State DOT Partners with Audubon New York to Enhance Habitat

ALBANY, NY (12/07/2012)(readMedia)-- New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) Commissioner Joan McDonald today announced that the Department has partnered with Audubon New York and Audubon chapters across the state in a unique initiative to enhance American Kestrel habitat and build greater awareness of these declining birds in upstate New York. Through this program, new kestrel nest boxes have been installed across the state and informational displays have been installed at two rest areas in the bird's prime habitat.

"The State Department of Transportation is committed to building and maintaining our transportation system in a sustainable manner that minimizes impacts on the environment and preserves wildlife habitats," Commissioner McDonald said. "I am very pleased the Department was able to collaborate with Audubon to showcase the importance of kestrel habitat conservation."

About the size of a robin, the American Kestrel is North America's smallest falcon and prefers to breed and hunt in meadows, pastures and farmland. Wintering in the south-central portions of the United States and Central America, kestrels migrate northward in the spring, nesting in areas throughout the upstate region. However, due to in part the loss of their grassland habitat, their populations have been in decline recently.

"American Kestrels are a charismatic species that need our help, and we commend NYSDOT for joining us in this strong public-private partnership to give these birds a fighting chance," said Albert E. Caccese, Executive Director of Audubon New York. "Through our network of nature centers and chapters, this collaborative project has engaged hundreds of New Yorkers in conserving this declining species, and with the nest boxes and displays at DOT rest areas, even more will learn about kestrels and the importance of grassland habitat in New York. We look forward to working with NYSDOT in the future on other creative projects to conserve birds."

As part of the collaborative effort with Audubon, interpretive panels have been installed at the Preble rest area, located along northbound I-81 in northern Cortland County, and at the Chautauqua Lake rest area, located along eastbound I-86 in Chautauqua County. These panels provide details about the kestrel and its habitat, giving visitors an understanding of the species. Pole-mounted nest boxes have been installed in open fields near these rest areas to provide enhanced habitat. Kestrels actively nest between April and June and, while territorial during the breeding and nesting season, they are not aggressive towards humans.

Through Audubon New York's American Kestrel Project, more than 200 nest boxes have been built and installed across the state, including the ones recently installed with the help of NYSDOT maintenance personnel. Upkeep and monitoring of the boxes will be conducted by Audubon volunteers. Locations for both the interpretive panels and the nesting boxes were determined collaboratively by Audubon and NYSDOT.

This partnership with the Audubon Society is just one example of environmental stewardship promoted by NYSDOT. All capital projects include an environmental component, where appropriate, to mitigate the effects of infrastructure on the surrounding natural environment. Previous examples of environmental stewardship include constructing fishing platforms, creating wetlands and other habitat, reducing erosion in streams, removing invasive plants and protecting rare and endangered species.

Other kestrel nest boxes are located at DOT facilities in the Rochester and Hornell areas. For more information on Audubon New York's Kestrel Project visit: http://ny.audubon.org/american-kestrel-project