Full Deck Flashcards
(240 cards)
1
Q
Accipiters are known as:
a. broad wings
b. long wings
c. short wings
d. all of the above
A
C.
(Short wings - Accipiters are known as short wings and ““true hawks.””)”
2
Q
Which is true regarding male raptors?
a. first to return from migration
b. choose the nesting area
c. provides most of the food after the young have hatched
d. all of the above
A
D.
(All of the above - Male raptors typically return first from migration, choose the nesting area, and provide most of the food after the young have hatched.)
3
Q
“When does a raptor tend to reach full size?
a. one year of age
b. when they are ready to leave the nest
c. at six months of age
d. at five years of age”
A
B.
(Raptors tend to reach full size when they leave the nest.)
4
Q
Which species of raptor does not exhibit sexual dimorphism?
a. American Kestrel
b. Red-tailed Hawk
c. Peregrine Falcon
d. none of the above”
A
D.
(American Kestrels, Red-tailed Hawks, and Peregrine Falcons all exhibit sexual dimorphism.)”
5
Q
“A relaxed hawk is likely to:
a. preen
b. raise and tuck one foot
c. rouse
d. all of the above”
A
D.
(all of the above - A relaxed hawk is likely to preen, raise and tuck one foot, and rouse.)”
6
Q
“Which is not a portion of a raptor’s wing?
a. coverts
b. ulna
c. cere
d. secondaries”
A
C.
(The Cere is the section just above a bird’s beak, where a bird’s nostrils are. Coverts are sets of feathers that help smooth airflow over the wings and tail, the alula is the bird’s free moving first digit ‘thumb’ that typically has three to five feathers, and secondaries are the inner feathers close to the body that are connected to the ulna.)”
7
Q
“Which of the following terms does not fit with the others?
a. talon
b. train
c. tarsus
d. hallux”
A
B.
(Train - A train is a bird’s tail, typically composed of 12 feathers. A talon is the nail at the end of each toe, the tarsus reaches from the foot to the first joint, and the rear digit is referred to as the hallux.)”
8
Q
“Which factor is most important in determining which raptor and falconer should fly?
a. appropriateness of raptor housing
b. availability of prey suitable for the raptor
c. proximity to other falconers flying similar raptors
d. none of the above”
A
B.
(The availability of suitable prey is most important in determining which raptor to fly. Frequent successful hunts are best for the raptor and the trainer alike, so know what types of prey are abundant and available before selecting a species)”
9
Q
“The terms ‘passage,’ ‘imprint,’ and ‘chamber’ describe:
a. the legal status of the falconer
b. the nature of the mews in which a raptor is kept
c. how the raptor was raised
d. none of the above”
A
C.
(how the raptor was raised - A passage bird is a wild bird trapped before 12 months of age - immature. An imprint is a bird raised by humans. A chamber is a captive-bred bird raised by it’s parents.)”
10
Q
“Raptors include species of the order(s):
a. Strigiformes
b. Falconiformes
c. Accipitridae
d. both a and b”
A
D.
(‘Raptor’ includes all hawks and owls, included in orders Strigiformes and Falconiformes. Accipitridae is the largest family of hawks and eagles within the Falconiformes order.)”
11
Q
“Desertion of the nest by adult raptors is most likely to occur:
a. just prior to egg laying
b. during late incubation
c. during hatching
d. just prior to fledging”
A
A.
(just prior to egg laying - Most raptors will stick with their clutch despite disturbances once the eggs are laid.)”
12
Q
True or false:
If the first clutch of eggs is destroyed or removed soon after being laid, many hawks and falcons will lay a second clutch.”
A
TRUE.
(Double clutching is used by raptor breeders to maximize progeny of breeding pairs. Some wild raptors will shut down for the season if disturbed on eggs.)”
13
Q
A falconer is most likely to encounter a brancher of a species of hawk or falcon in:
a. January
b. March
c. June
d. October”
A
C.
(June - A brancher is a young hawk that has left the nest but is in the immediate vicinity. In NY, they are most often encountered in June. The exception is GHO, which breed in Jan-Feb, so branchers would be seen in Feb or March)”
14
Q
“There is an observed trend of young avian predators, shortly after leaving the care of an adult, that begin taking quarry considerably larger than is the norm for adults of the same species. This is probably because:
a. the youngsters are still growing and need more food than adults
b. the young birds are stronger and can out-compete their elders for larger, more nutritious prey
c. more skill is required to catch smaller prey
d. all of the above”
A
C.
(more skill is required to catch a smaller prey - Lighter birds can typical turn inside the turning radius of a larger bird, so younger birds need more skill and dexterity before taking game that is smaller than themselves.”
15
Q
The bird most likely to breed naturally in captivity is:
a. a passage bird
b. an imprant eyass
c. a parent-raised eyass
d. all of the above”
A
C.
(a parent-raised eyass - A parent-raised eyass is most likely to breed naturally in captivity. An eyass is a bird taken from the nest as a downy chick or a bird of any age/species originally obtained as a chick.)”
16
Q
Male and female hawks can be determined in most species by:
a. the faster speed of the females
b. the faster speed of the males
c. the larger size of the females
d. the larger size of the males”
A
C.
(the larger size of the females - Male raptors may be up to 30% smaller than a female of the same species.)”
17
Q
“Falconiformes in immature plumage appear to be:
a. smaller than when they become adults
b. larger than when they become adults
c. the same size as when they become adults
d. larger or smaller than the adults, depending on how well they were fed as nestling and on how successful they were as hunters after leaving the nest”
A
B.
(larger than when they become adults - Immature birds may have the appearance of being larger than adults because juvenile flight feathers tend to be longer to compensate for less developed muscles and less ossified bones.)”
18
Q
“In Buteo, Parabuteo, and Accipiter, molting of the primary wing feathers:
a. starts with the innermost primary (ornithologically number 1) and proceeds in sequence to outermost primary (orinthologically number 10)
b. starts with number 10 and proceeds inward to number 1
c. starts with the primary number 4 and proceeds in both directions
d. proceeds in an irregular fashion but is the same sequence on each wing”
A
A.
(starts with the innermost primary #1 and proceeds in sequence to outermost primary #10 - Ornithologically, these numbers are correct. Historically, most falconers counted opposite, with the outermost primary being 1 and the innermost being 10. Most modern literatures use ornithological counting. Falcons start with primary 4 and proceed in both directions (c).)”
19
Q
Haggards are not taken for falconry because:
a. they may be too old and die soon
b. they are too difficult to train
c. they are nature’s breeding stock and should be allowed to function as such
d. they will only take the prey species they have specialized to catch in the wild”
A
C.
(they are nature’s breeding stock and should be allowed to function as such - Haggards are adult birds. More than 70% of birds of prey die before reaching breeding age. Those that do should be allowed to contribute to the population.)”
20
Q
True or False:
Hawks and falcons hunt by sight and hearing; their sense of smell is not well developed”
A
TRUE
21
Q
One is most likely to find the cere:
a. on the head of a raptor
b. on the feet of a raptor
c. on the wings of a raptor
d. around the breast area of a raptor”
A
A.
(on the head of a raptor - The cere is the portion above the beak where a bird’s nostrils are located.)”
22
Q
The tarsus of a raptor is part of the bird’s:
a. wing
b. leg
c. tail
d. head”
A
B.
(leg - The tarsus is that part of the leg which extends from the foot upward to the first joint. It is the portion where jesses and bewits are attached.)”
23
Q
A bird’s train is it’s:
a. head
b. wing
c. foot
d. tail”
A
D.
(a bird’s train is it’s tail, typically composed of 12 feathers.)”
24
Q
Deck feathers are:
a. the central pair of tail feathers
b. the feather tuft on top of a falcon’s hood
c. the feathers used in imping a broken tail or wing feathers
d. the row of feathers which run down the wing above the primaries and secondaries”
A
A.
(the central pair of tail feathers - The two central tail feathers are called deck feathers.)”
25
A good indication of completed growth in eyases is when the bird is:
a. full summed
b. hard penned
c. both a and b
d. b but not a"
C.
(both a and b - Hard-penned and full summer are synonymous and mean that the blood has withdrawn from the newly grown large feathers of the wings and tail and that those feathers have hardened.)"
26
A bird that is very comfortable with its surroundings and has a full crop is likely to:
a. gorge
b. hack
c. rouse
d. rangle"
C.
(rouse - A comfortable bird will rouse, meaning all feathers are slowly erected, the bird shakes itself, and the feathers slowly settle back into place. Generally a sign of well-being and contentment in the bird.)"
27
Your bird is likely to 'mantle:'
a. when in active pursuit of quarry
b. when standing over quarry
c. both a and b
d. neither a nor b"
B.
(when standing over quarry - Mantling can mean the spreading of wings and tail over food in a defensive behavior OR an indication of relaxation when the bird stretches one wing and one leg on the same side.)"
28
Permitting the hawk to eat all it can until it refuses to eat more.
Gorge
29
The state of complete liberty sometimes permitted to eyases during the first few weeks after they can fly.
Hack
30
Small stones given orally to a hawk.
Rangle
31
A bird is likely to preen:
a. following a bath
b. when it is content
c. both a and b
d. neither a nor b"
C.
(Preening describes a birds behavior in straightening and dressing its feathers and is a sign of a well-adjusted raptor.)"
32
Cast means:
a. the act of disgorging a pellet of fur, feathers, bones, or all three
b. two falcons flown together
c. to hold or wrap a hawk so as to prevent movement
d. all of the above"
D.
(all of the above)"
33
The medieval falconer was most likely to enseam his or her bird:
a. when it was hood shy
b. immediately after capturing the bird
c. when the bird was too fat
d. when the bird was sharp-set"
C.
(when the bird was too fat - Enseam means to prepare a hawk for flying by eliminating its reserves of fat, including giving it purges like rangle or small stones to rid it of excess fat and mucus. Today, it may refer to the practice of feeding washed meat.)"
34
A hawk or falcon is most likely to put over its crop:
a. when entering a stoop
b. while being entered on new quarry
c. just before eating
d. just after eating"
D.
(just after eating - To put over a crop is to force food from the crop into the stomach by movements of the neck and shoulders. A crop has been put away when all the food in the crop has been moved into the stomach.)"
35
A bird is most likely to feak:
a. just before making a kill
b. just after taking a bath
c. just after a meal
d. just before breaking in"
C.
(just after a meal - A bird is most likely to feak just after a meal. Feaking is when a raptor wipes its beak against the perch or glove after feeding.)"
36
True of false:
The term austringer refers to one who normally flies passage falcons rather than eyases."
F.
(Austringer means one who hunts and keeps accipiters.)"
37
A passager or passage hawk is:
a. any raptor taken on migration
b. a raptor taken on its first migration
c. any intermewed raptor
d. none of the above"
B.
(a raptor taken on its first migration. - A passager is a raptor captured on its first southward migration - hence a bird in immaure plumage and of known age. First year birds captured in non-migratory situations are also called passagers.)"
38
True or False:
It is desirable that your bird crab after striking quarry."
F.
(Crabbing is a clash or fight between raptors, either in the air or on the ground.)"
39
The word strike used by a falconer means:
a. the instant of contact between a hunting raptor and either quarry or lure
b. loosening the braces or removing the hood
c. both a and b
d. neither a nor b"
C.
(both a and b - Striking can mean the moment of impact, OR loosening the braces of a hood OR removing the hood from a raptor.)"
40
The phrase rake away is used to mean:
a. to abandon the flight and careen away
b. a falcon flying low to the ground
c. the cutting down of a swift flying quarry by a slashing strike-and-pass by the Goshawk
d. none of the above"
A.
(to abandon the flight and careen away - To rake away is to abandon a flight, either at quarry or the falconer.)"
41
True or false:
Intermewed describes a medieval practice now considered archaic by North American falconers."
F.
(Intermewed means the bird has been kept a full year, including the summer period of inactivity in the mews during molting.)"
42
Drinking water is also known as:
a. yarak
b. bowsing
c. warbling
d. carrying"
B.
(bowsing - Drinking water is also known as bowsing.)"
43
A bird that is keen could also be said to be:
a. hungry
b. sharp-set
c. ready to kill
d. all of the above"
D.
(all of the above - A keen bird is hungry, sharp-set, and ready to kill.)"
44
A slip is best described at:
a. a chance at quarry
b. release of a short wing after quarry
c. the flight of a short wing after quarry
d. all of the above"
D.
(all of the above - A slip can refer to a chance at quarry, the release of a short wing after quarry, or the flight of a short wing after quarry.)"
45
The falcon in which sexual dimorphism is found in both plumage coloration and pattern is the:
a. Peregrine Falcon
b. American Kestrel
c. Gyrfalcon
d. none of the above"
B.
(American Kestrel - American Kestrels exhibit sexual dimorphism in both plumage coloration and pattern. Adult Merlin also exhibit sexual dimorphism in plumage, but the immature Merlin do not.)"
46
Which of these birds lacks the distinctive immature plumage during their first year?
a. Goshawk
b. Red-tailed Hawk
c. Merlin
d. American Kestrel"
D.
(American Kestrels differ from other falcons in that their first year plumage is very similar to their mature plumage. They also differ in the manner of first molt, in that the body plumage (not the large wing and tail feathers) are molted and replaced in the late summer. This means that the first body plumage is hardly full grown before it begins to molt.)"
47
True or False:
The American Kestrel is closely related to the Eurasian Sparrowhawk."
FALSE.
(The American Kestrel is a small falcon formerly called a sparrowhawk, whereas the Eurasian Sparrowhawk is a small Accipiter/short-winged hawk.)"
48
A small hawk alights near by, and immediately pumps its tail up and down several times. This tail pumping is a good identification field mark of a:
a. Sharp-shinned Hawk
b. American Kestrel
c. Broad-winger Hawk"
B.
(American Kestrel - Tail pumping, head bobbing, and hovering are classic field identification markers of an American Kestrel.)"
49
A very small raptor hovering 20 feet above an open field is most likely a:
a. Sharp-shinned Hawk
b. American Kestrel
c. Merlin
d. Cooper's Hawk"
B.
(American Kestrel - Tail pumping, head bobbing, and hovering are classic field identification markers of an American Kestrel.)"
50
Although in the summer this raptor employs a hunting style adapted to catching grasshoppers and mice, wintering individuals often show a more typical falcon style when capturing small birds.
a. Northern Harrier
b. American Kestrel
c. Broad-winged Hawk
d. Sharp-shinned Hawk"
B.
(American Kestrel hunt mainly insects and small mammals in the summer, but will hunt birds in the winter.)"
51
The species that is most sensitive to weight fluctuations is the:
a. Gyrfalcon
b. Red-tailed Hawk
c. Peregrine Falcon
d. American Kestrel"
D.
(American Kestrel - Due to its small size and fast metabolism, an American Kestrel's weight should be monitored regularly, particularly in cold weather.)"
52
True or False:
It is a good idea to have an American Kestrel wedded to the lure prior to flying it free."
TRUE.
(Having an American Kestrel wed to a lure is good for conditioning and recovery.)"
53
When caring for an American Kestrel, the falconer must be particularly attentive to:
a. weight management
b. other avian predators
c. injuries due to bating
d. all of the above"
D.
(all of the above - Due to the American Kestrel's small size and delicate nature, special attention must be given to weight management, injury prevention, and nearby predators.)"
54
A trait of the American Kestrel in the wild that carries over and becomes a vice when it is trained in falconry is:
a. soaring
b. warbling
c. bowsing
d. carrying"
D.
(carrying - Kestrels have a tendency to carry, which serves them well in the wild but makes for poor falconry. The tendency to carry can be overcome with consistent training.)"
55
Traditional falconry equipment items not routinely used with American Kestrels include:
a. bells
b. hood
c. traditional jesses
d. all of the above"
D.
(all of the above - Flying birds with traditional jesses is illegal. Kestrels typically become so tame that there is no need for a hood, and they are difficult to fit. Bells would have to be so light that they would be of limited use.)"
56
True or False:
In the wild, a Red-tailed Hawk will take neither game birds nor passerines."
FALSE.
(When normal food supplies are scarce, Red-tailed Hawks will hunt large waterfowl and upland game birds. They may also take corvids, gulls, owls, and other hawks. Western Red-tails live on rattlesnakes and other reptiles regularly, as they do on rodents.)"
57
The sex of Red-tailed Hawks can be predicted in most cases by:
a. weight and size
b. eye color
c. coloration of plumage
d. none of the above"
A.
(weight and size - Falconers most often use weight as the criterion for Red-tailed Hawks, with males typically being 30% smaller than the females.)"
58
A male raptor, specifically a male Peregrine Falcon
Tiercel
59
True or False:
There is no sexual dimorphism in the Red-tailed Hawk."
FALSE.
(Females are generally larger and heavier than males, and typically have larger and more powerful feet, broader and larger heads, wider wings, and a blockier overall build. Males are more spirited and temperamental, but they are also quick and have more dexterity. Females are more likely to crash into heavy cover to pursue quarry.)"
60
True or False:
Red-tailed Hawks only nest in trees."
FALSE.
(Western Red-tailed Hawks may nest on cliffs or on tall cacti. Some Red-tailed Hawks will nest on ledges of tall buildings.)"
61
In New York, Red-tailed Hawks will lay their eggs in:
a. February/March
b. March/April
c. April/May
d. May/June"
B.
(March/April - Red-tailed Hawks lay their eggs in March or early April. Incubation averages 30 days and is shared by both sexes. Egg production in most raptors varies with the climate.)"
62
When their nest tree is climbed by a human, Red-tailed Hawks usually:
a. attack the intruder
b. disappear and permanently desert the nest
c. utter vocal cries from a distance
d. sit tightly on the nest"
C.
(utter vocal cries from a distance - Eastern Red-tailed Hawks almost never attack an intruder at the nest. Western Red-tailed Hawks are sometimes more aggressive.)"
63
In the wild, Red-tailed Hawks generally fledge how many young?
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4"
B.
(2 - On average, Red-tailed Hawks successfully fledge two young.)"
64
The Red-tailed Eyas generally leaves the nest for the first time at:
a. two weeks
b. four weeks
c. six weeks
d. eight weeks"
C.
(six weeks - Young Red-tailed Hawks leave the nest at 45 days, but often return to the area in early summer.)"
65
During the fall migration, the best place to trap a passage Red-tailed Hawk in NY with a bow net or a mist net is:
a. atop a ridge running from northeast to southwest
b. atop a ridge running from east to west
c. in an agricultural valley with interlocking field and forest
c. on the beach"
A.
(atop a ridge running from northeast to southwest - Migrating hawks tend to ridge updrafts southward from ridge to ridge. The best days are fine cold days following foul weather with low to moderate winds. Red-tailed hawks will begin to migrate two weeks after the Equinox, and trapping remains good into November.)"
66
"True or false:
There are many varieties of Red-tailed Hawks in North America."
"t
(Up to 14 subspecies of Red-tailed Hawks have been described.)"
67
"The species best suited for taking rabbits is the:
a. Merlin
b. Red-tailed Hawk
c. Peregrine Falcon
d. any of the above"
"b
(Red-tailed Hawks are oriented towards ground quarry, including large rodents and rabbits. Merlins and Peregrine Falcons are oriented towards avian prey.)"
68
To properly exercise a Red-tailed Hawk:
a. block it out in a place where it will bate continuously
b. stoop it to the lure repeatedly (25-50 times)
c. fly it multiple times on a creance
d. take it to the field and hunt with it"
D.
(take it to the field and hunt with it - Regular, long walks with the bird following from tree to tree or tree to fist are most effective.)"
69
Some eyas hawks may become so aggressive when they mature that they should only be taken as passagers. The species that displays this behavior to the greatest degree is the:
a. Goshawk
b. Harris's Hawk
c. Red-tailed Hawk
d. Prairie Falcon"
C.
(Red-tailed Hawk - Eyas Red-tailed Hawks are known for their aggressive tendencies when they get older. Imprinted Red-tailed Hawks, if lost, may become a menace to humans or dogs.)"
70
Your imprint eyas Red-tailed Hawk has attacked a member of your hunting party. She binds to the person's body with both feet and hangs. Some of her talons have drawn blood and there is a danger of serious injury. The best way to remove her is to:
a. pull the hind talon of each foot backward and slide the foot forward
b. pour water on the hawk
c. throw the garnished lure or live pigeon on the ground
d. grab the hawk by its head and squeeze"
D.
(grab the hawk by its head and squeeze - In an emergency situation where there is potential serious damage to a human being, a domestic animal, or another raptor, a hawk can be removed from a bind or crabbing situation by clutching its head. When their head is grasped firmly, raptors typically let go of whatever they are doing and grab that which is binding their head. Nevertheless, this method does not always work. The next best method is a., which is also applicable in non-emergency situations.)"
71
True or False:
If your Red-tailed Hawk misbehaves, it should be disciplined immediately so that it will associate the punishment with the aberrant behavior."
FALSE.
(The non-social nature of raptors precludes any understanding by them of the use of pain or force or threat of force in their training.)"
72
True or False:
Aggression by a Red-tailed Hawk may not be manifested until its second or third year."
TRUE.
(Increased aggression toward humans and pets may develop in eyas Red-tailed Hawks upon sexual maturity.)"
73
Which raptor has the reputation for being the easiest to man?
a. passage Goshawk
b. passage Prairie Falcon
c. passage Red-tailed Hawk
d. passage Sharp-shinned Hawk"
C.
(Passage Red-tailed Hawks have the reputations for being the easiest to man out of these birds.)"
74
The reason to select an American Kestrel over a Red-tailed Hawk as your first bird is:
a. they need to be fed less often
b. they are less likely to carry
c. they are easier to keep healthy
d. none of the above are true"
D.
(none of the above are true - American Kestrels need to be fed more often, are more prone to weight issues and injury, and are more likely to carry than a Red-tailed Hawk.)"
75
Which bird is most tolerant of the cold?:
a. Red-tailed Hawk
b. Harris' Hawk
c. Aplomado falcon
d. none of the above"
A.
(Red-tailed Hawks are most tolerant of the cold.)"
76
The hunting style of a wild Red-tailed Hawk is best described as:
a. waiting-on
b. attack from above
c. perch and wait
d. none of the above"
C.
(perch and wait - Wild Red-tailed Hawks hunt in a perch and wait style.)"
77
Taking an eyas Red-tailed Hawk from the nest is preferred over trapping a passage Red-tail because:
a. they are less likely to become aggressive
b. they are easier to keep healthy
c. they are more natural hunters
d. none of the above"
D.
(none of the above)"
78
Red-tailed Hawks are commonly trained:
a. using operant conditioning techniques
b. to stoop the lure repeatedly
c. to hunt quail
d. none of the above"
A.
(Red-tailed Hawks are commonly training using operant conditioning techniques.)"
79
"The hunting style of a Kestrel most closely resembles:
a. Goshawk
b. Peregrine Falcon
c. Gyrfalcon
d. Merlin"
"d
(Merlin - Merlins and American Kestrels have very similar hunting styles.)"
80
Male Red-tailed Hawks are preferred over females because:
a. females are too clumsy to take squirrels
b. males are more agile and take jack rabbits easier
c. males are easier to man
d. none of the above"
D.
(none of the above)"
81
Your American Kestrel is most suited to hunt:
a. Quail
b. Starlings
c. English Sparrows
d. b and c above"
D.
(b and c above - American Kestrels are best suited to hunt Starlings and English Sparrows)"
82
A field aid that helps identify the American Kestrel is:
a. hovering
b. bobbing of the head
c. pumping the tail up and down upon landing
d. all of the above"
D.
(all of the above - American Kestrels can be identified by hovering, bobbing the head, or pumping the tail.)"
83
The raptor most likely to kill its prey with its powerful grip is:
a. Jack
b. Jerkin
c. Red-tailed Hawk
d. Kestrel"
C.
(Red-tailed Hawks are most likely to kill prey with their powerful grip. A jerkin is a male Gyrfalcon)"
84
Male Gyrfalcon
Jerkin
85
Male bird, specifically a kestrel or merlin
Jack
86
Defining characteristics of true falcons include:
a. possessing heavy crushing feet
b. having a toothed or notched beak
c. feeding only on birds
d. having the most maneuverability"
B.
(having a toothed or notched beak - All true falcons in the genus Falco have tomial teeth on the maxilla, and notches on the mandible, used for severing the spinal cord of their prey.)"
87
True or False:
Large falcons kill their prey primarily by the tremendous gripping power of their feet."
FALSE.
(Falcons are known for subduing their prey quickly by severing its spinal cord with their beak.)"
88
The hawks that dispatch their vertebrate prey by severing their spinal cord are the:
a. Falcons
b. Buteos
c. Accipiters
d. Eagles"
A.
(Falcons - Falcons are known for subduing their prey quickly by severing its spinal cord with their beak.)"
89
The bird least likely to slice is the:
a. Peregrine Falcon
b. Red-tailed Hawk
c. Golden Eagle
d. Goshawk"
A.
(Peregrine Falcon - Slicing is the forcible discharge of excrement by Accipiters, Buteos, and eagles; all Falcons drop their mutes straight down after they have left the eyrie.)"
90
Stick nests are not built by:
a. Accipiters
b. true falcons
c. Buteos
d. Eagles"
B.
(True falcons do not build their own nests. They use ledges, hollow trees, old nests of other species, and manmade structures for nesting. Caracaras and forest falcons, however, do.)"
