i want to have KestreL for pet!!! I wanted so much.... Can some1 help me how to get KestreL and how to train? Not for hunting , selling just pure KestreL Love!! greetings from eastrern europe :)
at least let the bird wander around while it eats holding it like that isn't always the greatest idea he should learn to eat on his own not be hand fed food thats previously been ripped into small pieces
How wonderful of you and your family to connect so sweetly with the animal kingdom! Since birds travel all over the world, I imagine that many of them are well aware of humans, as much as they are aware of other animals on the planet. Animals know to not trust humans. It's would be great to know if animals are learning that not all humans are bad for them.
unless you are a permitted falconer it was illegal as well as unwise to keep and raise this federally protected species. At the very least you made it less likely to fear humans, if not imprinted it completely on humans. Poor thing has no idea how to care for itself.
When I was younger and stupider, I knocked one down with a slingshot and kept it for a while, it was infested with ticks, I dont know how you would get rid of them.
@ selprouctionssel i cant mate iam in the UK. but you can start by getting a good book and learning from that, i started by reading a book called "falconry art and practice" by emma ford , it tells you everything you need to know and if you follow it to the letter as i did you want go far wronge. good luck for the future.
They require a license. You need to study, and take test. After that and you need a sponsor. Look up a falconry club near you. I believe you'll be able to find one hear.
@vaughnshire It's amazing, but I have heard of falcons returning to the wild, and they quickly adapt to hunting again. Owls easily get imprinted on, but for some reason, it seems that falcons are a-okay when they are released, especially when released by falconers :)
The coolest thing about this experience was releasing the bird. Once he could fly we would let him out during the day to hunt (ie eat our June bugs) and close him back up at night. He would fly up to the field sit on the fence and watch us work or swoop down off the top of a tall Oak tree to take food we offered from our hand. Being a good southern bird, he did not begrudge us if we offered fried chicken in place of his raw diet at times. Eventually he would stay out at night and visit less.
@vaughnshire when i was raising my kestrel he used to spy on all the girls when they were changing clothes but he never did it when a man changed his clothes. He was funny and he loved the ladies... i miss him a lot. Kestrels are extremely intelligent.
I never got around to giving more details... First we found the bird abandoned too young to fly. Where we live, it is not uncommon to find wild animals often. When we do, we like to keep them a few days, or weeks sometimes, learn about them and then release them. In the case of this bird, we had to teach it to fly (or wait until it learned) and until it could actually hunt for itself. It was a great time for the whole family as we watched the little bird grow.
Thats not it at all really though. People are just a bit worried about its well-being. The bird should kinda be out in the wild. You can't train them and they don't feel anything towards you. So what is the point?
The bird is out in the wild and has been long since most of these comments were made. :) It's true its an animal and can't feel any human emotions, but they can certaily be trained like any other animal. I don't think there is a more incredible creature to watch than a trained falcon.
@vaughnshire animals do feel emotions, but in a different way, and they can be trained to hunt by command. It's called "falconry." I plan on being one after college, and I plan on using an american kestrel falcon
It absolutely does matter, and this guy has no clue what he is doing. It is illegal and irresponsible. I hope he did the right thing and released it, or turned it over to liscensed rehabber or falconer if it was injured.
The American kestrel is common throughout the lower 48 states. It's so common that it can often be seen along highways and even city parks feeding on sparrows and insects. Also because of its tiny size it needs to be weighed often and given room to exercise to stay in good health.
This Isn't A Parakeet!
And before you go off thinking that I don't know what I'm talking about know that I've studied falconry texts and spoken with experts. I admit Im no expert, but I know a lot more than most.
If this is an American Kestrel it must be in its immature plumage. All the mature AK's I have seen are orangeish in color on the chest with blueish gray crest and tops of wings and I have never seen one with so many bars. IMO this looks more like a European Kestrel. And as far as suggestions go, unless you are a licensed falconer or working for a licensed rehabilitator let it go. It is against the Migratory bird act to keep it. No offense but by the way you're holding it i'd say you aren't
I don't think this guy would know jesses if they were on his ankles. Judging on what he's feeding it and the fact that there are no anklets, jesses, bewits and bells, and he's holding it by trapping the wings to the body I don't think this guy is licensed to have the bird. That's why I suggested that he let it go. He could be well meaning and inadvertently do a good deal of harm to the bird.
I wish you would lay off on quoting the (USA) MBTA and the old line that "only licensed individuals are qualified", etc. Lots of people hold licenses who aren't qualified, and lots of qualified people have no license, because the regulatory agencies are full of bureaucrats who care about their office more than the wildlife. If you want to say anything, give some pointers on how to hold a bird and what to feed it, maybe suggest locating a competent rehabber. At least he's not starving it.
