Goals:
The American Kestrel is colorful, easy to identify, widespread, and has a strong affinity for nest boxes, all of which make it an ideal candidate for research largely supported by citizen science. In fact, many professional and citizen scientists are already managing nest-box monitoring programs, but the programs tend to be isolated from one another in a research context. The American Kestrel Partnership is a research network for generating data to model and understand relationships between nesting parameters (e.g., phenology/timing, occupancy, survival, and productivity) and environmental conditions like land use/cover, climate, competition for nesting cavities with species like European Starlings, and depredation or habitat displacement by larger raptor species like Cooper's Hawks. To understand these relationships, the Partnership is 1) supporting development of and coordinating a Western Hemispheric network of local and independently managed nest-box monitoring programs, 2) developing and maintaining an interactive website for partners to contribute and manage their nest-box monitoring data, and share research and educational resources, and 3) supporting professional scientists in collaboratively sampling and modeling fledgling and adult demographic, toxicological, and genetic parameters at targeted kestrel populations. The data and models generated by the Partnership will ultimately support large-scale conservation strategies for kestrel habitat and populations.
Background:
Data from the US Geological Survey’s Breeding Bird Survey, National Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count, various nest-box monitoring programs, and migration corridors, collectively indicate declines for numerous regional populations of American Kestrels in North America. The rate of decline varies geographically, but most are long-term (e.g., 1966-2009) and persistent within the last decade, while very few regions have exhibited population growth. The causes of declines are largely unknown and limited to speculation, primarily because of insufficient data but also insufficient use of existing data. Population declines and associated information gaps therefore highlight the need for generating spatially extensive data, models, and conservation strategies. Citizen and professional scientists continue to generate large quantities of nest-box monitoring data, but the isolated nature of monitoring programs has largely restricted production of meta-analytical research on kestrel demographics at large spatial scales. The American Kestrel Partnership is an international research network designed to generate large-scale demographic data and models with direct application to the conservation and restoration of kestrel habitat and populations. The Partnership unites the data-generating capacity of citizen scientists with the data-analysis expertise of professional scientists by promoting research collaboration among citizen scientists, universities, government agencies, conservation organizations, schools, and businesses. The Partnership also fosters long-term conservation values and appreciation of science by engaging the public with hands-on research experiences.
Recent Results:
Partnership website
The Partnership’s website provides introductory information about the biology of the American Kestrel and the background and goals of the American Kestrel Partnership. Within the website, partners can register for individualized partner profiles for networking and collaboration; entry and management of nest-box monitoring data; and sharing and accessing research and educational resources. The website and partner network also provide engaging activities, such as participating in discussion groups; recruiting, assisting, and collaborating with new partners; identifying prey items in video from live nest box cams; and competing in photo, art, and data competitions.
Education and outreach
The Partnership is promoting public participation in science by building a community of citizen and professional scientists focused on advancing kestrel research and conservation. Public participation fosters positive attitudes towards science and conservation by providing hands-on research experiences and feedback illustrating the impact of individual and collective contributions. The Partnership is developing education and outreach material, including youth-oriented curricula adhering to national educational standards for use in the field and classroom. Education resources will be available at no cost on the Partnership’s website or by mail.
Getting involved
The Partnership consists of a diverse array of partners, including citizen scientists, professional scientists, birders, photographers, NGOs, government agencies, businesses, students, and universities. We encourage as many partners as possible to build, install, and monitor kestrel nest boxes, be it 1 or 100, to help generate and contribute data for use in research and conservation planning. Partners without nest boxes can also make critical contributions. Individuals can directly donate funds; businesses can provide sponsorship by donating funds, goods, and/or services; and other organizations, such as NGOs and government agencies can agree to a mutual endorsement with the Partnership, to promote each others programs. The Partnership is also seeking professional scientist partners to 1) generate grant proposals, data, models, and manuscripts for fledgling and adult demographic, genetic, and toxicological parameters, and 2) obtain historic nest-box monitoring data to model and publish relationships between climate variation and nesting parameters. We encourage education professionals to enlist as partners and contribute to the design, implementation, and distribution of education materials based on nest box monitoring and kestrel biology.
Nest-box monitoring: what is it?
Nest box monitoring is pretty straight forward and low maintenance once established. The first step is to build your nest boxes or recruit help from local scouts, shop classes, or home improvement centers. A high quality nest box made of cedar and stainless steel fasters can be built for $40-$50, while a box made of pine or plywood and standard galvanized steel fasteners can be built for as low as $20. Nest boxes can be installed across a wide variety of habitats, including roadsides, backyards, farms, ranches, school yards, golf courses, city parks, and industrial areas. Partners should obtain permission from local authorities and utilities before installing nest boxes on public property, utility poles, or backs of road signs. Kestrels will typically begin nesting in boxes the first or second spring following installation, after which monitoring only requires 2 to 4 visits per month for approximately 6 to 8 weeks sometime during the nesting period of April through July, depending on one’s latitude and altitude. Please see the PDF downloads on the right side of this page for more information on starting your nest-box monitoring program.
Citizen science partners:
Allyson Woodard
Partnership Programs Coordinator
awoodard@peregrinefund.org
208-362-8266
Professional science partners and sponsors:
Matt Giovanni, Ph.D. | Research Biologist
Director, American Kestrel Partnership
mgiovanni@peregrinefund.org
208-362-8279
Project Links:
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| Publications and Data | (no misc. information) |
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| Instructions for building nest boxes | American Kestrel Partnership introduction |
| Nest-box monitoring protocol and data sheet | Time requirement table for nest box monitoring |
| Nest box reimbursement application |
Location Note:
North America
Species involved
- American Kestrel — Falco sparverius
People involved in this project:
Combined Federal Campaign # 10639
