The American kestrel (Falco sparverius) is the smallest and most widespread of the falcons in North America. Sparrow hawks are about the size of a mourning dove, and they are found throughout the United States, Mexico, and Canada, preferring open grasslands and deserts. Kestrels live and nest in hollow trees near these open areas, laying five to seven eggs in the spring which hatch in about 30 days. The young mature quickly, usually leaving the nest in a month or so. Spotting kestrels is becoming harder these days as their population declines. Long-term population surveys have determined that the kestrel has been declining over much of its range since 1984 at an average rate of 3 percent per year. Maryland’s peak kestrel population was in 1989, and from here it has seen a steady decline.
Source: Frederick News Post, May 28, 2016
http://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/environment/nature-notes-decline-…
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