american kestrel

American Kestrel: 2025 nest box and banding report

In spring and summer, over a hundred volunteers give their time, energy, gas money, and hearts to American Kestrels. Why? Because this species is beautiful, fierce, and in decline; and the focal point of our citizen science program the Kestrel Nest Box Monitoring & Banding Program (KNB for short). Each year, hundreds of kestrel chicks fledge from the boxes these volunteers steward, and those chicks and some of the adults are banded for research. And each year, we try to get creative about how we can continue to make it easier for kestrels to successfully raise their young in southern Wisconsin.

Photo by Kaitlin Svabek/SoWBA

Allopreening American Kestrels

Allopreening American Kestrels

Several years ago, a pair of American Kestrels occupied a nest box in one of the prairies at Fair Meadows, and I had the opportunity to observe social interactions of their newly fledged young. 

Photo by Gary Shackelford

American Kestrel Monitoring 2023

American Kestrel Monitoring 2023

2023 was another record-breaking year for Madison Audubon’s Kestrel Nest Box Monitoring Program. With 228 boxes spread over 12 counties, these small, but fierce, falcons had plenty of cavities to choose from.

Photo by Madison Audubon

2022 American Kestrel Monitoring and Banding: It Took a Village

2022 American Kestrel Monitoring and Banding: It Took a Village

Usually, our monitors 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, 2022 started much differently.

Photo by Brenna Marsicek / Madison Audubon

Kestrel Nest Box Program 2021

Kestrel Nest Box Program 2021

Many records were set in our 2021 Kestrel Nest Box Monitoring program that included 208 nest boxes monitored by 65 volunteers and three banders. Roughly 232 young birds fledged, 160 young were banded, and 41 adults were captured.

Photo by Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren