Tethering a raptor as opposed to free-lofting: Give an advantage and disadvantage of each.
Fact:
Merlins hunt more birds in the wild than Kestrels. True or
false: A trained merlin is better than a comparably sized Kestrel in hanging on to a Starling.
Regulations aside, what are four important attributes for a mew?
The
Red-tailed hawk thrives in North America from Alaska to the
Yucatan. Its success, especially in the cooler regions, has
to some degree been at the expense of what other large
American hawk?
Many experienced falconers consider a Merlin to be like a tiny __________.
American Kestrels have large heads, long tails, fluffy plumage, and hunt both birds and mammals. Based on this, Matthew Mullenix compares an American kestrel to what larger American falcon?
Bigger raptors have a strong tendency to be faster than smaller raptors. True or False.
Frounce or Trichomoniasis: Cause, symptoms, treatment
Apergillosis: Cause, symptoms, treatment
Bumble foot: Cause, symptoms, treatment
Coccidiosis:
Cause, symptoms, treatment
Crop stasis, also called ______________: Cause, symptoms, treatment
American Kestrels are easy to man, easy to teach to fly to fist and lure, and make an easy transition to become small-bird catching game hawks. T or F
Trained Kestrels and Merlins are extremely vulnerable to attack by Cooper's hawks. T or F
Broad-winged
hawks (Buteo platypterus) migrate in
huge flocks called __________.
Gyrfalcons, like most Prairie falcons, are very high strung and wild when trapped. T or F
What are the three major genera for hawk-like birds? Give a couple of examples of birds in each. What is the fourth genus, which is represented by one well-known falconry bird, and what is that bird? No eagles.
What are the six species of falcons observed in the United States?
*What kind of raptor is commonly known to nest in abandoned crow nests? What raptor often drives Red-tailed hawks from their nests, in order to raise their own fledglings.
*What
four falconry birds need to be banded according to federal
law?
In Alaska only, an apprentice is permitted to fly a particular species of bird. What is it?
The falconer can and should fly a bird at a higher weight in colder climates. T or F
It
is considered a good idea not to feed or fly your bird
before she has ____________. Note: Mavrogordato
wrote that he believed that the negative consequences are
greatly exaggerated.
A freshly trapped bird is vulnerable to overheating. T or F
The best jess for a hawk or falcon is the time-honored traditional jess. T or F
What
is the most commonly employed jess system today, and what is
the main advantage?
Gary Brewer invented a special protective anklet for Red-tailed and Harris' hawks employed in squirrel hunting. What is it called?
In general, it is better to tie your bird up on a shorter rather than longer leash. Explain.
Licensed falconers may trap and keep haggard Kestrels and Red-tails. T or F
*A falcon flies overhead and appears to have a long dark triangle at the base of each wing. What is it?
Ferruginous
hawks sometimes nest on the ground. T or F.
Ferruginous hawks are sometimes called "frogs" by falconers. Why?
Ferruginous hawks have small, but extremely powerful feet. T or F
A Harlan's hawk is generally considered a subspecies of the Red-tailed hawk. T or F
The White-tailed hawk is another Red-tailed subspecies. T or F
An Anglo-Indian hood is usually considered safer for a bird to wear than a traditional Dutch hood. Why?
What North American falcon is the best representative of the desert falcons?
Peregrine falcons are usually considered difficult to hood, especially compared with Accipiters. T or F
*A Merlin often hunts in the woods like an Accipiter. T or F
Red-tailed hawks seem to have a natural immunity to squirrel bite infection, which Harris's hawks lack. Why might that be?
Peregrine falcons, as well as being generally hardy, seem to have a natural immunity to frounce or trichomoniasis not shared by other raptors. Why might that be?
Large falcons have a greater tendency for bumblefoot than most hawks. T or F
*In
what general direction does a Prairie falcon
eyrie typically face?
What characteristic other than their size and color often make migrating gyrfalcons particularly vulnerable to malevolent humans?
The
train of a Red-tail is more/less flexible and resistant to
breakage than that of a goshawk or other Accipiter.
*What substance is put around a tree to keep raccoons from climbing and destroying a raptor's nest.
What raptor is often considered the diurnal equivalent of the Great Horned Owl?
Match the first four terms with the last four. [jack, jerkin, musket, tiercel gentle] [sparrowhawk, Merlin, peregrine, gyrfalcon]
A Red-shouldered hawk looks almost as big as a Red-tail, but weighs considerably less. T or F.
Relative to hawks, falcons look smaller for their weight. T or F.
How many fledglings must be left in the nest or eyrie, according to law?
A wild Red-tailed hawk will usually breed at what age?
A Red-tailed hawk takes about how many days from the egg being laid to the fledgling leaving the nest?
A typical month for a Red-tailed hawk to lay her eggs would be ___________.
Gyrfalcons can dive faster than peregrines, but are not as fast in level flight. T or F
Of the traditional perch designs, which is the least likely to foul?
The bal-chatri or BC trap is the best trap for large falcons, Red-tailed and Harris's hawks. T or F
In North America, what are the three main subspecies of peregrines?
Which
Peregrine subspecies is the most migratory?
The western Red-tailed (Buteo jamaicensus calderus) is larger and more powerful than the eastern (Buteo jamaicensus borealis) T or F
When
trapped, a hawk is more/less likely to bite than a falcon.
