Published April 24, 2025
EcoTalk: The American Kestrel: Our Smallest Falcon – May 2025
On Thursday, May 8, 2025, Five Rivers MetroParks invites an environmental researcher to present about local science. These EcoTalk presentations are an effort to further connect us to nature by learning about conservation topics and ways to implement positive change at home.
- Thursday, May 8, 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Cox Arboretum MetroPark
Fifth-third Conference Room
6733 Springboro Pike, Dayton, OH
View all upcoming EcoTalks
This program is free; however space is limited and registration is required: RSVP
The American Kestrel: Our Smallest Falcon
By: Dr. Donald Althoff, University of Rio Grande
The American Kestrel is common in Ohio, if you know where to look. A deft-winged mouse trap, this species generally thrives in more open habitat where it can find small rodents, small birds, and insects. This presentation will focus on both the natural history of kestrels and the long-term monitoring of their use of nest boxes along highway corridors in southeast Ohio.
Dr. Donald Althoff is a Certified Wildlife Biologist and Professor Emeritus of Wildlife Conservation at the University of Rio Grande. He has conducted research in forest and grassland ecosystems with the focus on a variety of species ranging for vertebrates and plants to nematodes. One of his main endeavors since the mid-1990s has been southern flying squirrel in southeast Ohio. That effort is a component of the Rio EcoMonitoring Project that provides hands-on learning opportunities for University of Rio Grande undergraduates participating in inventory and monitoring of local flora and fauna. Since stepping down as a full-time faculty in 2019 he continues to pursue additional long-term monitoring of bluebirds, tree swallows, prothonotary warblers, kestrels productivity, chronology of chlorophyll content and leaf-out/drop of selected hardwoods, and seasonal variation of treefrog occupation of PVC pipe refugia.
EcoTalks are held in-person, with locations listed for upcoming EcoTalks on the program and events finder. While there is no live virtual option at this time, video recordings of Ecotalks may appear in ParkWays online, as well as the MetroParks YouTube channel.
Ecotalks are presented by Enting Water Conditioning
