Wildlife Conservation

FoHVOS can provide support and guidance for wildlife conservation. While our primary program involves working with American Kestrel nesting boxes, FoHVOS can also provide guidance for enhancing your property for other wildlife.

You can learn more about Threatened and Endangered Species in the Hopewell Valley.

Kestrel Conservation Program

Participants in this program receive a complimentary kestrel nesting box, which FoHVOS staff will install and monitor during the breeding season.

Prior to nest box installation, the site will be evaluated for presence of kestrel-appropriate habitat. FoHVOS follows NJDEP’s Endangered and Non-game Species Program protocols to install and monitor nesting boxes.

The American Kestrel is listed as a State Threatened Species since 2012. Their numbers have been declining in recent years most likely due to lack of nesting sites. Some facts about the American Kestrel:

• North America’s smallest falcon
• They are a secondary cavity nester, they do not excavate the hole themselves
• Nest sites are typically on the woodland edges, facing open fields

To learn more about the American Kestrel, visit the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ.

• Guidance on selecting native plants that support wildlife, including birds, butterflies, and other pollinators
• Assistance in establishing habitat maintenance for wildlife, for example mowing schedules
• Guidance on building and placement of nesting boxes for birds and pollinators

Resources for Wildlife Conservation

Funding Conservation Projects

• U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Services
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Partners for Fish and Wildlife

Rare and Endangered Species – Protecting, Providing Habitat, and Monitoring

• Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey
• NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife Endangered and Nongame Species Program

Links to Learn More

• Bat Conservation International
• Cornell Lab of Ornithology
• New Jersey Audubon Society
• North American Butterfly Association
• Ponds for Wildlife
• Stony Brook Millstone Watershed Association – River Friendly Certification Program
• Washington Crossing Audubon Society
• The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
• Beginner’s Guide to Bird Watching