Derek Kite and I visited the kestrels again. The chicks had fledged. Unexpectedly, there were now three chicks, even though earlier we had only seen two at a time looking out of the nest cavity.
It was fun to see the kestrel chicks, and adults, but a real treat was the appearance of two vultures.
Neither American Kestrels nor Turkey Vultures are common along the heavily forested valley of the West Arm of Kootenay Lake. Both birds prefer clearings, the kestrel for hunting, the vulture for scavenging. However, the birds do take advantage of the modest clearings that have been made.
Three kestrel chicks have fledged and sit together on a snag. 
Two kestrels sit on adjacent snags. 
One of the Turkey Vultures flies overhead. 
The other Turkey Vulture flies by.
