May 20, 2026: Exercising & Eating – But Not Yet Peeking
Both Kestrel parents continue to feed the chicks regularly, and the chicks have begun to exercise their flight muscles with lots of wing flapping. But, none of the chicks have peeked out of the nest box yet.
The Mother Kestrel is still feeding piecemeal at times.
Despite the Mother Kestrel continuing to help the chicks feed, the chicks are able to gulp down remarkably large bits of prey: Here the male chick manages to get down half a mouse!
One of the female chicks starts some calisthenics to exercise and build her flight muscles.
The Father Kestrel stops by. Notice his male-specific plumage: A dark rust-colored back with minimal striping, and blue wings. Also, when he jumps up you can see the black and wide bar near the tip of his tail.
Aww, the chicks have started to sleep like adults, with their beaks tucked into their back feathers. Even with the lack of color here, the male chick is identifiable (he’s at the top on the left).
Benicia Kestrels 
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