october 09 :: the ever-adaptable + resourceful american kestrel

 in this day + age of booming population + bustling urban spaces, we can all stand to take a page or two from the book of the tiny but mighty american kestrel. this lovely little bird—a petit member of the falcon genus—has survived just swimmingly as we humans have encroached on the planet’s open space. the american kestrel looks at a power pole + sees a perch, spots a nook in the side of a building + makes a nest. remarkably, the kestrel never builds its own nests, instead making its home in man-made spaces or the nests of other speesees, which we think is a mighty neat + inspiring example of sustainability in the animal kingdom. kestrels, who mate for the long haul, often return to the same nests again + again after each migration.

roughly the size of an american robin, the kestrel is notable among other falcons for its unique hunting style. the small bird uses rapid wing strokes to hover above the ground while hunting for other small birds, mammals, lizards + insects. the species got its start in africa, + has been evolving + spreading around the globe for close to 2.5 million years. amazingly, the kestrel can thrive in the most diverse landscapes, from urban centers to forests + deserts.

speesees’ very own eliza jane bradley has a very special place in her heart for the american kestrel:: “growing up with a step-father who was a lover of wildlife + passionate falconer, he exposed to me what lovely little creatures these birds are. we would spend many sunny afternoons flying our kestrel, little wing, together. i was always so amazed when he would actually fly back to me!” eliza jane says. american kestrels, along with red-tailed hawks, that are most commonly used by apprentice falconers in north america.

eliza jane recently made the american kestrel a permanent part of her life by getting a tattoo of the bird on her arm, in loving remembrance of her late stepfather + her joyous experiences growing up with little wing.