Falconry: Kestrel success secrets part 1

This falconry video is part one, discussing techniques and secrets to successfully train and hunt with a kestrel in falconry. These techniques apply with other kestrel species as well as all other raptors. But kestrels have specific differences from other larger falcons, and even similarly sized falcons such as merlins. Microhawking and the use of kestrels is increasing in the falconry community. But as such, many of the older experienced falconers who have not flown kestrels themselves, often don't know some of these little secrets that help make a big difference when flying and training kestrels. I am making several of these videos to share techniques that I teach my falconry apprentices when they set out to fly a kestrel. I hope this as well as upcoming videos prove helpful to falconers and wildlife educators who are interested in working with American kestrels, or any other kestrel species. And again these same techniques can benefit any raptor species. But they are particularly important with kestrels.
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[@keithsprague8461]

Exercise is important in raptor fitness, but it's always seemed to me that the best exercise is hunting. When flying my kestrel I found flying it in large dairy barns full of sparrows and starlings to be effective in getting it in shape for pursuit.

[@YassineIdoufkir]

wow do you have it

[@SL-vx1sx]

You will all laugh, but I took my male Harris hawk out one day last year to a wildlife recreational area. We didn't find any rabbits which was our goal, but he had a blast chasing a swarm of large grasshoppers. He face was covered with what was left of them.

[@benwoodrufffalconry]

That is awesome!

[@emay1328]

Agreed! Matt Mullenix advised me to do jump ups early in training and on all non hunting days for tons of reps. Hunting weight went up almost 2 grams by the end of the season (very short 40 days of hunting due to a late trap) Fitness was never a problem!

[@toomignon]

“Murder Butterfly”….love that so much! A AK was the first raptor I ever saw in our yard. We get lots of coops, too, but the AK’s make my heart flutter.

[@falconrywithkai]

Hop ups is what I did for keeping that muscle mass on. Non-hunting days thats how we did things. Had one Coopers hawk scare, luckily since she was in shape she survived that wild moment! Still glad my first bird was a Kestrel

[@johnyork5138]

Beautiful Red and Gos.

[@Alvaro_malo]

Really useful, thanks!!

[@barnabas111]

I’ve always been a kestrel fan. My sponsor loves them but never trained one. Thanks for the training videos. I agree with Marko about a making a Saker video. If I ever buy a bird, it would be a Saker.

[@DH-oy4zf]

I want to get into this but dont have the space or time right now. I figure i will just learn as much as i can until the time is right. Thanks for making these videos!

[@coffeehugger]

Great video, never knew this!

[@McKiriBoo]

I am just trying to get started in falconry and I am trying to start with a Kestrel. I wondered if anyone knew of any good Kestrel sponsors in southern Utah

[@shannonspage9360]

I love the american kestrels. They are beautiful and not scary. When showing them to people you can tell fhe humans are less anxious with a kestrel. You have it on the glove and no one feels like it could bite their face off. Which i know these guys could still inflict injuries to the face. But when showing to non falconry people it helps to keep everyone chill. People dont relize how large raptors really are and they can be intimidating

[@harouncoulibaly6222]

Ben i'm a huge fan I've been watching you for about a year and a half now, almost everything I know about falconry is because your videos and I just have a request, can you do an intro video on kites.

[@markovasic1107]

Great video as always. Is it possible to have an in-depth video about the saker falcon? You compared them with prairies but is it possible to make a dedicated video? It would be much appreciated.

[@benwoodrufffalconry]

I’ll put it on my list to di

[@jujucattys156]

idly my lad to litle drone and a long distans drag lure seems get him fit rel quick

[@logistiekoperator4552]

Kestrels seem to be small compact but fierce birds. Ideal for hunting to survive in nature.

[@zackshook2391]

I’m trying to get into falconry but I don’t know what books would be best to study do you have any suggestions

[@kieranpickavance2584]

Thank you, I'm not a falconer but I do want to be one, I'm doing extensive research

[@Sardonic_Cynic]

'murder butterfly' just about made me laugh out my mouthful of cottage cheese!

