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Falconry - Traditional hunting with birds of prey
Hunting with eagles (kaz. "burkit", lat. Aguila Shrysaetus - “Golden Eagle”) is an ancient practice of social and cultural heritage of traditional Kazakh people of hunters - kusbegi ("qusbegi"), eagle ("burkitshi") who tamed and trained eagles for hunting. Originally training eagles for hunting was predominantly the hobby of ordinary people and was a kind of craft for them. This type of hunting has supported nomad budget. Therefore, Kazakhstan has always been traditionally a place, above all, catching the birds and training them in order to use for hunting in the future. Birds were tamed in two ways: adults caught on bait, or raise the chicks out of the nest. Kazakhs believe that the best hunters are obtained from adult birds that hunt with a special zeal, once accustomed to the owner. Hunting always passes on horses usually together with the Kazakh national dog - a hound "tazy". Kazakhs divide the hunting with birds of prey to specific hunting with eagles and falcons, hawks, merlin. Golden Eagles are used primarily for the purpose of making a job. They were used for hunting wolves, foxes, karsaks and mountain goats. Merlins used mainly for sports and recreational purposes, as it was a favorite pastime of the nobility. Falcons assisted in hunting for small wildfowl, and hawks let geese, bustards.

#hunting #festivals #traditional knowledge #social practice #rituals and festive events

Kazakhstan

Falconry, custom to hunt with eagles
The tradition of domestication of falcon, hawk and eagles, and train them to the hunting has transmitted in world countries from the ancient time until today. The tradition to hunt with eagles is widely practiced among Kazakh ethnic groups of Mongolia. The custom of hunting with eagles is not only the daily necessity of life, but a great contribution to the development of a sport, competitions and festivals. Hunters develop a strong relationship and spiritual bond with their birds, and strong commitment and care is required to train, handle and fly the eagles. Traditional equipments such as hood, bewit, jess (short strap around the leg of an eagle), gauntlet (gloves), immovable seat, fork supporter on a horse, feeding bag and cup are used for the falconry.

#falcon #hawk #eagles #hunting #falconry

Mongolia

Falconry, a living human heritage
Falconry (munushkorluk, itelgichilik, itelgi saluu) is a traditional practice and domain of knowledge, which includes catching and taming of falcons, training and flying them to take quarry in a natural environment. This domain also includes belief systems, ritual practices, and oral history on falcon types, their behaviour and character traits, as well as methods of their selection and taming and an influence they have on the falconer's life. Falconry was one of the ways of traditional life support of nomadic Kyrgyz people. It was an integral part of a nomadic life style based on the relationship between a man and a bird. In the course of this interaction, the man tamed the bird to his needs, and the bird nurtured in man such qualities as sensitivity, endurance and caring attitude to the world of nature. Hence, this model of interaction enabled the falconer to develop a respect and a caring attitude towards all of his surroundings.

#hunting #falcon #bird #men #nomadism #traditional knowledge #biological diversity

Kyrgyzstan 2021

International Association for Falconry & Conservation of Birds of Prey (IAF)
International Association for Falconry & Conservation of Birds of Prey (IAF) is dedicated to the preservation of the ancient art of falconry, a hunting tradition defined as ‘taking quarry in itsnnatural state and habitat by means of trained birds of prey‘. Preserving falconry involves maintaining not only the traditional culture that builds practical skills of empathy with animals, butnalso the conservation of raptors and their prey through preservation of natural habitats. We therefore encourage falconry within the context of sustainable use of wildlife. In light of thisnintangible culture, we challenge communities, children and young falconers to engage the environmental conservation activities based on our international education programme (such as School Links Programme) and other main projects for each country.

Belgium

TULOHO BATA Festival
It is a local festival based on the ancient tribal traditions of \nthe rural communities of Bokonbaev and Ton villages. The festival has been held since 2003 every year on the first Sunday in August. The elders of Bokonbaevo and Ton villages gather with young generation in the holy place of Manzhyly Ata to commemorate ancestors and pray to the spirit of the revered local holy sage and falconer Moitke ake, who lived in the Middle Ages and is considered the patron saint of these places. The elders lead the participants to worship the spirits of their ancestors to the holy place "Manzhyly-Ata", where a sacrificial animal - a ram - is cut on the grave of Moitka Ake. Old people tell the participants of the festival stories and legends connected with the holy place, sage Moitke Ake and his hunting birds - falcons. Hunters showcase the ancient traditions of falconry, local artists and artisans display their works and products related to the theme of traditions and spiritual values, traditional musicians and storytellers compete with each other in skill. The festival ends with a ritual meal with a "tul bata" - collective prayer of the festival participants for a blessing, addressed to the spirits of the ancestors.\n

Kyrgyzstan

TULOHO BATA Festival
It is a local festival based on the ancient tribal traditions of \nthe rural communities of Bokonbaev and Ton villages. The festival has been held since 2003 every year on the first Sunday in August. The elders of Bokonbaevo and Ton villages gather with young generation in the holy place of Manzhyly Ata to commemorate ancestors and pray to the spirit of the revered local holy sage and falconer Moitke ake, who lived in the Middle Ages and is considered the patron saint of these places. The elders lead the participants to worship the spirits of their ancestors to the holy place "Manzhyly-Ata", where a sacrificial animal - a ram - is cut on the grave of Moitka Ake. Old people tell the participants of the festival stories and legends connected with the holy place, sage Moitke Ake and his hunting birds - falcons. Hunters showcase the ancient traditions of falconry, local artists and artisans display their works and products related to the theme of traditions and spiritual values, traditional musicians and storytellers compete with each other in skill. The festival ends with a ritual meal with a "tul bata" - collective prayer of the festival participants for a blessing, addressed to the spirits of the ancestors.\n\n

Kyrgyzstan

Falconry, a custom to hunt with eagles
The tradition of domestication of falcon, hawk and eagles, and train them to the hunting has transmitted in world countries from the ancient time until today. The tradition to hunt with eagles is widely practiced among Kazakh ethnic groups of Mongolia. The custom of hunting with eagles is not only the daily necessity of life, but a great contribution to the development of a sport, competitions and festivals. Hunters develop a strong relationship and spiritual bond with their birds, and strong commitment and care is required to train, handle and fly the eagles. Traditional equipments such as hood, bewit, jess (short strap around the leg of an eagle), gauntlet (gloves), immovable seat, fork supporter on a horse, feeding bag and cup are used for the falconry.

Mongolia

falconry