I beleive that Dick Tuttle of Delaware County has worked with maintaining
kestrel boxes and banding them. Dick, of course has worked with bluebird
trails for years and is very involved with Osprey platforms in central Ohio.
Might be interesting to see what his kestrel records indicate.
In Licking County I have perhaps seen a slight drop in kestrel populations
in the last 11 years.But it's nothing that I've documented. My two education
kestrels did foster 3 orphaned babies this spring which I released. It was
cool!
Manon VanSchoyck
Ohio Nature Education
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jay Stenger" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, December 03, 2006 7:56 AM
Subject: [Ohio-birds] Kestrel boxes
There have been some recent posts discussing the merits of erecting kestrel
boxes. I agree wholeheartedly with the concept. Because American Kestrels
are cavity nesters, the lack of appropriate nest sites can limit their
overall populations, even in areas where the habitat is otherwise suitable.
It is proven that well placed nest boxes can help kestrel populations. The
building and placement of nest boxes would be an excellent program for the
OOS, local Audubon Chapters and Bird Clubs to undertake or promote. Or maybe
ODNR could consider a widespread program.
Those of us with the time, ability or inclination can make a direct and
positive individual impact on local kestrel populations. Take the case of
Paul Wharton who many of you know. Paul, an expert birder and dedicated
conservationist, is an example of how just one individual can make a
difference. For the past 8 years Paul has built kestrel boxes and erected
them in appropriate habitat along the semi-rural roads of western Hamilton
County and southwestern Butler County (Greater Cincinnati area). He annually
maintains around 40 of these boxes and checks them from time to time. He
does this on his own, at his own expense and time and is not sponsored by
any organization. He does it because he loves it.
Here's the mind-boggling thing. Over those 8 years, kestrels have
successfully used 70% of his 40 boxes, or an average of 28 per year. The
average kestrel brood fledged per box is 4.5. Twenty-eight boxes producing
4.5 young kestrels is an average of 126 young kestrels every year. Over the
past 8 years Paul's efforts have been responsible for over 1,000 American
Kestrels being fledged in Ohio. Kestrel mortality in the first year can be
as high as 63%, so all of these birds don't make it to adulthood of course.
But that's true for all kestrels.
One guy. And the beauty is he does this in relative anonymity. Paul doesn't
seek attention and he would never blow his own horn. But I'm more than
willing to do it for him. Imagine if this was done on a widespread scale.
The results would be phenomenal. This is definitely an idea that I hope our
group keeps on the front burner.
Jay Stenger
Cincinnati, Ohio
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