The tower was designed to allow air flow from ground level up through interior baffles and out the large entrance hole. The lower portion of the tower houses an instrument compartment with remote min/max thermometers, vcr and video monitor. A video camera with infrared lighting is permanently installed in the top of the nesting compartment. An electric line is run underground from the house to the tower, since the distance is too great to run video and 12vdc. A starling trap with remote release was installed, but was never used. Starlings did move in soon after the tower was erected, but the kestrels discovered the tower the very next day and handled the starling problem themselves.
The ventilation design has worked very well, with the temperature in the nesting compartment holding very close to outside air temperature. In 2002, 4 kestrels fledged in an uneventful nesting. In 2003, five more successfully fledged and, in August of that year, a single egg was laid, but the box was then abandoned for the year. This was too late for a second brood, but the first time any attempt at a second brood was observed in the 19 years of nest box use. In 2004, nesting began in March, and after the five young fledged, a second brood of five was successfully raised, fledging in July.
Kestrel habitat surrounding the tower.
Front view of the tower showing the still unfinished open bottom which allows upward air flow around both the instrument compartment and the nesting chamber.
The tower in summer, showing the closest thing we have to lawn. Kestrels like open areas, but have no need for closely mown grass.
View from the road.The purpose of the tower is not apparent to passers-by, but I am slowly spreading the word that it is used by "sparrow hawks".
Night view with the 7 watt bulb creating the illusion of a full moon, both in size and brightness when viewed from several hundred feet. Controlled by a timer, the light is only on a couple hours each night.
A mid-summer cover crop of buckwheat in the front yard garden, at the foot of the tower.
