One of the most rewarding wildlife moments I’ve ever experienced—right in my own backyard.
This male American Kestrel is feeding his chicks a blue-tailed skink, perched on a nest box I finally built this past winter. The box itself has a story: it’s crafted from live-edge slabs of an oak tree that came down just 100 feet from where it now hangs. A labor of love—chainsaw milling and all!
I’ve had kestrels visit over the years, and I knew they were cavity nesters. Watching this pair settle in, raise their brood, and tirelessly hunt has been nothing short of fascinating. This photo was taken remotely from a ladder-mounted camera as the male paused with breakfast—just as one chick peeked out, hungry and hopeful.
In 2024, after over 15 years of thinking about it, I finally installed a kestrel nesting box on my Lassen County property—and to my delight, a male kestrel moved in this spring!
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This image was taken after one of my video stakeouts. He emerged from the birdhouse and perched just long enough for a quick burst—this frame is my favorite.
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Though I spotted a female with him in April, I haven't seen her lately. She might be incubating eggs… or maybe she moved on. Either way, the process has been amazing to witness.
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Looking forward to what the coming weeks reveal.
⠀ #AmericanKestrel#BirdPhotography#NestWatch#CaliforniaWildlife#BackyardBirding
Pixelfed intro: this account started with me drawing my friend Matt’s birding photos. I’ve branched out a bit since but you should still expect a lot of his birds. Maybe I’ll even learn to draw eventually.
Catch the wind, see us spin Sail away leave today Way up high in the sky
Jackson and Jamie playing in the skies above the mountains they call home As Jamie lacks wings, Jackson has to toss/drop him so he can “fly”, and Jackson will always catch him!
American kestrel (Falco sparverius) 
Catch the wind, see us spin
As Jamie lacks wings, Jackson has to toss/drop him so he can “fly”, and Jackson will always catch him!
