Satellite tagging of young kestrels

Kestrels For Company

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Satellite tagging of six young kestrels

Progress Report

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21 March 2017

A signal has been received from Peake. It is not very strong but the temperature indicates that the bird is alive near Colmonell in South Ayrshire. This is encouraging and hopefully more data will be forthcoming.

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6 March 2017

Unfortunately no more data from the kestrels for some weeks now. Jenni and Peake were last heard from at the end of December, Gibb and Glen at the beginning of January and Emma at the end of January. Hopefully one or more will come on line with spring sunshine.

With the 2017 season fast approaching the priority is getting funding to pay for a third year of tagging and order the tags. An uphill battle as usual!

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20 January 2017

Glenn still seems to be with us but nothing from Jenni, Emma or Peake. All the tags are recording low voltage and the small surface area of the solar panel (the size of my thumb nail) means that they will struggle with the short day light hours at this time of year and in poor weather conditions. This is happening to the current hen harrier tags being monitored by the RSPB.

Still, it is not unusual for tags to come back on line when conditions improve so all is not lost yet, though there has been no relevant data from Emma and Gibb for some time which does not bode well.

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3 January 2017

It is very encouraging that there is still evidence that some of the 2016 satellite tagged kestrels are still active. Not withstanding that voltage is very poor at this time of year, particularly in the small kestrel sized tags, the picture is much more encouraging compared to the 2015 results. Peake, Glenn and Gibb are all still within 10 kilometres of their natal sites, the last signal being on 29 December, 2 January and 3 January respectively but all three have very low voltages. Jenni’s last date was 27 December and Emma on 2 December, the latter giving most cause for concern.

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19 December 2016

Still potentially five with us but most have low voltage, par for the course at this time of year. No good data from Emma since 2 December, Jenni, Gibb and Peake still in the same areas on the 18^th, 12^th and 18^th respectively. Encouragingly Glenn could possibly be back on line but there were no definite location dots. A good spell of sunshine would be most welcome.

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6 December 2016

News of the four 2016 cohort that are left after a gap when Jenni, my contact at the RSPB who supplies the downloads, took a break to get married! We wish them well.

Gibb is 3 kilometres inland from the natal coastal site but the voltage and data are dropping. Jenni is still in the same area as last reported while Peake has moved 10 kilometres south east of the edge of the Galloway Forest. Emma has not been transmitting since 2 December and the voltage is poor on the satellite tag. Recent lack of sunshine cannot be helping.

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18 October 2016

Peake and Gibb have shown no inclination to leave the general area of the natal territory. Emma is still north west of Dalmellington where she has been for some time. The mover is Jenni who had travelled from the coast to an area south of Dalmellington and has now moved south west and returned to the coastline west of Stranraer.

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22 September 2016

Data from 11-20 September indicates mostly local movement from four of the birds. There has been no signal from Glenn since 7 September and unfortunately it seems not to have survived. The last known position was 2 ½ kilometers south of the natal site. Peake has been active in an area covering 5 kilometers inland and 17 kilometers south of the site but it is still very much coastal orientated. Jenni was in roughly the same area as Peake till she moved inland to the Dalmellington/Carsphairn area. Gibb has a cluster of locations inland 3 kilometers from the natal site while Emma is still in the same area west of Dalmellington, a distance of 27 kilometers from the coast.

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12 September 2016

All five birds are ok and although none have moved a great distance they are staying around in the same areas they were recorded in last week. Of great interest is the news that Rosie's tag from last season's cohort is still transmitting and there may be a chance of recovering it. There is no expectation that the bird is still alive.

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9 September 2016

The five remaining young birds are still active but unlike Kate which made a move only to disappear on a driven grouse moor, they seem in no great hurry to move any significant distance. There is a cluster of data for Jenni near Carsphairn, still in my main study area, Peake has moved off the coast and is a few kilometers inland, Gibb is south of Pinwherry/Colmonell and Glenn is within a few kilometers of its natal site. Emma is giving some cause for concern as there has been no decent dots since 31 August. We think that the bird is ok as the rest of the data from the satellite downloads is positive. It could be that the tag is not getting as good a charge as the others.

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29 August

Sadly, despite the tag having been working perfectly with good voltage, the sudden lack of transmission from Kate and subsequent unsuccessful ground search, we have to assume that the bird is dead. The other five are still transmitting but are showing little sign of movement from the 23rd. Jenni is near Penpont at the Shinnel Water (always a good kestrel area) having travelled 56km directly east from the natal site. Glenn is established in the Galloway Forest Park north of Glentrool, a 33km movement south east. Emma is 25km north east of her natal site while Gibb has moved 7km east. Peake is still within a few kilometers of the home territory.

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23 August

Sadly there has been no data from Kate since her last position on 12 August when there was a sudden failure in transmission. Two of the birds, Gibb and Peake, are showing little inclination to move from the general natal areas south of Girvan. Gibb is currently located 5Km SE of the town and Peake is just south of Lendalfoot near the coast. Jenni is still well inland at Kendoon Loch near my main study area. Emma is roughly in the same area as in the last check, near the village of Patna. Glenn also is quite close to his last known position and is near South Balloch.