Actually he is starving it, he's feeding it COOKED meat. The nutrients needed by a kestrel are cooked out. I agree with you that there are some licensed individuals who are not qualified, however that is a VERY small minority. I didn't suggest any care for the creature cause odds are the bird was already dead before I posted. Kestrels are the most difficult bird to take care of because of their small size and their high metabolism. I'd bet it was dead by the 3rd or 4th day he had it.
ok, if you like, I will post some real advise in the off chance that he has been able to keep it alive for a whole year on cooked chicken. First, call the Dept of fish and wildlife near you and ask for the number of a licensed raptor rehabilitator in your area. Call the rehabber and tell them you found a kestrel and it needs care. In the mean time do not trap its wings against its body, do not cook the meat, do not feed it any more chicken, buy some feeder mice from a local pet shop....
It's good to make the care suggestions anyway, because other people will see it and learn. Also, most animals can survive on a sub-standard diet for a long time. Are raptors incapable of digesting cooked meat, or is it the lack of "roughage" that's problematic? Cooking may destroy some vitamin content, but it doesn't destroy the basic nutritional content of the meat. However, cooked meat (and processed raw meat) lack the skin, bone, fur, etc. which I'm told is necessary for digestion.
Without roughage a raptor cannot prevent a condition called sour crop. Its like heartburn only deadly. Raptors have a 75% mortality rate in their first year. Less than 10% of raptors survive to 5 years old, despite having a potential lifespan of 30+ years. Raptors live in a delicate balance. They die extremely easily. Kestrels have been known to die of malnutrition in as little as a week. They need grasshoppers, mice and sparrows, all fed whole in order to survive longer than a week.
The biggest problem with feeding the bird cooked chicken is the lack of calcium in the diet. Almost all animals raised by people who don't know what they're doing will have metabolic bone disease (no calcium in their bones, their bones break SUPER easy, the animal is in horrible pain from repeat breaks, etc.) Saw way too much of that when I worked in rehab.
Not that raptors are protected under federal law and keeping them without a license results in huge fines and possible jail time.
They are so tiny! I have one that hangs around my feeders sometimes you think its a mourning dove!
MPSecare 1 month ago
i want to have KestreL for pet!!! I wanted so much.... Can some1 help me how to get KestreL and how to train? Not for hunting , selling just pure KestreL Love!! greetings from eastrern europe :)
mdjuricic 3 months ago
I've always wanted to be a master falconer but I don't have enough space to properly house a raptor (most people around here have hawks)
scorchedcandy 3 months ago
Can anyone buy this?
elpako89 4 months ago
lol :) kestrels aren't shy ;D
MegaDeathtrain 6 months ago
My cousin had one of these (pretty sure it was this species) in house. He was taking care of it because it hit a window and couldn't fly very well.
CJFRANKS7 6 months ago
we'r poud of u......
from Belgium falconery
khosro7 9 months ago
WOW tht is AWESOME!!! i want a little birdie like tht!!!
crusherman614 10 months ago
at least let the bird wander around while it eats holding it like that isn't always the greatest idea he should learn to eat on his own not be hand fed food thats previously been ripped into small pieces
darkangel33333333333 11 months ago
that kinda looks like a merlin
Holyworms 1 year ago
How wonderful of you and your family to connect so sweetly with the animal kingdom! Since birds travel all over the world, I imagine that many of them are well aware of humans, as much as they are aware of other animals on the planet. Animals know to not trust humans. It's would be great to know if animals are learning that not all humans are bad for them.
stolzfun1 1 year ago
unless you are a permitted falconer it was illegal as well as unwise to keep and raise this federally protected species. At the very least you made it less likely to fear humans, if not imprinted it completely on humans. Poor thing has no idea how to care for itself.
sallyls1 1 year ago
I have a kestrel at home right now :)
He's the cutest little thing.
I used to have a barn owl but he died recently.
So I got to take Muk the kestrel home with me for the holidays, so I would still have a bird to celebrate the holidays with :)
After that, I'll take him back to the birds of prey park where I work :)
BlackUnic0rn 1 year ago
@BlackUnic0rn birds of prey park!??!?!? I WISH I COULD WORK HERE!!!! plus ive never heard of one vefore where is that?
