Readers already know that “AOM” was banded as a nestling on Antelope Island in the early summer of 2021. He’s been sighted on the island and reported multiple times since then, but he hasn’t been known to choose a mate or breed.
So four days ago you can imagine my excitement when I spotted him next to a female kestrel on the roof of one of the island’s pavilions. At first I wasn’t absolutely sure it was him but it soon became perfectly obvious that it was.
For several minutes they pretty much ignored each other.
But when they started making googly eyes at each other I wondered if something interesting and wonderful might be about to happen.
At first it was hard to figure out what was going on. Both birds stood erect and then the female walked resolutely in front of, and then past, AOM. I think AOM might have been just as confused as I was.
As she continued to walk almost to the end of the roof, AOM appeared to protest her walking away from him.
Then she stopped and raised her tail, often lowering her head at the same time, in what I interpreted as a solicitation posture. Apparently, AOM interpreted it the same way.
He wasn’t about to turn down an offer like that, so he launched in her direction and…
landed on her lower back with the intention of mating with her.
With birds, the requisite “cloacal kiss” is a difficult maneuver with all those wingtips and tails in the way. AOM struggled to get into position, even though…
the female tried to make it as easy for him as possible.
I believe this was the moment their union was consummated.
After it was over, AOM made a…
quick getaway. This is the photo I posted two days ago.
The first photo I got in the burst after he landed back on the roof.
Soon the female took off but I was slow on the trigger so I wasn’t happy with any of my flight shots of her.
I had much better luck when AOM took off shortly after she left. This is the photo I posted three days ago.
After both birds had left the roof of the pavilion I began to drive away. That’s when I spotted the female perched on a dumpster in a nearby parking lot. I never saw AOM again that morning.
I took nearly 250 photos of the two kestrels together and most of them were taken during their mating, or just prior or after it occurred, so it wasn’t easy to choose photos for this presentation. I had to leave a lot of good ones out.
That said, I was pleased with the timing of today’s post. Happy Valentine’s Day!
Ron
Notes:
- Kestrels are unusually “frisky” during mating and nesting season. This is what Cornell’s Birds of the World has to say about the frequency of kestrel matings.
“Frequency of copulations quite high; e.g., Balgooyen (Balgooyen 1976) estimated 690 acts by 1 pair for 1 clutch in a season. Villarroel et al. (Villarroel et al. 1998) calculated 1–2 copulations/daylight hour for 16 pairs observed for a mean of 330 times/clutch. Mean duration of copulations was 5 seconds in prefertile period and 7 seconds in fertile period (Villarroel et al. 1998), ranging from 2 to 18 seconds long (Bird and Palmer 1988).”
- Image techs for most of these photos are at or near 1/5000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc
Such a fun series. I love the teasing of the earlier photos. Nicely done! I am here but keep forgetting to comment.
A wonderful series – well done.
Thanks, Gary.
This series is great. Thank you.
Glad you like it, Alice.
Happy Valentine’s Day all!
In your reply to Kris, you said you almost didn’t include the first 2 photos. So glad you did. From the theatrical aspect, they set up the story perfectly!
What a wonderful encounter – and so fabulous you were able to document it. Well worth the agony of the teasers
I’m glad you’ve apparently forgiven me for the teasers! Thanks, Carolyn.
Great post Ron! Excellent quality on the photos, and very educational for me. And your teaser posts had me anticipating something very interesting, which you definitely delivered.
Thanks, Bill. I believe that’s the secret to successful (and un-resented) teaser posts – eventually delivering something that was worth the wait.
What an appropriate Valentines Day post!!
Glad you think so, Pat. I thought it was pretty good timing.
Just a phenomenal series, your patience and time really paid off. Thanks for sharing such a great series.
Thank you, Quentin.
Oh my goodness, those first two shots are some of my favorite kestrel photos I’ve seen here. They look so adorable and coy. Thank you for capturing what I hope is a fruitful meeting for AOM and his object of affection!
I also liked the “teaser” method of a few one-off photos leading up to a longer post. It was nice to be able to focus in on small details in the individual shots, and then put them into larger context with the whole story.
“I also liked the “teaser” method”
That’s very good to know, Melanie. I can tell that some readers aren’t a fan. Thank you.
The perfect Valleytines post, Ron!
And WOW! Almost 700 “encounters” for one clutch! Didn’t know that Kestrels were the Bonobos of the falcon (bird, not Ford) world! 
“Bonobos of the falcon … world”
Marty, that’s a good, and apparently accurate, way to put it. Makes me tired just to think of it – probably my age…
Don’t sell yourself short, Ron!
Love this exciting and beautiful post, really special for Valentine day!
Thanks very much, Eloise.
Great reward for all your time spent in the field! No fancy motel for those two!
“No fancy motel for those two.”
I imagine a back seat would do them just fine! Thanks, John.
Loved the pictures!
Good. Thanks, Laurie.
JUST DELIGHTFUL. I loved that the first in the series showed them
some distance apart, and looking away from each other– that
increased the “drama” as they eyed each other….I’m wondering if
they were both first-timers ? Looked like it for the male, at least !
You presented a very happy Valentine’s Day “card” to your posse.
Looking forward to developments-to-come –thanks !
Kris, I’m glad I included those first two photos. They didn’t show any obvious action, so I almost didn’t. Sometimes subtlety wins the day.
Fantastic series. Valentines Day indeed. Hard to pick a favorite. All are excellent. But that one where they both have their heads turned toward one another is a gem.
Have to say that she, standing on one foot, looks more confident and relaxed. And it would appear that she had to make the first move.
What they may lack in duration they sure make up for in frequency.
The next mission is obvious. Find the nest site and document the offspring.
“it would appear that she had to make the first move.”
She was definitely in control of the situation, Michael. Perhaps kestrels and humans have more in common than we might think.
Was thinking the same thing. I can so relate to AOM.
Appropriate subject for February 14th and a great and series Ron!
Thank you, Ricardo.
Wonderful series, Ron!
I can’t imagine having to sort through and choose through that many photos……. Can now saw it’s documented that AOM at t least made a breeding attempt. 
Hopefully it was successful – at least he’s got the drill now….. Happy Valentines Day to you also……
“I can’t imagine having to sort through and choose through that many photos.”
It took a while, Judy. A long while. Now you know why I published two short “teaser” posts while I was working on them. Plus, I wanted to publish the long post on Valentine’s Day.
Wonderful series! Quite the Valentine post, Ron.
Thank you, Brett. You made “quite the Valentine post” yourself yesterday (your Valentine video).
What an excellent series. Keepers for sure!
Thanks, Bruce.
Extraordinary series Ron. You get a 10 from me on this one. Not only education and beautiful, but hopefully a successful hatching of a couple new Kestrels in the very near future. New Kestrel juveniles are very much needed nationwide. Outstanding photography, I am extremely envious.
Thanks, Everett. I’ll take a “10” any day of the week.
The best Kestrel mating series I’ve ever seen. Very nice job Ron.
Thanks very much Rick.