American Kestrel

[rtanner77]

Last weekend for the first time I saw an American kestrel hanging out on the power lines on our property. I'm thinking of putting up a kestrel nest box, but the area where I saw it has a good number of starlings and I don't want them taking over the nest box. If the kestrel claims it first, could he defend it against a possible starling takeover? Starlings are pretty aggressive and persistent. From what I've read, kestrels are not major predators of purple martins, so I'm not too worried about my martin colony. Anyone with any experience here?

[JL Murray]

Found this Kestrel Nest Box plan: http://www.shawcreekbirdsupply.com/plans_kestrel.jpg

[Louise Chambers]

Kestrels could use some help against starlings - can you shoot or trap the starlings? We've had to help our woodpeckers, which are bigger than starlings, protect their nestbox too. Starlings jump in and attack the woodpeckers, have seen that on nestcam.

[Siberman]

Location / height of kestrel box ?

Don't know if I'll use it here though . I had one hang around years ago . I never saw him bother the martins but they certainly didn't care for his presence.

[JL Murray]

Audubons website says about 20 foot tall other sites say between 16 and 30 foot.

[KathyF]

My neighbor had a pair move into a martin house he had built and mounted up about 14-15' high...

[rtanner77]

I have a screech owl nest box I made years ago, but to my knowledge never had any owls nest in. I think I might move it out of the woods and put it near where I saw the kestrel. It's in the middle of about 30 acres of open pasture. There are lots of bluebirds, eastern meadowlarks, and a few starlings around. I wouldn't mind having the kestrels around because apparently they sometimes prey on starlings and other birds. I wish there was a way to get them to only go after starlings! I try to trap the starlings during the nesting season, but the ones we have are very skittish and very much wild. As we all know, it's an ongoing battle.

[barry resvick]

Iv heard that putting sawdust in the woodpecker nest boxes will keep the starlings out.The woodpeckers are used to it and use it for there nests.The starlings try in vein to remove it and finally move on.It may work for the kestrel box as well

[Louise Chambers]

Shavings work better than sawdust, which can get wet and packed down. We often do that with our woodpecker box.

There are plans for a swing-down, manageable kestrel box by Kestrel Karetakers. https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=ca ... bIId2FnlFA

sorry about the goofy link, but it works

[D'Nese]

Louise,
Thanks for the information. We have them here in my neck of the woods and they are beautiful creatures. We have a starling problem here and the house on the pole is desireable as if I mount it to a tree it would be quite difficult to monitor and clean out. Looks like this will go on the "honey do" list for spring.

[rtanner77]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions and Louise for the link; it looks very interesting. I've decided to go ahead and put up my box for the kestrels, but be extra diligent in monitoring for starling takeovers.