A FALCONRY THREAD!!!

raptor2002,

Yes, kestrels are incredible birds and I have met a falconer who likes them as beginner birds. I live in California, where you do need a special license to hunt with raptors. I believe that this is true in all of the states.

If you are serious about becoming a falconer I encourage you to do some research online and think about how much of your time you are willing to put towards falconry, and if you are comfortable dealing with the not-so-great aspects of it. Remember that if you get a bird you will have to clean up after it, and be comfortable with gutting prey items and handling raw meat and organs.

To become a falconer it is pretty essential to know a local falconer to apprentice, and that falconer will recommend a beginner bird for you. I recommend that you take the bird they recommend to start, as it is probably the bird that works best for that falconers method of training. If you have your heart set on a kestrel (and I don't blame you they're spectacular) you should seek out a falconer who regularly works with them, and recommends them as beginner birds.

If you are interested, this is a great site for falconry:
http://www.calhawkingclub.org/index.php/falconry-apprenticeship/steps

This site is specific to California, so you should look for a falconry website that is for Missouri, but reading this page should give you a general idea of what it takes to become a falconer.

I hope this helps, and I didn't mean to discourage you by bringing up some of the more challenging aspects of falconry. If you still feel compelled to do it after learning more about it, I hope that you enjoy spending time with some of the world's most amazing creatures!
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-El
 
Love the kestrels and they are a great starter bird in a lot of respects. The big downfall is due to their small size you will want a deadly accurate scale. Just a tiny amount off on the food could mean the difference between a bird ready to hunt and a bird that sits at the top of the tree and sticks its tongue out at you saying "I would just love to see you climb this tree to get me down".....

They are incredible to see during the hunt. I watched one catch a bird midair... Impressive indeed.
 
Haven't posted here in awhile! Found some great shots to share!


Another Philippine
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A great shot of a Gabar Goshawk in flight :)
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Another Gabar in flight with a "friend" - This might be my favorite shot of the bunch! The motion captured is incredible!

The Near-Magical Camouflage of the Eastern Screech Owl :O

A perfectly timed shot of a Bald Eagle


Now I'm going to cheat with some non-predatory birds
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Some mystery chicks playing "Barrel of Monkeys" (Not sure if anyone else played that as a kid :)

Likely a house sparrow, but perhaps a unique undiscovered species?

What I think is a house sparrow "reasoning" with its chick
 

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