Black Rat Snake Problem

[chesapeakehawk]

I would like to fly a kestrel this summer as a transfer from a MD rehabber but I am worried about the large number of black rat snakes on the property. I removed over 50 last summer and had problems with them eating some of my pheasants. I would assume that a free lofted kestrel perched at night would be an easy target for a black rat snake.
I have thought of possibly keeping the kess in a box overnight because we even get snakes inside the house on occasion and a tethered kestrel would be worse off than one freelofted I would assume?
Just wondered if anyone else had a problem like this.
Thanks!

[Falcon Boy]

Keep the kestrel indoors, it will make weight management 10000x easier and hopefully snakes won't be a problem then.

PS- I'd check with the state and feds to see if they allow a rehabber to falconer transfer, some places don't allow it and i don't remember how MD views it.

[chesapeakehawk]

I checked the federal regulations and talked to the state special permits coordinator in person who told me that there isn't any problem with it in MD. I really wanted to make sure before I started to make plans and it looks fine.

Did you ever fly a kestrel in the summer? I know you flew one at some point? It has been recommended to me by quite a few people.
I would like to keep the kestrel inside , but will have to talk more with parents...

[Falcon Boy]

I didn't fly it in the summer, although i think it would be alot of fun, esp in MD where we have so many starlings in the summer time. I would most certainly keep the bird inthe house though.

[killjoy]

Mar 14, 2009 17:24:58 GMT -5 chesapeakehawk said:

I checked the federal regulations and talked to the state special permits coordinator in person who told me that there isn't any problem with it in MD. I really wanted to make sure before I started to make plans and it looks fine.

Did you ever fly a kestrel in the summer? I know you flew one at some point? It has been recommended to me by quite a few people.
I would like to keep the kestrel inside , but will have to talk more with parents...

I read where you could do that in california, transfer a rehab bird.
BUT... it didnt count toward your apprenticeship. you had to trap and keep your bird for said amount of time, a transfer bird didnt give you time toward your general.

You might want to look into that.