American Kestrel Research Initiative
_edited_edited_edited.png)
Monitoring and Why It Matters
We face a global biodiversity crisis, and sensitive species like the American Kestrel are experiencing widespread population declines. As important predators in grassland ecosystems, kestrels play a key role in maintaining healthy and functioning food webs. Yet the causes of their declines remain unclear and may vary regionally. To conserve American Kestrels in California, we must deepen our understanding of how working landscapes, such as farms and rangelands, can sustain and support their populations.
As secondary cavity nesters, kestrels depend on natural tree cavities to raise their young. However, because these cavities are often scarce in working landscapes, kestrels rely on nest boxes to successfully breed in these systems.
American Kestrel nest box monitoring provides a window into the breeding biology of kestrels living in working and natural landscapes. These data help us understand kestrel population trends and which environments kestrels thrive.
Unfortunately, there is currently limited knowledge regarding the optimal kestrel nest box management to support optimal reproduction and healthy populations.
Collaborative
Nest Box Network
We monitor a growing network of kestrel nest boxes across Yolo, Solano, and Napa counties alongside private land managers, agency and non-profit partners, and community members. Our long term dataset is essential for tracking regional kestrel populations and responses to changes in landscape conditions, management, and climate.
Nest Box Monitoring
We use a GoPro camera on an extendable pole to look inside each nest box with minimal disturbance. We learn when kestrels lay their eggs, how nestlings grow, and which habitat features support successful nests.
Working with Partners
Partners play an essential role in installing and maintaining nest boxes and supporting kestrel habitat. Monitoring on diverse landscapes helps identify important natural features habitats, and management practices that support kestrel occupancy and breeding success.
Community and Volunteer Involvement
Students and community partners assist with nest box checks, data collection, and maintenance. Volunteers are trained in protocols that ensure safety and data quality. This program provides hands-on experience in wildlife research while contributing to a regional conservation effort.
Ethical Care
All monitoring, banding, and tracking follow approved permits and animal care protocols and are designed to protect kestrels while generating high quality long term data.
