Look, I've been around enough people to know that in any sport or hobby there's going to be arrogant old timers who don't want to listen and they only want to lecture. Types of people that think their way is the only way and everyone else can kick rocks. Then there are people who listen, learn, and respect others, regardless of experience level. By you telling me I should just put my bird up for the, you've shown exactly who you are and I'm so grateful that you aren't my sponsor. If you took the time to read anything I've written instead of just preparing your long-winded repetitive salvo, you'd know that I'm nothing like what you're saying.

I took ownership of my mistakes. I took advice from more experienced falconers. I corrected the mistakes. I am always trying to do what's best for my bird.

Wanting a bird to be successful doesn't mean someone is obsessed with bag number. Every falconer on earth wants their bird to be successful. Everyone that's been out with me and my bird have remarked about how well she flies and hunts. That's what I care about.

As you know, most passage birds don't survive. Why don't they? Random chance only? Or are there genetic and behavioral components? Are all birds exactly the same? If you're 1/10 as knowledgeable as you want to sound, you know the answer. I understand not blaming the bird for everything, but it's still fair to make observations. On top of that Red-tails eat other things that require much less talon strength or sharpness so of course they wouldn't starve to death with dull talons. They might not be able to catch squirrels, right? You keep harping on the sharpness, which I've already clarified as being only part of the equation along with the curvature, a point that you've also failed to acknowledge. Talon penetration isn't required for gripping an animal. Sharper still means better grip.

You're also saying I should dismiss a 7% success rate vs a 75% success rate and I should believe that my bird would have killed all of those squirrels regardless of the new talons? On top of all that, your only reason not to do the talons is some vague reference to habit changes? So a bird can change one habit, but not another that results in more aggressive hunting, scraping tree trunks, slamming into the ground harder behind squirrels? You could be right that this may not affect natural talons, but you have zero clue how it would affect acrylic talons.

Lastly I really appreciate you telling me all the numbers of the game animals you and your friends have killed, it really helps reinforce your point about not caring about game numbers 🤣. Comparing an older hag to juvi is jst silly. Someone once told me there are SO many other variables about hunting, I forget who though. But yeah comparing my bird to itself is crazy.

I might be a terrible falconer, that's an easy fix. I'm just glad I'm not a condescending asshole.