How often should an apprentice falconer weigh a red-tailed hawk?

Weighing a red-tailed hawk once each day is essential for monitoring the hawk's health and conditioning. Regular weight checks help falconers track the bird’s physical condition, ensuring it is not losing or gaining excessive weight, which can significantly affect its performance and well-being.

Daily weighing allows the falconer to adjust the hawk's diet and training regimen appropriately. It also provides insight into the hawk's appetite and overall health. If a hawk is not being weighed frequently, subtle changes in its weight could go unnoticed, leading to potential health issues.

Weight can fluctuate due to various factors such as feeding schedules, the bird's activity level, and environmental conditions. Thus, weighing the hawk once a day strikes a good balance, allowing falconers to manage the bird's care while not overburdening it with too frequent checks.

The other options, such as weighing twice or three times a day, could introduce stress and disrupt the bird's routine. Weighing only when the hawk fails to perform is not proactive and could result in missing signs of health issues before they affect performance. Therefore, daily weighing is the best practice to maintain the bird's health and optimize training.