To quickly chime in on the topic of American Kestrel declines, also consider submitting observations of this species to the Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas II, if you haven't already done so. We can use everyone's breeding observations for this species in addition to breeding observations for all other species in the state. If you have detailed field records of breeding activity for American Kestrels (any date in 2006) or just casual observations between May 15 and July 31 of this year, please let us know. Even if you know the location of a kestrel nest box, let us know so we can stake it out for the coming breeding season. Atlas staff can be reached at 614-247-6458 or by email at [log in to unmask] We would be more than happy to talk with you about your observations and help to determine what atlas blocks they were recorded in. Go to http://bird.atlasing.org/Atlas/OH/Main?viewResults=1 to access a mapping tool that will map the current data received for each species. Also, click on the blue highlighted link "View Previous Atlas Data" to view distribution maps from the 1st Ohio atlas. It's certainly WAY too early in the project to make any conclusions about changes in the Ohio distribution of American Kestrels, especially considering the variation in the amount of survey effort that has gone into each atlas block. However, I did find it interesting that of the nearly 600 atlas blocks that currently have data, 155 have records for kestrels (26%). During the 1st Ohio breeding bird atlas, kestrels were recorded in 702 out of 764 blocks with data (92%). I wouldn't necessarily consider kestrels to be difficult to detect when present and this certainly isn't a direct comparison between atlases, but considering the widespread distribution of kestrels during the mid-80's, this amount of difference in percentages is shocking. We'll see what happens over the next 4 years. Another web link that may be of interest is the BBS trend map for kestrels (http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/bbs/htm03/trn2003/tr03600.htm). Good birding everyone! Aaron Boone Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas II The Ohio State University Columbus, OH ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]