Almost Turned

I spotted this little male kestrel hunting over the valley in late fall, perched just like this — alert, puffed against the wind, surrounded by branches that were almost completely turned. I painted him in that in-between moment when the leaves are inconsistent and the grass is fading.

American Kestrels are North America's smallest falcon, and they're getting harder to see. A 2026 continental study found they've declined 29% since 1986, with adult survival — not nesting — driving the drop. Threats like rodenticides, neonicotinoids and habitat loss were highlighted as key factors, alongside a steady 1-2% annual loss and declining juvenile and adult survival.

This painting is a small record of one that was still here.