Sparrow Hawk? but not a hawk at all.

These birds are used in falconry, they are the smallest little warriors in the falcon family. Due to the prey they chase, I chose not to fly a kestrel until my 6th year as a falconer. I quickly learned that the hunting style of these adorable little birds is quite intense, and though they may not be as large as the normal falconry birds, their energy and vigor for the hunt easily rivals that of the larger species.

"Skeeter" the bug

My beautiful little "Skeeter".

I named him for the way that he would buz around my head

while out hunting.

Skeeter's favorite food was grasshoppers,

he became an expert hunter of many small things in the summer that we spent together.

Late that fall I released Skeeter.

He hung around for a couple weeks before he ventured off on his own..

about two weeks later he came back for one night

(to say goodbye??)

... Each time I come across a kestrel,

I often wonder if it could be my little friend stopping by to say hello..