Taking an eyas Red-tailed Hawk from the nest is preferred over trapping a passage Redtail because ...

Taking an eyas Red-tailed Hawk from the nest is preferred primarily for its developmental advantages. Eyas hawks are young birds that have not yet left the nest, allowing falconers to socialize and train them from a young age. This early exposure to human interaction and training helps the bird to form a bond with the falconer, resulting in a more manageable and oriented bird.

While aspects like aggression, health, and natural hunting abilities might play a role in the overall considerations of falconry practices, the benefits of early bonding and training typically take precedence. An eyas hawk can be conditioned to respond to the falconer's commands more quickly, making it a preferable choice for those starting in falconry.

Trapping a passage Red-tailed Hawk, which is an older, wild bird that has already experienced life outside the nest, can lead to potential difficulties in training due to established behaviors and instincts. These birds might have developed a natural wariness of humans and potentially more aggressive tendencies, which complicate the process of acclimatization to falconry practices. Thus, the fundamental reason for choosing an eyas Red-tailed Hawk over a passage hawk lies in the benefits of early training and conditioning.