91
True or false:
In the case of most falcons, the male does most of the hunting for about the first two weeks after the young hatch."
TRUE.
(The male will do most hunting while the young are very small. As the young grow and their demands for food increase, both birds will seek food.)"
92
The species that is most apt to occupy and defend the largest territory is the:
a. Gyrfalcon
b. Northern Harrier
c. Cooper's Hawk
d. American Kestrel"
A.
(Gryfalcon - Generally, the larger the bird the more territory is needed.)"
93
The largest of the following birds is the:
a. Jerkin
b. Jack Merlin
c. Peregrine Falcon
d. Peregrine tiercel"
A.
(Jerkin - The jerkin, a male Gyrfalcon, is larger on average that the others. Female Peregrine Falcons may have some overlap is weight.)"
94
The Peregrine Falcon:
a. exists on all continents except Antarctica
b. lays more eggs per clutch than any other species of raptor
c. preys on all other species
d. has no species that competes with it except man"
A.
(exists on all continents except Antarctica - Some variant of Peregrine Falcon exists on all continents except Antarctica and all major islands except New Zealand and Iceland.)"
95
A malar stripe is likely to be found on a(n):
a. Peregrine Falcon
b. Ptarmigan
c. Mollen hood
d. Ornate Hawk Eagle"
A.
(Peregrine Falcon - In any plumage, the real mark of the Peregrine is the face bar, known as the mask or malar stripe. It is a broad dark mark extending downward from the crown across the eye.)"
96
True or False:
The skin and scale areas of adult Prairie Falcons differ from those of immature individuals."
TRUE.
(The easiest and most reliable method of identifying a first year Prairie Falcon is by examining the skin and scale areas. The feet, cere, and eyelids of first year birds are blue - in adults, yellow.)"
97
True or False:
The Peregrine Falcon has a tail relatively longer than that of a Prairie Falcon and Gyrfalcon."
FALSE.
(The Peregrine Falcon's tail is proportionally shorter than that of the Prairie Falcon or Gyrfalcon.)"
98
The incubation period for Peregrine Falcon eggs is:
a. 21 days
b. 24 days
c. 33 to 34 days
d. 40 to 45 days"
C.
(33 to 34 days - Peregrine Falcons take 33 to 34 days to hatch.)"
99
The large dark Peregrine Falcon that dwells in the Pacific Northwest from Washington state to British Columbia, Southeastern Alaska and the Aleutians is known as:
a. American Peregrine
b. Peale's Peregrine
c. Tundra Peregrine
d. European Peregrine"
B.
(Peale's Peregrine - Peale's Peregrine (Falco peregrinus pealei) are a strictly maritime subspecies dwelling along the Pacific Northwest coast.)"
100
What does Assateague mean to the North American falconer?
a. a piece of fine silk used in classic falconry to seal the eyes of newly captured birds
b. an iron deficiency which first shows up in the mutes of anemic birds
c. a major concentration point on the eastern migration route of the Tundra Peregrine
d. the Crow Indian name for a young Peregrine Falcon"
C.
(a major concentration point on the eastern migration route of the Tundra Peregrine - Young Peregrines migrate from the Arctic to South America, and Assateague Island was for many years the catching place of many wild caught Peregrines.)"
101
A Peregrine Falcon is best known for:
a. short bursts of speed
b. waiting-on flights
c. long pursuits lasting miles
d. crashing into heavy brush from treetops"
B.
(waiting-on flights - Peregrine Falcons are best known for waiting-on flights, where they soar in circles waiting for quarry, which they will then take in a stoop.)"
102
To soar either circling or hanging on the wind, waiting for quarry. The bird will then stoop at the quarry.
Wait on
103
A Peregrine Falcon is best described as:
a. smaller than a Merlin
b. delicate and sensitive to cold
c. migratory coastal falcon
d. difficult to man"
D.
(Peregrine Falcons are described as difficult to man.)"
104
Large falcons are known to capture their prey by:
a. binding
b. striking
c. intermewed
d. a and b above"
D.
(Large falcons capture their prey by striking and binding)"
105
Cooper's Hawks are best suited for hunting:
a. duck
b. quail
c. jackrabbit
d. pheasant"
B.
(quail - Cooper's Hawks are best suited for hunting quail)"
106
Parabuteos utilized for falconry in North America:
a. are best suited for hunting Arctic hare
b. may be hunted in groups
c. are avoided because they are difficult to man
d. none of the above"
B.
(may be hunted in groups - Parabuteos (Harris's Hawk and White-rumped Hawk) may be hunted in groups.)"
107
Male sharp-shinned hawks are well suited for hunting:
a. quail
b. English sparrows
c. rabbits
d. pheasant"
B.
(English sparrows - Male sharp-shinned hawks are well-suited for hunting English sparrows.)"
108
The bird most commonly used by falconers during the sixteenth century was:
a. Red-tailed Hawk
b. Harris's Hawk
c. Cooper's Hawk
d. Peregrine Falcon"
D.
(Peregrine Falcon - Peregrine Falcons were most commonly used during the sixteenth century.)"
109
A wild haggard falcon:
a. represents wild breeding stock
b. is considered more difficult to train than passages
c. is unsafe to handle
d. a and b above"
D.
(a and b above - Wild haggard falcons represent wild breeding stock, and are considered more difficult to train than passages.)"
110
A Ferruginous Hawk:
a. tends to be larger than a Red-tailed Hawk
b. will not defend its nest
c. is a Parabuteo
d. a and b above"
A.
(tends to be larger than a Red-tailed Hawk - A Ferruginous Hawk is a Buteo larger than a Red-tailed Hawk and tends to fiercely defend its nest)"
111
Which raptor does not fit with the others?
a. Jack
b. Jerkin
c. Musket
d. Tiercel"
C.
(Musket - A Musket is a male sparrowhawk, which is an Accipiter.)"
112
Which raptor is least likely to build it's own nest?
a. Musket
b. Red-tailed Hawk
c. Jack
d. Marsh Hawk"
C.
(Jacks, or male Merlins, do not build their own nests; they reuse old crow, raven, magpie, or hawk nests, making few, if any, modifications to the original nest. They only rarely reuse a nest in subsequent years. The dimensions of the nest can vary greatly depending on which species' nest they reuse.)"
113
Which raptor is least likely to nest on a cliff?
a. Jerkin
b. Golden Eagle
c. Prairie Falcon
d. Jack"
D.
(Jack - Jacks are not likely to nest on cliffs.)"
114
A young peregrine falcon is most likely to fledge at:
a. six to seven weeks of age
b. two to three months of age
c. twelve to fourteen weeks of age
d. none of the above"
"a
(six to seven weeks of age - A young peregrine falcon is most likely to fledge at six to seven weeks of age)"
115
"A goshawk nest is most likely to be encountered:
a. in suburban woodlots
b. in the edge of a woodlot near open meadows
c. in a coniferous forest
d. on cliffs"
C.
(A goshawk nest is most likely encountered in a coniferous forest. Nest site is in tree, often in deciduous tree in mixed forest, at a major crotch in the trunk. Height varies, commonly 25-50' above ground, sometimes 15-75' up.)
116
Which raptor is most likely to travel the longest distance during its migration?
a. Merlin
b. Prairie Falcon
c. Goshawk
d. Gyrfalcon"
A.
(Merlin travel the furthest during their migration, out of these options.)"
117
A black, raven-size raptor with a white band at the base of the tail and chestnut/rust colored upper shoulders best describes a:
a. Cooper's Hawk
b. Red-shouldered Hawk
c. Harris's Hawk
d. Broad-winged Hawk"
C.
(Harris's Hawk are black or very dark brown, raven-size birds with a white band at the base of the tail and chestnut/rust colored upper shoulders.)"
118
Which of the following is true?
a. a haggard was once an eyass
b. an eyass hawk was once a haggard
c. a passage bird was once an eyass
d. both a and c above"
D.
(both a and c above - Both haggard and passage birds were once eyasses.)"
119
When a falconer is attempting to call their bird, a visitor should:
a. stay back and be still
b. not get between the falconer and the bird
c. walk toward the bird
d. both a and b above"
D.
(both a and b above - When a falconer is attempting to call their bird, visitors should stay back and be still, and not get between the falconer and the bird.)"
120
Drinking water is also known as:
a. yarak
b. bowsing
c. warbling
d. carrying"
B.
(bowsing)"
121
Manning your newly-caught Red-tailed Hawk is best accomplished:
a. outdoors from day one
b. by starving weight off quickly
c. using food to encourage a response
d. by feeding a full crop daily"
C.
