American Kestrels in Modern Falconry

Rating:
Summary: Great little book about a great little falcon
Review: Kestrels, perhaps because of their abundance in the wild and because apprentices are allowed to keep them, were long dismissed by "serious" falconers as "beginner birds." That's absolutely not true: for one thing, it takes a certain amount of expertise to successfully fly them, and for another, successfully flown kesses can stand alongside the other "true" falcons as amazing game hawks.
Finally, Matthew Mullenix has come along to give them their due. In this well-written, engaging manual devoted to the American kestrel, Mullenix offers solid information for those of us who would like to house and fly kestrels. He covers everything, from equipment to manning technique, and his enthusiasm for this species is contagious.
I think kestrels have been underrated, in part, because they're really CUTE. (Well, so are hummingbirds, and territorial hummingbird males will stab each other in the neck.)
Mullenix opens the door on a great possibility for falconers who are urban or suburban hawkers, as well as for anyone who has always wanted to fly a "real" falcon but was a bit nervous about managing such a tiny bird.
Thanks, Mr. Mullenix: you've added to falconry literature in a significant way, and I personally can't wait to apply the principles you describe in your book.

Rating:
Summary: Great little book about a great little falcon
Review: Kestrels, perhaps because of their abundance in the wild and because apprentices are allowed to keep them, were long dismissed by "serious" falconers as "beginner birds." That's absolutely not true: for one thing, it takes a certain amount of expertise to successfully fly them, and for another, successfully flown kesses can stand alongside the other "true" falcons as amazing game hawks.
Finally, Matthew Mullenix has come along to give them their due. In this well-written, engaging manual devoted to the American kestrel, Mullenix offers solid information for those of us who would like to house and fly kestrels. He covers everything, from equipment to manning technique, and his enthusiasm for this species is contagious.
I think kestrels have been underrated, in part, because they're really CUTE. (Well, so are hummingbirds, and territorial hummingbird males will stab each other in the neck.)
Mullenix opens the door on a great possibility for falconers who are urban or suburban hawkers, as well as for anyone who has always wanted to fly a "real" falcon but was a bit nervous about managing such a tiny bird.
Thanks, Mr. Mullenix: you've added to falconry literature in a significant way, and I personally can't wait to apply the principles you describe in your book.