American Kestrel (falcon) Coming into Barn to Hunt Mice

[centrarchid]

Recently for some reason the mice have come into barn in mass. It was a move rather than population buildup and may be result of weather. Mice are running about during day going after feed even under threat of being eaten by chickens. Chickens seem interested in eating only so many.

Today a more than 2+ year old male American Kestrel started coming in after the mice where he hunts from where I place one to the game cameras in middle of the feed sack area. Chickens are a little up about him but starlings are most upset. Cardinals and other songbirds not too concerned although they do not let him closer than about 10' and watch him closely. Same bird I think roosts in neighbors mechanical shed north of my house. I will work to provide him a nesting box in field. One of my favorite bird species. I hope Coopers Hawk does not catch him in the barn. He allows close approach and will land within 30' feet of me as I walk about barn and pens.

 

[azygous]

That's so awesome! I have only seen a kestrel once in the last two decades and that was just a few weeks ago a few miles from my place.

 

[centrarchid]

I see multiple daily, at work and home. A pair at work hunt right outside my lab and one roost under bay roof where we pull trucks in and out. They are very common here.

 

[Rye]

That's neat it seems to have followed the mice. We have them in good numbers in our area. Very cool birds that I see sitting on power lines often.

Have watched them grab some baby cottontails in our yard over the years.

 

[Folly's place]

I've had a mouse explosion this winter in the coop; the broken concrete floor has been colonized. I have had to resort to poison bait, and finally have it under control. Never have there been so many!!!
As soon as it's warm enough, the floor is getting a new layer of concrete.
My 'barn cat' wanted to move indoors last fall rather than work, and she now live inside at another home. She was too afraid of the chickens to work the coop during the day, contributing to the problem. She was a former city cat, horrified by the big birds.
This spring I'll be finding a new (more effective!) barn kitty.
Mary

 

[Folly's place]

Kestrels are beautiful, but don't seem to be very common around here.
Mary

 

[JedJackson]

They're neat little birds. I've never seen them go after mice but they love to hunt sparrows and big grasshoppers here.

 

[sourland]

There's a pair that hunt the beagle club grounds for voles. I love watching them hover and then dive to come up with a meadow mouse. They nest somewhere to the South as they head in that direction with their prey.