What predators must a falconer be wary of during kestrel training?

During kestrel training, a falconer must be particularly cautious of cats and dogs because these animals can pose a significant threat to the safety of the kestrel. Both domestic cats and dogs are instinctive hunters, and their presence can induce stress or even lead to physical harm for the trained bird. Ensuring a safe training environment involves being vigilant against these common household pets that might not be directly seen as threats but can easily frighten or injure a kestrel if introduced to their vicinity during training sessions.

In addition, other predators like owls, while also a concern, typically hunt at night, which may not coincide with daytime training activities for kestrels. Snakes are less of a direct threat during training sessions as they generally do not engage with birds at the same level that cats and dogs do. While each of these animals represents some level of risk, the immediate concern in the context of training is the common presence of domestic cats and dogs, making them the primary predators to watch out for.