[@Sardonic_Cynic]

obviously I need a Murder Monarch now

[@michaelclark4043]

Do kestrel and merlins ever hybridized with one another?

[@laVeukz]

I rescued a crow from some dogs and I’ve had him at home for a few months and need to get him exercising, he does fly but he really cannot be bothered most of the time but I need him to exercise properly gonna try this

[@laVeukz]

He was a chick when I took him in and he’s awesome, I’m very lucky

[@brucehuber4015]

Is the diagnostic of having a "sharp keel" related to musculature?

[@zeeduk]

yes...when there is more muscle the keel will feel rounder...less muscle the breast bone will protrude as it has less muscle covering it...

[@pacodogtule]

Could you do a “how to” video on jump-up’s ? I see mostly falconers climbing ladders and stuffing the hawk every jump. Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[@Lissyhead2]

Murder Butterflies made me laugh so hard.

[@jasongustafson1824]

Kestrals seem to be down in numbers in my area. They used to be very common.

[@benwoodrufffalconry]

Same here. Seems a lot of species are struggling right now.

[@killyhawkaan2076]

Are you part of the American Kestrel Partnership? They can help out

[@ULYISCES]

Antes pensaba mal de las personas que tuvieran animales en sus hogares 🏠, En este video observe que es mejor que aya personas como usted. En estos tiempos los humanos han desplazado su habitan colocando mandas de cualquier tipo de animal para granjas, Y su comida de los halcones se han extinguido, ya que es como plaga y los halcones ya no comen su comida y van reduciendo su poblancion.

[@kevingumfory]

Think of our birds as Olympic athletes .... but we, well we are gonna sit in front of the book toob with a gallon of milk and a box of capn crunch weighing 240 lbs to recieve our daily programming.

[@lovetofly32]

It just ticks me off the control they have with laws to where you have to spend like two years with a trainer and have all these permits and crap. Im an avid outdoors person and a farmer who has the perfect place for this but I'm not jumping through all their hoops. Just a buncha BS.

[@kevingumfory]

I do not suggest you do as I do. I live my life as tho I am free. There is no question that the world would think of me as a criminal. I am unconcerned with them tho. I am a free man until I am not I suppose. Good luck.

[@antlerking69]

As the world changes to eating bugs the Kestrel should become more relevant 😆

[@benwoodrufffalconry]

We will all become mighty grasshopper hunters. Although in complete honesty, as a kid I did really enjoy hunting grasshoppers with a kestrel, and today I still do hunt them with my hornbill.

[@antlerking69]

@@benwoodrufffalconry That's awesome 👍

[@ZeusCannonZK3]

@@benwoodrufffalconry I love to hear this since it is currently a dream of mine to hunt american kestrel on insects. I have only gotten to see falconry through falconry youtubers like you and I doubt my living situation is conducive to taking in a falconry bird, but this is my dream. Abatement of european starlings and house sparrows interests me to an extent, but nothing inspires me more than hunting a kestrel on flying insects like their typical diet includes. I am not sure how common it is for falconers to pursue insect quarry, but I would love to learn more about that practice!

[@sayak1930]

Hey I’m from India and I’ve rescued a changeable hawk eagle. I love your videos and learn from them a lot. In India where falconry now is illegal we dont get much help as falconers in order to train our birds or have proper vets and supplements. Recently I’ve rescued a changeable hawk eagle who was kept in a small cage. When I got it, I thought I’m going to train then release it back to the wild. But she’s having broken feathers and some behavioural issues I can’t get right. If possible I would love to have a talk with you about my bird. I really want to get this bird right. I am looking for your help as an animal lover. If possible I would appreciate your whatsaap/ snapchat or somewhere we can talk in person. Looking forward to your help. And a big thanks for all your videos that helped many of us.