Fluffy baby American Kestrel Falcons in a white ball withing a next.

Kestrel Chicks Hatch as Activity Picks Up Across Campus

May 6, 2026 | Campus News

Spring has brought more than warmer weather to East Central College. It has brought birds, and plenty of them.

Kestrels have returned to two nest boxes, one at Hansen Hall and another at the Health and Science Building. Bluebirds are active as well, with nests in and around the prairie area.

The first kestrel chicks of the season have already arrived, and they are growing quickly.

Bby Kestrel Falcons in a fluffy ball in a nest box.

Last year, two American Kestrel families became well-known on campus when their nest boxes were livestreamed. The new avian families can also be viewed via livestream by searching “eccbirds” or “ECC Kestrels” on YouTube.

All nine kestrel eggs have now hatched between the two sites, according to Associate Professor of Biology Kevin Dixon, who monitors the nests.

At Hansen Hall, all five eggs have hatched.

“I grabbed a screenshot from the box a couple of minutes ago, and there’s quite the puddle of fuzz there,” Dixon said.

“The female is spending pretty much all of her time tending to the little ones,” he added, with the male bringing in food in what he calls “prey drops.” In one instance, that included a lizard for the chicks.

At the Health and Science Building, the three chicks are approaching a week old and continue to do well. The camera feed there has still been a bit cantankerous, but Dixon said he has been able to check on them and confirm their progress. One egg may remain unhatched, though it is difficult to see beneath the nestlings.

These early days matter. Newly hatched birds cannot regulate their own body temperature yet, so the female stays close, keeping them warm while they grow.

Male bluebird at a bird box on the ECC campus feeding babies that are in the box.

The activity is a good reminder that while Franklin may be the most visible falcon on campus, he’s not the only one. And he’s not the only bluebird making noise this spring.

Bluebird activity continues, though it has shifted in recent days.

Female bluebird at a bird box on the ECC campus.

Two of the three bluebird boxes in the prairie plot are showing nesting activity. One appears to be a wren nest, while the other may be bluebirds, though neither currently has eggs. The box where an earlier brood was lost has not yet seen new activity.

“Bluebirds often raise two or three broods, so I’m still hopeful they’ll come back for another try,” Dixon said.