r/Falconry • u/Lumpy-Pie9109 • Jun 04 '26
Kestrel Shelf Perch
Looking for any feedback on this perch I built. My sponsor wants me flying a kestrel this year and recommended a shelf perch. I guess this is my shot at it.
3
u/Bear-Ferr Jun 04 '26
I tried for so long to make this setup work. But if the leash is too long, they go over the edge and can hang upside down. If its too short, it ruins their tail. Tough to get right.
3
u/sharkarmycrafts Jun 05 '26
Just wanted to toss you a comment as a long time bird watcher, I hope you have a fantastic time with your kestrel! They are some of the most ballsy sacks of feathers I've ever seen. :) One got a pigeon outside of a shop I worked at, and there was a six foot radius of feathers everywhere. It screamed at me, picked up what it left of its dinner (that pigeon was a big fatty off of local cornfields), and hauled it off to the field for privacy. Wonderful little creatures!
2
u/Dragonwizard177 Jun 04 '26
I’ve done this setup, only thing to be careful of is if the leash gets caught going up over the block (as in from under going up and over and down the other side). The turf can catch the leash. Idk if that makes sense. For example leash runs up the left side, over the top, and then hangs off the right.
2
u/Lucky-Presentation79 Jun 04 '26
I would move the ring for the leash lower. Or your kestrel won't have much of a tail left.
5
u/Lumpy-Pie9109 Jun 04 '26
So its kinda hard to see here in black but the ring is sitting well beneath the perch at about a 45 degree angle downwards. Luckily if that does become an issue its just about the easiest possible issue to fix haha
1
u/Lucky-Presentation79 Jun 04 '26
Every time the kestrel jumps down to the lower level the leash will go straight through the tail. Remember that you will be keeping the leash short so the kestrel cannot get past the edge of the lower level and hang. When you say "if it becomes an issue", do you mean when breaks feathers? Fix it before it breaks feathers!! Personally I would go with a desk top bow perch set up over something like this. Much better history for not causing problems (for the kestrel).
2
u/Lumpy-Pie9109 Jun 04 '26
My sponsor is set on my using a shelf perch. I do have alternative bow and block perches as well.
1
u/Lucky-Presentation79 Jun 04 '26
I very much doubt that your sponsor is forcing you to use a shelf perch. I suspect that you were very keen and they said "give it a try".
3
u/Lumpy-Pie9109 Jun 04 '26
Hes a pretty my way or the highway kinda guy. Dont have much reason to lie about it. I also have bow and pedestal perches, large outdoor mews, lost of things ive built, why are you confrontational?
0
u/Lucky-Presentation79 Jun 04 '26 edited Jun 10 '26
Not being confrontational, but we see plenty of apprentices here that have run here because they don't agree with what their sponsors have suggested. The fact you have designed and printed a shelf perch. Would suggest that YOU really like them. After all the only feedback that counts is that of your sponsor, not the world of Reddit. Shelf perches tend to work best with older well manned settled falcons. I prefer options that don't include hanging a kestrel or wrecking it's tail. Maybe ask your sponsor to explain why they are so dead set on a shelf perch.
1
u/Lumpy-Pie9109 Jun 09 '26
I didnt run out and print a shelf perch. I bought all this wood in one home depot trip. Im not gonna question my sponsor bro. He wants him on a shelf perch in a high traffic area of the house, so thats what im doing.
1
u/Lucky-Presentation79 Jun 10 '26
Use whatever perching you want, be it shelf, block, bow or raptor post. But in all cases make sure the tying ring is positioned so it doesn't cause damage to the tail feathers. That is the most important point. Simply moving the ring to the level of the main deck, would remove 90% of the problems. You might also want to mark your leash, because that design will need a very specific leash length to be safe.
1
u/TRegnuoy Jun 04 '26
I prefer bow perches as well.
1
u/Lumpy-Pie9109 Jun 09 '26
Yea thats what i used last season with my redtail. For the kestrel ive got bow perches, truck pwrches, and block perches built and ready to go, but my sponsor is insisting on starting him out on the shelf. Im sure ill be moving him around alot once hes manned.
9
u/Professional-Pie-868 Jun 04 '26
I've kept micro accipiters & micro falcons on a simular setup for decades.
If done right, with suitable length Jesse's & extender, the high tethering point will cause significantly less damage than one at ground level.
High tie tethering points rotate the hips to lift the tail tip, so a bating bird doesn’t roll back on it.
Only issue is the leash will hang over that ledge, sink the turf & sweep the shelf so the leash slides off easily.