The Third International Festival of Falconry was held at Jahili Fort, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi at the kind invitation of the Emirates Falconry Club. It was a great success attracting seventy eight nations.
Following on from the first two Festivals held in Reading, England, the third Festival has again broken the record for the greatest gathering of Falconry nations at one event in history. The brotherhood of falconry is stronger now than it has ever been before and with recognition of UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage, falconers are enjoying a global community with a common understanding and passion for the art of falconry.
I was very much involved and thus did not have the time to capture as many photographs as I would have liked but I did get a flavour of the event both at the desert camp and at the fort.
Since I lacked some images I have been lucky to be allowed to upload images taken by friends to whom I am grateful. These images are marked with their names.
If you were there and have some good images which you think could add to this page and you are willing to share,
and I will add the ones that are suitable. |
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The desert camp located at Al-Ramah south of Al Ain, was held for the training of falcons and eagles for the Festival at Jahili Fort.
We were also able to experience desert falconry from Camels hunting hare and Houbara. This was a great experience for most visiting falconers. |
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An Arab falconer feeds his gyrfalcon at the Festival of Falconry |
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Bedu tent at the desert camp.
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Falcon mews at the desert camp.
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Model plane trailing a lure for training falcons.
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Mongolian ger at the Steppe village.
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Young UAE girl falconers. |
Mateuta Victor Daniel Romanian falconer.
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Wacky Racers, Saluki racing Arab style. |
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Falcon Hospital visit, one of the excursions. |
Shaded food and meeting area at the desert camp.
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Many people were fascinated to watch Wudi from China handle the Shikra hawk as he placed it in the palm of his hand ready to throw her.
Here he is practising at the desert camp but both he and Qin performed every day in the arena at Jihili Fort. |
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Narbek, Suilaukhan, Aralbai and Alan Gates. |
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Narbek, Kazakh Mongolian drags a lure for an eagle. |
Narbek, Mongolian Kazakh horseman who represented the Mongolian Kazakh eaglehunters from Bayaan Ulgii.
Aralbai the most famous Mongolian berkutchi also attended together with Sailaukhan an award winning berkutchi. The festival was proud to have invited and succeeded in their attendance at this great occasion. |
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Jim Chick stoops a falcon to the pole lure at the Festival. |
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Parade of Nations at the Third Festival of Falconry, Jahili Fort, Al Ain, UAE.
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Arthur Derziyan, falconer from Armenia with Diana Durman-Walters, British falconer, falcon breeder and expert dog trainer. |
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Josef and Monika Hiebeler from Austria. |
Falconer from India. |
White eyed Shikra hawk.
A great hit at the festival.
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Two young falconers at the Festival. |
This Japanese falconer is representing a falconry tradition that has all but disappeared. This type of falconry with hawk eagles was quite numerous from as far back as the 7th. century.
Its famous stronghold was in the Senndou Hiyama on Akita Pref. Ogachi-gun Ugo-machi village which is surrounded by the Dewa Mountains.
Many falconer were born and grew up in this area, in the middle of the twentieth century there was thought to be up to 45 falconers / farmers left who survived through agriculture and hunting. Mr. Takaitiro Takeda was the last of his generation and died in 1992 at the age of 77 years old. |
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Henna Hands is a big hit with the ladies. |
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Kalif.
Head of the Horse and Camel
stables and in charge of the desert hunts. |
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The chance to go desert hawking, riding on camels and horses with falcons and saluki's was a great experience for those lucky enough to go. This is real Arab falconry and is much more in-tune with the environment and tradition. This is Saed Ateq Al Mansori.
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Front Enterance of Jahili Fort, the Festival of Falconry was held in Jahili Park. |
| Trade stands and falconry market stalls lined in front of Jahili Fort. |
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Some of the Nation tents in Jahili Park.
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Arab music entertained the crowd and falconers alike at the third Festival of Falconry. |
Pakistan falconry furniture.
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Pakistan falconers |
Falconry in Iran. |
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Falcon hoods for sale in the market stalls at the third International Festival of Falconry.
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