Falcons

Falconry is an ancient sport in the Middle East. It has continued into modern times...mostly a man's sport and hobby. People own, breed, and trade falcons.  They use the falcons to hunt. Hunting is limited or illegal in UAE so people travel to nearby countries like Saudi Arabia to hunt. When a bird is training or released to hunt, they are equipped with a GPS transmitter on their tail feathers.

A very large and beautiful falcon could cost $20,000+ but most are less expensive. 

Hence, there is a Falcon Hospital and Clinic in Abu Dhabi. They do tours to raise money for the hospital as well as educate people like us about this bedouin sport. So, on the day after the course completed, some of the team gathered for a tour of the hospital.

Here we are  ready to learn about falcons.

I'm not sure what I expected. What I discovered was that this is like a vet clinic for Falcons.  As we were sitting there getting ready for the tour to start, people were coming in with their Falcons to be cared for.

Here are some of the people who are bringing or had brought their Falcons in to be cared for.

They put these little hoods over their eyes so they won't attack other birds as they come into contact with strange birds

These perches are in the middle of the waiting room and 

held the birds as they waited to get checked in.

Some random data about Falcons:

-Falcons are the fastest birds (maybe of all animals?).

-Because they have such speed, even one small broken feather will affect the birds ability to fly.

-They only eat other animals/birds, never nuts or seeds.

-Falcons have three seasons or life cycles every year: 1. they molt all their feathers and then grow all their feathers back, 2. breeding season, 3. Hunting season

-They don't flock in groups because they tend to attack and eat strange birds-even their own species

-Buying and selling of Falcons is done immediately after the molting season, after the feathers grow back.

-On all the Arab airlines you can buy your falcon a seat on the plane and travel with your bird (not in a cage!).

This is our guide. I think he spoke 5 languages. Very entertaining.

That's a stuffed baby camel he is standing in front of!

This is a large room where healthy falcons stay when owners have left them for a period of time.

When people go on vacation this is where they bring their pet falcon to be cared for.

Often people go away for the three hottest months of summer.

Lots of perches and flying room.

They train them to be together so they won't attack each other and feed them more than enough food.

Now we are in the hospital part of the facility.  The falcons here are either waiting to have their talons and beaks clipped or have already finished and often have a check up.

The birds are not too happy when they put their head in the cone to sedate them.

Falcons need their nails and beaks filed/clipped. In the wild this happens naturally but 

in captivity they don't wear down their talons or their beaks.

Here the doctor or an assistant is clipping & filing the talons.

Look at the big ears they have!

There are wild falcons and domesticated falcons. It is illegal to own or have in your possession any of the wild species.  Likewise when a Falcon is born it is banded, given an identifying number, and a chip is inserted. Every year you must bring your falcon (with it's chart/paperwork) in for a check up. Because Captive Falcons are bred and cross bred among the three species, you are not allowed to release any captive bird into the wild so as to not cross breed with the wild species.

And we got to hold this majestic bird. So fun...

...until she pooped!  They had me lift the bird high as 

someone came with a towel and disinfectant to clean it up!  

My expression says it all!

The rest of the afternoon was a pool day. No laying in the hot sun...just reading under the umbrella until I get hot enough to cool off in the pool. People watching was quite fun too!