BCAS and CARRI Investigating Local Kestrel Population Decline

By Patricia Billig

The American Kestrel is the smallest falcon in North America. Collective data indicate a long-term and widespread decline in American Kestrel populations, including in Boulder County. To supplement investigations occurring in different parts of the U.S., Boulder County Audubon is teaming with and supporting the Colorado Avian Research and Rehabilitation Institute (CARRI) to investigate the local decline in our American Kestrel Population. CARRI has been building and placing nest boxes throughout the front range and monitoring kestrel activity for several years.

Male American Kestrel. Photo from BCAS Photo Archive.

Several activities have begun including an extensive literature review on this topic to help guide our study, the purchase of equipment for building additional nest boxes, acquiring a permit to capture and band birds, purchasing cameras and temperature monitors for the nest boxes, and identifying additional nest box locations in Boulder County.

Female American Kestrel with prey item. Photo from BCAS Photo Archive.