Kestrel Nest in Brno — Online Live Webcam Broadcast

Kestrel in the city — how a bird of prey adapted to urbanization

The common kestrel is one of the few species of diurnal predators that successfully colonizes urban areas. Unlike most falcons, this small bird not only tolerates human presence but actively uses the conditions created by humans. In Brno, the second largest city in the Czech Republic with a population of about 378 thousand people, kestrels have become common inhabitants of residential neighborhoods. Artificial nest boxes on building facades are the result of years of effort by ornithologists and ecologists helping birds find safe places to breed amidst urban development.

Kestrels do not build their own nests — they use ready-made shelters: old nests of crows, hawks, magpies, natural niches in rocks, tree hollows, and, which is especially relevant for cities, niches on building roofs. This biological feature makes the installation of artificial nest boxes an extremely effective measure for maintaining the population. In the Czech Republic, kestrels nest on building roofs and in special boxes, which confirms the high adaptability of the species to the anthropogenic landscape.

Brno — a city where birds of prey live alongside people

Brno is located in the southeast of the Czech Republic and is the historical capital of Moravia. The city forms the third largest urban agglomeration in the country and features a diverse landscape — from dense central development to suburban green zones. This combination creates ideal conditions for the kestrel: multi-story buildings replace rocky cliffs, and parks, wastelands, and outskirts abound with small rodents — the main food of this predator.

The distance from Brno to Prague is about 205 kilometers, making the city an independent ecological region with its own population of urban birds. Liberty Square in the center of Brno is the heart of the city, within easy reach of residential neighborhoods where cameras monitoring kestrel nesting are installed on building facades.

How an artificial kestrel nest box is arranged

A kestrel nest box is a wooden tray filled with wood shavings — the soft bedding protects eggs and chicks from cold and mechanical damage. The design is simple and functional: a deep enough tray to prevent eggs from rolling out, and high sides that create a sense of security. A water container is often placed near the nest — a ceramic bowl serves as a drinking trough for adult birds and chicks in hot weather.

Installing nest boxes is a common measure to help kestrels in urban and agricultural landscapes. The high occupancy rate indicates a shortage of natural nesting sites despite an abundance of food. In urban environments, kestrels settle in niches of technical structures and in corvid nests in trees, adapting to city conditions. Artificial nest boxes on the roofs of residential complexes often become the only breeding opportunity when natural shelters are absent.

Diet of the urban kestrel: what the chicks eat

The kestrel's diet consists mainly of small rodents, as well as bats, lizards, frogs, insects, and earthworms. In urban environments, birds adapt their diet to local conditions and hunt birds and rodents living in the city. Chicks hatch covered in white down and immediately begin actively begging for food — both parents participate in feeding.

An urban kestrel can fly up to 5 kilometers from its habitat to hunting grounds, often flying beyond the city limits in search of rodents. A pair of kestrels feeding five chicks brings food very actively — feeding lasts 4–5 weeks, after which the chicks leave the nest and remain under adult supervision for about 2 more weeks. During this period, young birds learn to hunt, and parents continue to feed them.

Bird behavior in the nest: what the online camera shows

Observing a kestrel nest in real time reveals a fascinating picture of urban predators' lives. The adult bird with characteristic striped brown-black plumage periodically leaves the nest to hunt, leaving the chick under the care of the second parent. The chick, significantly smaller in size, spends most of its time in the tray, curled up in the wood shavings.

A ceramic water bowl placed near the birds is an important element of the nest setup. In urban conditions, access to open water bodies is limited, so the water container helps birds maintain water balance, especially during warm seasons. In the background of the broadcast, multi-story residential buildings of Brno are visible — a typical urban landscape that has become a familiar habitat for these predators.

Seasonal features of nesting

Kestrels begin breeding in the spring, when daylight hours increase and food availability rises. The female lays 4–6 eggs with reddish-brown spots on an ochre background. Incubation lasts about 28–30 days, during which the male provides food for the female. After hatching, the chicks remain in the nest for five weeks, rapidly gaining mass and developing plumage.

By the end of summer, young kestrels become independent and begin roaming in search of their own hunting territories. Adult birds may remain on the same nesting site or move short distances. In winter, kestrels lead a solitary lifestyle, hunting sparrows and small rodents, sheltering from bad weather in building niches and other shelters.

Ecological significance of urban kestrels

The presence of kestrels in the urban environment is an indicator of the ecological well-being of the area. These predators regulate the population of small rodents, which can cause significant damage in urban conditions. One pair of kestrels destroys several hundred rodents during the nesting period, bringing tangible benefits to the ecosystem.

Observing the nest via a webcam online is not only entertainment but also a valuable source of data for ornithologists. By recording bird behavior, timing of laying and hatching, and success of chick rearing, scientists obtain information about population status and the impact of the urban environment on the reproduction of birds of prey. In Brno, such observations are conducted regularly, making the city one of the sites for studying urban avifauna in Central Europe.

What you can see on the camera

The online camera broadcasts live from an artificial nest box installed on the facade of a residential building in Brno. In the wooden tray filled with wood shavings, there are two birds — an adult common kestrel with characteristic striped brown-black plumage and a smaller chick. A ceramic water bowl is placed near the birds. In the background, multi-story residential buildings of the city are visible — a typical urban landscape where kestrels feel at home. The camera allows observing bird nesting in the urban environment in real time without disturbing their natural behavior.