SvenskaAutumn is definitely here. Darker evenings and colder. Soon December, since time passes so rapidly. I am a member of the World Wild life Fund (WWF) and this week I got a very inspiring magazine from them. Lots of beautiful photos of endangered animals and how work is done for conservation. That is why I thought of my voyage to Dubai last New year where I had an encounter I will never forget.
I saw this beautiful bird in the desert and I asked the falconer (Al Saqaar) if I could hold the falcon. It was rather heavy. First I held it on my hand. The falcon was very kind. Then the falconer said “You should put it on your shoulder”. And I did. The falcon didn’t fly away but stayed on my shoulder. It was a very strong emotional encounter.
The falconer normally protects the hand with a thick leather and cloth cover. A leather mask (Burqa) is tied in place over the falcons eyes when the bird is resting. Simple tools are used to prepare a falcon for hunting. The birds sit on a waker – a piece of round, flat wood attached to an iron rod fixed in the ground and is tethered with a thread (Al Mersaal).
The hunting season is usually during spring when birds migrate from Iran, Turkey, Russia and Syria to escape from cold weather. Wild rabbits, bustards and other birds are the falcons natural prey. Nature, where man and animals interact, is beautiful and fascinating.
Wishing you a “bon weekend”. I will devote my weekend to reading and theatre.