Shon Reed, known as “the kestrel guy” in Eagle Mountain, was honored as Lifetime Wildlife Advocate by the Eagle Mountain Nature and Wildlife Alliance for his decades-long dedication to wildlife preservation. His passion for wildlife education and habitat conservation has not only enriched the local ecosystem but has also inspired a community-wide commitment to environmental stewardship, leaving a lasting impact for generations to come.
Editor Note: I have worked with Shon Reed for a number of years now with the Eagle Mountain Kestrel Project. It does not matter what the weather is, he will answer the call to help if wildlife is in need. It has been a pleasure working with him on the tech side of the Eagle Mountain Kestrel webcam. He is always thinking of ways to help educate the public and make wildlife safe and enjoyable for everyone.
Article By: Marian Burningham – Marian Burningham is a long-time resident of Eagle Mountain and a co-founder of the Eagle Mountain Nature and Wildlife Alliance.
SHON REED NAMED LIFETIME WILDLIFE ADVOCATE BY THE EAGLE MOUNTAIN NATURE AND WILDLIFE ALLIANCE
Shon Reed is known to many who live in Eagle Mountain and the Cedar Valley at large as “the kestrel guy,” or to whom they turn for help with wildlife. In recognition of his decades of effort, Shon was recently named Lifetime Wildlife Advocate by the Eagle Mountain Nature and Wildlife Alliance and awarded a camera to livestream a feed from a local kestrel nesting box. https://cedarvalleysentinel.com/kestrel/webcam/
His advocacy for wildlife and preserving native open spaces has been instrumental in creating new stewards and influencing the character and identity of the entire city. But what stirred this passion in Shon, and why has he worked so tirelessly to awaken and nurture this interest and engage in the wildlife education of our residents?
“What kind of bird is this? Where can I go to see an Eagle? What should I do about this bird in my yard? I found an injured bird, where can I take it? What do they eat? A baby bird fell out of its nest, will you help put it back? …Shon has been the go-to local bird expert and answered questions like these and many more. It has always been fascinating to hear him speak with passion about kestrel and owl preservation projects. His photography skills have captured the beauty of these creatures to help others gain an appreciate and take part in efforts to keep these birds here”. – Tom Westmoreland, Eagle Mountain Mayor.
The words of Eagle Mountain Council Member Melissa Clark describe the impact Shon and his work have had in Eagle Mountain. “Working alongside Shon Reed has been an inspiring journey towards conservation in Eagle Mountain. I vividly remember the first time I joined him for a kestrel banding session. Holding a kestrel in your own hands changes how you see things. Shon’s passion for wildlife is matched only by his dedication to their preservation. His unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship has not only enriched the local ecosystem but has also galvanized the community towards a future of stewardship. His vision and tireless efforts serve as a benchmark, ensuring that generations to come will inherit something special. Being named EMNWA’s Lifetime Wildlife Advocate is a testament to Shon’s invaluable contributions, and I have no doubt that his impact will endure for decades to come.”
Eagle Mountain City Council Member Donna Burnham agrees, saying: “Shon is a shining example of what is right in Eagle Mountain. His passion and advocacy for wildlife and their habitats has made our city better. Instead of sitting on the sidelines, complaining on social media about the city, he has advocated, educated and worked to improve habitat conservation and management.”
A conversation with Shon drew back the curtain of the past and gave some insights into the people and events that inspired him, leading to the work of which we and the wildlife are all beneficiaries.
Shon grew up watching wildlife documentaries on television, and was particularly enthralled with “Wild America,” hosted by Marty Stouffer and the PBS “Nature” series, hosted by George Page. The “Nature” series was created and narrated by Mr. Page and aired from 1982 to 1988. “Wild America” was broadcast around this same time. Shon says he never missed an episode of “Nature, and these two programs are the reason he now has a camera and enjoys wildlife photography. The fire lit within him by these individuals and their programs is clear by the light in his eyes when he recalls these memories.
He was raised in a pretty typical Utah family of hunters in American Fork, Utah. He often went along on hunting trips with his family. It didn’t take him long to realize that, although he loved being outdoors in nature, when other family members were taking aim at game through their rifle sights, he found more pleasure in taking aim at wildlife through the lens of his camera. One of his first excursions of this kind was silently sitting by himself for hours in a Wasatch Mountain Range Forest at an elevation of about 8,000 feet, waiting for a Calliope, the smallest hummingbird in North America. When one appeared, it was a profound moment he would never forget. This was the beginning of his personal journey on his path. He found great satisfaction in finding and photographing wildlife, and that continues to this day.
Shon visited the Cedar Valley often as a youngster, walking among the sagebrush and noticing the wildlife in, around, and above it. He moved to Eagle Mountain the first time around 2002, living in City Center for about two years. He moved back around 2007 and has lived here since. He began noticing development was eating up the sagebrush and swallowing the habitat of the wildlife he enjoyed, replacing it with irrigated turf and asphalt.
