A male American Kestrel in our yard

Just after we created this club's website, on 2011 April 5 at 1500 hours, a young male American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) flew into the large tree at the end of our yard.

American Kestrel

We had never seen a kestrel here before. The little one year old falcon did not mind my looking at him. He was concentrating his attention on the flock of Common Grackles (Quiscalus quiscula) squabbling loudly in our pine trees.

I coaxed Berry outside to see and the kestrel swooped down to land on the branch of a pine tree. The grackles scattered in all directions, squawking their alarm.

It is interesting that we usually view grackles as the roughhouses of the local bird community. I have witnessed a Common Grackle murder an English Sparrow (Passer domesticus) with his beak. So one can imagine the real sense of comeuppance in the kestrel's sudden appearance in our yard and all the fleeing grackles.

We have seen the American Kestrel many times before, usually out in the countryside. This was the first time to see one in our backyard.

Robert

photo courtesy of fotolia