"In mid-August, the Clifton Institute's American Kestrel technician team was preparing to band our final fledglings of the year. The goal of our research was to better understand the preferred hunting habitats of the declining American Kestrel and subsequently inform landowners of kestrel-friendly management practices. As an intern, I had spent many hours sampling kestrel prey in pastures and meadows, but little time actually handling these tiny falcons. Therefore, I jumped at the chance to shadow the techs and learn from their bird-handling expertise! I was able to practice banding, weighing, and measuring wing chord on a small yet spicy fledgling, which was certainly no easy feat. I love this picture because the kestrel’s expression really captures her lively personality."