The flying guardians of Heinfels Castle: Kestrels live on the web
The kestrels at Heinfels Castle have had their nesting place for many years in a niche in the wall of the kitchen tower built in the 14th century. Every year four to five young falcons hatch and start their first flight attempts. For the first time, the falcons can be observed live via a newly installed "falcon cam."
"We finally managed to drill a hole in the wall from behind and install a webcam in time for the start of the breeding season," says a satisfied Peter-Paul Kofler. He is the caretaker of Heinfels Castle and a trained falconer. There is not much going on in the opening in the wall where a beam used to be, but the pair of falcons can always be seen and heard around the castle. During the mating season a lot of activity takes place outside the future nesting site. Occasionally one of the two falcons, with or without prey, will look over and scratch something in the nest.
But when does life move in? "At the end of April or the beginning of May things get interesting. The female lays four to six eggs, which are incubated for about 30 days. The kestrels then hatch in early to mid-June," says Peter Paul Kofler. Raising the young falcons takes another four to five weeks. Then the nest in the castle is always noisy, especially when the young birds are fed alternately by mother and father. How many of the youngsters finally succeed is always exciting.
Peter-Paul Kofler: "Last summer a kestrel fell out of the nest. I tried to raise it, but to no avail". Three years ago, however, a small falcon was more fortunate in its first attempts to fly. Despite a "crash" on the chapel roof that resulted in a broken wing, Peter-Paul Kofler was able to nurse the young bird back to health after several weeks of care. "It was tiring, but it was worth it. It was a very emotional moment when I was able to release the kestrel back into the wild above the battlements of the castle".
Now everyone is waiting to see if, as in previous years, there will be offspring. "We really hope so," says Peter-Paul Kofler, glancing eagerly at the webcam. It can be found at at Earthcam (with images from the archive).
