
Tucked within the sweeping grasslands of our region’s newly protected space, Kestrel Hill Preserve, live some of the most colorful and charismatic raptors in North America: the American Kestrel.
With their cinnamon backs, slate-blue wings, and bold facial markings, kestrels are quite striking, but these petite falcons are more than just a pretty sight. They’re indicators of grassland health, quietly working behind the scenes to keep a balanced ecosystem. By feeding on rodents like voles, shrews, and mice, kestrels help keep pest populations in check. They also help regulate invertebrates, ensuring that the grasslands they call home remain thriving, biodiverse spaces.
In Pennsylvania, American Kestrels are classified as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need, highlighting the urgency of protecting and restoring the open spaces they depend on.It’s significant that WCT recently discovered a nest box full of baby American Kestrels on our newest preserve, Kestrel Hill Preserve. Clutches of kestrel signify that these falcons find WCT’s conserved open spaces suitable not only for foraging, but more importantly, for nesting and breeding. They are a sign that the kind of open, connected landscape these falcons need is suitable, and that this special place is already playing a critical role in supporting a species that needs our attention.

Why Do Kestrels Need So Much Space?
Unlike many other backyard birds, kestrels won’t breed in heavily developed landscapes. To successfully raise their young and hunt for food, these birds need large, open stretches of grassland, approximately the size of an 18-hole golf course or even larger. Scattered trees and perches offer the vantage points they need for foraging and protection, while old tree cavities (or well-placed nest boxes) serve as safe spots for nesting.
Creating a Safe Haven
This newly protected preserve isn’t just a win for one species; it’s part of a much bigger conservation puzzle. American Kestrels thrive specifically when we conserve contiguous tracts of land. Through the efforts of WCT, private landowners, and local authorities, 220+ acres that could have been 40 new homes are now 128 permanently deed-restricted acres and–opening soon–90 acre Kestrel Hill Preserve. Take a look at this bird’s-eye view of confirmed and potential breeding sites for the American Kestrel, noticing the connective mosaic throughout the local landscape.

Heavily fragmented landscapes can’t support kestrels’ breeding and hunting needs. By safeguarding larger and connected parcels of habitat, we not only protect kestrels, but also grassland ecosystems as a whole.
At Kestrel Hill Preserve and our other protected lands, we’re putting conservation science into action:
- Installing nesting boxes that mimic the lost tree cavities kestrels and other birds require
- Monitoring breeding activity each spring and summer using federally and state licensed bird banding practices and an internationally significant Motus Wildlife Tracking System network
- Habitat Management practices that maintain open grassland and meadows
- Preserving large, open habitats through conservation easements and nature preserves, such as Kestrel Hill Preserve
These efforts are already making a difference. Each nest box that fledges chicks is a small but powerful sign that we’re giving kestrels the resources they need to thrive and survive in a rapidly changing world.
Join Us in Protecting What Matters
The story of the American Kestrel is a reminder that even small creatures need big, undeveloped, open spaces. By supporting Kestrel Hill Preserve, you’re helping preserve the wild beauty and balance of our local landscape, not merely for our enjoyment, but for kestrels and creatures of all kinds, for generations to come
Join the effort to protect the land that American Kestrels and all of us depend on.