Site Visit Insights: Kestrels soar at Air Force base

[Cara J]

Site visits are critical to helping scientists learn more about species and their habitats. The trips often take them into areas most people do not have a chance to explore, including public and privately-owned restricted sites, as well as some remote and hard-to-reach areas. “Site visit Insights” provides a behind-the-scenes perspective of wildlife biology, featuring photographs and interesting discoveries and happenings biologists experience in the field. In cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, The Wildlife Society is pleased to share these insights. Wildlife Biologist: Harry Kahler, fish and wildlife biologist, Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office Site visit location: Beale Air Force Base, California What was the purpose of the site visit? Fish and Wildlife Biologist Harry Kahler bands a nine-day-old kestrel, which can help identify the bird at a future encounter. ©Veronica Davison, USFWS The purpose of this site visit was to band and collect information about American kestrel (Falco sparverius) nestlings. Nesting sites for American kestrels are limited. As part of The Peregrine Fund’s American Kestrel Partnership, the Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office installed a series of kestrel nest boxes at various sites on Beale Air Force Base. We monitor them for use and productivity during the [...]

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