Kestrel Manning/Training

[jobbyjob]

Hi, I'm new to the board and I live in Arcata, CA. I was looking for a few specific training tips/stories concerning the first few days of training a newly trapped kestrel. I've read Matt Mullenix and some others but my sponser has never flown, or cared to fly, kestrels. I can trap starting Oct. 1st (I'm soooo stoked! Didn't get my permit from the US Fish and Wildlife until ONE day after the trapping season ended last year!) Any comments would be great. By the way I've been loving the hunting stories on this forum, sure takes the edge off while waiting for trapping season!

[Minca]

hmmmm, maybe more specific questions would help. I had a kestrel last year that carried real bad and learned that they don't need much encouragement to learn bad carrying habits... always hold anything bigger than a tidbit very tightly. If she has the chance to yank it out of your grip and bate with it she'll remember that. There's someone around here with a kestrel that has learned to carry grasshoppers back to her fist! You're probably best off asking the questions as you encounter them after you get your bird. Mullinex's book should cover all the basics you need to know for now.

[jobbyjob]

The only thing that's kind of worrying me in my current (pre-trapping) position is everyone keeps saying how fragile they are. So I'm naturally nervous about those first really stressfull days for the bird. Any hints on how to minimize any negative impacts in those first crucial hours? Should I ease into manning her? Or should I just stay with her and let her freak out until she gets manned enough to calm down.

[frootdog]

I would find SOMEONE in your area, not neccessarily your sponsor to talk to about kestrels.

[jobbyjob]

Yeah, I've been asking around, but no luck yet...I get the impression from most people that they feel flying kestrels is a bit of a joke. But there is an unreal starling population in this area and I can't stop thinking about what a gas it would be if I could put it all together with my bird this year. Anyway, trapping season's open in two weeks....wish me luck!

[ritchiera]

Well,

I'm a new apprentice in the same boat, but a little bit ahead of you. I have a Female Passage Kestrel that was just trapped a couple weeks ago.

She was easy enough to trap and jess up. We just placed her in a cardboard box. We didn't use any stockings or hood, or tape. She has a pretty mean bite if given the chane to use it.

She did not like the jesses and leash at all at first. She would jump off and hang upside down. Then I would reach down and help her back to my hand and she would jump off again.

She did have a couple red marks on her legs that I used neosporin on. Be sure the leather for her Jesses is softened and oiled.

They act kind of shocked at first like their feet won't work. They do not at first stand on your hand at all. She would lay across my fist with her wings down for balance, but took a day before she stood up. I have found that you have to discover her as much as she has to get used to you. I eventually learned to roll my hand back and she would grab on and squat at first on my hand. Later she would stand.

Getting her to eat much took a day. I did get her to eat a couple grams the first day by holding it close to her face and when she would bite at it in anger it stayed in her mouth. i would then touch her wing or breast and she would swallow fast so she could be ready to bite (she was quite the little biter for the first couple days. I kept two gloves on for a while.

She has tamed down quite a bit. Her weight is coming down and I am working with her to get her to jump to my hand for tidbits. I found that raising my hand above her while she is on a perch makers her want to jump to the higher place (my hand). I'm using a clicker for operant conditioning so she knows exactly what I'm looking for. A soon as she does what I want, she hears the click, a tidbit follows right after.

She has been a lot of fun to work with, and every day, I find new things out about training. I have learned that you cannot make her do anything, just reward her for what she does that I like and ignore the rest. This has given me additional insights that I am putting to use on my two daughters. I can honestly say it has made me more patient.

Anyway, If you have specific questions, Let me know. You are up for a lot of fun. If you are like me, you are tormenting on the choice of a RT or a Kestrel. I can say now after the last 2 weeks with her, Either would be fine, but the Kestrel is the right first choice for me. My family loves her.


Bob
Orem, UT

[jobbyjob]

Thank you very much first of all. I really appreciate a well articulated response. It's funny, I first became interested in falconry while I lived in Utah. My first hunt was with Ken Tuttle chasing phesants when I was in the boy scouts. Then I trapped merlins with a professor at UVSC. Small world huh! I think I will stick with a female kestrel rather than a red tail, because I really want to fly merlins as soon as I can and kestrels are the best experience for flying one. Glad to hear your getting on well with yours! I'll post when I catch mine.

[ritchiera]

A friend of a friend flies a perlin which is a Merlin/Peregrin cross as I understand. She is a lot like a Merlin and avout the size of a pidgeon. A pretty persistent hunter from what I hear. I guess some people get started with the smaller birds, and stick with them. Have fun Trapping! Alot of the old guys here say that's the funnest part, and they come out of the woodwork to help.

I'll try to post a pic in the picture section of my Kestrel (Betty) so you can have a look.

Bob
Orem, UT

[jobbyjob]

Thanks again Bob, I'll let you know how the trapping went. I'll be in Utah two or three times this year. Maybe I can show you a few places to hunt or the other way around! Anyway I am thankful for your input. I would love to see those pics!
cameron
Arcata, ca

[ritchiera]

I posted a pic in the bird pictures section. Take a look there. It's entitled "She's Not A Redtail...Betty"

Tonight I had her on the creance for the first time. She flew 10 to 15 feet to my hand a few times. It was so cool. I know I'm just getting started with the fun part of this, but it was neat to see her landing on my hand. She overshot me due to the wind the first time, but I put her back on the perch and she came right away a second time and landed lightly on my hand. This sport has it's small thrills.

And if you're coming to Utah this year, let me know ahead of time. I'd like to meet you.

I went out with the Sponsor this morning to fly his birds and there were several guys flying peregrins at a spot out by Lehi they all go to. One guy had a Gos Hawk and was working him.

All in all, this was a fun Falconry day.

Take care,

Bob
Orem, UT

[Minca]

I did most of the manning in the livingroom, and on the first day it was very dimly lit, the only light was coming from a different room through the doorway, and as she "pulled herself together" I gradually increased the light. On the third day the room was fully lit and she was eating off the glove. At first she will stare at you and not pay attention to anything else, but when she starts looking around the room you can try to offer tidbits (mine were really small, about 1/2 gram each) with your fingers. Sprinkle them with water so they're easy to swollow. When it comes to fragility and weight, just follow what Mullinex says in his book and you'll be fine. Although I'm not sure I agree with him that a kestrel can be kept at hunting weight all season. I tried that last year and she didn't do too well. I'm gonna try occational feed-ups this year and see what happens.
We've got an unreal population of mourning dove around here, so I'm kinda thinking of a merlin too. ;D

[Redkestrel88]

Most of my manning for both of my kestrels when on in a fully light room. one at night(the female) and one at around 3:00 in the livingroom with the blinds open. Both before I reached my home were standing on the fist in the hood. Then the hood came off and chaos regined supreme. Both by the third day were eating off the fist. The 2nd bird is a male. He is stubborn to let any eyesight off me. The female was much more affectionate and tame. The male is definitely skiddish but its bothered by the dogs which my brother's big bad redtail is so scared of. I like both birds. They are not as fragile as people make them sound. this is why Mullenix refers to them as "mini-prairie falcons".they are tougher than you think. Weight control isnt real hard as long as you do almost a full check up of their keel and attentiveness to see if you have entered a danger zone with the weight. All in all they teach alot of experience you can apply to almost any bird.
Hope this cam be of some service
Rob