>> THE AMERICAN KESTREL IS THE SMALLEST AND ONE OF THE MOST
COMMON FALCONS IN NORTH AMERICA.
BUT BEING SMALL HAS ITS CHALLENGES.
KESTRELS ARE PREY FOR LARGER RAPTORS AND THE GRASS LAND
HABITAT WHERE NAY NEST ARE OFTEN TAKEN FOR BUILDING AND HOUSING
DEVELOPMENTS.
THE KESTREL NEST BOX PROJECT IS AN EFFORT TO HELP BOOST THEIR
CHANCES OF ADDING TO THE NEXT GENERATION.
IN LAST SEASON'S BOX PROJECT WAS THE MOST SUCCESSFUL TO DATE.
OUR PRODUCER SHARES THE STORY.
>> THE AMERICAN KESTREL IS THE NORTH AMERICA'S SMALLEST FALCON,
IT'S A KIND OF HAWK.
IT'S THE SIZE OF A MOURNING DOVE, THEY'RE A VERY LOVELY
COLORFUL BIRD, YOU SEE THEM OVER FIELDS OR SITTING ON POWER
LINES.
THEY ARE PECULIAR FOR HAWKS IN NORTH AMERICA BECAUSE THEY NEST
IN CALF AT THES, IN TREE CAVITY IES.
BUT A LOT OF CASES THAT'S NOT WIDELY AVAILABLE, SO WHAT THE
KESTREL TRUST IS DOING IN COLLABORATION WITH FISH AND
WILDLIFE SERVICE AND FISH AND GAME IS THEY ARE ESTABLISHING
AND MAINTAINING NESTING BOXES FOR KESTRELS AND THESE PROVIDE
SUITABLE NESTING HABITAT FOR THE KESTRELS TO LAY THEIR EGGS.
>> WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ON THIS PROJECT AND WORK TO
CONSERVE KESTRELS CAME UP, WE REALLY LATCHED ONTO IT BECAUSE
OBVIOUSLY IT'S OUR NAMESAKE SPECIES.
AND IT'S AN AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL LITTLE BIRD FOR US IT'S A
WIN-WIN PROJECT BECAUSE NOT ONLY ARE WE HELPING A PARTICULAR
SPECIES ON PROTECTED LAND IN THE AREA THAT WE HAD A ROLE IN
PROTECTING, BUT WE ALSO GET TO WORK WITH A LOT OF GREAT
PARTNERS IN THE AREA WHO ARE ENGAGED IN THE SAME KIND OF WORK
AND ALSO GET TO INVOLVE THE COMMUNITY IN A PROJECT THAT'S
VERY EXCITING AND REWARDING FOR THEM.
>> THIS IS ONE OF OUR KESTREL BOXES WHICH WAS MADE FOR US BY A
VOLUNTEER.
WE HAVE A HOLE SIZE SPECIFIED FOR THE PARTICULAR SPECIES OF
BIRD THAT WE WANT TO ATTRACT, BECAUSE THEY SEEM TO HAVE A
REQUIREMENT FOR THAT.
WE HAVE A WAY TO LOOK INTO THE BOX HERE, WE REMOVE THIS NAIL
AND OPEN THE SIDE PANEL.
SO THAT WE CAN ACCESS IT FOR CHECKING THE NEST, AND CHECKING
THE NEST CONTENTS.
THEN IN THE FALL WE CLEAN OUT THE BOXES EVERY YEAR TO GET
FRESH TRERL IN -- FRESH MATERIAL IN THERE.
I CAME TO THE VALLEY TO GO TO U. MASS AND NEVER LEFT THE AREA.
VERY QUICKLY FELL IN LOVE WITH THE LANDSCAPE, AND I'VE ALWAYS
BEEN INTERESTED IN BIRDS.
SO SEEING THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE INVOLVED WITH A CRITICAL CORNER
OF BIRD CONSERVATION WITH REFERENCE TO THE GRASSLAND BIRDS
IS PERSONALLY VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.
BUT IT'S ALSO ALLOWED ME TO PUT A SKILL THAT I'VE LEARNED, THE
THE BIRD BANDING, TO USE LOCALLY.
THE BAND HAS ISSUED BY THE GOVERNMENT HAS NINE DIGITS ON IT
WHICH WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO RE.
SO WE ALSO HAVE PERMISSION TO USE A FIELD READABLE BAND, WHICH
IN THIS CASE INVOLVES COLORS AND ONLY TWO DIGITS.
SO THAT ALLOWS US TO KEEP TRACK OF THESE BIRDS OVER THEIR
LIFETIMES AND WILL ALLOW US TO KEEP TRACK OF HOW OLD THEY
BECOME, HOW LONG THEY LIVE, WHERE THEY MIGRATE, AND THINGS
OF THAT KIND.
>> KESTRELS HAVE BEEN UNDERGOING LONG-TERM DECLINES FOR DECADES
NOW.
SO NEW ENGLAND, I THINK THE NEW ENGLAND POPULATION IS DECLINING
AT THE GREATEST RATE.
A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH THE CONTINUED DISAPPEARANCE OF
SUITABLE GRASSLAND HABITAT THE KESTRELS ARE MIGRATORY, THEY
LEAVE NEW ENGLAND DURING THE WINTER, THEY RETURN IN THE
SPRING.
MALES AND FEMALES PAIR UP AND THEN THE FEMALES WILL LAY FOUR,
SOMETIMES THREE, SOMETIMES FIVE EGGS, WILL INCUBATE THEM FOR A
FEW WEEKS OR A MONTH AND A FEW WEEKS AFTER THAT THE YOUNG WILL
ACTUALLY LEAVE THE BOX.
>> I'VE PROBABLY BEEN THE ONE TO POKE MY HEAD IN MORE BOXES THAN
ANYONE OVER THE YEARS, AND I NEVER GET TIRED OF SEEING THAT
NEW LIFE, AND REALIZING THAT THE BIRDS ARE SUCCEEDING IN THEIR
MAIN TASK IN LIFE, WHICH IS TO MAKE MORE BIRDS.
AND JUST TO SEE THE YOUNG BIRDS AT THE BEGINNING OF THEIR LIVES
AND KNOWING THAT IT'S ALL OUT THERE FOR THEM AND WE HELP MAKE
THAT HAPPEN, IT'S A GOOD FEELING.
>> KESTREL IS SUCH A TERRIFIC LITTLE BIRD, IT'S SO EMBLEMATIC
OF AN IMPORTANT HABITAT, OF COURSE IT'S AN EMBLEM OF THE
KESTREL LAND TRUST WHICH I SERVE, AND IT'S REALLY SO GREAT
TO BE ABLE TO FOR TAKE A CONSERVATION ACTIVITY AND SEE
SUCH RAPID AND TANGIBLE SIGNS OF SUCCESS.