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15 August

All six birds accounted for. Peake and Gibb are still home birds, not having moved far from their natal sites. Kate continues to be the prime mover leaving the Gifford area in East Lothian and is currently just north east of Lauder. Glenn has moved inland having made a trip to Ailsa Craig and back and is in the Glentrool area. Emma has not gone far, a short trip north to Hollybush, east of Ayr. Jenni is also inland at Carsphairn south of Dalmellington (into my main study area!)

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8 August

All the tags are transmitting and all young birds except one are still quite close to their nesting territories. Kate has made the first move, crossing the country coast to coast and is currently near Gifford in East Lothian.

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29 July 2016

All six tags are operational and there has been some small movement of birds from the natal areas. This year's cohort of young kestrels are Peake and Jenni from a small coastal quarry. Kate, Emma, Gibb and Glenn fledged from an adjacent territory, the nest site being a ledge on a cliff site just back from but within sight of the sea. The two birds showing the local movement are Gibb and Peake, the latter the most interesting as it has so far survived the possible negative response from the peregrine pair which nested in the same quarry only 60 metres away.

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15 July 2016

Last week four young kestrels from a coastal site were satellite tagged completing this season's target of six. The tagging was carried out by Dave Anderson assisted by Gibby McWhirter, who monitors this territory for me, and Charlie Park. I was unable to take part due to a family holiday commitment!! The four kestrels, two males and two females, were one of the few broods available this season. Only 13 young were ringed in the study areas compared to the 60-80 annual totals in the 1980s and 90s. This is indicitive of the decline of this species as the level of monitoring effort has not changed. Today all six tags were transmitting and the birds will be monitored visually in the nesting territories till they disperse.

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28 June 2016

The build up to this year's satellite tagging has been less than straight forward. The number of possible broods is sadly extremely limited as the downward trend continues. To compound matters a peregrine pair had moved into the quarry presumably after a failed breeding attempt at their nearby territory. They had a newly hatched chick on the opposite side to the kestrels which was one of the few possible kestrel broods available.

Still the team set out, Dave and Graeme Anderson, Gibby McWhirter (ladders man) and myself. Incredibly the peregrine female settled down quickly and watched the whole proceedings from a perch. I suppose she'd never seen sat tagging done before! Typical for this season the number of kestrel nestlings had been reduced from five to two which were duly ringed and tagged (drawing some blood from a couple of the team!). Timing is now critical and hopefully in over a week's time we can get enough birds to use the four remaining tags at two later broods.

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22 April 2016

Everything has gone quiet in the field with the 4 tags still unaccounted for not transmitting. One lives in hope but .... It was hoped to retrieve Rosie's tag but the transmissions have stopped. Although the general area is known it would be like the proverbial needle in a haystack situation. The good news is that the 2 tags which were retrieved are fully charged and ready to go and 4 new tags are on order from America (nearly all the cost covered by sponsors!). The problem may well be finding kestrels to tag as to date nineteen territories checked and only 4 pairs in residence. Almost a kestrel silent spring so far.

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9 February 2016

Received a call from Dr Matt Stevens from the Hawk Conservancy Trust reporting that Rabbie had been found freshly dead at Worton in Wiltshire having collided with a window on a farm. This male had provided the best data for his movements with the Solway coast, Kilmarnock, New Cumnock, mid Wales twice and Plymouth all visited on his journey. The tag has been recovered and hopefully can be reused in 2016.

On the same day Jennie Birrell reported that Rosie's tag had started to transmit again in Dumfries & Galloway. Unfortunately it was from the same area as previous transmissions so has probably come to an untimely end. It is hoped to receive the tag.

The hunt is now on to secure funding for four new tags to take the project into a second year.

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January 13th 2016

Still no responses from any of the 5 tagged birds left which could still be out there. Weather has not been helpful so hopefully, if a dry sunny spell ever appears, some data will be forthcoming as the batteries charge up.

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30 November 2015

As the signal from George had been transmitting regularly but from a static location a team from the RSPB Scotland and myself attempted to locate the bird / or its remains and hopefully retrieve the tag. The tag was transmitting when we arrived, a real bonus, and the locus pinned down to an area of felled conifer belt. Despite the extremely difficult terrain the red color ring was eventually spotted next to a stump. All that remained of the bird was the two legs. The tag was found wedged on the other side of the stump, the solar panel thankfully facing upwards, hence the result. Bit of a mystery as to what had happened as there was not a trace of feathers in the vicinity so it had either died or been killed somewhere else, plucked, and then carried to the spot.

No further data from any of the remaining birds but the monitoring will continue.

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16 November 2015

Sadly there is no good news regarding Rabbie and Maddie as there has been no response from either of the two survivors. The solar panel batteries may have been drained due to the poor weather of late so I fear the worst. However you never know as Maddie was out of touch for a few weeks before transmitting again. George is still transmitting but has not moved for some considerable time so presumably he has not made it. The Species Protection team at RSPB Scotland are hoping to mount a training exercise to see if we can locate the bird and retrieve the tag using a new piece of equipment. Will keep you posted on that.

