What condition should a falconer monitor to evaluate their hawk's health?

Monitoring weight records and mutes is essential for evaluating a hawk's health as these factors provide valuable insights into its overall condition and well-being. The weight of a hawk can indicate whether it is receiving adequate nutrition and can help identify any potential health issues. A significant change in weight, whether a loss or gain, can signal problems that may require further investigation or intervention.

Mutes, which are the droppings of the bird, also offer critical health information. The color, consistency, and frequency of mutes can reveal a lot about the hawk's digestive health, hydration levels, and even its diet. By keeping detailed records of both weight and mutes, a falconer can track changes over time and make informed decisions about care and management.

While the feather condition, hunting success rates, and behavior while flying are indeed relevant to a falconer's assessment of their hawk, they do not provide as direct or immediate indicators of health status as monitoring weight and mutes does. Feather condition might reflect health indirectly but is influenced by multiple factors that may not directly indicate overall fitness or health issues. Similarly, hunting success and behavior can vary due to environmental conditions and do not always correlate directly with the bird's health. Therefore, focusing