To Audry's original post - Audry if you find your kestrel hood shy, you can try putting a small piece of meat on the tip of your pinky finger. Put that through the beak opening of the hood so your finger tip and the meat are inside the hood. When she reaches forward and takes the meat, slip the hood on. That makes a no-brainer out of a dodgy small bird that isn't too enthusiastic about the hood.