American Kestrel

Hand Feeding Sparrow Hawk

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• hawk
• american
• kestrel

[vaughnshire]

We saw him from time to time for many months, eventually he left us and did not return.

[vaughnshire]

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]

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]

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.

[mrmike1010]

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?

[vaughnshire]

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.

[MPSecare]

They are so tiny! I have one that hangs around my feeders sometimes you think its a mourning dove!

[mdjuricic]

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 :)

[scorchedcandy]

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)

[elpako89]

Can anyone buy this?

[MegaDeathtrain]

lol :) kestrels aren't shy ;D

[MegaDeathtrain]

@mrmike1010 they actually can be trained, google falconry

[CJFRANKS7]

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.

[Roundhere44]

@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 :)

[khosro7]

we'r poud of u......

from Belgium falconery

[crusherman614]

WOW tht is AWESOME!!! i want a little birdie like tht!!!