I would tend to encourage people to start off with a red- tail for the one reason, their size. One of the first things most beginning falconers have to learn is how to handle a raptor. Most are scared of them and pay very close attention to what those feet are doing. There is usually not much footing problems with passage birds, but the fear is still there. They learn to overcome this and in the process learn what their bird is thinking by what it is doing on the fist. (how is it standing...is it looking around....how is it looking around...shifting its weight....etc). The kestrel is small enough, that this fear...or maybe respect is normally not there. I think this improves the falconer's abilities and transfers very well to other species upon upgrade.

The other reason is that the large size allows beginners to make mistakes in weight control without damage to the hawks. A red-tail that is two oz. low or high is not that much of a danger, but to weight control a kestrel requires much more precision. Mistakes will be made, and the red-tail will cruise right through without any harm...they are very tough birds.

The size also requires the prospective falconer to acquire the necessary items for flying other hawks. Gloves, swivels, leashes, perches, etc. Many of these for kestrels are not applicable to large hawks. I have found that the redtails are much harder to lose in the field than the smaller birds. They are much easier to see when it is getting dark and the falconer is running out of time. Most will stay very close to the hunting area unless they get into a thermal. Redtails will take lots of different kinds of quarry, including rabbits, ducks, jacks, mice, rats, etc. Most prey can be taken given the right set up. Learning how to get a red-tail into a position to take ducks is quite a process. Not only do you have to learn how to hunt the bird, you have to learn how to hunt like the bird!

-Tod Herman