Shon believes that the success of the project in the next 5-10 years will require the youth and additional box installations. “A main focus of the group is to involve the youth as much as possible. I’d like to see the number of nesting sites doubled in the next 5 years and in 10 years see a new group of young people we have involved now step up as citizen scientists participating in the studies by monitoring sites themselves. Education, involvement and fostering passion are the keys to the future.” Eagle Mountain is a growing city with record growth in 2017. “The city is growing rapidly, we need to keep as much of the natural ecology intact as possible if we are to keep enjoying the birds of prey our streets, communities and our very city are named after.” Shon has been watching the developments of the new Ridge Line protection ordinances as well as how recent development proposals will effect wildlife. The Eagle Mountain Kestrel Project can be very time intensive. “I spend an average of two hours a week over the course of a year on the work and enjoy all of it. Most weekends I will be out with my camera, binoculars, in hiking boots or in my Jeep in search of a glimpse of nature. I enjoy sharing these experiences with others and feel it is our responsibility to protect the environment for future generations.” He feels the time is worth it and enjoys seeing the benefits of the project. “Seeing a child’s smile, sense of wonder and excitement when they hold a baby wild falcon for the first time is an unforgettable experience. I cannot help but hope many of these kids will someday pursue a career or hobby in conservation, biology or ecology.”“The EMKP was started in response to a growing community and a loss of habitat. We are a group of volunteers that monitor more than 20 nesting sites in Eagle Mountain and are dedicated to preserving what habitat we can and expanding nesting sites where possible. Kestrel (the smallest falcon in the US) have been in decline for around 30 years. There are many theories as to the cause, more study is necessary. Eagle Mountain has a great opportunity to participate with our open spaces, natural prey base and involved community. The work needs to be citizen based and not a government project if it is to survive. We currently have 144 members in the Facebook group.”
“The EMKP was started in response to a growing community and a loss of habitat. We are a group of volunteers that monitor more than 20 nesting sites in Eagle Mountain and are dedicated to preserving what habitat we can and expanding nesting sites where possible. Kestrel (the smallest falcon in the US) have been in decline for around 30 years. There are many theories as to the cause, more study is necessary. Eagle Mountain has a great opportunity to participate with our open spaces, natural prey base and involved community. The work needs to be citizen based and not a government project if it is to survive. We currently have 144 members in the Facebook group.”
I have also had the opportunity to personally work with Shon on the Eagle Mountain Kestrel Project. We have a kestrel nest box on our property and have had the opportunity to watch it for the last two seasons. My experience with Shon is a little unique. I have been able to not only see his birder side, but also his electronic side. The box on my property has been rigged with a web camera and it has been fun working with Shon getting it up and running to share the Kestrel experience from inside the box. We are planning on having the camera live again this year when the kestrel nesting season starts again.
There is a lot of opportunity for Eagle Mountain residents to get involved. Eagle Mountain has a very raptor friendly environment. When asked how residents can get involved, Shon gave these insights.
“There are more than 45 million bird watchers in the United States which spend an estimated $41 billion annually. It is likely 1 out of every 20 residents of Eagle Mountain are “birders”, maybe not active but interested. Join the Facebook group, follow our Instagram feed, send me an email at emraptors@gmail.com. Another way to be involved is to keep an eye out for banded birds. We have banded almost 100 nestling Kestrel in Eagle Mountain in the past two years. I suspect several are still here and we’d like to know how they are doing and if they’ve decided to stay close to home instead of migrating. Some will have a single silver band, and some will have a larger red, blue, purple or green band. Keep your eyes open and report in when you see something interesting.”
This is an Cedar Valley Sentinel (formerly i84005) Resident Spotlight. If you know a resident that you would like for us to spotlight, please let us know. You can view other resident spotlights on our Resident Spotlights page.
Related Resources
EM Kestrel Project on Instagram EM Kestrel Project on Facebook
Mike Kieffer is an IT geek by hobby and trade, with a BS in Information Systems & Technology. He is a proud father of 10, a grandpa, an author, a journalist, and internet publisher. His motto is to “Elevate, Inspire and Inform”, and he is politically conservative and a Christian. Mike has a passion for technology, writing, and helping others. With a wealth of experience, he is committed to sharing his knowledge with others to help them reach their full potential. He is known for his jackassery or his form of self-expression that encourages boldness, creativity, and risk-taking. It can be a way to push the boundaries and challenge traditional norms, leading to creative solutions and positive change.