(using food to encourage a response - Using food to encourage a response for your newly-caught Red-tailed Hawk is an example of positive reinforcement training.)"
122
The benefits of hunting your bird frequently include:
a. providing a good diet of wild caught game
b. providing excellent exercise for your bird
c. strengthening the bond between you and your bird
d. all of the above"
D.
(all of the above - Hunting your bird frequently provides the benefits of providing both exercise and a good diet for your bird, strengthening the bond between you and your bird.)"
123
Your freshly caught Red-tailed Hawk tires of bating off the fist and sits quietly, your next goal should be to:
a. enter it on wild game
b. lure fly it
c. get it to feed off the fist
d. tie it to your block perch"
C.
(get it to feed off the fist - After a bird is comfortable enough to sit on the glove, you should try to feed it on the glove to encourage this behavior)"
124
Hacking a bird refers to:
a. introducing it to game
b. releasing a passage to fly free
c. allowing a young bird to mature in a chamber
d. none of the above"
D.
(none of the above - Hacking refers to allowing an immature bird to come and go as it pleases while still providing food and shelter. The falconer will then recapture the bird just before it takes off for migration)"
125
Your new Red-tailed Hawk appears to tame after just one day out of the trap. You should:
a. frighten the bird to get it back on course
b. call your sponsor and follow their instructions
c. take it hunting
d. release it and trap a new bird"
B.
(call your sponsor and follow their instructions - Any time you have questions or concerns about your bird, you should contact your sponsor immediately for advice.)"
126
Use of a lure may be desired when:
a. a bird is being trained
b. when an immediate recall of your bird is necessary
c. when recalling your bird from a great distance
d. all of the above"
D.
(all of the above - Lures are useful to train your bird to recall, whether that be of immediate concern or just over a great distance.)"
127
Your Red-tailed Hawk appears too keen prior to hunting. You should:
a. give it a rangle
b. use a halsband while hunting
c. tame-hack it
d. none of the above"
D.
(none of the above - If the bird is too keen, feed it and do not hunt for the day.)"
128
Your Red-tailed Hawk is well manned and flying to the fist on a creance. When do you feel comfortable flying it free?
a. when it quickly comes to 10 feet to the fist
b. when it quickly comes 10 feet to the lure
c. when it quickly comes 50 feet to the lure
d. when it quickly comes 50 yards to the fist"
D.
(When the bird quickly comes 50 yards to the fist, it may be ready to free fly.)"
129
You know an American Kestrel tends to carry. To help prevent this, you should:
a. use a lightweight lure
b. only fly it when it is in yarak
c. use a weighted lure line
d. use a halsband while flying"
C.
(Use a weighted lure line to discourage a kestrel from carrying, as it will slow them gently instead of stopping them short.)"
130
Training a Peregrine Falcon to take a pitch may be accomplished by:
a. training with homing pigeons
b. training with a kite
c. flying ground quarry
d. a and b above"
D.
(to train a Peregrine to take a pitch, train with homing pigeons or a kite.)"
131
Flying your hawk in April may be risky because:
a. they are more likely to get electrocuted
b. migratory urges may resurface
c. they are more likely to warble
d. the game is harder to catch"
B.
(Flying your bird in April is risky because the bird may have migratory urges resurface.)"
132
The first time you fly your Red-tailed Hawk free, he refuses to come down from a tree. You are forced to leave him out for the night. Your next step should be:
a. arrive before dawn the next morning to try and recover him
b. set up a bow net to the south and try to re-trap him on his migration
c. call your sponsor and ask for advice
d. a and c above are correct"
D.
(a and c - If you encounter any problems with your bird, contact your sponsor immediately. In the case of a bird who will not return, try to recall him early the next morning.)"
133
Your lost passage Red-tailed Hawk is likely to:
a. look for new people to hunt with
b. return to your mews
c. revert back to the wild in short order
d. starve if you don't recover it quickly"
C.
(Lost birds are likely to revert back to their wild nature very quickly.)"
134
Which of the following statements is true regarding lure-flying?
a. it is an ancient practice that has no place in modern falconry
b. it is a useful tool for conditioning any hawk
c. it is a useful tool for conditioning any falcon
d. it is likely to make your Red-tailed Hawk fist bound"
C.
(it is a useful tool for conditioning any falcon - Although some hawks may be trained to the lure, typically falcons are most responsive to lure-flying.)"
135
The best description of an operant conditioning technique is:
a. pinching your birds to after not jumping to the fist
b. jump ups to the fist with a varying reward
c. withholding food after not jumping to the fist
d. none of the above"
B.
(jump ups to the fist with a varying reward - Operant conditioning may utilize positive reinforcement, such as rewarding a bird to increase a desired behavior.)"
136
Your objective when training your hawk is:
a. to make it as tame as possible
b. train it to accept you as its owner and master
c. show it affection so that it will like you
d. none of the above"
A.
(to make it as tame as possible.)"
137
After hunting your Red-tailed Hawk for a season you decide to keep her through the molt. Your goal should be:
a. to keep her sharp-set through the molt
b. enseam her through the molt
c. add about 20% to her flying weight
d. feed her as much as she can eat each day"
C.
(add about 20% to her flying weight - Because molting is energy-expensive, you want to up your birds weight to ensure proper nutritional and energy levels throughout the feather formation period.)"
138
Which type of raptor starts molting its outermost primary first then proceeds in sequence to the innermost primary?
a. falcons
b. buteos
c. accipiters
d. none of the above"
D.
(none of the above - Accipiters, Buteos, and Parabuteos molt from the innermost primary out, in sequential order. Falcons molt with the 4th primary and proceed in both directions.)"
139
When training your first Red-tailed Hawk, your objective with hooding should be:
a. be patient, calm, relaxed, and give it a good try
b. only use the giant hood
c. resign yourself to having a hood-shy bird
d. a and c above"
A.
(be patient, calm, relaxed, and give it a good try. Hooding can be a difficult process, but staying calm, patient, and relaxed will help the process.)"
140
Acceptable quarry for a new hawk may include:
a. squirrel
b. rabbit
c. quail
d. all of the above"
D.
(all of the above - New hawks may take squirrels, rabbits, quail, and other small birds and mammals.)"
141
When looking for a duck flight for your new bird, you would ideally:
a. fly larger water to encourage a good pitch
b. fly a single or small group of ducks
c. encourage your bird to take a duck off the surface of the water
d. none of the above"
B.
(fly a single or small group of ducks - Flying a single or small group of ducks will increase the likelihood of your bird having a successful hunt.)"
142
Your Red-tailed Hawk will have more success hunting if:
a. it is hunting from trees or poles
b. you carry it on an elevated T perch
c. you hunt it from the fist
d. a and b above"
D.
(a and b above - Red-tailed Hawks will have the most success hunting if flown from a high point like a tree, pole, or T perch.)"
143
The raptor most likely to capture prey in a ringing flight style is:
a. Goshawk
b. Merlin
c. American Kestrel
d. Red-tailed Hawk"
B.
(Merlins are most likely to capture prey in a ringing flight style, which means to circle until they mount their pitch.)"
144
Use of a live-lure is necessary:
a. whenever hunting a Goshawk
b. Whenever hunting a Red-tailed Hawk
c. never
d. only in an emergency"
D.
(Live-lures are only necessary in the case of an emergency)"
145
The benefit of using a lure with any bird includes:
a. they encourage your bird to tail-chase
b. they carry no diseases your bird can catch
c. there is not benefit
d. none of the above"
D.
(Advantages to using a lure include the ability to recall your bird in emergency situations or over long distances)"
146
Male Red-tailed Hawks are preferred over females because:
a. females are too clumsy to take squirrels
b. males are more agile and take jack rabbits easier
c. males are easier to man
d. none of the above"
D.
(none of the above)"
147
Making in to your Red-tailed Hawk on her first kill should be:
a. done deliberately and cautiously
b. avoided until she has eaten her fill
c. done quickly so you can take the quarry from her and resume hunting
d. left to your sponsor"
A.
(done deliberately and cautiously - Making in to any bird on a kill should be done deliberately and cautiously.)"
148
A kestrel is best suited to hunt:
a. Quail
b. Starlings
c. English Sparrows
d. b and c above"
D.
(b and c above - American Kestrels are suited for hunting small birds, such as Starlings and English Sparrows.)"
149
The best way to catch a starling with your American Kestrel is:
a. from a high waiting on pitch
b. in a ringing flight
c. from close range while they are bathing
d. not possible"
C.
(from close range while they are bathing - The best way to catch a starling with a Kestrel is from close range while the starling is distracted by something such as bathing.)"
