I have to confess there's an internal stairway all the way to the top of the tower!
I bolt galvanised straps onto either side of the box and as they are pliable I can wrap them around the tree and nail them with galvanised nails. Hopefully as they don't rust they won't damage the tree.
I have one box around 10 ft high on a telegraph pole. The others possibly around 15 ft high.
Thanks very much for the info regarding the book. It wasn't something I was aware of, so I have ordered it today.
All my Kestrel sites have boxes up that I have made. Of the five sites this year there are two on telegraph poles, two on trees and the fifth 100ft up a concrete tower. Kestrels will readily take to open fronted boxes and it's not very difficult to get them breeding in them.
If anybody out there wanted any information about sighting a box I would be happy to help.
It's a total privilege for me to climb up and discover a box full of young. Since first starting records many years ago I have had 281 fledged young.
We have 5 pairs of Kestrels breeding this year fledging 21 young. Details below -
Site A - 5 young this year. Total young from this site since 2003 - 54.
Site B - 5 young this year. Total young from this site since 2009 - 24.
Site C - 6 young this year. Total young from this site since 2006 - 46.
Site D - 5 young this year. Total young from this site since 2010 - 17.
Site E - after several weeks sat on 3 eggs the female eventually gave up. Total young from this site since 2000 - 54.
Hi Peter
Can you give some info re where the nests are situated - not specifically obviously but are they in buildings,cliffs or old crows nests etc or nestboxes????
Also have you read Seasons With The Kestrel by Gordon Riddle - a Scottish Ranger. The book details a 15 year project similar to yours.
