In falconry, what does 'to train' refer to?

In falconry, 'to train' specifically refers to the practice of teaching a bird of prey to respond to commands, follow the falconer, and return to the falconer after being released. This training process is essential for establishing a working relationship between the falconer and the bird, allowing for effective hunting and management in the field.

The other choices do not align with the terminology used in falconry. For instance, the tail of a hawk refers to a physical part of the bird and does not relate to the training process or methodology. Seizing quarry describes the action of the bird catching prey, which is an outcome of successful training rather than the training itself. Prolonging a meal refers to feeding practices, and casting off is the act of releasing the bird, both of which are steps performed but not encompassing the concept of training. The correct understanding of "to train" is centered around developing the bird's abilities and behaviors for falconry.