Loving Spring. Pair of mating Lesser Kestrels.
The Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni) is a small falcon that breeds in colonies located in places such as hollow rocks, overhangs on cliffs, or, cause they are so famous here in Spain, in roofs of old abandoned buildings. There, they have found a discreet place to nest and give birth to their offspring, as their adult plumage mimics perfectly with the earthy tones of the old ceramic tiles. In fact, during this photo session I found it difficult to locate them with the naked eye, using binoculars or viewing through the telephoto lens.
Lesser Kestrels are spread throughout the Mediterranean Sea and across South Asia. And they spend winters in sub-Saharan Africa. 100,000 pairs were in Spain in the late nineteenth century, and they went to only about 5,000 in the twentieth century, so the species was declared at risk of extinction. Today, thanks to the protective measures taken, these little kestrels have improved their populations in Spain.
