Hunting with golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) is a traditional art of the Eurasian steppes, particularly defined as "Horse Riding Falconry" or "The Eagle Falconry" in Central Asia. It is a type of falconry.
The relationship of the bird and its master is constant and all-consuming. In the training of a young eagle, the berkutchy (trainer) must sacrifice his sleep for a long period. For weeks, the growing bird is rendered sightless under its hood until its dependence on its master becomes complete. Such intimacy must turn into a lifelong trust with the eagle - twenty years or more. It is said "that as the man trains the eagle, so does the eagle train his man." There is a proverb in Kazakhstan: "There are three things a real man should have: a fast horse, a hound, and a golden eagle."
First In 936-45 AD the Khitans, nomadic people from Manchuria used this practice of hunting with eagles. Then the tradition was passed to the Kyrgyz during the reign of Genghis khan.
Even today,Kazakhs living in Mongolia continue to hunt with eagles. There are an estimated 250 eagle hunters alive today practicing this tradition. Every year they gather for the Golden eagle festival in Mongolia.
If you are lucky, perhaps you can meet them someday but remember, hunting with these raptors is their family tradition so they wont disclose the secrets to you.
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| Kazakh eagle hunter in Mongolia. |
The relationship of the bird and its master is constant and all-consuming. In the training of a young eagle, the berkutchy (trainer) must sacrifice his sleep for a long period. For weeks, the growing bird is rendered sightless under its hood until its dependence on its master becomes complete. Such intimacy must turn into a lifelong trust with the eagle - twenty years or more. It is said "that as the man trains the eagle, so does the eagle train his man." There is a proverb in Kazakhstan: "There are three things a real man should have: a fast horse, a hound, and a golden eagle."
First In 936-45 AD the Khitans, nomadic people from Manchuria used this practice of hunting with eagles. Then the tradition was passed to the Kyrgyz during the reign of Genghis khan. Even today,Kazakhs living in Mongolia continue to hunt with eagles. There are an estimated 250 eagle hunters alive today practicing this tradition. Every year they gather for the Golden eagle festival in Mongolia.
If you are lucky, perhaps you can meet them someday but remember, hunting with these raptors is their family tradition so they wont disclose the secrets to you.
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