Getting kestrel houses ready

We have two kestrel boxes installed at opposite ends of the Conservancy, and one of these has been occupied the past two summers. Since the birds start looking for a nest location in February, we spent some time today getting the boxes ready.

Kestrels like their homes high and remote from predators and other birds, and we have installed our boxes on special poles that provide the right conditions. The poles are arranged so that the houses can be brought down for cleaning and adding fresh wood shavings (which they like for their nests). This is a two- to three-person job and we were fortunate to have Marci and Jim to help out.

The photos show the way the boxes are arranged and cleaned out. Hopefully, we'll be successful again this year!



I found the design for the boxes on an Internet site, and the pole arrangement comes from Mark Martin at Goose Pond Sanctuary.

Last summer during the dedication ceremony for Pleasant Valley Conservancy State Natural Area, the audience was sitting in front of the cabin you see in the above photo. The kestrel mother and father put on quite a show bringing food to the babies who were inside.