Abstract
A male Common Kestrel / Turmfalke was observed feeding the chicks of Western Barn Owl /Schleiereule in a nest box in the Seewinkel region, Austria, in summer 2024. It is unknown if the owl chicks were also still attended by their parents or if the kestrel had fully adopted them. Common Kestrels and Barn Owls are known to occupy the same nest boxes and to exhibit fierce competition. Pairs of both species may even breed successfully in the same nest box at the same time. Competition is thought to have increased since nest boxes for Western Barn Owls have been installed with the entrance opening on the outer side of buildings. This conflict may be reduced by putting up additional owl nest boxes, preferably on the inside of buildings, where they are less attractive for kestrels.
This was published as a short note here.