American Kestrel Nestbox Cam

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Update: All four chicks have successfully fledged one by one! They will now be taken care of by their parents for 2 more weeks while they learn to fly and hunt. We wish them luck!

Falco and Kate are two American Kestrels using a nestbox on the northwest side of Tucson. Falco is the male and has triangular pattern on the back and blue-gray wings. Kate is the female with striped back and brown back and wings. Both have a false eye shape on the back of their heads which creates the “always watching predator” look, especially prominent in night vision on the camera.

Check out the timeline on the right side of the page to see if you missed anything during live broadcast.

This live-feed camera is part of Tucson Audubon’s Desert Nestbox Initiative and is made possible by donations.

Questions or comments? Email us at nestbox@tucsonaudubon.org

Follow along with clips from Falco and Kate’s timeline.

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5.14.2020 Fourth and final chick leaves the nestbox! Empty nest!

5.13.2020 Third chick leaves the nestbox!

5.12.2020 Second chick leaves the nestbox!

5.11.2020 First chick makes a leap of faith!

5.9.2020 Night time lapse of all 4 chicks

5.5.2020 You can now tell: 3 boys and 1 girl

5.4.2020 Youngest chick clings on to the perch

5.1.2020 Whole family seen together in the nestbox

4.26.2020 Kate brings in a snake!

4.25.2020 Watch the chicks react to a bee

4.24.2020 Lizard wins this round!

4.24.2020 Chicks spread out in the heat

4.23.2020 Kate brings in a baby bird for her baby birds.

4.21.2020 The reason for white nestbox walls: sharp shooter chicks!

4.20.2020 Chicks try to eat on their own now but mom still helps

4.16.2020 Unfortunately, one of the chicks died leaving only 4. We are unsure why but this often happens in large broods where only strongest survive. Mother took the deceased chick out of the nestbox.

4.12.2020 Fifth egg hacthed! Watch Kate feed the chicks