Kyrgyzstan: falconer and Golden Eagle

Golden Eagle and friend

Before we hiked in Djety Oguz Gorge, we spent an hour with a magnificent Golden Eagle and his falconer.  The eagle was in the back of the falconer's car when we arrived and chirped eagerly when the back was opened.  He was hooded until the falconer had put on his glove.  Then the eagle hopped onto his arm, nuzzled against the falconer's neck and eagerly awaited his hunting adventure (not much of an adventure since his prize was also in the car awaiting the hunting demonstration).

eagle with his (now dead) rabbit

The falconer's sons plucked a luckless gray rabbit out of the car, purchased that morning at the market for this hunting demonstration.  I felt terrible for the rabbit, but, as our guide pointed out, the eagle had to eat anyway and this little rabbit would be his food no matter what.

Meanwhile, we each put on the huge glove and had the chance to hold the eagle on our wrists--quite a thrill as this was a magnificent animal.  The falconer hiked up the mountainside while one of his sons put the rabbit on the ground.  Perplexed, the rabbit didn't move, but once released, the eagle knew right where to go.  It was all over in moments as the gorgeous bird swooped down about 1/4 mile to its prey.

falconer releasing his eagle

Gail and Golden Eagle

Falconers take eagle chicks from their nests and train them in their homes.  These are prized birds and worth a lot to the falconers and their families.  They hunt for their owners and also for hunter tourists who want to hunt with an eagle.  These birds live to be 50 or 60 years old.  When they are about 25, their owners slowly release them into the wild.  Over a period of several weeks, the birds roam farther and farther away from home.  One day, they simply do not return.  Then, the owners know they have returned to the wild for good and they are happy (both eagle and owner, I presume).  Since the eagles have been taught to hunt in the wild during their captivity, they are able to care for themselves.  I don't know about the mating part of their new freedom, however.  Don't think they were taught much about that, so maybe Mother Nature fills in.


Don and Golden Eagle