150
Jack rabbits make for difficult quarry because:
a. they seek thick cover
b. they are fast and good at dodging
c. they are big for a Red-tailed Hawk
d. none of the above"
B.
(they are fast and good at dodging - Jack rabbits are fast and good at dodging, which make for difficult quarry.)"
151
Cooper's hawks are most commonly hunted:
a. from power poles
b. from a commanding pitch
c. from the fist
d. none of the above"
C.
(Cooper's hawks are commonly hunted from the fist.)"
152
Hunting upland game with a Goshawk is aided by:
a. a good pointing dog
b. a good flushing dog
c. a large group of people beating the bush
d. a and b above"
D.
(Hunting upland game with a Goshawk is aided by a good pointing and hunting dog.)"
153
Bagged quarry is:
a. necessary to get your new Red-tailed hawk killing wild game
b. used extensively to train a long wing
c. necessary to teach an eyass how to kill
d. none of the above"
D.
(none of the above - All birds retain their instinct to hunt, and bagged quarry is not normally necessary to teach them.)"
154
Entering your new bird is best described as:
a. serving pigeons to your long wing
b. giving your bird an easy chance to chase new quarry
c. an ancient practice now deemed unnecessary
d. none of the above"
B.
(giving your bird an easy chance to chase new quarry.)"
155
A slip is best described as:
a. a chance at quarry
b. release of a short wing after quarry
c. the flight of a short wing after quarry
d. all of the above"
D.
(all of the above - A slip is a term used to describe a chance at quarry, the release of a short wing after quarry, or the flight of a short wing after quarry.)"
156
After a falcon strikes its quarry it is likely to:
a. rake away
b. throw-up
c. cast
d. stoop"
B.
(throw-up - Throwing-up is to pull out of a stoop and rise at a steep pitch on foxed wings without flapping.)"
157
Female American Kestrels are preferred over males because they:
a. train easier
b. handle English Sparrows better
c. hunt better
d. none of the above"
D.
(none of the above)
158
A pheasant is most likely taken by a Goshawk:
a. on the first flush
b. in the morning
c. on a reflush
d. after sunset"
C.
(on a reflush - Pheasants are most likely taken by a Goshawk on a reflush.)
159
When walking with a falconer carrying an unhooded hawk, a person should always walk:
a. in front of the falconer
b. behind the falconer
c. to the right of a right-handed falconer
d. to the right of a left-handed falconer
C.
(to the right of a right-handed falconer - For the safety of the bird and persons, a person should always walk to the right of a right-handed falconer with an unhooded hawk, unless specifically instructed otherwise by the trainer)
160
True or False:
Some falconers prefer to man wild raptors outdoors to avoid overheating."
True.
(It is easier to man a freshly captured hawk inside before exposing it to outdoor distractions, but initial manning should occur either outside or in an outbuilding where it is cool so they don't overheat. The birds may expend a lot of energy bating and may be nervous.)
161
True or False:
A hungry raptor can be trained more quickly than one that is not hungry."
TRUE.
(When hungry, raptors will respond significantly faster than when they are well-fed. Its attention must be focused through the medium of daily feeding.)"
162
True or False:
Falconers prefer their birds to be sharp-set before they enter the field to hunt."
True.
(Sharp-set means hungry, keen, and sharp, which indicates and alert state and a readiness to kill.)"
163
Raptors are most effectively trained:
a. by a system of punishment
b. by a system of rewards
c. by a system of rewards and punishment
d. none of these, raptors do not respond to either"
B.
(by a system of rewards - Raptors are not social animals, so typically don't respond well to punishment. A reward-based system is most effective.)
164
True or False:
Hawks should not be made too tame, but should be encourage to retain their wild nature."
False.
(Tameness is encouraged at all times, to encourage confidence and trust in the trainer. This will make the bird have a better attitude, and later more success as a hunter.)"
165
True or False:
Due to their greater hunting experience, passagers are more proficient hunters than haggards."
False.
(A passage bird, being a first year bird, has less experience than a haggard (adult). Haggards are generally more proficient but less trainable than passages. It is illegal to remove haggards from the wild for falconry.)"
166
True or False:
A five year-old bird can never be accurately described as an eyass.
False:
(An eyass is a trained raptor of any age or species that was originally obtained as a nestling. It can also describe young raptors still in the nest.)
167
Hacking is a process whereby:
a. young Accipiters or Red-tailed Hawks are allowed to get fully summed in a large chamber
b. young raptors are allowed full flight freedom till they begin to kill for themselves
c. haggards and passage birds are quickly manned
d. none of the above"
B.
(young raptors are allowed full flight freedom till they begin to kill for themselves - Hacking refers to allowing an immature bird to come and go as it pleases while still providing food and shelter. The falconer will then recapture the bird just before it takes off for migration)
168
The chief advantage of tame-hack is:
a. flight experience at critical development stages
b. provides critical hunting experience
c. sibling play experience
d. all of the above"
D.
(Tame-hacking gives early free flying experience to fledgling raptors in close association with their trainer. The trainer allows the birds to fly free for a few hours each day from a portable perch in a hack field. They are flown with telemetry and recaptured each evening.)"
169
True or False:
It is advisable to take an eyass Red-tailed Hawk for falconry purposes."
FALSE.
(An eyass bird may imprint and become aggressive later in life. Such a bird cannot be released back into the wild.)
170
True or False:
A good rule for avoiding screaming is to take the hawk to the food, not the food to the hawk."
TRUE.
(Eyass birds should be handled every day but never let to associate the trainer with food. Mirrors can keep the eyass company and help keep it from imprinting.)"
171
One method of breaking a bird of the bad habit of snatching food from the fist and bating with it is to:
a. feed the bird rangle
b. feed the bird tidbits from the fist
c. use a halsband to restrain the bird from bating
d. conceal small amounts of Tabasco sauce or other foul tasting food in the carcass of a day old chick and allow the bird to bate with it"
B.
(feed the bird tidbits from the fist - This habit reflects poor early training. To fix or avoid it, the falconer should permit their bird to eat only off the fist, using only small portions.)"
172
During early training, carrying can be discouraged by:
a. holding or securing the lure
b. using a brail
c. forcibly removing food from the raptor
d. quickly making in to a raptor on its kill"
A.
(holding or securing the lure - By fastening the lure to a stationary object, carrying can be discouraged early on.)"
173
True or False:
It is desirable that your falcon binds after striking quarry."
TRUE.
(Binding is to seize the quarry with the feet and hold it either in the air or on the ground.)"
174
Your falcon is most likely to throw-up:
a. following a meal of rancid meat
b. following a stoop, particularly after the quarry successfully dodges it
c. while sitting on a perch
d. while taking a bath"
B.
(following a stoop, particularly after the quarry successfully dodges it - Throwing-up is to rise steeply on outstretched wings particularly after a stoop.)"
175
Vomiting the content of the stomach or crop
Cast gourge
176
True or False
Yarak is utterly a function of a bird's hunger.
FALSE.
(Yarak is an East Indian word describing a savage state unique to certain birds of prey. It describes extreme readiness to kill, including a certain dangerous-looking posture. Some birds in yarak will attack anything including cattle, dogs, their trainer, etc.. It is partially linked to hunger. Birds on a regular feeding schedule will come into yarak well before feeding time. Falcons and owls almost never go into yarak)
177
The development of hunting skills in all proficient hunting hawks is based upon:
a. sentimental attachment and obedience to the falconer
b. the development and encouragement of their inherent instinct for hunting
c. hunger
d. the falconer's master of the hawk's inherent savagery called yarak"
B.
(the development and encouragement of their inherent instinct for hunting - The development in birds of prey of the desire and will to hunt and kill is linked to the care of their young. The best falconry birds will hunt their own normal prey when they are high above their flying weight and not in a state of yarak.)"
178
True or False:
It is desirable that your bird crab after striking a quarry."
FALSE.
(Crabbing is a clash or fight between raptors.)"
179
A good reason to stop flying your bird before the start of spring is:
a. frequency of soaring weather
b. resurgence of latent migration urges
c. influx of many migrating passerine birds
d. all of the above"
D.
(all of the above - Spring is a dangerous seaon to fly any bird. Molt beings in April and hormonal changes may lead the bird to migrate or seek a mate. Updrafts due to atmospheric turnover may carry your bird, and they rarely return.)"
180
The best reason not to fly your bird during the molt is:
a. a hawk may break a blood feather
b. it is too hard to see quarry when the leaves are on the trees
c. feather growth is energy-demanding and the birds must be fed more
d. all of the above"
D.
