speesees of the month

october 08 :: the ever-adaptable + resourceful american kestrel

in this day + age of booming population + bustling urban spaces, we can all stand to take a page or two from the book of the tiny but mighty american kestrel. this lovely little bird—a petit member of the falcon genus—has survived just swimmingly as we humans have encroached on the planet’s open space. the american kestrel looks at a power pole + sees a perch, spots a nook in the side of a building + makes a nest. remarkably, the kestrel never builds its own nests, instead making its home in man-made spaces or the nests of other speesees, which we think is a mighty neat + inspiring example of sustainability in the animal kingdom. kestrels, who mate for the long haul, often return to the same nests again + again after each migration.

roughly the size of an american robin, the kestrel is notable among other falcons for its unique hunting style. the small bird uses rapid wing strokes to hover above the ground while hunting for other small birds, mammals, lizards + insects. the species got its start in africa, + has been evolving + spreading around the globe for close to 2.5 million years. amazingly, the kestrel can thrive in the most diverse landscapes, from urban centers to forests + deserts.

speesees’ very own eliza jane bradley has a very special place in her heart for the american kestrel:: “growing up with a step-father who was a lover of wildlife + passionate falconer, he exposed to me what lovely little creatures these birds are. we would spend many sunny afternoons flying our kestrel, little wing, together. i was always so amazed when he would actually fly back to me!” eliza jane says. american kestrels, along with red-tailed hawks, that are most commonly used by apprentice falconers in north america.

eliza jane recently made the american kestrel a permanent part of her life by getting a tattoo of the bird on her arm, in loving remembrance of her late stepfather + her joyous experiences growing up with little wing.

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july 07 :: sea turtle

there are seven species of sea turtles which have evolved over 110 million (!) years, which means they once lived among the dinosaurs. the seven types of sea turtles are kemp's ridley, flatback, green, olive ridley, loggerhead, hawksbill, + the leatherback. the leatherback is the largest type of sea turtle.

a female sea turtle takes 30 years to reach adulthood. when she matures, she returns to land to nest, digging holes in the sand to lay 70 to 190 eggs. she may lay up to seven nests per season and covers them with sand using her flippers. after about two months, the eggs hatch + the baby sea turtles scurry their way across the beach into the ocean. with only 1% of them surviving the treacherous journey + most of the tiny animals being scooped up by hungry predators, it's no wonder the mother needs to lay so many eggs to ensure an offspring! the baby turtles that reach the water then head into beds of seaweed, where they are shielded from other predators and can grow larger.

sea turtles feed on sea grass, which must be "grazed" to remain healthy as a habitat for other marine life. the sea turtle's eggs provide nutrients for the vegetation on sand dunes, which prevents erosion of the beach.

as you can see, the sea turtle is an important member of our ecosystem, and all species of sea turtles are now unfortunately threatened or on the endangered species list. the leatherback, kemp's ridley, and hawksbill turtles are critically endangered, which means they have the highest risk of becoming extinct.

how did the sea turtles reach this critically endangered level? there are several factors, and sadly, most of them are caused by humans. the fishing industry traps sea turtles in its nets. development of the coasts also destroys the beaches where turtles lay their eggs. turtle eggs and meat are also eaten by people, + they are killed for their shells and leather. chemical pollution and ingested debris also has a major impact on the mortality of sea turtles and their eggs. finally, global warming disrupts the beaches + coral reefs which are vital to the turtles' survival.

how can we save the sea turtles from extinction before it is too late? it will take a great effort on the part of human beings to save these ancient creatures, but there are ways that you can help. support organizations like the mote marine laboratory, which rescues and studies sea turtles, swot (state of the world's sea turtles), caribbean conservation corporation + sea turtle survival league, or the world wildlife federation. never buy or sell products made from turtles and report those who do. + do your best to make as small an imprint on the planet as possible. that means don't litter, do recycle, and try not to disrupt the beach or ocean habitat of sea turtles. the turtles will thank you for it!