These two have been long term rehabilitation cases. The youngest came to us as a pre-fledgling that was found in a field, presumably taken by a predator then dropped. Unfortunately, due to its age, it was becoming quite tame to people so was housed with another older male kestrel that came to us with a broken beak.
During the time the beak was healing the company of another kestrel took the youngsters focus away from us and thankfully started to wild up again.
The downside to long term rehabilitation cases is that the birds can lose fitness which is not conducive to a successful release - and often get accustomed to pre-laid food.
So these two were taken to one of our dedicated wild release hack sites where they can experience the sights and sounds of the area of release, whilst also seeing and potentially catching wild prey whilst in situ. The hack pens are supplied with food for a number of weeks leading up to release but are designed to allow for small rodents to enter and exit. This should hopefully start encouraging hunting behaviour or at least peak the birds interests.
Once opened we will continue to provide food at the pen until we are sure that food is being left, or the visits are becoming less regular. Over this time we also limit the amount of food left to encourage natural foraging instead of reliance. Cameras are set up to monitor these sites over this period.
Stretching their wings in the hack pen.