Kestrel visits Kernel's Game

An employee of the C R Kernels, Seth Dohrn, sent me these pictures of young male American Kestrel who visited a Kernels Concession Stand.  While the pigeons [Rock Pigeons] that previously stumbled into the stadium during a race, were likely visiting for spilled popcorn and hotdog buns, Kestrels are predators and like was looking for mice or House Sparrows.

Kestrels are our smallest falcon.  They are much more colorful than their larger cousin, the Peregine, which also breeds in Cedar Rapids.

The first photo shows the Kestrel while still in the stadium.  The photo below show the Kestrel in a nearby tree, after its release.  The kestrel was released Saturday morning the 19th.

He came back yesterday to the upper deck area. He scaled the back wall climbing using his talons and beak, rather like a parrot.  He still seems rather clumsy as many youngsters are at this age.

Kestrel stops by to see Kernels

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