Questing for kestrels, gabbing about grouse

By Heidi Holtan,

Published February 19, 2026 at 5:33 PM CST

Ways To Subscribe

An American Kestrel flies with a snake in its talons in St. Louis County on May 11, 2022.

In this episode, co-hosts Charlie Mitchell and Heidi Holtan learn about leks and look forward to the return of American kestrels.

Send us a voice memo through Speak Pipe!

Check out the mating dance of the Prairie Chicken (as photographed by KAXE photographer Lorie Shaull) here, or the Sharp-tailed Grouse here.

To love a charismatic critter, you must also love its ecosystem! For fans of American Kestrels, loving these charismatic critters involves loving the bugs they eat, the snakes they uses in courtship, and the dead trees they use to raise their young.

Co-hosts Heidi Holtan (director of public affairs, Minnesota Lynx fan) and Charlie Mitchell (phenology coordinator, Canada lynx fan) discuss kestrel conservation and the odd habits of mating grouse.

In addition, we hear from Prairie Creek Community School and Clinton Dexter-Neinhaus.

Attributions

Recording of coyotes by Greg Irving, XC1039136. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/1039136.
Recording of Sharp-tailed Grouse by Paul Marvin, XC205573. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/205573.
Recording of American Kestrel by Stanislas Wroza, XC1013542. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/1013542.
John Latimer's phenology report, Prairie Creek Community School's phenology report, and the interview with Clinton Dexter-Neinhaus originally aired on KAXE.

Love the podcast? Think you'll find yourself in a bird blind? Let us know! Email us at seasonwatch@kaxe.org.

You can also send us a voice memo through Speak Pipe!