One of the things that I have really enjoyed doing over the past few years is helping the Eagle Mountain Kestrel project as well as the Eagle Mountain Nature and Wildlife Alliance. I don’t do as much as I can, but one thing I like to do is use Cedar Valley Sentinel to spread the news of events and things that have been happening in regards to Wildlife and Nature around Cedar Valley.
One of the things that we do have a major part in is the Eagle Mountain Kestrel Projects webcam. The Cedar Valley Sentinel donates the Internet that is being used to power the webcams as well as hosts the nesting box and the webcam recording equipment. It is something that we really enjoy doing each year, and in return, we get to help brand the fledglings.
The American Kestrel, North America’s smallest falcon, embodies a predator’s fierce essence despite its diminutive size. Renowned for its vibrant appearance, the male boasts slate-blue head and wings that elegantly contrast with his rusty-red back and tail. Similarly, the female displays the same warm reddish hues on her wings, back, and tail. These raptors excel at hunting insects and other small quarry within expansive landscapes. Their hunting techniques involve perching on wires or poles, as well as hovering into the wind, adeptly manipulating their lengthy tails to maintain position. Regrettably, kestrel populations are diminishing in specific areas of their habitat.
Here is an update on the Eagle Mountain Kestrel Project, we want to thank Shon Reed for giving us this data and for being the main driving force behind the project. His love of feathery animals has given the Kestrel a great platform and area in the Cedar Valley to grow. We have also been able to get some great data and learn some new things about Kestrels because of the project.
For more data and to follow the project, make sure you join their Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/groups/516868815156496
Brett Wright a Councilmember for the Eagle Mountain City Council also has a nesting box that is located on his property. His nesting box was one of the 20 successful nests and contributed 5 fledglings to the 80 new birds introduced to the Cedar Valley.
NOTE: The above photos and video were shared by Brett Wright with his permission to publish on the site.
The Eagle Mountain Nature and Wildlife Alliance wanted to see the views of the 2023 candidates and current elected officials towards wildlife. This is from a recent post they had on their Facebook page.
QUESTION: ๐๐ป ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐ผ๐ป, ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ด๐น๐ฒ ๐ ๐ผ๐๐ป๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ถ๐๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฒ๐ป๐ผ๐๐ด๐ต ๐๐ผ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐น๐ฑ๐น๐ถ๐ณ๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ฟ? ๐๐ณ ๐ป๐ผ๐, ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฒ๐น๐๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ/๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ?
The Eagle Mountain Nature and Wildlife Alliance reached out to the mayor, all current city council members, and all candidates for city council for an interview. We sent them all the same three questions ahead of the interviews and recorded their responses.
This is the third question we asked.
๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฏ ๐๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฐ๐ถ๐น ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ (๐๐ป ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ผ๐ ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ)
- Craig Morris (declined to participate)
- Rich Wood https://youtu.be/GxMO5cNx8gg
- Craig Whiting https://youtu.be/E894VuahWSk
- Angeline Washburn (awaiting approval from the candidate to release video)
- Scott Ferre (declined to participate)
- Jared R Gray https://youtu.be/j9XSAuoxS_4
- Melissa Clark https://youtu.be/wCqgRcVLZlQ
๐๐๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฐ๐ถ๐น ๐ ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐ผ๐ฟ (๐๐ป ๐ฎ๐น๐ฝ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ)
- Donna Burnham https://youtu.be/CwdBc9Agf8
- Colby Curtis https://youtu.be/y8IYI_PErL4
- Jared Gray https://youtu.be/j9XSAuoxS_4
- Carolyn Love https://youtu.be/HHdWO0Q56kM
- Tom Westmoreland https://youtu.be/v3kUBrfjygE
- Brett Wright https://youtu.be/1QmBNIMKsx4
Mike Kieffer โ 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.
Kiefferโs 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.