- Thread starter
- #61
TheBantyCoop
Songster
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!
-El
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!
-El