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16 October 2015

Jennie Birrell at RSPB Scotland checked the data today but there were no updates as it looked like the batteries on both Rabbie and Maddie are running low.The tags are therefore struggling to send out info.Hopefully this is only due to a lack of sunshine and not something more serious.

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12 October 2015

Not much movement from the two birds. Rabbie is near Trowbridge north of Weymouth within striking distance of the coast in an area of mixed farmland. Maddie is literally hundreds of meters from the Channel, just west of Dover in coastal grassland and scrub. Maybe the ferry timetables are not suiting them!

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25 September 2015

Maddie is still roughly in the same area very close to the Channel. Rabbie has moved south again and is just north of the Isle of Wight near Andover on the fringe of an afforested atea. None of the other four are showing positive transmitions.

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18 September 2015

Exciting news that Maddie so long off the radar is back on line and is west of Dover hopefully getting ready to cross the Channel. She's located in a lowland habitat mix, deciduous woodland fringe and open rough grassland. Rabbie is still in Mid Wales having gone to Plymouth and baulked at the sea crossing!!

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14 September 2015

The data is not encouraging. On the one hand Rabbie has flown to the south coast of England, east of Plymouth, then moved due north to mid Wales - see maps. George's data shows he has not moved, his temperature reading is low but the tag is still transmitting. Rosie is similar, very low temperature reading - 2-5° which is not hopeful. No further data on Alice and Kirky has still not transmitted. Still unsure about Maddie as there is data but not good enough to verify her exact location.

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8 September 2015

There has been a lack of significant movement from George between 30 August and 6 September which is slightly concerning. Still very much within the forest edge near the natal site. Rosie is a definite cause for concern as there is only one good fix from 6 September and her data is showing a low temperature and not much activity. Rabbie the rover went East to West between 26 August and 2 September and then back again. The last fix puts him south of Loch Braden. There is nothing from Alice or Maddie except a tantelising low resolution dot from the Kent coast from Maddie but better data is needed if this movement is to be confirmed.

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25 August 2015

George has re-surfaced and sent some data which shows he has not moved far and is still within 5 km of the natal site. Rabbie the wanderer is now in the New Cumnock area as his adventures continue. Nothing new from Maddie and Rosie.

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21 August 2015

Still no new data from George since the last update, Rosie has sent out some data but not good quality. Alice has headed off to Gretna and Rabbie is 3 km south east of Kilmarnock, quite the rover. Maddie has provided some data but again not good enough quality to pinpoint where she is.

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17 August 2015

No data from George since 11 August and no data from Rosie since the 10th which is a concern as both their batteries have a good charge. Alice and Rabbie have both been giving out decent data. Rabbie has headed south from the Loch Braden area almost to the Solway Firth and then decided to head back north again! Alice is still a relatively home bird. Maddie hasn't given much data but the battery voltage is much lower than the others so this may improve.

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13 August 2015

There is a general lack of good data coming through with poor quality argos dots. George has not moved far, no signal at all from Kirky so either a malfunction of the equipment or mortality. Rosie is still in the area near Loch Urr and Dunscore, north west of Dumfries and Alice has made little movement so far. Rabbie is still relatively static and there is no further data from Maddie after the move east.

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7 August 2015 2015

Still only five birds showing. Maddie has been able to send one argos point, a green dot so fairly accurate, which puts her between Stanhope and Tweedmuir, south of Broughton and Biggar on the west side of the Borders, a considerable journey west of approximately 70 kms. No good data from Rosie since 29 July and argos data from Alice is very poor. No change in status for the others.

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3 August 2015 2015

All but one of the six kestrels have appeared on the download.
Kirky is yet to send any data and Maddie’s battery is very low so no relevant
information is forthcoming. Sunlight has been at a premium this last week
with a lot of rain in the study area. Hopefully the weather will
improve and the battery will get a good charge.

George and Alice are roughly in their respective natal areas still. Rabbie has
moved approximately 7.5 km east and is just north of Loch Riecawr.

Rosie has only one record of note and that puts her within a 1.5 m radius of
Craigenputtock, near the village of Dunscore north of Dumfries. The first
real movement from the natal area, 30 kilometers south east.

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26 July 2015 2015

Data from five of the six young kestrels has been downloaded.
Sadly Maddie does not seem to be transmitting.

George is still within 2km of nest site (10 data points)

Alice has travelled 3km from its nest in a westerly direction (4 data points)

Kirky moved 20km west (8 data points)

Rabbie one movement 1.5km north east (2 data points)

Rosie one movement 16km west of natal site (4 data points)

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7/8 July 2015

All three broods checked, all the young had fledged
and were flying around the natal sites.

First data in Birds still not made any major moves.

George - 15 July travelled short distance from the nest site

Rosie - 14 July still near nest site

Alice - 10 July & 15 July has made one short movement one
kilometre west of nest site then back

Kirky – 10 July moved short distance west of nest site

No data yet on Maddie and Rabbie

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