ESCONDIDO, Calif. — The Avian Behavior Conservancy is recruiting volunteers and landowners in San Diego County to help reverse a dramatic decline in American kestrel populations through a new monitoring project that requires no prior bird experience.
The American kestrel population in North America has declined by 40 percent over the past half century, prompting the conservancy to launch its initiative in Escondido. The program provides free nest boxes for homeowners willing to host the small falcons on their properties and seeks citizen scientists to monitor the boxes during breeding season.
“I want to get involved,” said Hillary Hankey, founder of Avian Behavior Conservancy.
Scientists suspect that habitat loss and pesticide use are driving the kestrel population decline. By installing nest boxes and monitoring them, volunteers can provide safe nesting sites for the falcons while gathering critical data on breeding success and habitat use…