Falconry: Kestrel success secrets part 1

This falconry video is part one, discussing techniques and secrets to successfully train and hunt with a kestrel in falconry. These techniques apply with other kestrel species as well as all other raptors. But kestrels have specific differences from other larger falcons, and even similarly sized falcons such as merlins. Microhawking and the use of kestrels is increasing in the falconry community. But as such, many of the older experienced falconers who have not flown kestrels themselves, often don't know some of these little secrets that help make a big difference when flying and training kestrels. I am making several of these videos to share techniques that I teach my falconry apprentices when they set out to fly a kestrel. I hope this as well as upcoming videos prove helpful to falconers and wildlife educators who are interested in working with American kestrels, or any other kestrel species. And again these same techniques can benefit any raptor species. But they are particularly important with kestrels.

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[keithsprague]

Exercise is important in raptor fitness, but it's always seemed to me that the best exercise is hunting. When flying my kestrel I found flying it in large dairy barns full of sparrows and starlings to be effective in getting it in shape for pursuit.

[toomignon]

“Murder Butterfly”….love that so much! A AK was the first raptor I ever saw in our yard. We get lots of coops, too, but the AK’s make my heart flutter.

[SL-vxsx]

You will all laugh, but I took my male Harris hawk out one day last year to a wildlife recreational area. We didn't find any rabbits which was our goal, but he had a blast chasing a swarm of large grasshoppers. He face was covered with what was left of them.

[emay]

Agreed! Matt Mullenix advised me to do jump ups early in training and on all non hunting days for tons of reps. Hunting weight went up almost 2 grams by the end of the season (very short 40 days of hunting due to a late trap) Fitness was never a problem!

[falconrywithkai]

Hop ups is what I did for keeping that muscle mass on. Non-hunting days thats how we did things. Had one Coopers hawk scare, luckily since she was in shape she survived that wild moment! Still glad my first bird was a Kestrel

[barnabas]

I’ve always been a kestrel fan. My sponsor loves them but never trained one. Thanks for the training videos. I agree with Marko about a making a Saker video. If I ever buy a bird, it would be a Saker.

[IronSightKingOfficial]

Found a young juvenile of one of these guys in my backyard a couple years back. Was a great experience. The little guy wouldn't fly away and I didn't want the neighbors cats to get him so I caught him. Fed him strips of venison dipped in water and attempted to release him a couple times a day. Took a number of attempts until he realized he needed to fly up and away from the things on the ground. Still laugh about his 1st attempt when he landed on a tree branch that was maybe 3' off the ground :)

[DH-oyzf]

I want to get into this but dont have the space or time right now. I figure i will just learn as much as i can until the time is right. Thanks for making these videos!

[harouncoulibaly]

Ben i'm a huge fan I've been watching you for about a year and a half now, almost everything I know about falconry is because your videos and I just have a request, can you do an intro video on kites.

[markovasic]

Great video as always. Is it possible to have an in-depth video about the saker falcon? You compared them with prairies but is it possible to make a dedicated video? It would be much appreciated.

[McKiriBoo]

I am just trying to get started in falconry and I am trying to start with a Kestrel. I wondered if anyone knew of any good Kestrel sponsors in southern Utah

[shannonspage]

I love the american kestrels. They are beautiful and not scary. When showing them to people you can tell fhe humans are less anxious with a kestrel. You have it on the glove and no one feels like it could bite their face off. Which i know these guys could still inflict injuries to the face. But when showing to non falconry people it helps to keep everyone chill. People dont relize how large raptors really are and they can be intimidating

[JacygreenGreen]

A good mews for kestrel is your bed room closet door open and window drapes rod and put a ground perch on floor and clean it when it's still wet.

[michaelclark]

Do kestrel and merlins ever hybridized with one another?

[logistiekoperator]

Kestrels seem to be small compact but fierce birds. Ideal for hunting to survive in nature.

[laVeukz]

I rescued a crow from some dogs and I’ve had him at home for a few months and need to get him exercising, he does fly but he really cannot be bothered most of the time but I need him to exercise properly gonna try this

[Brezk-jo]

Water is very important if you like to keep a praying mantis water dropper but birds need daily access to bath pan exspesailly kestrels.

[kieranpickavance]

Thank you, I'm not a falconer but I do want to be one, I'm doing extensive research

[pacodogtule]

Could you do a “how to” video on jump-up’s ? I see mostly falconers climbing ladders and stuffing the hawk every jump.

[brucehuber]

Is the diagnostic of having a "sharp keel" related to musculature?