Holyworms 1 year ago
When I was younger and stupider, I knocked one down with a slingshot and kept it for a while, it was infested with ticks, I dont know how you would get rid of them.
kennnmoran 1 year ago
lol what a cutie...the bird,
starshock01 2 years ago
i give you 1000 dolar for it
spinomen 2 years ago
nice bird, i to practise falconey and the enjoyment i get from being with and flying my birds cant be explained
foxy358 2 years ago
are u from texas? i really wanna start if u are would u apprentice me "im 12"
selproductionssel 1 year ago
@ selprouctionssel i cant mate iam in the UK. but you can start by getting a good book and learning from that, i started by reading a book called "falconry art and practice" by emma ford , it tells you everything you need to know and if you follow it to the letter as i did you want go far wronge. good luck for the future.
foxy358 1 year ago
in april im 12
selproductionssel 1 year ago
where can i get one
bleachmaster23 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
where can i get one of these animals
MrCemgok 2 years ago
They require a license. You need to study, and take test. After that and you need a sponsor. Look up a falconry club near you. I believe you'll be able to find one hear.
Falconhawk123 2 years ago
We saw him from time to time for many months, eventually he left us and did not return.
vaughnshire 2 years ago 2
@vaughnshire At what age did you find the bird?
Falconhawk123 1 year ago
@vaughnshire It's amazing, but I have heard of falcons returning to the wild, and they quickly adapt to hunting again. Owls easily get imprinted on, but for some reason, it seems that falcons are a-okay when they are released, especially when released by falconers :)
Roundhere44 9 months ago
The coolest thing about this experience was releasing the bird. Once he could fly we would let him out during the day to hunt (ie eat our June bugs) and close him back up at night. He would fly up to the field sit on the fence and watch us work or swoop down off the top of a tall Oak tree to take food we offered from our hand. Being a good southern bird, he did not begrudge us if we offered fried chicken in place of his raw diet at times. Eventually he would stay out at night and visit less.
vaughnshire 2 years ago 7
@vaughnshire when i was raising my kestrel he used to spy on all the girls when they were changing clothes but he never did it when a man changed his clothes. He was funny and he loved the ladies... i miss him a lot. Kestrels are extremely intelligent.
FairyFederation 1 year ago
I never got around to giving more details... First we found the bird abandoned too young to fly. Where we live, it is not uncommon to find wild animals often. When we do, we like to keep them a few days, or weeks sometimes, learn about them and then release them. In the case of this bird, we had to teach it to fly (or wait until it learned) and until it could actually hunt for itself. It was a great time for the whole family as we watched the little bird grow.
vaughnshire 2 years ago
WOW! Some of you people really have too much time on your hands and apparently not enough of your own life to worry about.
Let me answer a few questions and comments to fill in the rest of the story.
vaughnshire 2 years ago
Thats not it at all really though. People are just a bit worried about its well-being. The bird should kinda be out in the wild. You can't train them and they don't feel anything towards you. So what is the point?
mrmike1010 2 years ago
The bird is out in the wild and has been long since most of these comments were made. :) It's true its an animal and can't feel any human emotions, but they can certaily be trained like any other animal. I don't think there is a more incredible creature to watch than a trained falcon.
vaughnshire 2 years ago 8
are u a falconer? i wish i was
selproductionssel 1 year ago
@vaughnshire animals do feel emotions, but in a different way, and they can be trained to hunt by command. It's called "falconry." I plan on being one after college, and I plan on using an american kestrel falcon
pokemonffta2 1 year ago 3
you can indeed train them. they make very good falcons in the sport of falconry.
Duhnata 2 years ago
@mrmike1010 they actually can be trained, google falconry
MegaDeathtrain 6 months ago
hello, I'm a falconer of spain, and I wanna know the price of the kestrel.
do you know any breeder??
thank you
rafa
rafeiken 2 years ago
What are you feeding it? That doesnt look like any bug, mouse or unprocessed bird.
FullmetalAngyl 3 years ago
yeah it really dont matter if ur licensed if u know what your doing. thats a really rare and awesome bird so i just hope you treat it well.
RapsodyRecordsNJ 3 years ago
It absolutely does matter, and this guy has no clue what he is doing. It is illegal and irresponsible. I hope he did the right thing and released it, or turned it over to liscensed rehabber or falconer if it was injured.
FLfalconer 3 years ago 2
The American kestrel is common throughout the lower 48 states. It's so common that it can often be seen along highways and even city parks feeding on sparrows and insects. Also because of its tiny size it needs to be weighed often and given room to exercise to stay in good health.
This Isn't A Parakeet!
And before you go off thinking that I don't know what I'm talking about know that I've studied falconry texts and spoken with experts. I admit Im no expert, but I know a lot more than most.
