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| The Essex County Ornithological Club is sponsoring a program to
install and maintain nest boxes for North America's smallest falcon,
the American Kestrel, Falco sparverius, whose numbers are rapidly declining in the
northeast portion of the country. Though reasons for this decline are
still unclear at the present time habitat loss and the lack of
suitable nest holes have been mentioned as contributing factors.
Nest boxes should be placed in open fields, meadows or along hedgerows next to open areas. A grassy habitat should be near the box so kestrels can use it for hunting. By placing the box within at least one acre of open habitat and spacing multiple boxes roughly one half mile apart, you’ll increase the likelihood of attracting breeding birds. A limited number of nest boxes and poles are available. Should you own or know of suitable habitat with a willing host within Essex County for the placement of a kestrel nest box and wish to participate in this program please contact the ECOC Webmaster Phil Brown at nebirds.plus@verizon.net
The good folks at
Appleton Farms in Ipswich, a TTOR property, allowed us to
install 2 nest boxes. "Click" on any image for a larger photo...
Further information on the decline of the American Kestrel can be found at: From: Hawk Mountain.Org http://hawkmountain.org/media/kestrelCSR_June07.pdf From: Hawk Migration Association of North America
The Case of the American Kestrel |