(all of the above - Falconry birds are to be kept in high condition to promote feather growth and development, but that makes birds harder to recall. Blood feathers could break, impacting health and feather condition.)"
181
It is most useful to enter your bird:
a. when it is unfamiliar with the surrounding landscape
b. when it is unfamiliar with a particular quarry that you wish to hunt
c. before it is registered at a falconry meet
d. before transportation in an unfamiliar container"
B.
(when it is unfamiliar with a particular quarry that you wish to hunt - Entering a bird is the practice of introducing it to a quarry it has not interacted with before. The falconer creates a situation that maximizes the birds opportunity for success and allows the bird to feed up if successful.)"
182
True or False:
The scream of an eyass hawk frightens game from the field and forest."
FALSE.
(There is no evidence that quarry hunted by hawks associate the sounds of the hawk with the hawk itself.)"
183
True or False:
A cock pheasant is easier for most birds to catch on the fly than a hen but is more troublesome on the ground."
TRUE.
(The cock pheasant is slower than the hen and probably easier to follow. Their spurs make them formidable to a hawk on the ground.)"
184
True or False:
A pheasant takes cover after being chased by your hawk for several hundred yards. The hawk is in a perch above the cover. If you flush the pheasant again, the hawk is likely to take it in the air."
TRUE.
(Adult pheasants are seldom taken on the first flush and usually pull away from a hawk. The second flush is often more successful for the hawk.)"
185
A falcon at high altitude is more likely to take:
a. a female mallard that breaks from the flock in a steep climb over land
b. a female mallard that breaks from the flock and drops low over a lake
c. a cock pheasant that remains on the ground and offers to fight
d. a homing pigeon flying in a small tight flock"
A.
(a female mallard that breaks from the flock in a steep climb over land - Falcons typically attack an individuals that break from the flock. They are reluctant to take waterfowl over large bodies of water, and aggressive quarry is discouraging to most birds.)"
186
True or False:
A pursued duck is as loathe to fly into trees or brush as a falcon."
TRUE.
(Trees and cover do not have as much effect on waterfowl flights, because ducks are rare to attempt to enter cover or hide. If a duck is trying to hide, they are very difficult to find again.)"
187
The live-lure should:
a. never be used
b. only be used in an emergency
c. be used whenever the raptor fails to take quarry
d. be used when no wild quarry can be produced"
B.
(only be used in an emergency - The purpose of a live-lure is to get the bird out of a dangerous situation or to retrieve a bird that is almost certain to become lost.)"
188
A pellet or casting found under your bird's perch in the morning is:
a. the first sign of frounce
b. a normal bowel movement
c. a foul-smelling bacterial infection
d. the indigestible portion of the raptor's last meal"
D.
(the indigestible portion of a raptor's last meal)"
189
A bath pan is not necessary for your bird because:
a. they don't like to bathe
b. they don't drink water
c. they cause sour crop
d. none of the above"
D.
(none of the above - Always provide fresh water for your bird, for both drinking and bathing.)"
190
Fed equal amounts of the following, a raptor is likely to gain the most weight from:
a. duck
b. chicken neck
c. washed meat
d. rabbit"
A.
(duck - Of the options, duck has the highest calorie yield.)"
191
A mews should provide all of the following:
a. protection from predators
b. protection from the elements
c. good ventilation
d. all of the above"
D.
(all of the above - Mews should provide protection from both predators and the elements, and good ventilation.)"
192
Your new Red-tailed Hawk bends some feathers while hunting. Unsure what to do, you should:
a. cut them off at the bend and imp in new feathers
b. call your sponsor and ask for advice
c. soak them in leather softening oil
d. pluck the feathers"
B.
(call your sponsor and ask for advice - Any time you have a question or concern about your bird, contact your sponsor for advice.)"
193
The apprentice falconer should best judge his raptor's condition daily by:
a. checking feather condition
b. weighing
c. feeling the keel
d. checking for yarak"
B.
(weighing - Birds should typically be weighed at least once a day.)"
194
The gram scale can be used to weigh:
a. American Kestrels
b. Peregrine Falcons
c. Gyrfalcons
d. all of the above"
D.
(all of the above - All but the heaviest of species can be weighed using a gram scale for best weight management)"
195
During the hunting season your new Red-tailed Hawk should be weighed:
a. once a week
b. whenever you go hawking
c. once a day
d. when they seem fat"
C.
(once a day - Birds should typically be weighed at least once a day.)"
196
Fret marks on the feathers of a new bird is the result of:
a. arrested feather development
b. stress
c. both a and b
d. none of the above"
C.
(both a and b - Fret marks can be caused by any number of things including stress, nutritional deficiencies, malnutrition, etc..)"
197
A passage hawk is most likely to break tail feathers if:
a. you use a tail saver
b. you hunt quail
c. you keep it on an improper perch
d. you allow it to mantle"
C.
(you keep it on an improper perch - Birds should be kept on proper sized perches for tail, foot, and overall health.)"
198
The chalky white substance in a hawk's mute is:
a. the urates from the kidneys
b. the feces from the digestive tract
c. abnormal and cause for concern
d. undigested food"
A.
(the urates from the kidneys - Mutes typically consist of two parts: the urates, a chalky white substance, and the feces, which are dark in smaller)"
199
A falcon is most commonly kept on a:
a. screen perch
b. ring perch
c. block perch
d. bow perch"
C.
(block perch - Falcons are most commonly kept on a block perch.)"
200
A pigeon wing makes a good tiring. They can be used to:
a. keep a bird's beak trim
b. aid in manning a bird
c. provide a nutritious meal
d. a and b above"
D.
(Pigeon wings make a good tiring, and can be used to keep a bird's beak trim and aid in manning a bird, as well as keeping the bird occupied for longer periods of time)"
201
A bird's flight weight:
a. stays constant at all times
b. may vary based on temperature
c. is best maintained with a diet of washed meat
d. a and c above"
B.
(may vary based on temperature - During colder weather, a bird's flight weight may be higher in order to preserve body temperature.)"
202
Protecting a bird from direct sunlight during the heat of summer:
a. is not necessary as they are desert birds
b. is the best way to get them vitamin D
c. is necessary as they can overheat
d. a and b above"
C.
(is necessary as they can overheat - Birds should have access to sunlight, but also a reprieve from it that they can easily access.)"
203
A bird that feaks after eating is:
a. generally content and healthy
b. cleaning its beak
c. not well and you should consult your sponsor
d. a and b above"
D.
(a and b above - Feaking is a natural behavior to clean the beak, and indicates a healthy and comfortable bird.)"
204
A giant hood for a passage hawk:
a. is an ancient piece of equipment that has proved to be unnecessary
b. is only useful during manning
c. may be useful for the entire season
d. prevents the need for sealing"
C.
(may be useful for the entire season)"
205
Imping your new passage Red-tailed Hawk requires:
a. the aid of your sponsor
b. glue
c. an imping peg
d. all of the above"
D.
(all of the above - Imping is the process of replacing a broken feather with an undamaged one by gluing the shaft of the replacement feather onto the broken shaft.)"
206
Bells are best attached to:
a. the legs
b. the tail
c. around the neck
d. any of the above may apply"
D.
(any of the above may apply - Bells may be attached to the legs, the tail, or around the neck.)"
207
A bewit is used to attach
a. bells around the neck
b. bells to the tarsi
c. jesses to the tarsi
d. a swivel to the jesses"
B.
(bells to the tarsi - Bewits are devices, usually small strips of leather that attach bells/other hardware to the bird's leg. If something other than leather is used, it should be attached to the anklet, not the leg.)"
208
Which of the following is not necessary for a newly trapped bird?
a. a glove
b. a swivel
c. a transmitter
d. a leash"
C.
(a transmitter)"
209
Using too thin of an Aylmeri bracelet may cause:
a. excessive bating
b. damage to the tarsi
c. damage to the cere
d. a hanging alula"
B.
(damage to the tarsi - Leather anklets and jesses designed by the late Guy Aylmeri, may be used as a replacement for traditional jesses.)"
210
Which of the following is true?
a. Dutch hoods are easily made without the aid of a block
b. Anglo hoods are easily made without the aid of a block
c. Arab hoods have no place in North American falconry
d. a and c are both true"
B.
(Anglo hoods are easily made without the aid of a block)"
211
A giant hood is:
a. a box for carrying a hawk
b. good for a hood-shy hawk
c. large leather hood used for eagles
d. a and b are both true"
D.
(a giant hood is both a box for carrying a hawk and a large leather hood used for eagles.)"
