The American Kestrel population is in decline in Maine, with contributing factors including habitat loss, increased competition for resources, and exposure to pesticides. However, the cause of their decline is not fully understood and more information is needed regarding their status and breeding success. The new 2025 Maine State Wildlife Action Plan elevated the status of American Kestrels to a Priority 2 Species of Greatest Conservation Need and the Maine Kestrel Project needs your help to monitor breeding pairs and gather data about kestrels! 

The Maine Kestrel Project is a collaborative effort between the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the Maine Natural History Observatory, and others. The overall goal of the The Maine Kestrel Project is to better understand the causes of kestrel declines and inform and promote species conservation to reverse these trends. We aim to do this by 1) monitoring kestrel distribution and breeding activity to learn more about their habitat use and inform nest box placement 2) standardizing nest monitoring protocols and data collection for easier comparison and higher rates of kestrel nesting success 3) engaging partners and community scientists to increase kestrel conservation efforts in Maine.