20170526-American Kestrel - 1

05262017-AMKE-01 This down covered American Kestrel baby was found on the ground.  The person that found it watched for a couple hours and saw no adult around and could not find the nest, so she contacted Soarin' Hawk.  This baby owes its life to the wonderful lady who took the time to watch him and transport him to us!   On initial exam, he was in excellent weight and condition. He readily ate tiny pieces of cut up mice. He will be carefully raised so as to not imprint him as imprinted birds cannot be released back into the wild.  05/29/2017 He is eating very well and is very feisty.  We work very hard at not imprinting this young of a bird- if it is imprinted to a human, it thinks it is a human and not a kestrel.  An imprinted bird cannot be released back into the wild.   06/05/2017 The juvenile American Kestrel is doing well, eating a lot and is active in its box. It is slowly replacing its down with feathers. 07/20/2017 This is a healthy immature orphaned American Kestrel.  It is currently in a big flight pen with 12 other orphaned kestrels!  It is flying well.  Later we will make sure it catches live prey before being released.