S2S takes over management of nest box network at Hempstead Plains Preserve, New York

An American Kestrel perched on top of a nest box at Hempstead Plains Preserve

From of our nest box work in Virginia, Soldiers2Scientists, collaborating with South Shore Audubon Society, has been asked to take over management of the nest box network Hempstead Plains Preserve in NY. There are tree swallow, woodpecker, American kestrel, and screech owl nest boxes, totaling 15 all together, but several need some work. S2S is building a team of local veterans, university professors, and students to refurbish the boxes and ready them for the 2025 breeding, monitoring and banding season. 

Today we mapped the box coordinates and started an initial assessment. A monitoring route was established as each box was numbered, pinned with GPS, and assessed for needs and readiness.