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ENDANGERED SPECIES SPOTLIGHT American Kestrel

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ENDANGERED SPECIES SPOTLIGHT American Kestrel Ups and Down the for 2010 Eagle Nesting Season......p 4 Our 2010 Status Report ...........................................p 5 Wildlife Action Plan in Action ....................................p 6 CONSERVE WILDLIFE FOUNDATION OF NEW JERSEY • WINTER 2010 Photo: MacKenzie Hall ENDANGERED SPECIES SPOTLIGHT American Kestrel Photo: Jim Gilbert The American kestrel (Falco sparverius) (not yet endangered or threatened but on flight that allows them to dive down short is the smallest, most beautiful and its way). distances to capture their prey. The eyespots widespread falcon in North America and on the back of their heads provide protection Kestrels are found in open, grassy habitats one of two falcon species that nest in New from other aerial predators, like Cooper’s – especially ones that have cavities for Jersey. Kestrels are colorful birds of prey hawks. The eyespots make it appear that nesting and perches for hunting. Kestrels about the size of a mourning dove. the kestrel is “looking” up at the predator can be seen hovering in grasslands, pastures American kestrels have reddish-brown causing it to move on to find a less alert and parklands or perched along the road backs and tails, blue-gray crowns with victim. The eyespots allow the kestrel to on telephone lines. The decline of kestrels variable amounts of rusty color, and two focus on hunting for the prey beneath them. in New Jersey is likely due to destruction vertical stripes on the sides of their heads. of grasslands from development. Also, Researchers have not determined the They have two dark “eyespots” on the back nesting cavities are lost. As we clean up exact reason for kestrel declines but, we of their head. Male kestrels have blue-gray our fields, we remove trees with nest do know that the availability of cavities wings while females have reddish brown cavities the kestrels use. for nesting appears to be a limiting factor. wings with black barring. Kestrels are secondary cavity nesters. They American kestrels are versatile, Although the American kestrel is don’t make their own cavity but use existing opportunistic hunters feeding on assorted widespread, meaning they live year round natural or man-made cavities. They prefer small prey, such as grasshoppers, lizards, throughout much of the United States, nest sites surrounded by suitable hunting mice, snakes and small birds. Unlike the northeastern kestrel population is grounds with unobstructed entrances. peregrine falcons, kestrels don’t use velocity declining. Today the kestrel is listed as a Kestrels nest in buildings and other man- to kill their prey. They perch to see their Species of Special Concern in New Jersey made structures including nest boxes. prey and then they use a stationary, hovering continued on page 3 conservewildlifenj.org (609) 984-6012 Women & Wildlife – honoring women, celebrating wildlife. Back in 2006, Conserve Wildlife Foundation honored two outstanding women for their contributions to understanding and protecting New Jersey’s wildlife populations and habitats. Hannah Bonsey Suthers and Professor Joanna Burger inaugurated the program as the first recipients of our annual Women & Wildlife awards. The two honorees, with over 50 years experience between them, exemplify everything we choose to honor with this program and were the perfect pick for its launch. You can read about their, and the other honorees, achievements on our website which lists short bios of all the winners. Over the five years since its inception we have honored ten women working at the top of their profession making a huge difference to New Jersey’s biodiversity. We’ve also awarded two posthumous honors to women whose contributions to wildlife ended far too soon. Every award was given to a woman who has distinguished herself in the field of wildlife protection and conservation. Every year we receive more nominations than the year before. Every year the caliber of the women professionals nominated humbles us. Every year the selection panel struggles to make a choice from so many worthy nominees. 2011 will be no exception and we look forward to celebrating two more fascinating and exemplary women at our awards event in March next year. Working in the field of wildlife protection is challenging. Past honorees and present day practitioners will attest to the demanding nature of a profession that requires you to be physically capable and intellectually swift, as well as practical, patient, innovative and curious. Wildlife species are not the best co-workers. They can’t be depended upon to show up on time and where you want them. They don’t always respond in the ways you anticipate. They are impacted by things you don’t even see, and they interact with the world in ways that you can’t even know. Protecting imperiled populations can seem almost