User:ShrikeInRed/Evaluate an Article

Which article are you evaluating?
Falconry training and technique

Why you have chosen this article to evaluate?
I chose this article because falconry is an awesome practice that has been used for centuries. Falconry is still being used today in sanctuaries to help injured raptors, train raptors to clear airfields and train stations, and help educate the public on raptor species and their part in ecosystems. My first impression of the article is that it is poorly worded, often using similar adjectives in the same sentence. There is also a focus on falconry practices in the US instead of using references from other countries where falconry is used.

Evaluate the article
The article opens with the writer stating that falconry is difficult to pursue in the USA due to a myriad of policies. There is a lack of explanation about what falconry is or how it's used in other parts of the world. There are also no in-text citations at all in this lead section, which would be helpful to refer to US laws around falconry, books on falconry, or the process of finding a sponsor to become a falconer. The subjects mentioned in the opener are not addressed as main points in the article, and the main points that are discussed do not appear in the opener. This lead section is very brief, does not include citations to back the writer's words, and is not expanded upon later in the article.

The writer explained the various pieces of equipment used in falconry, starting with an opening paragraph before explaining some of the tools in their own paragraph. This creates a confusing read as a few tools are not expanded upon and not included in other explanations. The following paragraphs are poorly organized, jumping from Housing to Diet to Captivity and back to other tools. The issues surrounding falconry are under a heading named "Pitfalls", an unclear title.

There are few links and no in-text citations. The references list is empty, and there are only 5 suggested readings for the amount of information presented.

The article uses four pictures to enhance the topics. They are all the same size and on the same side of the page which presents a neat appearance. They are all accredited with the original photographer's name and where the photo was copied from. The photo used for the "Diet" section shows a Red-tailed hawk snatching meat from a pair of tongs, whereas a better photo could have shown the types of meat raptors eat or how it must be prepared.

The Talk page offered numerous improvements and comments. There are federal laws on falconry that need to be updated in the article. A user noted how the article is very 'US focused', and another user cautioned against this article being used in Wiki books due to the possibility of people attempting falconry due to the oversimplified explanations. Another user also pointed out that the writer does not use the traditional pronouns (she/her) when referring to raptors.

Overall, this article was frustrating to read. The disorganized layout and lack of linking topics made reading confusing, and the disuse of citations made it difficult and distracting to search up unknown terms. The photos helped with understanding, but there could have been more of them and better choices in imaging.