American Kestrel Conservation and Research

The goal of the American Kestrel Project at the Salt Lake County Jail is to participate in national efforts to advance conservation of the American Kestrel (Falco sparverius), a Utah native falcon.  Approximately 14 kestrel boxes have been distributed on jail property and, when occupied by Kestrels, will be monitored weekly by inmates during the spring.  From the time of nesting to the moment the fledgings leave the nest, inmates will collect data specific to the citizen science project established by the American Kestrel Partnership (https://kestrel.peregrinefund.org.)  The data collected include location of Kestrel box, number of adult kestrels in the area (banded and un-banded), their behaviors, number of nestlings, age of nestlings (in days) and gender.  Before the nestlings fledge, Hawkwatch International  (http://www.hawkwatch.org) will be notified that it is time to band the birds so that scientists can continue to monitor their survival and movements.  Hawkwatch uses alpha-numeric color bands enabling identification from afar using binoculars, an activity inmates will also take part in during the summer and winter months.  By contributing to a citizen science project, inmates become part of an effort to understand why the American Kestrel are declining and help researchers develop effective conservation strategies.