Posted by bill meikle on October 7, 2009 at 12:41 PM
I put up a kestrel nestbox in my yard and look who's come to stay! I heard that starlings like them too, so I guess I'm going to have my work cut out!
Posted by Mali Halls on October 7, 2009 at 12:54 PM
Great looking bird, nice shot Bill, guess you'll have to put up some more boxes?
Posted by Buck Ward on October 7, 2009 at 10:13 PM
That kestrel's got the pointiest beak I ever saw!
Posted by Jim DeWitt on October 8, 2009 at 1:41 PM
While Kestrels will nest in boxes, in my experience they also like ledge platforms. Here's a sample plan.
If you do go with a box like you have, it's important the hole not be larger than 3" in diameter.
Put an inch of wood shavings (not sawdust, and not cedar) in the bottom of the box each spring. Moss will also work if you have it in the area.
Finally, site selection is critical. The same box in the woods will draw different birds if it is on the edge of a field. For American Kestrels, the edge of a field is best.
Posted by bill meikle on October 8, 2009 at 4:03 PM
Thanks Jim, yep, got the hole size right and we are on the edge of a field and we've got shavings in the bottom. And we have a pair of kestrels who spend lots of time sitting on our trees, so can't wait for Spring. They nested on a ledge on our neighbors house one year.
Discussion
4 repliesGreat looking bird, nice shot Bill, guess you'll have to put up some more boxes?
If you do go with a box like you have, it's important the hole not be larger than 3" in diameter.
Put an inch of wood shavings (not sawdust, and not cedar) in the bottom of the box each spring. Moss will also work if you have it in the area.
Finally, site selection is critical. The same box in the woods will draw different birds if it is on the edge of a field. For American Kestrels, the edge of a field is best.