Hopewell Township, NJ – November 22, 2024 – In 2012, the American Kestrel was listed as a threatened species in New Jersey. Decades of habitat loss, a decline in suitable nesting sites, and competition from species like the European Starling have led to a significant decrease in kestrel populations throughout the Northeast. Despite their small size, kestrels play a crucial role as avian predators, consuming grasshoppers, beetles, voles, mice, and even small birds. The reduction of predator populations can have negative downstream effects on the ecosystem. Research shows that kestrels help control insect and small mammal populations in agricultural lands and deter birds from fruit orchards, reducing crop losses.
The threatened status of the New Jersey kestrel population indicates that their loss and the subsequent ecological impacts, while not imminent, are possible. This is a clear sign that action is needed.
In 2019, FoHVOS spearheaded an initiative to install 50 kestrel nesting boxes across Hopewell Valley. Since then, the local kestrel population has responded beautifully, with a 400% increase in nest box occupancy and a significant rise in fledged chicks, from 3 in 2019 to 61 in 2023. This past season, we shattered our record with two-thirds of our boxes hosting kestrel nests, rearing a total of 81 kestrel chicks!
With the most successful American Kestrel nesting program in the state, our goal for 2025 is to Hatch A Hundred kestrels. To make this happen, we’ve partnered with Wild Bird Research Group, to expand the nesting box program, collect more data to support science-based kestrel conservation, and enhance our reach.
By constructing, installing, and monitoring more kestrel boxes, we can achieve our goal of hatching 100 kestrel chicks to help repopulate New Jersey’s rare falcon and bring it out of threatened status.
We invite property owners with large open fields to host a breeding pair of kestrels for the 2025 season. If you are unable to host a nest box, you can still support our efforts! This year, our Giving Tuesday campaign will fund materials to construct more nest boxes and install camera equipment to monitor breeding success. Donations on December 3rd – or today – can help us Hatch A Hundred kestrel chicks!
Additionally, FoHVOS and WBRG will host an educational program for the public on December 1 to provide more information about kestrels and our campaign. Join us to learn how you can make a difference!
Registration Information:
Date: December 1, 2024
Time: 2:00PM to 3:30PM
Location: Calvary Baptist Church, 3 East Broad Street, Hopewell
Register at: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/z5g45cr
Contact: Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space (FoHVOS) Jenn Rogers, jrogers@fohvos.org
