March 31, 2021
Rianna Elliott, NFLT Land Management Specialist, built and installed four nest boxes for the American Kestrel at Little Rain Lake. American Kestrels are one of the smallest raptors and have very particular habitat when it comes to making their nests in the landscape. These birds are also cavity nesters, but they do not make their own nesting cavities and instead must find an old woodpecker cavity, rock crevice or building nook to use as a nest cavity. This makes their nesting options very limited. Kestrel boxes mimic tree cavities and provide an optimal alternative. The boxes are installed on longleaf pine approximately 8-12 feet high over looking open areas (great vantage points for hunting). Rianna has spent much time building nest boxes to hopefully bring them into our landscape in not just Little Rain Lake but in adjacent communities.
The Southeastern American kestrel is protected by the U.S. Migratory Bird Treaty Act and as a State-designated Threatened species by Florida’s Endangered and Threatened Species Rule.
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