Could a very fit 12-year old boy just about manage to fly a goshawk? I do need it to be a goshawk or something similarly big, because she takes a heron.

Emma

You could try contacting Bird World, and asking them.

http://www.birdworld.co.uk/index.html

I don't know of any physical reason he couldn’t. It’s quite a big bird but you only take the full weight when you release or the bird returns to the glove. The rest of the time when you’re walking the bird you “cheat” and tuck your elbow into your side, which considerably lessens the load.

Naomi, that's a useful site, thank you.

Murphy, yes, that's what I was hoping, thank you. I don't mind making him only just be able to manage, as long as it's not totally impossible!

Emma

Kes was a wee lad and he managed a kestrel

That's a thought. Though kestrels are smaller, I guess. Goshawks are pretty substantial, but I need it to be, because it's being flown at a heron.

Emma

My ten year old daughter is 5'3" and has size 6 feet and a couple of the boys in her class are taller and broader than her. So I would say there should be no reason why not if it's only to do with size and weight. She is capable of doing pretty much the same amount of heavy lifting as me (only she refuses to help with any menial tasks ).

Kestrels are up to 250g, while the female goshawks are up to 1kg (the males are smaller), with a proportionally bigger windspan, so I expect the experts get whacked in the face, and bowled over every now and then.
I don't see why you can't include the difficulties of dealing with a bird of that size, but have your character determined not to give up.
Either that or have a runty male bird (now there's a sentence you don't see very often )

I don't see why you can't include the difficulties of dealing with a bird of that size, but have your character determined not to give up.

Excellent! Just what I was hoping to do - it's a growing-up-to-be-a-man kind of a scene. Thank you.

Emma

I know nothing about goshawks, but my neighbour's son just turned 13 (so only 6 months-ish older than the average 12 yr old), and he's taller than his mother, as tall as his dad and almost as broad as his dad, who's quite muscular. So if an adult can do it I'd say it's not a leap to have a fit 12 yr old boy do it.

Deb