212
The best perch for tethering a Red-tailed Hawk outdoors is:
a. a screen perch
b. a block perch
c. a ring perch
d. none of the above"
C.
(a ring perch allows the bird better movement when tethered.)"
213
A block perch is best suited for which raptor?
a. Goshawk
b. Red-tailed Hawk
c. Falcon
d. Red-shouldered Hawk"
C.
(Falcon)"
214
A cadge is used to:
a. restrain a bird
b. secure a hawk during training exercises
c. give direction to a transmitter signal
d. transport a bird to the field"
D.
(transport a bird to the field - A cadge is a frame serving as a perch used to carry several birds at once.)"
215
Braces are used to:
a. restrain a bating bird
b. strike a hood
c. enseam a hawk
d. enter a hawk"
B.
(strike a hood - Braces are adjustable strings that tighten and loosen the hood.)"
216
A raptor at hack should be taken up:
a. when it starts hunting
b. just before midnight
c. at least two weeks before the Autumnal Equinox
d. after two weeks of complete freedom"
A.
(when it starts hunting - Hacking is to develop the lungs and muscles of young birds fully while keeping them dependent on man for food. When they first indicate a desire to start hunting, they should be caught and trained.)"
217
Falconers generally prefer that falcons take the lure:
a. from a steep dive flying downwind
b. from a steep dive flying upwind
c. on a low raking approach downwind
d. on a low raking approach upwind"
A.
(from a steep dive flying downwind - Young falcons make a circle so as to approach the lure flying into the wind and with a low-raking approach. Falconers want a downwind steep dive at the lure because the bird will be able to try after a miss so long as it climbs again.)"
218
A raptor maintains its weight on 2 ounces of whole pigeon per day. If fed 2 ounces of rabbit per day, a falconer would expect the rabbit to:
a. gain weight
b. maintain the same weight
c. lose weight
d. some would lose while others would gain"
C.
(lose weight - Pigeon is a relatively rich food, but rabbit is more lean. Pigeon are also dangerous to feed because they may carry fatal herpes.)"
219
A good tiring would be:
a. chicken breast
b. day-old chick
c. beef heart
d. game bird wing"
D.
(A game bird wing with very little meat is ideal tiring. Tiring is any tough part of a quarry which is given to a bird to tear and work on, rather than as nourishment.)"
220
A bent feather should be:
a. cut off at the bend and a new one imped in
b. pulled out
c. immersed in hot water
d. treated with neatsfoot oil"
C.
(immersed in hot water - A bent feather should be dipped in hot, but not boiling, water to straighten them out immediately)"
221
True or False:
Newly caught Accipiters tend to break feathers more frequently than most hawks."
TRUE.
(Accipiters are much worse at damaging their plumage than are falcons, RTHA, or Harris's Hawks.)"
222
If a remige (primary or secondary) is broken, it is best to:
a. repair the feather by imping
b. wait until natural molting occurs
c. pluck out the feather stump to stimulate growth of a replacement feather
d. leave it alone - do nothing"
A.
(repair the feather by imping - It is best to repair a broken remige by imping it, because plucking it may prevent the feather from ever growing again if the follicle is damaged.)"
223
True or False:
A feather broken on the final day of hunting season should be repaired at once
TRUE.
(Broken feathers should always be replaced, even during the molt. Any old feathers that are broken may be a peril to new feathers coming in during the molt.)"
224
True or False:
The ideal imping plug is a metal needle."
FALSE.
(Metal is traditional, but too stiff for the flexible shaft of the feather, Bamboo or barroom swizzle-sticks are better, but a piece of flexible feather shaft is best.)"
225
In cross-section, an imping needle should ideally be:
a. round
b. square
c. flat
d. triangular
D.
(Imping needles should be traingular, which allows the needle to be inserted into the feather without splitting the shaft while prevents the feather from rotating.)
226
Of the following, probably the most effective method of trapping large non-migratory raptor species is the:
a. dho-gazza
b. dig-in
c. bow net
d. pigeon harness (noosed pigeons)"
D.
(The pigeon harness allows the falconer to approach hunting hawks wherever they may be perched. Tossing a harnessed pigeon from a vehicle is restricted by law in New York.)"
227
H.J. Slijper's canon is:
a. a modified Dutch bow net
b. a geometrical formula for fitting Indian hoods
c. a special bewit adapted for fastening a tail bell
d. a method of casting a small Accipiter at quarry"
B.
(a geometrical formula for fitting Indian hoods - H.J. Slijper's canon is a geometrical formula based on head measurements, which can be used to develop a hood pattern to fit any bird well.)"
228
True or False:
When making their own hood, most North American falconers prefer the Dutch to the Indian pattern."
FALSE.
(The Dutch hood is made over a form and is slow and difficult to complete, but has a stiff and solid construction that makes it easier to get on a difficult bird. The Indian hood is more popular because it is easier to make and fit, especially over the mouth and nostrils.)"
229
True or False:
The Aylmeri jess is safer for the bird than the traditional jess."
TRUE.
(The Aylmeri has a bracelet and removable swivel strap, whereas the traditional jess has the swivel strap permanently attached to the leg. If the bird twists the jess, the Aylmeri is less likely to constrict against the tarsi.)"
230
True or False:
Goshawks need longer field jesses than falcons
TRUE.
(The principle reason for this is that a Goshawk is held on the fist when hunting, whereas a falcon is released the moment it is unhooded. Most falcons are flown without jesses - with only bracelets and a radio transmitter)"
231
True or False:
The common dog-leash snap-swivel is a reliable and convenient swivel for attaching the jesses of a hawk to a leash."
FALSE.
(This swivel is unreliable because the jesses work out of the clip easily. The snap swivel is dangerous because of its weight. The best swivels are custom-made figure 8s or heavy-duty fishing swivels.)"
232
True or False:
One end of the creance should be attached to a light stick or weight, the other end to a bird's swivel."
FALSE.
(Do not tie the creance to the swivel. Remove the swivel and replace the mew or perch jesses with slitless field jesses, where the creance can pass through the small holes and be tied with a falconer's knot.)"
233
The bird most likely to suffer from fits is a:
a. Peregrine Falcon
b. Red-tailed Hawk
c. Sharp-shinned Hawk
d. Merlin"
C.
(Sharp-shinned Hawks and other Accipiters are more prone to fits.)"
234
The most common disease your bird could acquire from a wild mourning dove is:
a. aspergillosis
b. coccisiosis
c. frounce
d. pneumonia"
C.
(Frounce - Frounce, a disease of the mouth and throat, is commonly acquired from wild mourning doves. Frounce is caused by a type of yeast common in the crops of pigeons.)"
235
Your bird is at the low end of its flying weight, so you feed him a large meal. The next day he still has a crop and foul smelling breath. You recognize this as sour crop. Your first treatment should be:
a. extract the contents of the crop
b. contact your avian veterinarian immediately and inform your sponsor
c. administer IV antibiotics
d. Ancobon
B.
(contact your avian veterinarian immediately and inform your sponsor - If you suspect anything is amiss with your bird's health, you should immediately contact your sponsor and your veterinarian.)"
236
Your bird exhibits gradual weight loss, poor appetite, and lethargy. His mutes appear normal and his mouth, throat, and feet appear normal. Your bird most likely suffers from:
a. lead poisoning
b. frounce
c. parasites
d. any of the above
D.
(any of the above - Loss of appetite, weight loss, and lethargy are among the most common symptoms of illness in birds, and are not diagnostic.)"
237
Your new passage bird has lice crawling on its feathers. You should:
a. administer IV Ivermectin
b. release the bird as it is not likely to survive
c. transport the bird to the nearest raptor veterinarian for extensive therapy
d. treat the bird with two percent Sevin dust"
D.
(treat the bird with two percent Sevin dust - Sevin dust is a treatment for external parasites that all falconers should have.)"
238
Cheesy plaques in the mouth, weight loss, and flicking food are signs of:
a. coccidiosis
b. frounce
c. aspergillosis
d. apoplexy"
B.
(Frounce - Frounce is a yeast-caused disease often transmitted from wild caught pigeons and doves. It causes weight loss, loss of appetite, food flicking, and thick white/yellow plaques in the mouth and throat.)"
239
A green mute may be indicative of:
a. a healthy bird that has not eaten for 36 hours
b. aspergillosis
c. coccidiosis
d. a and b above"
D.
(a and b above - Green mutes may be indicative of either malnutrition or aspergillosis.)"
240
Food that has been soaked in cold water is used to drop a raptor's weight, because the water drains nutritional value - the meat will keep the bird's GI tract running normally while the bird's body uses its own nutritional reserves.
Washed meat
