Hawking ducks from an island.

[toasterpop14]

Hello everyone, I am new to the forum and was wondering if I could get some help. So my friend owns this little island in the middle of this little lake. Now I'm not really a falcon person. Too much space is needed and I live in the suburbs. But I've met people at falconry meets who have goshawks and they live in the city! Now recently I have become obsessed with goshawks. But I've noticed when they're hunting avian prey they latch onto it and drop with it. Now this lake is pretty shallow but still deep enough for a goshawk to drown in. So basically I don't know if he would drop with the duck and sink or float, or kick the duck like a peregrine or take off with it on the other side of the lake? Though I'm obsessed with goshawks I still don't know a lot about.

[megapode]

Raptors such as Falcons will kill ducks in open water and swim to shore holding the duck, but they also are known to go down with the dead duck and perish. Most falconers I know would enter the water to assist the hawk, but is sounds like a bad idea. I have no experience with Goshawks, but they are not as waterproof as a peregrine falcon and more prone to disaster in this scenario.
I wanted a Goshawk when I was an apprentice as well, I hope you succeed.

[cpdecoste]

I've caught ducks with Harris Hawks and they will go into the water. They'll float for a time, I even had one falcon use its kill as a raft, but you should definitely assist them as their feathers will eventually soak through and they'll drown. Some birds will figure out how to row with their wings, but time and distance are factors. If you intend to hunt near considerable bodies of water a boat is a must so you can get to them expeditiously. Currents and tides should also be taken into account.

Would this be your first hawk? If so, you may want to rethink taking on a Goss as your first. They are very intense. Harris Hawks are stupendous birds that can be used on a variety of prey, are very forgiving, and as a species that lives in familly groups develop a strong bond with their handler and are very difficult to lose... not to mention they are very intelligent.