Shon Reed is the go to man in Eagle Mountain for any and all bird questions. When JanaLee Pickett, an four year Eagle Mountain Resident , when asked about Shon Reed she stated, “If you have a question regarding birds of any kind – what type a bird is, what to do for an injured bird, how to help birds – he’s the guy you go to. He’s very knowledgeable and helpful.” He has been a resident of Eagle Mountain for over 10 years. He has resided in the area called City Center, but for the past 10 years resides in the Kiowa Valley. Shon says he loves living in Eagle Mountain, ” I moved here for the small-town feel, the quieter neighborhoods, the easy connection with nature and have stayed for all those reasons plus the ability to become involved that is nearly impossible elsewhere. This city is unique, accessible and despite having a huge population growth, has retained a sense of community.”
Shon is the father of three children, two adult daughters and a teenage son. He is currently single and has a variety of hobbies. “I enjoy wildlife photography, camping, backpacking, off-road exploring in my Jeep, cooking, reading and birding. I dabble in electronics projects at home and am terrible at playing the drums but I enjoy it. My main vacation every year is a backpacking trip to a migration site in rural Nevada to watch raptors on their flight south for the winter. I look forward to being able to see the birds as they are banded, studied and released as part of an ongoing population study. I also volunteer with a wildlife rescue group picking up injured birds in Utah and Salt Lake Counties.”
Shon is known for his birding experience and nature photography, but what most people don’t know is that Shon works making mechatronic prosthetics. “I work with mechatronic prosthetics as a quality engineer. I’ve worked in medical devices for almost 20 years and enjoy being involved with the latest technology. Helping people regain lost movement is a very rewarding career for me.”
His wildlife photography and birding hobbies have lead him to be the driving force in the Eagle Mountain Kestrel Project. JanaLee has one of the Kestrel nesting boxes on her property, and has enjoyed watching them using the box. “We’ve loved it. Last season we got to watch many bird shows. By that I mean, there were ravens and kestrels kind of fighting each other for territory. We also would see the kestrels run off other smaller birds who wanted the box. It’s been lots of fun to see the eggs in the nest and how the parents work together. Unfortunately, our eggs didn’t ever hatch for some reason. We hope to be able to see babies in our box this year.”
When asked what the Eagle Mountain Kestrel Project (EMKP) is, Shon made this comment:
“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.”
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.”
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 – 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.