Kestrel Tower

The ventilation design has worked very well, with the temperature in the nesting compartment holding very close to outside air temperature. In 2002, 4 kestrels fledged in an uneventful nesting. In 2003, five more successfully fledged and, in August of that year, a single egg was laid, but the box was then abandoned for the year. This was too late for a second brood, but the first time any attempt at a second brood was observed in the 19 years of nest box use. In 2004, nesting began in March, and after the five young fledged, a second brood of five was successfully raised, fledging in July.

Front view of the tower showing the still unfinished open bottom which allows upward air flow around both the instrument compartment and the nesting chamber.

The tower in summer, showing the closest thing we have to lawn. Kestrels like open areas, but have no need for closely mown grass.

View from the road.The purpose of the tower is not apparent to passers-by, but I am slowly spreading the word that it is used by "sparrow hawks".

Night view with the 7 watt bulb creating the illusion of a full moon, both in size and brightness when viewed from several hundred feet. Controlled by a timer, the light is only on for 90 minutes each night.

A mid-summer cover crop of buckwheat in the front yard garden, at the foot of the tower.

The 2013 restoration of the tower
Over the years, the plywood had begun to deteriorate, even with repainting. Also, a flicker had excavated a hole near the top of the north wall, directly over the kestrel nest box. Starlings quickly took advantage of this and began nesting on top of the kestrel box, even when the kestrels were also nesting. While a door is provided for access to the kestrel box, I had no access to the starling nest until the siding was removed. At that time, I found over a foot of nesting material and evidence of several nestings. The grass also interfered with the tower ventilation.

After the 2013 nesting, the tower was partially dismantled and new siding installed. The camera was cleaned and a new remote thermometer was fitted in the nest box. The starling trap was removed, since the kestrels monitored their nest box year round and did a better job than I would do with the manual hole cover and video monitor. As for the chance that a flicker will provide the starlings with a new entrance hole, my fingers are crossed.

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