FullmetalAngyl 3 years ago
ILQUEN!!
beautywolfy 3 years ago
dude im to young to get a falcon but that was awesomeness
chrisnapple32 3 years ago
I absolutely love American Kestrels! They are so tiny, how cute!
PantheraPardusRulez 3 years ago
nicee
tayfun1285 3 years ago
how did u catch it?
praisejah81 3 years ago
Eu tenho um American Kestrel!!!!!!!!!
jotaccmmarques 3 years ago
If this is an American Kestrel it must be in its immature plumage. All the mature AK's I have seen are orangeish in color on the chest with blueish gray crest and tops of wings and I have never seen one with so many bars. IMO this looks more like a European Kestrel. And as far as suggestions go, unless you are a licensed falconer or working for a licensed rehabilitator let it go. It is against the Migratory bird act to keep it. No offense but by the way you're holding it i'd say you aren't
greywolf210 3 years ago
ye it is a ak in its immature plumage it a nice one at that but whear the hell is its anclats and jesses and why isant it on a glaved hand
tigger00025 3 years ago
I don't think this guy would know jesses if they were on his ankles. Judging on what he's feeding it and the fact that there are no anklets, jesses, bewits and bells, and he's holding it by trapping the wings to the body I don't think this guy is licensed to have the bird. That's why I suggested that he let it go. He could be well meaning and inadvertently do a good deal of harm to the bird.
greywolf210 3 years ago
i apsolutley agree with u all the way m8
tigger00025 3 years ago
I wish you would lay off on quoting the (USA) MBTA and the old line that "only licensed individuals are qualified", etc. Lots of people hold licenses who aren't qualified, and lots of qualified people have no license, because the regulatory agencies are full of bureaucrats who care about their office more than the wildlife. If you want to say anything, give some pointers on how to hold a bird and what to feed it, maybe suggest locating a competent rehabber. At least he's not starving it.
ccoraxfan 3 years ago
Actually he is starving it, he's feeding it COOKED meat. The nutrients needed by a kestrel are cooked out. I agree with you that there are some licensed individuals who are not qualified, however that is a VERY small minority. I didn't suggest any care for the creature cause odds are the bird was already dead before I posted. Kestrels are the most difficult bird to take care of because of their small size and their high metabolism. I'd bet it was dead by the 3rd or 4th day he had it.
greywolf210 3 years ago
ok, if you like, I will post some real advise in the off chance that he has been able to keep it alive for a whole year on cooked chicken. First, call the Dept of fish and wildlife near you and ask for the number of a licensed raptor rehabilitator in your area. Call the rehabber and tell them you found a kestrel and it needs care. In the mean time do not trap its wings against its body, do not cook the meat, do not feed it any more chicken, buy some feeder mice from a local pet shop....
greywolf210 3 years ago
It's good to make the care suggestions anyway, because other people will see it and learn. Also, most animals can survive on a sub-standard diet for a long time. Are raptors incapable of digesting cooked meat, or is it the lack of "roughage" that's problematic? Cooking may destroy some vitamin content, but it doesn't destroy the basic nutritional content of the meat. However, cooked meat (and processed raw meat) lack the skin, bone, fur, etc. which I'm told is necessary for digestion.
ccoraxfan 3 years ago
Without roughage a raptor cannot prevent a condition called sour crop. Its like heartburn only deadly. Raptors have a 75% mortality rate in their first year. Less than 10% of raptors survive to 5 years old, despite having a potential lifespan of 30+ years. Raptors live in a delicate balance. They die extremely easily. Kestrels have been known to die of malnutrition in as little as a week. They need grasshoppers, mice and sparrows, all fed whole in order to survive longer than a week.
greywolf210 3 years ago
The biggest problem with feeding the bird cooked chicken is the lack of calcium in the diet. Almost all animals raised by people who don't know what they're doing will have metabolic bone disease (no calcium in their bones, their bones break SUPER easy, the animal is in horrible pain from repeat breaks, etc.) Saw way too much of that when I worked in rehab.
Not that raptors are protected under federal law and keeping them without a license results in huge fines and possible jail time.
Thundermoon87 3 years ago
"Not to mention that"*
Thundermoon87 3 years ago
i love kestrels. me encantan los cernicalos.
gatito0319 3 years ago
i see thou workest at a starbucks
ercmchl 4 years ago
A suggestion is to feed the kestrel raw meat instead of cooked chicken, a suggestion is mice sparrow or something else it would eat in the wild.
venator242 4 years ago