Little Players

My kestrel hasn't been around much this week. I was starting to get nervous because I didn't know if it had left me. I started thinking, "If my kestrel leaves, what will become of my blog and my grade?" My bird came back this week, but I thought it was strange of this bird to do that. It had done that in the past and I thought it was a bit strange. Then I started to research this about my kestrel. It turns out it's some sort of seasonal thing they do; they leave the nest once in awhile and come back later.

I can finally sleep well knowing my kestrel will be there. Anyway, while I was researching this, I came upon something quite interesting. Remember how on an earlier post I mentioned that kestrels have multiple partners? Well according to the University of Minnesota, kestrels don't mate for life. "However during the breeding season they are monogamous. If they are successful they may both return to the same site next year." (University of Minnesota).

I thought this was really interesting because the more I research these bird, the more I find that humans have a lot in common with these animals. They have one partner one mating season, but can have another one next season. I don't know about you, but this sounds a lot like a human to me. We can have multiple partners before we settle for just one. The only difference is that the kestrel has sex with its partner and then decides if it'll stay with it and humans date a person before deciding.

In the summer I always saw my kestrel with a mate, but later in fall or winter I would see her all by herself. Maybe she hasn't found that special someone yet. Or maybe they go their separate ways and meet up later for mating season. I don't know, but I hope her the best.

My next really intriguing question that I've had since forever was how do birds mate? I think most people have asked themselves that at some point in their lives. I Googled that question and found this picture of the kestrels.

anderslundberg.no/galleries/portugal-campo-branco

It looks a lot like two people having sex. I was totally shocked when I saw this; I have no idea how this can happen when I don't see a sexual organ on any bird.

Work Cited

University of Minnesota. "Kestrel Watch". University of Minnesota. N. p. n.d. Web. 26 Oct. 2014.            "<http://kestrelwatch.ahc.umn.edu/kestrel_faq.cfm>."