Readers of the Cheshire Citizen received the Thursday, May 6 issue and were greeted with Joy Vanderlek’s front page article, “Project gives bird a home.” The article begins, “A project that involved installing an American Kestrel nesting box took place at the Giddings property in Cheshire recently. Working on the local project were American Kestrel expert and nest box designer Art Gingert, Dr. Robert Giddings, a retired veterinarian with a specialty in avians, and Melissa Baston with the Connecticut Ornithological Association.” Two photographs accompany the Cheshire Citizen article, one of an adult male kestrel and the other of Art, Bob, and Melissa during the installation of the nest box. Connecticut birders know that Art Gingert and Tom Sayers have been installing kestrel nest boxes throughout the state for many years. Breeding and early wintering kestrels have declined significantly in Connecticut over the past decades, in part due to loss of grassland and open space habitat. Bob Giddings was Connecticut's first federally accredited veterinarian with specialization in birds. He retired from Kensington Bird and Animal Hospital in 2009. Last year, Melissa Baston submitted a proposal for a COA mini-grant award in support of the nest box construction, and her proposal was funded by COA in the latest round of awards. Melissa now serves on the board of COA. Well done! Steve Broker Cheshire