Pricing.....whats the value of a old colt new service? correct answer.......................................what ever the person who wants it will pay.
Not sure where you are getting prices but Yes, that is about right, I would expect to pay anywhere from $800 to $1500 for a RT, depending on male or female, trained or untouched. As far as value many things affect that............. old or young, bad habits(aggressive face grabber or screamer), how bad the person wants to get rid of it or wants to buy it. I have purchased mid sized birds(hawks, falcons) as low as $300, I have also spent as much a $5000 on higher priced stuff(it goes higher). But it could be said with the right connections you can get a decent bird to start with from $800 to $2000. This will buy you pretty much anything you would want to start with as a new falconer( buteo, accipiter, falcon).
I also know many breeders who would rather give a bird to a good falconer for free than see him be without a bird to fly for the season, but these sort of relationships come with time. Myself, If mine ever breed, I will be giving them to any of my apprentices that want one for free, when they complete there apprenticeship and license and proof them selves worth of the privilege. At the end of the day, i hate the money game that falconry is slowly becoming. Falconry used to be a privileged that was earned, not purchased. At one point you could not buy a bird with all the money in the world unless your sponsor or someone the seller trusted knew you and spoke on your behalf. It is getting to the point now that folks plunk down enough money and poof they are now a "falconer"...........................it is a shame on our most noble tradition. It should be earned by the sweat of your brow, not purchased.
Importing is possible and not too difficult. More exporting from source that is the issue especially from the US. The exporter must be registered to export that particular species. A lot of folks don't bother to get licensed, which is a shame because the prices are definitely cheaper in the US, mostly due to there wild take laws. The US breeders sure are not in it for the money. As for Canada, we are a net exporter of birds. Our domestic market is so small compared to what we produce. A lot of birds bred here are exported to countries where falconry is more popular. There are not that many falconers Canada wide. On top of that some provinces allow wild birds to be trapped and flown by falconers, so ya not much of a domestic market. Our prices seem high until you understand the level of care, time and expense involved in producing good falconry birds. Once you do the math you realize very quickly that it sure aint worth it just for the money.
Cheers
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