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

An apprentice falconer should weigh their red-tailed hawk once a day because daily weight monitoring is crucial for the health and well-being of the bird. Falcons, including red-tailed hawks, can experience rapid changes in body weight, which directly affects their physical condition, hunting performance, and overall health. By weighing the hawk daily, the falconer can quickly identify any significant weight loss or gain, allowing for timely adjustments in feeding, health assessments, and management practices. Daily monitoring helps ensure that the hawk remains within an optimal range for weight, which is essential for its fitness, safety, and successful training.

Less frequent weighing, such as weekly or monthly, may not provide enough data to catch any potential health issues early or monitor the bird's condition accurately, while weighing the bird twice a day could be excessive unless there are specific health concerns warranting such an approach.