The Kestrel Project really had its start in 2015 with then Mayor, Chris Pengra. Shon talked several times with Mayor Pengra about how ridiculous it was to see sagebrush being plowed up to plant sod and asking what could be done to save the wildlife and their habitat. Shon said, and the mayor agreed, that for a preservation project to last into the future, it needed to remain private. Shon saw the American Kestrel as a great starting point for this project. They are considered an indicator species for wildlife in an area. He observed that local bird count activities and migration counts nationwide, indicated the numbers of these speedy little falcons seemed to be following a nationwide trend, with decreased sighting reports in Eagle Mountain as development increased. They are colorful, fast, and beautiful falcons that can easily capture the attention and imagination of humans. He feared they could easily disappear from the Cedar Valley without intervention.
“I have had the pleasure of watching Shon educate young and old on wildlife whether it is through releasing barn owls or kestrels with my family or watching Shon on a scooter cruise down the Pony Express parade route in an eagle costume. He also works to preserve the native habitat for Eagle Mountain’s wildlife through the many native shrub planting sessions. Thank you, Shon, from the bottom of my heart for all you have done for Eagle Mountain wildlife and our community!!!” – Louise Innocenti, Eagle Mountain Resident
“If I ever needed any information about the many birds (any species at all) that thrive in Eagle Mountain, I would always turn to Shon. Always ready to help anyone learn and appreciate our local needs. All the while advocating for wildlife, he is careful not to overstep the boundaries required of a true wildlife champion, kindly tutoring many of us and encourage our support and participation in the many wildlife endeavors here in Cedar Valley.” – Pat Catherall, Eagle Mountain Resident and Author
These conversations and ideas led him to communication with Hawk Watch International, asking what could be done. From them he secured the general plans for nesting boxes. He said that he was an engineer and not a builder, so he reached out to local Boy Scout troops to build the first 12 nesting boxes as a service project. Those twelve boxes filled the back of his Jeep, perhaps a sign that he was doing the right thing!
Shon and his friend, Brian Smith, were then able to procure the posts upon which the nests would be secured. Shon then just started calling unannounced upon residents whose property would present good habitat for the nesting Kestrels, telling them about what he was doing and seeking permission to erect boxes on their properties. He reported that nearly every person he asked said yes! He then recruited volunteers and equipment to place the first posts and mount the nesting boxes. This was the beginning of the Eagle Mountain Kestrel Project, and it has approximately 32 nesting boxes in place. It is satisfying for him to see that among the nesting box projects tracked by Hawk Watch, the Kestrel Project’s nesting boxes are among the highest in usage by these little falcons, and they have yielded 70-80 nestlings since the beginning.
“Shon got my husband and I involved in the kestrel project years ago. He has increased the awareness of these small raptors and their need for protection His passion for birds and all wildlife is apparent to everyone. He was quick to answer my questions when I panicked over my nesting kestrels.” – Katie Densley, Eagle Mountain Resident
“Shelie and I were able to help Shon and volunteers from the Eagle Mountain Kestrel Project and Hawk Watch International, band, weigh, and sex the five kestrel fledglings just before they matured enough to take flight. It was an amazing experience to hold and examine such a creature up close and personal. We will be forever grateful for his conservation efforts, and we’re proud to call him a friend.” – Brett Wright, Eagle Mountain City Council Member (Pictured with wife, Shelie)
People began calling on Shon to assist with relocating or assisting birds who had been injured or trapped. Through those calls he began to form relationships with local rescue organizations, and rescue work has become an important facet of the work he does. He experienced his first rescue about 25 years ago at the Bear River Bird Refuge where a young avocet had been blown into a barbed wire fence by high winds. In its struggle to be free, it became more and more entangled. It was tedious work to unwind the feathers wrapped around the wire. Unfortunately, that young avocet did not survive.
His last rescue involved a golden eagle that appeared to have suffered an electrical injury, either from an old electrical line or perhaps a lightning strike. The compassionate and heroic young woman, Bekka Chappell Fullmer from a local falconer group, had found the eagle on the ground near Five Mile. Responding to Bekka’s call for help, Shon arrived along with Krista Edwards of Feathers for Thought to find Bekka, crouched on the ground, shivering in the cold about 15 feet from the clearly injured eagle, calmy trying to reassure the injured bird that help was on the way. She wasn’t dressed for the cold and wet weather since she had just been taking pictures from her car, but that didn’t stop her determined effort to protect it and keep it where it could be rescued. Unfortunately, in addition to the loss of part of one wing, the eagle had severe internal injuries from the burn path inside its body and it did not survive. If this electrical burn injury were caused by lightning and not from an encounter with an old electrical line, this eagle will be the first rescue he experienced here in this area that was not the result of an interaction with humans or their presence.
Shon has observed that people now have constant connection through devices and social media. It wasn’t so back in his early days, especially for a young birder. It would have been nice to have had a group or organization he could join. He encourages those who have an interest in birding, bird photography, wildlife photography, habitat preservation, or wildlife rescue to join groups and create or become part of a community. In Shon’s words, “Just get out and get started. It’s a learning process that can only be done by the doing of it!”
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.