Mauritius kestrel

Falco punctatus, female (I think), aviary behind children\'s playground, Chester. 21st February 2009.

ohhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!! It's my favourite Falconidae and I would wish very, very much to see one. Perfect portrait of this species that is saved from the almost complete extinction when left only 4 specimens in all the world, all of them in the wild. It's Chester zoo the only that keep it, not? In ISIS marks as this, but ISIS have many omissions.... and in the past I read about the presence of Mauritius kestrel in Jersey zoo.

If you find a moulted feather in the enclosure, could you save it for send to me?

Thank you, I'm glad you like the photo. I believe that there are one or two more birds outside Mauritius. Chester had a pair last year, but they lost one. It was much smaller than this bird, which is why I assume this is the female (but ISIS says it's a male).
I try to be watching the aviary when she is active at lunchtime and I have seen her being given her mouse. If I get a chance, I promise to ask the keeper about a feather for you

Alan

Thanks a lot my friend!
Well, in kestrels almost aren't any size difference between sexes, or at least in other kestrel species such as Eurasian and American that I cared.

The lost of one member of the pair is a very terrible lost due to the status of this species. I hope that soon they can have another member of the opposite sex for have a succesful breed in order to reintroduction....
Yours

Unfortunately Chester are not continuing to keep this species. The captive breeding programme has been successful.

What a pity, there are any remaining Mauritius kestrel in european zoos?
In the other hand is very good to know that reintroduction was successful.