What should a falconer be cautious about when handling an eyass bird?

When handling an eyass bird, which is a young falcon that has not yet fledged, a falconer must be cautious primarily because of the potential for imprinting. Imprinting occurs when a bird develops a strong attachment to its caregiver, often interpreting them as a parent figure. This can lead to the bird becoming overly dependent on humans for social interaction and care, significantly affecting its behavior.

If an eyass bird imprints on a falconer, it may not only lose some of its natural instincts related to hunting and survival but can also exhibit aggressive behaviors towards other birds or handlers, viewing them as threats. This aggressive behavior can complicate training and make it challenging for the bird to fit back into the wild environment or even within a controlled hunting context.

The other options highlight various concerns regarding eyass birds, but they do not address the critical impact that imprinting has on a bird’s ability to become a successful hunting partner and its overall behavior. Handling these young birds requires careful management to ensure they retain their natural instincts and remain well-adjusted for their future roles as trained hunting birds.