2022 American Kestrel Monitoring and Banding: It Took a Village
2022 was quite a year for kestrel results in Wisconsin. Usually, our Kestrel Nest Box Monitoring Program volunteers go out on a nice day in February to double check their nest boxes to ensure they are ready to go for mating season at the end of March. However, this year started much differently.
Halle Lambeau installs a temperture logger in one of Madison Audubon’s nest boxes, while JD Arnston holds the ladder. Photo provided by Halle Lambeau
For the first time, we partnered with Halle Lambeau, a master’s student from the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Halle’s project is aimed at studying factors—such as diet and weather—that might be impacting the breeding productivity of kestrels. Part of her research is regarding nesting conditions, and she wanted to know the temperature of the nest boxes over the season. So in late February Halle came down to Goose Pond and met with JD Arnston, Madison Audubon volunteer, who drove her to 10 locations in Columbia, Dane, and Jefferson Counties to install temperature loggers. With the help of the monitor at each location, the installs of the devices went very smoothly. These devices would record the temperature inside the nest box over the nesting season. When the season was completed, we removed the devices so she could download the info regarding temperature. Another change for our monitors this year was that Halle needed to be informed of prey remains visible in nest boxes. This is a two-year study and Halle will be providing information regarding her project to MAS once it is completed.
Madison Audubon had 221 nest boxes available, and had 72 occupied and 67 successful. These were all time highs. April 9 was our first egg laid which was about 10 days later than last year, but our last chick banding was on August 21, which was a month later than last year. This was due to a hen losing her first clutch and starting a second about a ¼ mile away from her first nest box.
Chart showing the history of nesting data throughout the Madison Audubon Kestrel Nest Box Monitoring Program.
All for one and one for all! Four kestrel chicks with their new bands. Photo by Amber Eschenbauch
Banding success was way up this year. Janet and Amber Eschenbauch from Central WI Kestrel Research have been banding for us since 2016. This was Master Bander, Kurt Reed’s, second-year banding with us, and Brand Smith became sub permitted to band kestrels this year, which helped bring our banding totals up handsomely. With three groups of banders, we were able to go to every nest box to attempt to band at least one adult in May and all the chicks in June, July and August. This was also a first for MAS. This group banded 104 more chicks, 12 more adults, and recaptured 11 more adults than previous years. This equaled 116 more birds banded than last year. One interesting note regarding the recaptured adults was that we recaptured two females in the same nest box two years in a row. One is 5 years old and was banded as a chick in Jackson County, WI; the other was banded as a chick in Sheboygan County two years ago. They appear to like the area in southwestern Dane County.
We are aware of five different groups banding kestrels in Wisconsin. In total, the groups banded 607 chicks and 82 adults. These are impressive numbers that will have a huge impact on kestrel research. As I am writing this, I have been informed that an adult was found dead and was reported to the Bird Banding Lab. Although this is sad, recoveries are needed to find out where these birds are moving.
Kestrel banding with The Prairie Enthusiasts. Photo by Crystal Sutheimer
Alyssa Patterson holds a male kestrel as it takes off after banding. Photo by Terri Bleck
Chart showing kestrel banding activity since 2016.
One question that I am asked often is, “Do your nest boxes produce more males or females?” The answer is about the same of each sex. Last year the numbers were the same with 80 males and 80 females. This year we had 8 more females than males. Another common question is whether kestrels are the only birds that use the kestrel boxes as nesting sites. Other cavity-nesting birds do use the kestrel boxes such as, the usual visitors, Eastern Bluebirds and Tree Swallows. However, we had another visitor: this year was the year of the Screech Owl. We heard of three locations where Screech Owls had taken up residence and layed eggs. We went to two locations, and banded 3 adults and 4 chicks. Screech Owls often use kestrel nest boxes to roost in during the winter months, but this year they liked the digs that we provided enough to stick around.
Kurt Reed holds an adult Eastern Screech Owl, who had nested in a Kestrel box. Photo by Emma Raasch
We want to thank many people and organizations who helped make this such a successful kestrel season. First, the SEWA International group of Sun Prairie. Their young people contacted MAS to volunteer to build kestrel houses. This past winter, they put together 10 nest boxes to replace old boxes and to set up new locations. Due to their efforts, we invited them to come along on a day of banding. This was a great opportunity for all to spend some time outdoors, and for many, was the first time seeing the prairies of Goose Pond and other open areas that are home to the American Kestrel. The youngsters and adults really appreciated the day seeing the fruits of their labors.
Sewa International - Madison, which helped make 10 kestrel nest boxes for us and got to observe kestrel banding. Photo provided by Suvidhya Rane
We would also like to thank Janet and Amber Eschenbauch from Central WI Kestrel Research who have been incredible with their talents and expertise regarding kestrels. They are excellent educators and diligent in their efforts to promote kestrel research through banding at the Buena Vista Marsh and around the Goose Pond area for the last 7 years.
Janet (left) and Amber (right) Eschenbauch of Central Wisconsin Kestrel Partnership, who have come to our area to band kestrels for 7 years. Photo by Brenna Marsicek / Madison Audubon
Another thanks goes to Kurt Reed for getting involved with MAS in 2021. His experience and willingness to share his knowledge has really upped our banding efforts, not to mention working with me to become qualified as a sub-permittee to band kestrels.
A huge thank you goes out to the 90 plus monitors and volunteers: without their efforts, none of the above information could be gathered. Their work in 2021 made Madison Audubon one of the largest, if not the largest, group to submit data to the American Kestrel Partnership (AKP). Due to their efforts, Wisconsin produced 25% of all data sheets submitted in North America to the AKP. I am expecting that 2022 will have similar results.The banding teams were out 36 separate times to capture adults in May and chicks later in the season. This does not include the countless times the monitors checked on their nest boxes and kept me abreast of their box status, and the time needed to submit data into the AKP. All of this with $5 gas. What a dedicated team.
One last thank you goes to Joni and Chuck Crave of Crave Brothers Farm for hosting our postseason gathering at their dairy operation. The evening started out with a tour of their very modern dairy operation, where they have embraced sustainability and green power. To see more about the Craves work to embrace sustainability check out the attached link. The evening continued with good food and fellowship in their remodeled cheese tasting room.
The kestrel volunteers enjoyed an incredible tour of Crave Brothers farm to celebrate another great nesting season. Photo by Brenna Marsicek / Madison Audubon
Written by Brand Smith, Madison Audubon volunteer and Coordinator of the Kestrel Nest Box Monitoring Program
