Submitted article
The Crawford Park District has joined a partnership to install and monitor 16 nest boxes for American kestrels on highway signs in Crawford County. Starting in April, volunteers with the Park District will visit the nest boxes approximately every two weeks to monitor their use by American kestrels and other bird species. Crawford Park District volunteers assisted with the installation of the nest boxes last November along a 23 mile stretch of US 30.
Other partners in the project include the Ohio Bird Conservation Initiative, Ohio Ornithological Society, the Ohio Department of Transportation, the Ohio Division of Wildlife, and The American Kestrel Partnership.
An additional 25 nest boxes were installed in Wyandot county in early 2013. Students from the University of Findlay monitored the nestboxes for use by nesting birds. In 2013, two of the boxes were used by kestrels for nesting, producing 8 young.
American kestrel populations are decreasing across North America, including significant declines in Ohio. The species prefers open areas with short grass, where they hunt primarily for insects and small mammals. American kestrels nest in naturally occurring cavities in trees, but will also readily use nest boxes. Nest box programs like this one provide opportunities for kestrels to nest in areas that offer ample foraging habitat but lack natural nest cavities.
Donations to support this effort are being collected at obcinet.org. To learn more about how to volunteer with the Crawford Park District, contact patti@crawfordparkdistrict.org.