S2S traveled to Virginia Beach with Blue Star Families to talk Birds of Prey and provide tutorials for Nest Box Construction!

S2S had the exciting opportunity to support an amazing Blue Star Families event at Kiptopeke State Park in Virginia Beach this past weekend. Famous for its Hawkwatch station, Kiptopeke records thousands of migrating raptors each fall. We combined a Hawkwatch survey count and educational experience with raptor ambassadors demoed by Nature’s Nanny, and S2S prepared 10 American kestrel nest boxes to be assembled by families. 

Construction in Action - Photo taken by Blue Star Families Coordinator!

The Blue Star families assembled all 10 boxes, graciously donating them to #KiptopekeStatePark and to our growing networks in #HighlandCounty and Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Parks as part of our Great American Kestrel Nest Box Project in Virginia, which will  now bring our total to over 70 new K-boxes installed across the state since 2024! S2S Executive Director Mike Cohn worked hard to prepare the Nest Box Assembly by preparing the wood, making the cuts, sanding the surfaces, and arranging the necessary supplies. His craftsmanship is yet another one of his many skills from which veterans benefit!

An American Kestrel - Photo taken by Blue Star Families Coordinator!

We have been planning this “Raptor Rally” for many months and it was wonderful to play a part in the event’s success! This is part of a larger joint venture between Blue Star Families and Soldiers2Scientists to expand citizen science opportunities to veterans and their families. Three more events are planned for October! Stay Tuned to learn more and sign up on Instagram or Facebook to see all S2S is doing to get veterans involved in field science! Check out the gallery below for some more photos and several pictures of nest boxes we have assembled and installed throughout Virginia!