Did I take to much liberty in post? American Kestrel

Agreed. I certainly wouldn't and couldn't pass it off as a "natural" setting, especially being on top of a parking lot lighting fixture. I thought the same thing though, as a card or perhaps just as a photo for displaying the bird itself and what it looks like, might be okay... A lot of people haven't ever seen them, and they are very attractive birds...

Thanks for your comments!