With its rust-coloured back, slate-grey wings dotted in white, and bold black streaks beneath its eyes, the American kestrel is a small bird with undeniable star power. The smallest falcon in the New World, it’s a delight for birdwatchers and now, it’s proving to be a quiet hero for cherry farmers too.
A new study by Michigan State University has found that encouraging American kestrels to nest in cherry orchards doesn’t just add natural beauty to the landscape it also helps protect crops and improve food safety. By preying on rodents and deterring smaller fruit-eating birds, kestrels significantly reduce damage to fruit and lower the risk of food-borne illnesses reaching consumers.
“Kestrels are not very expensive to bring into orchards, but they work pretty well,” said lead study author Olivia Smith, an assistant professor of horticulture at Michigan State University. “And people just like kestrels a lot, so I think it’s an attractive strategy.”
The research, conducted in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, showed impressive results. Orchards with kestrel nest boxes recorded an 81% drop in crop damage, including missing fruit and bite marks, and a 66% reduction in bird droppings on trees. Even more encouraging, levels of Campylobacter — the most common foodborne pathogen spread by bird feces were far lower in kestrel-guarded orchards, at just 0.97% compared to about 10% in orchards without them.
For farmers like Brad Thatcher in Washington state, the benefits are clear. He has welcomed kestrels to his April Joy Farm for over 13 years.
“I’ve noticed a difference having the kestrels around, hovering over the spring crops,” Thatcher said. “There’s very little fecal damage from small songbirds at that time of year versus the fall.”
Cherry growers face mounting challenges, from extreme weather to labour shortages, and pest birds alone cause an estimated $85 million in losses each year in major growing states like Michigan and California. Many farmers resort to chemical repellents, nets, scare tactics, or even deforestation to protect their crops.
But the kestrel offers a gentler, more sustainable alternative one that works with nature rather than against it.
Not only are kestrels more effective at keeping nuisance birds away, but they also bring a daily moment of wonder to the orchards they patrol. For farmers and bird lovers alike, it’s a rare win-win: healthier fruit, safer food, and the graceful presence of one of North America’s most charming falcons.