KestrelCam™ is a nestbox designed specifically for American Kestrels, with several cameras that allow us to watch the breeding and nesting behavior of these small falcons (if we're lucky enough to get a pair nesting this year). It's located in Santa Clarita, California, which is the northern portion of Los Angeles County. Local habitat is typical chaparral (scrub forest) in a suburban development with greenbelts, and very nearly adjacent to Angeles National Forest (~1/8 mile) and its huge expanse of open space chaparral.

Check out the Camera Information Page for more details. American Kestrels (Falco sparverius) are North America's smallest and most colorful falcons. For more info on these beautiful birds, visit some of the sources listed on our Links Page. The 2005 Archives are also a good source of information, with lots of pictures of last year's pair.

Check out our new Community Forum, where you'll find discussion forums (c'mon and sign up!), weblogs and a place to show off your images. Anyone can post their thoughts or pictures, so feel free to do so! We also have a new Web Store, where you can buy some groovy KestrelCam stuff! Finally, we encourage you to send any and all comments, suggestions, etc., to Ranger Steve™.

About Ranger Steve and Junior Ranger Deborah

A lot of people have asked about why we're called Ranger Steve and Junior Ranger Deborah. We do a lot of travelling to the U. S. National Parks, and Steve's goal when he retires from his current career is to become an interpretive ranger with the National Park Service. He's busy prepping for that career by taking classes, volunteering with NPS, giving talks on wildlife to schoolchildren, etc.

Deborah and Steve were at a Ranger Talk in one of the parks a few years ago, and after the talk was over, the kids in the audience all went up to have their Junior Ranger workbooks signed. Deborah was inquistive, and so Steve explained the Junior Ranger Program (visit National Park Service for more information on this great program; or ask any ranger when you visit a National Park). "I wanna be a Junior Ranger!", Deborah exclaimed. Sorry, said Steve, it's only for kids.

Little did Steve know the determination of an aspiring Junior Ranger. Dutifully completing all of the activities in the Junior Ranger booklet for that park, and after convincing the ranger that she was worthy despite her age, she was dutifully sworn in as a National Park Service Junior Ranger, complete with badge.

Since that time, Deborah has completed the Junior Ranger programs at Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Dinosaur, Joshua Tree, Death Valley, Bryce Canyon, Zion, Channel Islands, Olympic and Redwood National Parks.

Thus, while "Ranger Steve" has a few years to go to properly earn the title, Junior Ranger Deborah is a bona fide Junior Ranger, no quotation marks needed.

On a slightly more serious note...please support your National Parks, whether they be in the United States or elsewhere. Let your elected representatives know how important the parks are, and help protect them from abuse or degradation. Remember to take only pictures, and leave only footprints; respect the wildlife, the landscape and the culture; and help to educate others on how best to care for these special places.

We would also like to take this time to extend our most sincere thanks to all of those who helped us get KestrelCam up and running, both last year and this year. First and foremost, special thanks to our neighbor, Alex, who provided invaluable assistance in building and setting up the nestbox mounting, the wiring and about a million other things. KestrelCam would not be possible without his tremendous assistance. Thanks, dude!

We've also had help from many of our neighbors and friends, and we're very grateful for all of the assistance! You guys rock!