The Red-tail hawk is closely related to the European common buzzard. T or F
In general, within a species, northern birds tend to be larger than southern birds. T or F
Goshawks seem to be very susceptible to Aspergillosis. T or F
The American Kestrel (formerly called "sparrow hawk") is quite similar to the European Sparrowhawk. T or F
Hood
your bird or use a hawk box? Discuss pros and cons of each.
What about using both?
What
are strong arguments for not hooding a Kestrel.
Fact: Though not a traditional falconry bird, the Harris' hawk is extremely popular in Europe. True or False: There is a European subspecies that is occasionally trapped to meet the demand for falconry birds.
Red-tails can generally be flown (hunted) in a wider range of weather conditions than Harris' hawks, and are usually easier in terms of weight control. T or F
Although there are a number of Red-tailed subspecies and races, there is very little color variation among and within the subspecies. T or F
It is generally believed that American falcons do not build nests. T or F
Match the terms: [strength, intelligence, athleticism] [goshawk, Red-tailed, Harris' hawk]
When a small bird like a Kestrel gets too low, it important to feed as much as he will eat, as soon as possible. T or F
In winter, the moisture in the bird's food is adequate for a bird's hydration. T or Fb
In captivity, though having sufficient nutrition for sustaining a small bird like a sharp-shin hawk, rabbit may be insufficient for larger birds; even those that prey on them in the wild, like goshawks, Harris' hawks and redtails. T or F
The so-called "Let It Lay" law completely protects falconers from being prosecuted for inadvertently taking protected species. T or F
Of all falconry birds, the Peregrine falcon should be the easiest to train to wait on. T or F
"Mantling" has two meanings in falconry. What are they?
"Cast" has three meanings in falconry. What are they?
Puzzler: In some areas of the country, it may be dangerous to bell your bird. What is the danger?
Almost any whistle can be used to effectively train a bird. Why use a whistle that does not sound man-made?
You are ready to go hunting and your Cooper's hawk is in Yarak. This is always a good sign. T or F
Match the terms: [eyas, passager, haggard] [nest, juvenile, adult]
By law, a written letter must be provided if a falconer takes care of another's bird, at a different location. T or F
What is the largest hawk in North America?
What is the smallest?
Name three principal threats to your hawk when you are in the field hunting. Do not include gun hunters.
Unlike falcons, Accipiters and Buteos do not need telemetry as they will often just fly to the nearest stand of trees. T or F
Small hawks and falcons have a greater propensity to carry than larger ones. T or F
A manual light switch is an effective tool to reduce bating while training your freshly trapped hawk. T or F
Fact:
The "wake," or 24 hour per day manning of a new hawk can be
very effective. True or false: If you cannot perform a true
wake, then the closer you approximate it, the better.
The law aside, what is a good reason for an apprentice's taking a passage bird over an eyas? Hint: this has to do with the welfare of the bird.
You are trying to get your Red-tail to to soar hunt. It is a good idea to keep him at the lower end of his hunting weight so that he is less likely to fly off. T or F.
Accipiters and Buteos are more closely related to each other than they are to the falcons. T or F.
The dark malar stripe and dark eye are characteristic of the falcon. However, there are falcon species that lack one or both of these characteristics. T or F.
It is legal for a falconer to keep molted feathers for imping, but it is technically illegal for a falconer to give them to another falconer for the same purpose. T or F
Match the book with the author: [Bent, Boni, Brewer, Mavrogordato, McElroy, McGranagham, Mullenix, Oakes] [A Tale of Two Passagers, Life Histories of North American Birds of Prey, Desert Hawking, American Kestrels in Modern Falconry, A Hawk For The Bush, The Falconer's Apprentice, Buteos and Bushytails, The Red-tailed Hawk: A Complete Guide to Training and Hunting North America's Most Versatile Game Hawk]
In
the US, Aplomado falcons may now be flown by licensed
falconers holding a general or master level permit.
T or F
Fact: A bird like a prairie falcon is very vulnerable to raptor attack while on the ground with prey. True or False: once airborne and up to speed, the same bird would have little to fear even from an eagle.
Contrary to what is circulating on the Internet, DDT, like most other insecticides, has produced major immunity in insects in the areas where it was over used. T or F
Dr. Pat Redig wrote that all falconry birds, except possibly peregrines, should have the WNV vaccination right away. If your bird has had the two shots already, then she should have a one shot booster. T or F
In Europe there is no indigenous accipter hawk similar in size to the Cooper's hawk. T or F
A small Cooper's hawk and a large sharp-shinned hawk are sometimes difficult to positively identify in the field. What is usually considered the best physical attribute to distinguish between them?
What is the primary condition for safe flying on the creance?
Former
NAFA VP, Jim Ince, wrote: If necessary, you may have to
have a little wrestling match to prevent your bird from
eating something she shouldn't, like a long bone.
Statement 2: If a bird can swallow it, she can digest it.
That's what they do in the wild, and rarely are there
problems. Discuss.
The mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus are most active at dawn, dusk and early evening. T or F
Screening
your mew is good practice. T or F
If you are unsure of your bird's flying weight, it is better to err on the low side so that you don't lose the bird, and she does not lose her keeness to hunt. This is especially true of smaller hawks which can lose their edge quickly if overweight. T or F
In the latest version of J.G. Mavrogordato's A Hawk For The Bush, Dr. Neil Forbes recommends that a bow perch should be just high enough for tail clearance and no higher. Why?
What's
wrong with this statement? "A Great-horned owl that
I was trying to rehab got sour crop."
In
the picture below, identify the five raptors.
Upper Left:______ Lower Left______ Center______ Upper
Right______ Lower Right_______
bbb