From reading your changes…

From reading your changes you are proposing to remove the draw of 25 raptors in total and replacing it with a wide open 1 per Falconer and 1 per apprentice. You stated that there are currently 200 Falconers and untold number of apprentices, which I'm going to assume is 1 to 1. If all were to participate it would increase the number taken from 25 to possibly 200 plus depending on how many apprentices are out there. As a bird enthusiast who maintains life lists and participates in bird counts I find this proposal most extreme. Leave the wild raptors alone. The current model has worked for many years and the reasons you stated just don't warrant changes to the legislation. We had a Merlin in our neighbourhood this year, my grandchildren and I would walk down to the nest and observe the birds nesting. They were enthralled to see the birds and hear their calls. What a great life experience it was for these children and others in the neighbourhood to have. Many people benefited from having them in the area. Now, if you make your changes you will be depriving a large number of people from seeing these wonderful raptors in exchange of only "1" Falconer having the privilege of working with this bird. What a shame it would have been if we didn't get to see the Merlins because it was tied to a Falconer.