Seychelles kestrel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Seychelles kestrel |
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Falco
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araeus
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The Seychelles kestrel (scientific name: Falco araeus) is a small, special bird of prey. It's a type of falcon and lives only on the Seychelles Islands. This means it's endemic there, and it's the only bird of prey that nests and raises its young on these islands. Locals call it the katiti because of its loud, sharp call.
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Meet the Seychelles Kestrel
The Seychelles kestrel is the smallest type of kestrel. It measures about 18 to 23 centimeters (7 to 9 inches) long. Its wings can spread out to 40 to 45 centimeters (16 to 18 inches) wide. These birds have fairly short and rounded wings.
What Do They Look Like?
- Males: Their upper body is reddish-brown with black spots. Their belly and chest are plain, light brown. Their head and lower back are dark blue-grey. The tail is blue-grey with black stripes. They have a dark beak and yellow feet.
- Females: They look a lot like the males. However, females are usually a bit bigger and have lighter colors.
- Young Birds: Baby kestrels have a brown head with streaks. They also have spots on their chest and a light brown tip on their tail.
Where They Live and What They Eat
You can spot Seychelles kestrels in many places. They live in forests, bushy areas, and even on farms. They also like rocky cliffs and areas near houses.
Hunting Habits
These kestrels don't often hover in the air like some other falcons. Instead, they prefer to sit on a high branch or rock. They wait patiently for their prey to pass by. Once they see something, they swoop down quickly to catch it.
What's on the Menu?
Their favorite food is lizards! About 92% of their diet is made up of lizards. They especially love green day geckos and skinks. They also eat other small animals like:
Life Cycle and Family Life
The Seychelles kestrel has the smallest breeding territory of any bird of prey. Their nesting area is only about 40 hectares (about 100 acres).
Nesting and Eggs
- They usually breed from August to October.
- They build their nests on cliffs, in trees, or on buildings.
- Their nests are very simple, just a small hollow or "scrape" without any extra material.
- Females lay two or three eggs.
- The eggs are white with brown marks.
- Parents sit on the eggs for about 28 to 31 days to keep them warm. This is called incubation.
Raising the Young
- Young birds leave the nest after about 35 to 42 days. This is called fledging.
- Even after they can fly, the young kestrels stay with their parents for another 14 weeks. This helps them learn how to hunt and survive.
Protecting the Seychelles Kestrel
There are only about 800 Seychelles kestrels left. Because of their low numbers, they are considered a vulnerable species. This means they are at risk of becoming endangered.
Where They Live Now
In the past, these kestrels probably lived all over the main Seychelles islands. Today, they are known to breed only on:
- Mahé
- Silhouette
- North Island
- Praslin
- Some other small islands nearby
In 1977, some kestrels were brought back to Praslin to help their population grow.
Challenges They Face
Several things threaten the Seychelles kestrel:
- Habitat Loss: Their homes are disappearing because of logging (cutting down trees), new buildings, and fires.
- Introduced Animals: Animals brought to the islands by humans also cause problems.
- Rats, cats, and barn owls eat the lizards that kestrels depend on.
- These animals might also eat kestrel eggs and chicks.
- Barn owls and common mynas sometimes take over good nesting spots.
Past Beliefs
In the past, some people used to hunt kestrels. They thought the birds might take their chickens. Also, some believed that seeing a kestrel was a bad omen (a sign of bad luck or death). Luckily, people rarely hunt them now.