Sisyphean at times, but the rewards, when they come, are worth it. We like to think of our Women & Wildlife awards as a small reward for a career in a tough profession. We hope the program sheds a light on all the professionals working in the field and leads to a greater understanding of the important role wildlife, and those who seek to protect it, plays in ensuring New Jersey’s biodiversity continues to enrich our lives. The deadline for the receipt of nomination forms is Friday, January 21st. A nomination form can be downloaded from our website. We will announce the 2011 honorees in February, and the awards ceremony will be held on Sunday, March 27th at the wonderful Prallsville Mill in Stockton, New Jersey. Join us for a celebration of wildlife and the professionals who have dedicated themselves to protecting it. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor for our Women & Wildlife awards, please contact me at [email protected] Get Out! And look for eagles The winter months are perfect for viewing bald eagles in New Check out some of these eagle hotspots here in the garden Jersey. Bald eagles that nest in New Jersey remain here year-round. state. You probably don’t have to travel very far to catch a But many northern nesting eagles make their way south to spend glimpse of this majestic animal. some of the winter months. Some of these migrating eagles stop North – Merrill Creek Reservoir, Washington, Warren County and overwinter in New Jersey while others continue south and or Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area overwinter in parts of Delaware, Virginia, North and South Central – Manasquan Reservoir, Howell, Monmouth County Carolina, and perhaps even Georgia and Florida. South – Mannington Meadows, Salem County page 2 ENDANGERED SPECIES SPOTLIGHT – American Kestrel Nest-box programs are an effective by staff and volunteers. In 2010, 38 boxes The nest box program in New Jersey management option to grow the number were used by kestrels and we banded appears to be successful; we are adding of kestrels in areas where nest sites 62 fledglings. to the population. Since 2006, we have are limited. banded over 300 fledglings. The kestrel In New Jersey, kestrels lay 4-7 (average you see hovering over a field may be one Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New of 5) eggs as early as late April and incubate from our nest box program! Jersey, in partnership with the Endangered them for about 30 days. Females do most and Nongame Species Program implemented of the incubating and males bring food ENDANGERED a nest box installation and monitoring to them. After the chicks hatch, the male program in 2006. Nest boxes have been brings food to the female who then feeds OR THREATENED erected in three geographic areas in habitat the chicks. The chicks grow quickly; in What’s the difference? determined to be suitable for kestrels. The about 30 days they go from helpless fuzzy, An endangered species is in danger boxes are monitored by biologists during the down-covered chicks to fully feathered breeding season. Because kestrels reuse nest fledglings. After fledging, the adults of becoming extinct throughout all or sites particularly if they have successfully continue to feed their young for several most of its range. A threatened species raised young, we focus on boxes that have weeks. Less than a month after fledging, is likely to become endangered in the been successful at least once since 2006. young kestrels leave the nesting area to Currently, 139 boxes are being monitored begin life on their own. foreseeable future. Eagles Up Close and Personal For the second year, Conserve Wildlife Foundation will be “The students…are so excited to have this special window to bringing bald eagles into classrooms, offices, and homes, throughout watch the beauty of the eagle’s nest.” New Jersey and beyond. Through collaboration with Duke Farms, CWF is offering on its website, the Duke Farms EagleCam, a live “Thank you for providing an amazing first-hand experience action webcam that captures the trials and tribulations of a pair for my students and a look at nature up close that they might of bald eagles as they breed, incubate, and raise young. It is a not have ever seen. A healthy new respect was developed for wonderful tool for learning about bald eagles as a means of our responsibility to this planet and I hope you will continue personal enjoyment and as a useful scientific tool for research and to provide such experiences in the future.” education. Scientists, as well as the general public, can learn quite “Thank you for providing this wonderful opportunity for my a bit about bald eagles while watching the eaglecam. They can students to learn first hand about why we are all responsible for discover what food resources are being utilized and come to everything that co-exists on this our planet, Earth.” understand behaviors such as incubation, brooding, and fledging.
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