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Utah

Kestrel Cam at the Great Salt Lake

A closeup of a kestrel, a small bird of prey with a curved beak, blue-grey head and brown, white and black striped breast.
American kestrel The American kestrel is the smallest and most common falcon in North America. © Shutterstock

Every spring, thousands of nature lovers watch kestrel chicks grow up in real time alongside their harried parents thanks to the live cam mounted on a nest box at The Nature Conservancy’s Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve in Utah.

Whoa! The kestrels aren't done in 2024—they're trying for a second clutch! This doesn't happen often, and we are lucky to witness it! Meanwhile, the five kestrel chicks from the first clutch of 2024 have left the nest.

While you wait for the next big moment in the kestrel nest, check out the 2023 recap video below. 

Kestrel Nest Cam 2023 Recap (0:50) On May 17, 2023, the first of five hatchlings came into the world in a nest box at The Nature Conservancy’s Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve in Utah. Watch these chicks grow up in our 2023 recap video!

Have Some Avian Family Fun!

Take a moment to learn more about these colorful raptors and find out why scientists are concerned about this species. You can use the activities and resources below to learn more about American kestrels and the habitats they, and many other birds, need to thrive.

Closeup of a kestrel with a gray head and brown and black back.
American Kestrel Closeup of a kestrel with a gray head and brown and black back. © Courtney Celley/USFWS

Blog Posts

  • Learn the basics about these amazing raptors from HawkWatch International.

  • Ten million birds rely upon the lake’s waters, wetlands and uplands each year, including American kestrels. How much do you know about Utah’s inland sea? Take the quiz!

  • You can listen at the preserve or online! Why do kestrels nest here? This tour offers facts and stories about the preserve’s wildlife and habitats, including the uplands that are vital to kestrels.