Date: 8/12/25 12:07 pm From: Hans-Joachim Feddern via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] American Kestrel
That is what I was thinking - maybe grasshoppers or even rodents! The
numbers are staggering considering that there seems to be a general
decrease in kestrel numbers. It would also indicate a good breeding success
this year with abundant food elsewhere.
Hans
*Hans Feddern*
Twin Lakes/Federal Way, WA
<thefedderns...>
On Tue, Aug 12, 2025 at 10:16 AM Steve Loitz via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Kim, did you see signs of a large grasshopper hatch? I have seen a couple
> AMKE gatherings of a couple dozen near Vantage and on the Columbian Plateau
> in late summer when there was a large grasshopper hatch.
>
> Steve Loitz
> Ellensburg WA
>
> On Mon, Aug 11, 2025 at 9:32 PM Kim Thorburn via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>> Hi Tweets,
>>
>> I'm wondering if anyone has insight about what seemed a very unusual
>> event on July 22, 2025.
>>
>> I was working a field project on July 28, 2025 with another volunteer for
>> WDFW at the Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area in Lincoln County. In the process
>> we drove an approximately 28-mile transect, mostly through public lands
>> (Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area and BLM Telford Management Area) that
>> comprises decent scablands shrub-steppe habitat. We began noticing American
>> kestrel everywhere. We stopped counting at about 100 birds and probably saw
>> twice that many. I have spent lots of time in this area and don't ever
>> recall such a phenomenon.
>>
>> Many of the birds seemed to be hatch-year but there were clearly also
>> adults. They were very active-perching, spatting, foraging. Some birds in
>> this area over-winter. My anecdotal observation is that many over-wintering
>> AMKE are adult males. I believe those that migrate only fly short
>> distances. However, it seems early migratory activity, which, according to
>> the literature occurs predominantly in September and tends to be solitary.
>>
>> Does anyone know if this is a known phenomenon and if so, what is means?
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Kim
>>
>>
>>
>> Kim Marie Thorburn, MD, MPH
>>
>> Spokane, WA
>>
>> (509) 465-3025 home
>>
>> (509) 599-6721 cell
>>
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