FALCONRY--American Kestrel Mews?

Question

Now, I've read some who saw that a simple mews with the dimensions for 4x4x4 would be good enough for an American Kestrel, but others say that you need a mews the size of 6x8x8. A friend of mine, who is indeed an austringer (an austringer is someone who hunts with hawks, not falcons) told me that for their kestrels, they just tethered them to a table with perches and whatnot attached, along with astroturf has the base.

Others I've talked to say that they just used an XXXL or XXL modified dog cage to meet their falconry needs with the birds.

If there are any falconers out there that could help me clear up some questions, I'd be glad.

1)What should the dimensions be for American Kestrels?

2) Do you recommend indoor or outdoor mews?

3) Do you recommend using hoods (falconers say that kessies are so tame you don't need hoods)?

4) What standard base should i use?

Any other information on housing these delightful little falcons would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Phoenix

Answer 1

Keeping captive falcons is one of the few sports/hobbies that is carefully regulated by the United States Federal government. The same holds true for many other countries as well. If you want to keep an American Kestrel, it is crucial that you check with your federal government and local state and city governments for the proper licensing and permit information.

The Kestrel is more difficult to care for than the Red Tailed Hawk. This is because they have very fast metabolisms and weight maintenance can be tricky. It is very important that captive Kestrels be fed daily.

If you have the necessary permits and licenses required for keeping the American Kestrel, you are now ready to prepare his housing. He should have both an indoor and outdoor facility. The regulations for the facilities will vary from state to state and country to country. The following information is general, and you should check with your government agencies for the exact specifications required in your area.

The indoor facility is referred to as a "mew". It should be plenty large enough to allow the Kestrel to extend his wings fully. It is important that all wall surfaces be smooth and not abrasive. It should also contain at least one window. It is important that the window be protected from the inside by strong vertical bars. For obvious reasons the spacing between the bars should be smaller than the width of the Kestrel's body. To prevent escaping make sure all windows and doors can be easily secured. Perches are needed and should be designed specifically for smaller falcons, like the Kestrel. If they are too large, he will not be able to perch comfortably. The outdoor facilities are often called the "weathering area", this area should be covered with wire or netting, or roofed so that the Kestrel is not bothered by other animals. In some cases, an uncovered area can be used, if each perch is at least six and a half feet high. The area should be large enough so that the tethered Kestrel does not injure himself, by striking the sides or the roof, when flying from a perch. It is important not to allow prolonged exposure to the sun or other elements. Perches in this area, like the mews, need to be of the correct size for Kestrels. Some falconers will build combination mew/weathering areas for their Kestrels.

Some other common equipment seen in falconry are leashes, bells, tracking devices, swivels, jesses, and weighing devices.