American Kestrels -Another Successful Nest Box Season

Saint Paul Bird Alliance volunteers have led a project since 2012 to supply nest boxes for American Kestrels in the East Metro area. Since 2012, dedicated team members have monitored and reported the nesting outcomes for these boxes. Approximately 185 Kestrels have fledged since the project’s inception.

2026 was another successful year for local Kestrels and for the nest box team. Four of seven nest boxes successfully produced offspring. From each of these four boxes, five young Kestrels fledged successfully. As usual, we reported this information to the citizen science effort called NestWatch.

This season, we installed a new nest box at Pigs Eye Park, though it hasn’t been used yet. We’re discussing repositioning the two Lake Elmo nest box locations to better attract Kestrels.

Also, the Kestrel team no longer maintains and monitors the nest boxes installed at Rice Creek North and Tamarack Nature Center because Ramsey County has assumed this responsibility.

According to Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s All About Birds, American Kestrels are North America’s smallest falcons and are some of the most colorful of all raptors. They perch on wires or poles, or hover while facing into the wind, as they hunt for insects or other small prey in open territory.

Debbie Brown – VP and Co-Chair – Conservations Committee