Thorhild County hosts nesting box build

By Brandie Majeau
American Kestrels are the smallest species of falcons found in North America.
They are typically 8 to 12 inches long with a wingspan of about 20 inches. These birds
of prey are known for their beautiful and distinctive coloration, with males having blue-
gray wings and rusty-red backs, while females have brown wings and back. Both sexes
have a prominent black vertical stripe below their eyes, which gives them the
appearance of having a mustache and sideburns. They are known for their agile flight
and hunting abilities, often preying on small mammals, birds, and insects.
Thorhild County offered residents a chance to come out to the Thorhild County
Ag Services building and construct their own Kestrel nesting boxes and learn a little
about these amazing birds and the benefits of having them close by. Lisa Card,
Barrhead-Westlock-Athabasca ALUS coordinator, gave the builders an informative
crash course on the American Kestrel, pointing out their distinguishing looks and
explaining their behavior and value.
Card explained that the Kestrel population is declining about 2% every year and
due to deforestation and the destruction of their natural habitats, these cavity-nesting
birds are relying more on manmade structures or nooks in buildings. A male kestrel will
scout for appropriate spaces and attract their female to the area in hopes it is an
acceptable location. Once a pair is established, these fierce predators can eliminate
hundreds of rodents/year and eat lots of grasshoppers during years of infestation.
The group of Thorhild County builders constructed almost twenty new nesting
boxes to provide summer homes for the American Kestrel. The nesting box workshop
students also learned that these birds prefer their doors to face the south, enjoy an
open prairie view and like their fellow Kestrel neighbours to be at least half a mile away.
Card also explained to the eager builders that the nesting boxes should be situated
away from homes, although American Kestrels are predatory friends, they are also
incredibly smelly and messy yard guests.