What is the intended effect of a heavyweight lure?

A heavyweight lure is designed to make it difficult for the bird to carry it. This is particularly important because it helps to keep the hawk focused on the lure during training and practice sessions. The weight ensures that when the bird strikes, it will not easily be able to take off with the lure, thus encouraging repeated attempts to interact with it.

This approach is beneficial for training purposes as it reinforces desired behaviors, allowing the falconer to practice recalls or reward the bird for successful strikes. A heavyweight lure effectively maintains engagement between the bird and the falconer, creating opportunities for reinforcement and skill development while discouraging the bird from simply taking the lure away.

Other options, while they may have some relevance to training or lure use, do not accurately reflect the specific purpose of a heavyweight lure. For instance, encouraging long flights does not align with the primary objective of maintaining focus and interaction with the lure, nor does making bird strikes easier, which contradicts the purpose of the weight. The notion of ensuring the lure remains stationary also overlooks the fact that a heavyweight lure's resistance encourages more practice rather than simply preventing movement.