Kestrels

Many thanks to everyone for posting their Kestrel records, there has been an excellent response which will make it much easier to identify potential breeding sites. The purpose of the nestbox scheme is to investigate whether nestsite availability is a factor limiting the Pembrokeshire Kestrel population. There are several reasons why this might be the case; firstly direct competition with more dominant species such as Peregrine or cliff-nesting seabirds, also a lack of mature trees offering suitable nest ledges, and perhaps renovation of many remote old buildings. They will use old crows nests but breeding success tends to be poorer because of increased predation and exposure to the elements. It is hoped to locate a sample of natural sites to monitor breeding success and to compare it to those choosing nestboxes (if any get occupied). It is likely that food availability and predation by other birds of prey are also limiting factors and it is hoped that the scheme will give some clues as to what the likely cause(s) of the decline are.

Nestboxes are widespread but the industrial sites of the lower Cleddau have been selected (including the LNG), as well as the clearfell areas of the Preselis, Angle penninsula and St Davids area. It normally takes 3 to 5 years for pairs to come established at new nestbox sites, and so far only one box has been used by a Kestrel (as a roost site), but its early days and I'm an optomist!