DUGWAY PROVING GROUND, Utah – Protecting the environment is a major part of Dugway Proving Ground’s (DPG) mission. From running environmental impact studies to recalibrating test boundaries, the environment is top of mind for many DPG employees. The Dugway environmental team has partnered with HawkWatch International, a non-profit that performs raptor research, to help study and protect the birds of prey found at DPG.
The American Kestrel is a small falcon, found in many areas around the country; but lately their population has been in decline. Potential factors include land-use change, predation, contaminants, and loss of nesting cavities, but more research is needed to fully understand what is happening with this bird’s population. One thing researchers have found is that kestrels accept and adapt to man-made nest boxes really well. DPG has 18 such boxes between English Village and 5-Mile Hill. This year, 15 of the 18 nesting boxes were used by kestrels.
Recently, the DPG environmental team was tasked with banding the baby birds. Speaking to the number of kestrel chicks, Environmental Resource Specialist Keeli Marvel says, “we’ve had a really good year.” Not only are most of the nest boxes in use, but nearly every egg hatched. Ms. Marvel continued, “I don’t think we’ve ever had that many.” COL James P. Harwell’s wife, Ms. Shannon Harwell, and daughter Noelle accompanied the team to one of the nest boxes. There the team put a metal band with a unique identifying number on each chick’s leg. The team also records a weight and estimated age for each chick. The bands allow for easy identification from afar with binoculars and spotting scopes, while eliminating the need to recapture a bird to know 'who' it is.
The kestrels aren’t the only birds of prey at Dugway though. The HawkWatch team was at Dugway in June to put a similar band on a Golden Eagle. The eagle you see in these photos may be large but is only a 7-week-old chick. That bird was also fitted with a radio transmitter and was found to have recently left the nest. There was also a nest of Great Horned Owls in the Ditto area this year. Data gathered by these efforts will be used to track population changes, help the Environmental Office learn more about the biology of these important species, and help Dugway manage and protect their populations into the future.
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