Date of Award
6-26-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Biology, MS
First Advisor
Than Boves
Second Advisor
Virginie Rolland
Committee Members
Drew Sweet; Tanja McKay
Call Number
ISBN 9798280759459
Abstract
Utilizing birds of prey for pest control is a sustainable, environmentally friendly approach to pest management that can benefit not just the environment and human health but also the birds themselves. The American Kestrel (Falco sparverius; hereafter ‘kestrel’) is one such species that can provide pest management services while benefiting from nest boxes used to attract them in agricultural areas. I examined how box and habitat characteristics influenced kestrel box use for nesting, winter roosting, and nest success in the row crop-dominated landscape of northeast Arkansas’ Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley. In addition, I assessed kestrel impact on pests by systematically surveying rodents, birds, and insects. Kestrels used boxes for nesting and winter roosting and successfully fledged young. Additionally, nesting kestrels effectively reduced rodent populations and had some impact on insects, demonstrating their potential for agricultural pest control in the region.
Rights Management
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Sharrow, Ty Spencer, "American Kestrels (Falco Sparverious) In Row Crop Agriculture of the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley of Northeast Arkansas: Factors Influencing Nest and Roost Box Use, Nest Success, And Effects on Agricultural Pests" (2025). Student Theses and Dissertations. 1069.
https://arch.astate.edu/all-etd/1069
