What does it mean when a longwing catches up to its quarry and begins to work it?

When a longwing catches up to its quarry and begins to work it, this refers to the hawk engaging in the process of retrieving or manipulating the prey it has captured. The term "to fetch" specifically describes the behavior of a hawk returning to the falconer with the prey after a successful catch. In this context, working the quarry typically involves the bird holding or tearing at the prey, effectively preparing or consuming it.

The other terms, while relevant in falconry, refer to different actions. "To hunt" encompasses the overall activity of pursuing prey, "to feak" refers to the action of a hawk cleaning its beak after consuming prey, and "to chase" indicates the pursuit of the quarry before capturing it. The specific action of working the quarry favors the term "fetch," aligning perfectly with the retrieval behavior after the capture.