Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, my father just rescued two fully feathered but not really flying yet Kestrel chicks that were on the ground and being attacked by another large diving bird. These guys are still small but I imagine close to being on their own.

I'm in Arizona, I'm wondering a few things. Do I need a permit or license to possess these guys? What is the best way to feed them at this time? How is the best way to go about keeping them so that they may be released back into the wild? And when would I know that they're ready to be released?

I've been searching the net and haven't been able to find this type of info. I'm also no stranger to birds, I have several large parrots including a pair of African Grey parrots (who immitate the area Kestrel's calls by the way) and I've just handfed and raised their first chick, I'm in the process of wire meshing in a large commercial greenhouse I'm converting to an aviary so I will have a large outdoor flight to accommodate the Kestrel's needs until release.

I've only had them a couple of hours at this time, I picked up some cubed chicken and turkey baby food for toddlers to start with.

Thanks for any info I can get, you can email me directly if you like at blazingsaddles@rraz.net

Terry

Well, while it may be for the better that you rescued those little guys, are you sure they were not fledgeing ? if that is the case, they were just learning to fly, and got unlucky -

You Can not posses a native bird of prey, or care for one without extensive liscances and permits. I believe it is a fedral offence. Please, for the birds sake, you need to get those little guys to a liscanced wildlife rehabber - Prefferably one who deals extensively with raptors -Only they will be able to provide for what those birds need.

They will need cut, or small whole mice, things like sparrows, whole insects, like locusts and roaches, etc - guts, bones and all, to develop properly. Otherwise being fed things like baby food and chicken they will get things like MBD, and a slew of other health issues, and will likely be deformed for life -

Search around for wildlife rehabbers in your area - Till you get them to one, the food you provided (the cubed chicken) will suffice, but is no alternate to the proper diet -

Good luck with them -

Raven -

Thanks for the advice. Actually I don't know that they aren't fledglings, they can only seem to fly a couple of feet. At least that's what I was told, I'm not the one who found them but I'm the one who has them now. No offices open on Memorial Day to call. The local Humane Society takes hurt and orphaned wildlife and places them appropriately so that's where they'll go tomorrow.

>>Well, while it may be for the better that you rescued those little guys, are you sure they were not fledgeing ? if that is the case, they were just learning to fly, and got unlucky -
>>
>>You Can not posses a native bird of prey, or care for one without extensive liscances and permits. I believe it is a fedral offence. Please, for the birds sake, you need to get those little guys to a liscanced wildlife rehabber - Prefferably one who deals extensively with raptors -Only they will be able to provide for what those birds need.
>>

It is indeed a federal offense to posses any raptor (or their parts such as wings, legs, feathers, etc.) without a federal permit. A state issued permit is also required. To be caught illegally holding such items or living animals can possibly land you in jail and several thousand $$ in fines. Usually it is overlooked if you are trying to transport an injured animal to a rehabber or vet, but still always better to find a rehabber or transporter already lic. to deal with the animal.

If the bird is deemed not capable of being released back to the wild, then people who possess them may often be required to get additional permits for the keeping of non-releaseable birds but some states are happy enough with just the basic fed/state combination of permits. If the bird is flighted and/or was bred in captivity and there is the intention of it being trained/used for falconry, then in addition to the fed/state permits, a falconer's permit is often required (probably a lot harder to get a falconer's permit than it is to get a federal or state permit)...a lot of work and expense involved in that hobby.
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Wyvern

I just delivered them to a woman who's actually licensed to transport to a rehab center - she delivers to "Cry in the Wilderness" in Tonopah, a 2 hour drive from here. Sadly she was to pick up 2 Great Horned Owl chicks from the Humane Society to transport also but was then told they were ordered to be put to sleep as per AZ Game and Fish because they came from the END quarantined area of La Paz county on the Indian Reservation. So sad, especially since it was only one chicken that caused the quarantine. The reservation is known to have cockfighting even though it's now illegal in AZ, the infected chicken is thought to have come from Mexico.

Thank you for your help -
Terry

How to locate a wildlife rehabilitator

This is a pretty useful link where you can search for potential rehabbers and specialists by state. If is always important to try and contact the individuals prior to taking any animal to them to insure they still deal with that particular species/type. Sometimes listings of this nature can be slightly out of date.
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Wyvern

Yes i agree that they may have been fledglings, but definatly get the birds to a rehabber or local falconer ASAP. Do not handfeed the birds as they will become imprited, and never be releasable. They will need mice to eat, that, like raven said, are cut up into tiny pieces. Best of luck,
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- Falconer44
Go ARMY!