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Pavel Mikheyev
Falconry is one of the most spectacular varieties of hunting with birds of prey. As a rule, the tamed birds are falcons or hawks. Hunting with golden eagles is a traditional art of the Eurasian steppes, particularly in Central Asia.
Pavel Mikheyev
Falcons often prey on birds, while golden eagles are used to catch beasts. This type of hunting is many centuries old, and remains a popular pastime to this day.
Pavel Mikheyev
If the game is fox or hare, the only eagle capable of catching it is the golden eagle. The bird's strong, even powerful build, huge claws, strong beak, and wingspan of up to 2 meters or more are a real threat to many large birds and animals, wolves included.
Pavel Mikheyev
Nevertheless, the golden eagle is still a wild bird, so it takes a lot of effort, perseverance, tenacity, and strength on the part of the hunter first to obtain such a bird, and then tame and train it to be the ideal hunting partner.
Pavel Mikheyev
In most cases, hunters take very young golden eagles from the nest, although adult birds make the best hunters. But adults are far harder to tame and train.
Pavel Mikheyev
The main element in raising a hunting golden eagle is not to allow the bird to sleep: it always remains in the trainer's field of view, and should the bird doze off, the nest is shaken or doused with water.
Pavel Mikheyev
When the bird becomes calmer and more docile, it is trained to sit on its master's arm. This is when the short tether is lengthened. The eagle gradually becomes very attached to its master. It greets him with a loud screech and tries to fly to him, despite being tethered.
Pavel Mikheyev
Having tamed and befriended the golden eagle, the hunter moves on to the second stage of training, which involves horse-riding with the bird. Wearing a thick ox-hide glove, the hunter rides several hours a day with the bird perched on his arm.
Pavel Mikheyev
A special hood is placed over the bird's head to cover the eyes. A few lessons are enough to accustom the golden eagle to horse-riding.
Pavel Mikheyev
When training the eagle to hunt hare or fox, the hunter makes a scarecrow stuffed with hay or straw, and places a slab of bloody meat on its head to feed the bird.
Pavel Mikheyev
The hunter's assistant runs and drags the scarecrow along on a long strap, and at the opportune moment the hunter removes the hood from the bird's head so that it catches sight of the food. Realizing that its prey is escaping, the golden eagle soars, catches up, and lands on it. The bird needs to sink its claws firmly into the scarecrow, and only then can it start pecking the meat.
Pavel Mikheyev
The golden eagle, like most plumed predators in Europe, is under the protection of state legislation and intergovernmental agreements. It is listed as a rare species in the Red Book of Russia.
