In falconry, what is often the best time to train a bird on wild quarry?

Training a bird on wild quarry is most effective when the bird is unfamiliar with the quarry. This is primarily because a bird that has not yet learned the habits or flight patterns of its quarry can still be molded to develop its hunting instincts and skills without any preconceived behavior or hesitations. A fresh approach allows the falconer to establish a more instinctual hunting behavior in the bird, facilitating learning and adaptation.

Providing the bird with the experience of encountering quarry that it has not yet hunted can lead to enhanced responsiveness and agility as it learns through direct interaction. In contrast, focusing training when quarry is abundant or when the bird is very hungry does not necessarily hone the skills and instincts required for effective hunting; rather, these conditions could lead to quick successes or failures that do not contribute to the bird's long-term training objectives.