Conservation Commission Events
April 30 Bird Walk
On April 30th, Cornish Conservation member Jody Schubert led a group of eleven people on an early bird walk on CREA. The group spotted 16 species! It was great to see a couple of newer avian arrivals: Yellow rumped Warbler, Warbling Vireo, Eastern Kingbird, Swamp Sparrow, and Tree Swallow…as well as the regular birds.
The diversity of habitat on CREA always guarantees a nice variety of birds! Enjoy this great Cornish natural resource!
May 13 Kestrel Box Evaluations in Cornish
Last April a Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS) educator provided a presentation at the Town hall. (April 2024 Kestrel Presentation) Several folks who attended the presentation had kestrel boxes up but no nesting activity.
VINS staff were generous in providing time to follow up this spring. On May 13th, 3 staff from VINS (Jim, Hannah and Emily) visited Langwood Farm, Fitch Farm, and the Poor property to evaluate the locations of three existing Kestrel boxes. Excellent recommendations for changing box placements, and box height were made in all three locations and hopefully will result in kestrel use in the future.
Things to keep in mind:
- If you have a kestrel box in place, and a nesting pair, VINS staff may be interested in banding the chicks, please contact Emily Blaikie at Eblaikie@vinsweb.org to learn more.
- Also, if you want to put up a box, you can find construction instructions online. Their preferred habitat is a very large open field 25–50 acres, a kestrel box mounted at a height of 8–10′, on a pole or tree in the middle of the field, or along the tree line, facing into the field, and very importantly, facing south or southeast. No branches should obstruct the box entrance if placed along tree lines.
- This link to Hawkmountain Kestrel Conservation is particularly helpful in detailing specs for the perfect kestrel box as well as information on kestrels.