Hi All
I am watching interactions between Northern Flickers and American Kestrels
these days. At this time, we have 4 American Kestrels (2 adults and 2
juveniles?) that fly over our small orchards and pastures. They spend a fair
bit of time apparently harassing the local flickers. They also harass the
Steller's Jays, but the flicker/kestrel interaction is much more common. The
phenomenon seems to occur each year at this time.
Both flickers and kestrels breed locally and in close proximity to each
other. One year, they used the same aspen tree.
Surely the kestrels aren't thinking of the flickers as a possible meal, are
they? Are they competing for a common food? Are they doing this for the fun
of it? Practice?

Any comments would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Cheers
Gail Spitler
Johnsons Landing, BC
spitler at wkpowerlink.com