American Kestrels (Falco sparverious) in Northeastern Arkansas: Factors Influencing Nest Box Use, Selection, Nesting Success; and Effects on Agricultural Pests. MS thesis (Jan. 2022 - present)

My master's thesis work revolves around the American Kestrel in intensive row-crop agriculture in northeast Arkansas. I manage 40 kestrel nest boxes to monitor their nesting success and breeding and roosting nest box occupancy. I am also analyzing what variables may affect their nesting success and nest box occupancy to inform future management of this declining species. I am also investigating their ability to control potential agriculture pests in row-crop agriculture. To do this I am systematically surveying small mammals, birds, and insects to see what variables including kestrel presence affect their abundance, biomass, and diversity. To see what potential pest species kestrels are consuming I am conducting a fecal DNA metabarcoding project using feces collected from within the nest box.