AMERICAN KESTREL BANDING

Date: May 21, 2019 at 11:20 AM 
Subject: Ichetucknee Kestrels 

Bob,

I participated with Richard Melvin and Sam Cole in banding your kestrel chicks on Saturday.  There were 2 males and 3 females, and they were all good sized and Richard said they were a “good brood”.  By which he meant that they were calm, mainly because they were well fed.  Their parents, both, were taking very good care of them.  He also said 5 is the top number for any kestrel brood, so these birds were top notch.  I am so thrilled about this since I’ve been helping check boxes there for a while and this is the first year since 12, I believe, that there have been any eggs or chicks.
I thought you might like to see this picture of one of the chicks. I had never seen a chick before and I was delighted.
Have a great summer, Bob!

Valerie Thomas