Season Review 2024
Peregrines
A very good year when most pairs succeeded and definitely up on 2023 figures,2024 saw most pairings fledging young.
Of the sites that I monitored in 2024, they produced an excellent 34 fledged juveniles from 14 sites, this is in contrast to 23 fledged juveniles from 15 sites in 2023, so definitely an improvement.
Of the 14 sites this year, 3 failed so the ratio works out to 34 juveniles from 11 sites, an average of 3 juveniles per site so a very good return this year from the various Boxes and Trays.
Of the 11 successful sites – 6 were in Nestboxes, 3 were in Trays and 2 were ‘natural’ laying on pigeon guano, 1 of these was a new site, making a box for these for 2025 which will give them an easier time of it.
Of the 2 publicised sites, Battersea Power Station pairing didn’t lay an egg due to her age, she is now 14+, she is also BTO ringed. Due to the density nowadays of singles waiting in the wings to challenge pairings, I thought she would be replaced earlier by another Falcon, but she must still be too strong.
The Parliament pair got it together fledging 4 juveniles, these have never been consistent breeders over the years, failing in 2019,20 and 2021 but the last few years have seen them succeeding thankfully.
Of the 11 successful sites, Paul and Shaun ringed chicks at 7 of them using the relatively new white colour rings, so a very good result on this, hopefully they will be relocated in the future, and we will get some returns.
Barn Owls
Of the nest boxes placed, both pole and tree, 4 of these produced 14 Owlets, these were all ringed by Paul and Shaun and it proved to be another good year for them.
As you know, I like to place Barnie nestboxes in pairs, always placing a 2nd box within 100 metres of each other. This gives the male somewhere to roost and also when young are big, and the female leaves them to roost during the day, she can use the 2nd box also.
However, on one site this year, 2 respective pairs had a box apiece nesting around 100 metres from each other. Obviously, no doubt aware of each other visually, with unseen territorial boundaries, or are there, it could be that they are using the same foraging and like say, Lesser Kestrels, are ok to nest communally?
It’s a new one on me and reading up on it, it shows that pairs nest even closer, sometimes down to as little as 20 metres from each other. Something to consider for the future – more boxes!
Kestrels
The best year so far for me for the little mouse hawk, to quote the old country name, 17 juveniles fledged from 4 sites.
1. Pole nest box for the 2nd year running – 5 juveniles
2. Tree nest box for the first time – 4 juveniles
3. Nest box on building at Beckton – 5 juveniles
4. Cliff face natural nest (hole) for 4th year – 3 juveniles
A good result and hopefully this can be surpassed in 2025 with 3 more Kestrel boxes going in.
Little Owls
Unfortunately, after successful breeding last year in the same nest box, Grey Squirrels nailed the nestbox and took it over.
However, the Owls, not to be outdone nested on the ground and fledged no less than 5 juveniles, the nest site being under a small container. Again, another first for me, nesting on the ground, never came across it before but again, reading up on it, it does occur.
Another first for me this year, one of my Little Owl boxes has been taken over by Honeybees, to date they are still in it so will have to see what the winter brings, presumably they will die off? Not up on my Bee’s, so never really considered what happens to them in Winter.
To sum up an excellent year, from the 4 species a total of 70 juveniles fledged, there will be mortality but hopefully a good number will make it.
As ever a massive thanks to my Amigo’s – Paul, Shaun, Lee and Mart for all their invaluable help, also Jake and Ben, without them I couldn’t do half what I do.
