Hi all, I wasn't going to comment but this discussion needs some
clarification. Of every 100 Redtails hatched in one year, only 5 are still
alive after five years. The average lifespan of a Redtail in the wild is 2
years. A licensed falconer can only capture a passage bird which means a
bird hatched the year of capture. These are the birds which statistically
would not make it. It is illegal to capture adult, breeding birds. The
falconer trains the bird to hunt successfully and the bird can be released
the following spring and it thus has a higher chance of making it in the
wild. So falconers actually help the species. Being a falconer is not a
half hearted affair. It is all about ensuring the optimal health and
wellbeing of the bird possessed for whatever time. Hope this helps. Helena,
wildlife rehabilitator and aspiring falconer. Monkton, Vermont.
On Nov 12, 2015 8:36 AM, "Walter Medwid" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> What is remarkable is that the specific species that may be
> taken....redtails and goshawks...are specifically mentioned in state law as
> opposed to an administrative decision that could be reviewed annually to
> ensure that redtail and goshawk populations are stable enough for taking.
> The state indicates the goshawk is a declining species here with perhaps 20
> breeding pairs. Including the goshawk as a takable species seems like a
> significant oversight in the law. If anyone has more info on this please
> contact me offline.
>