On Monday June 12th, 2017 I was sitting at a family party when I received a voice mail from Shon Reed, a friend of mine and the organizer of the Eagle Mountain Kestrel Project. The voicemail had the following news, “one of the nest boxes was shot”. The news was devestating for me and the other volunteers of the project. It is suspected that on the evening of June 6th, that someone shot down and killed the occupants of one of the twenty kestrel nest boxes located throughout and around Eagle Mountain. The box was completely destroyed, as well as the adult female kestrel and four recently hatched chicks. An unhatched egg was also destroyed.
Brian Smith, an Eagle Mountain resident and very active volunteer for the Eagle Mountain Kestrel project, was doing his regular Monday night nesting box check when he found the scene. At first Brian thought that the wind had blown down the box during the weekends high winds. But once he got closer, he knew what had happened. He found the 5 dead falcons, the destroyed nest box, liter, and a bunch of spent shotgun shells and other casings. Brian had checked the box the Monday before, and found 5 unhatched eggs. Kestrel chicks usually hatch every 48 hours, so the chicks that were killed were only days old, and the egg would of probably hatched during the weekend. Needless to say, Brian was devastated. This particular box was one that he installed at the beginning of the season. He replace an older box that was used the previous years, and had been monitoring it ever since.
The Utah department of wildlife resources were contacted, and an investigation is underway. They believe that the event happened on the evening of Friday the 6th, because of a cash receipt left at the scene from a local area restaurant. The Utah DWR posted a notice on their website, asking for anyone who has information on the event. https://wildlife.utah.gov/officers-on-patrol/2057-american-kestrel-and-chicks-shot-in-nest-box.html “If you have information about this illegal killing or any other wildlife crimes please contact the UTiP hotline at 1-800-662-3337 or email us at turninapoacher@utah.gov.”
The Eagle Mountain Kestrel project has been working for the last couple of years to increase the Kestrel population in Eagle Mountain. There have been some significant gains made, and they are not going to let this setback hinder their progress. Christopher Pengra, the Eagle Mountain City Mayor, went on Facebook after the DWR posted, asking people to support Hawkwatch International, one of the Organizations helping with the Eagle Mountain Kestrel Project. “Alright people. Very seldom do I loose my composure or get angry, but I’m not even going to try to hold my anger back with this.” Pengra continues, “Why must we destroy the beautiful things of this world? Why has someone destroyed what others have given countless hours to protect and support? I cant answer these questions, but I will ask a favor so that we never have to ask these questions again.”
The project does not want to disclose the location of the box to the public to protect other wildlife that has found a home in the area. There is currently another pair of birds nesting in the same tree that the kestrel box was destroyed in. A pair of Swainson’s Hawks that recently laid a clutch of eggs in the same tree. The hawks left before the event happened, and it has been verified that they were not harmed during the event, and that their nest was undamaged. Swainson’s hawks are very sensitive to disruption, and the project does not want to have them abandon the nest and the chicks for any reason. Please stay clear of the area if you do know where this box was located.
Shon Reed, the project organizer, when asked if the box will be replaced for next year, he replied, “Yes. The risk is only associated with an intentional act deliberate against the birds. I believe this was a dumb move against a random target.” Shon continues, “This loss only deepens our need to help these birds. Our cities are becoming their new homes as development sprawls into their natural habitat. It is up to us to provide new opportunities for their nests. Please reach out, get involved and educate our future generations.”
If you want to more information on the Eagle Mountain Kestrel project, you can follow it on this website. http://cedarvalleysentinel.com/kestrel The project is still going strong. On Thursday the 16th, I was lucky enough to be part of the banding of one of the project’s chicks. Hawkwatch International banded the chick that belongs to the nest that the project has installed a webcam in. That chick is expected to leave the nest in the next week or so.
Below are some of the photos that were taken by Brain when he arrived at the scene.
Related Resources
DWR Press Release
Kestrel Project Facebook Page
Kestrel Project page, including webcam
Projects Instagram Page
Mike Kieffer – Editor-in-Chief, Cedar Valley Sentinel
Mike Kieffer is a dynamic leader and community advocate based in Eagle Mountain, Utah. He serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the Cedar Valley Sentinel, a local publication dedicated to informing, inspiring, and elevating the Cedar Valley community through honest and accurate journalism. With a passion for fostering connections, Kieffer has made it his mission to highlight local businesses, provide reliable news, and support community development.
Beyond his editorial role, Kieffer is the owner of Lake Mountain Media, LLC, a company specializing in media and communications, and the co-owner of Quail Run Farms, which focuses on sustainable farming and community engagement. He also actively contributes to the local economy and culture as a member of the Eagle Mountain Chamber of Commerce.
Kieffer’s dedication extends to preserving and promoting the history and heritage of the Cedar Valley area. He often participates in community-centered events and media, including podcasts that explore the unique aspects of life in the region. Through his varied endeavors, he remains a steadfast advocate for the growth and enrichment of the local community.