Kestrel facts

Kestrels are found in a wide variety of habitats, from moor and heath, to farmland and urban areas.

Kestrels can see and catch a beetle 50m from its perch. Kestrels need to eat 4-8 voles a day.

Only around 20% survive two years to breeding age.

No nesting material is used by kestrels - but a small hollow in bare rock or stone known as a ‘scrape’.

The same nest site is often used in successive years with some sites used for decades.

It an offence to kill, injure or take a kestrel, or to take, damage or destroy an active nest or its contents.