Five young kestrels are sporting brand new identification bands today thanks to Boise State biology professor Julie Heath and The Peregrine Fund.
The silver bands are attached to the birds’ legs and are individually numbered. The band stays with the bird for its whole life and allows researchers to study where the birds move, their causes of death and survival rates. Professor Heath says the data gathered from the birds allows them to answer many questions about kestrel biology, such as their reproduction rate and migratory habits.
“All of this information contributes to our understanding of the natural world, and, in an applied sense, it allows us to make sure we (people) are not having negative impacts on species.”
Boise State University and The American Kestrel Partnership have teamed up to form an adopt a box program that gives everyone the opportunity to support bird research and conservation. Funds from the program go directly to supporting Boise State’s long-term study of kestrels and the Peregrine Fund’s citizen science program, the American Kestrel Partnership.
BY: BRADY W MOORE PUBLISHED 2:41 PM / JUNE 5, 2015