I put up several Kestrel nest boxes in March (rural Ohio). One - on a barn ~100 yds behind the house - has a nesting pair. Two questions:
1. it looks like the box in the cam here has a ledge inside just below the opening - correct? are there plans that show that box? Mine don't have ledges.
2. It looks like folks open the boxes regularly to check the progress. Is that a good idea? I've tried to leave mine alone. I watch them in the evening from ~100' away.
Comments:
Hello!
Hello!
To answer your first question - the ledge isn't a requirement for kestrel nesting. The KestrelCam box only has a ledge to facilitate the nestlings peeking outside easily - which makes for additional enjoyment for viewers watching both the inside and outside cam. Kestrels are able to climb out of nestboxes without ledges just fine when it comes to be fledging time. That said, if you would still like a ledge, I can inquire about the dimensions of it - it's positioned just about halfway between the floor of the nestbox and the opening.
For your second question - we are collecting data from partners with nestboxes. These partners are encouraged to get a count of the eggs and then the nestlings, and then submit those observations to us via the data apps. You can check out the data apps yourself by clicking "Research" above, then clicking the "Dashboard."
While checking inside a nestbox does cause a temporary disturbance, American Kestrels are actually quite hardy to stress and are unlikely to abandon eggs or chicks. Thus, if you would like to contribute observations on your nestbox, you are welcome to do so!
Detailed instructions can be found here: http://hub.peregrinefund.org/node/138
May I suggest this article,
May I suggest this article, at the bottom of the article are links to PDF files (one for a new box design (note new entrance opening size) with a ledge, an the other file for a tower that can be easily lowered for cleaning an monitoring).
www.nestboxbuilder.com/nestbox-article-spartan.html
Thank you JLetts. Excellent
Thank you JLetts. Excellent article. I'll make 3-4 of those this Winter and try some different placements.
Interesting that they recommend an oval hole. Every other article (a dozen) says round. I try the oval and see. I also want to try a tower.
I put several nests just in the woods only to read later that kestrels don't want a tree canopy.
Thanks again. Happy Thanksgiving.
Thanks for taking the time to
Thanks for taking the time to reply. Good info. I left mine alone this year. Even before I saw fledglings, the parents would perch in trees and/or kite over me if I got within 100' of the barn.