Hi Hickorystick and welcome to a2k. Thanks for your input and you are correct that sometimes bad decisions will be made albeit intentions are good.
Hoft We don't keep the hawks. The capture and banding is usually done during the fall migration. Once banded it is released to continue the migration. The mate and/or parents often circle overhead to see the fate of the caught hawk. The majority of the caught hawks are immature being led by parents on their first trip south. The adults are more cautious perhaps because they've seen this show before.