Niggling Problems

[S_MB]

hi,

I'm fairly new to the forum but i decided it'd be a good idea to join a forum so widely used by so many falconers. My fathers an avid falconer, and i've been relying heavily on his knowledge, but i've taken it upon myself to gain a wider knowledge as other people have had other experiences which i can learn from.

Without any further introduction, i have a female kestrel which is around a year and a couple of months old. I've had for just over a month now, and i can honestly say it's one of the most rewarding experiences i've ever had. I'm flying her (Amber) free now and have been doing for nearly two weeks. She's extremely good in every aspect, and i plan to start training her to the kite soon. However, when i put her away, after she's been out for about 2 hours every night, she'll almost religiously go to kill my hand. I can't understand it, as she's so relaxed in every other aspect and really amiable to be in the presence of. Can anyone shed any light on this problem?

Thanks,

Stuart.

[Harris]

Hello Stuart, Can you please post an introduction in the "new to the forum" section so we can welcome you properly, and also perhaps you could fill out your profile to include your real name and a few more details, so that we get to know you a little better. Thanks

Simon

[Jiff]

i'm not into falcons in any way but does a kestral need kite training and would it actualy take to it, they generaly hunt small groud mamals don't they.

[Claire]

hi stuart, I have a 10 yr old female kestrel (well almost) it sounds like she is fed from the right hand? and expecting more food to be there. I tend to hide food in the glove so mine never knows when she is getting it, how are you flying her, glove, lure, attempting to hunt ?

[Harris]

I have to be honest I see no benefit in traning a kes to the kite?? What are you hoping to achieve, a bird that will stoop 300ft to the lure?

I'm assuming you have been feeding her with your bare hand? and now she just expects more food from it.

[Lyn Birds]

Hi Stuart
welcome to the forum, in my opinion you should be flying the kes to the lure, you'll have some great fun it will take all of the attention from your fist if you can get the kes on the kite brilliant nearly every falconry fair i go too it seems the kes to the kite steals the show.
good luck
lyn

[Fenlands Rescue]

The best stoops to a kited lure I've ever seen were by kestrels. To see it make its way up to 500-700ft then tear drop in a stoop and 20ft above the ground revert into a hover to gently land on the lure is breath taking. Might not be much use for hunting but fantastic to watch.

[S_MB]

Sorry, i should've added all these details earlier. Yeah, i've been flying her to the lure now for about 2 weeks, and she's struggling to make a pass, so i'm just increasing the distance a little each day, although i'm running out of field now to fly her across as she's flying best part of 200-ish yards a flight.
My intentions of flying her to a kite wasn't to make it awe-inspiring, although as i am fairly new and haven't seen a stoop in real life yet, i'm sure i'd find it all the more impressive. I figured that my kestrel is probably struggling with confidence issues as opposed to anything else, which is why i thought i'd give her a go at the kite.

Thanks for the reply about the food, you're right, i do feed her with my right hand, and that's probably a very valid reason as she's striking out in the dark.

I appreciate i have a lot to learn, which is why all the inputs are so heartfelt.

Thanks again,

Stuart.