There was some mild screeching as Adrienne Fors and Kevin Kelly handled American kestrels born just this year in bird boxes on the grounds of a Northampton County landfill.
Kelly, who works at the wastewater treatment plant for WM’s Grand Central Landfill in Plainfield Township, placed the three birds on their back to gently apply an aluminum band with a unique identification number.
The small, fuzzy bird hatched from eggs lain about two months ago tried defending itself with its sharp talons, but it was unharmed and would soon be back safe and sound in its box surrounded by grassland following Monday evening’s banding.
“Most people don’t realize that landfills can be wildlife habitat,” said Fors, senior community relations specialist for WM, formerly Waste Management, which owns and operates Grand Central. “Landfills are much more than just where you put the trash.”
The American kestrel is not of concern for protective status …