Approximately 3000 falcons are employed for falconry on the Arabian
Peninsula each year. Between 2/3 and 3/4ths are used in the Arabian
Gulf region. Saker Falcons represent at least 70% of the captive
falcon population thought Arabia. Peregrine Falcons are commonly
encountered in the Arabian Gulf region but diminish toward the
interior of Saudi Arabia. Other falcons such as the Lanner Falcon
form less than 2% of the total captive raptor population.
They capture these birds in the fall migration and about 60% are
released each spring on natural migratory flyways as fattened and
experienced hunters.
It was written that in Arabia: “even more than was the case in
medieval Europe, which was so much richer in food supplies, game
taken by the Arab’s trained hawk was an important addition to his
thin diet. Wild hawks were trapped by rich and poor alike and were
flown through the winter months when quarry became available.
The Arabs flew their hawks because they wanted to hunt and eat.
They did not go hunting because they wanted to see their hawks fly.
This is an important distinction to bear in mind, because it
underlies the techniques and apparent ruthlessness for desert
hawking.” The Arab style of Falconry is still
practical, even though it has long ceased to be utilitarian for
the sheikhs and princes. Its technique and style are also influenced
by available quarry (mainly Houbara Bustar and the Stone Curlew).
Female Peregrines are preferred for hunting because of their size
and strength that enable them to cope with the larger prey items.
It is also because of the Peregrines speed and dive in which is
highly regarded, a “ringing dive” is a sign of courage and strength
to the Arab people. The falcons are taught to be aggressive in kill
but tameness is quickly instilled by constant handling and by a
reduced diet.
Stress precedes many diseases observed in falcons in the Arabian
Gulf. Medically it is an influence causing physiological homeostasis
of an organism, causing an overproduction of adrenal hormones,
which act to suppress the immune system. Some of the causes of
stress on a falcon may be a confined area of living causing physical
discomfort, extremes in environmental conditions, and poor nutrition.
There is one common ailment though that may harm a falcon though,
Bumble foot, an infection of the foot. In the Arabian Gulf it arises
from self-inflicted punctures by sharp or badly overgrown talons.
In the Bedouin tradition, they do not take care of this because they
feel that needle-sharp talons are necessary for falcon’s hunting
success. Bedouin falconers recognize only obvious symptoms and
combine them into single diseases of the mouth, feet, or breathing.
Some folk treatments provide at least visual improvement, but are
often not completely cured. The poor success of most ancient
remedies creates an underlying sense of futility about medicine.
The Bedouin are impatient with long-term treatment. Unless something
looks better almost immediately, treatment is usually abandoned and
the bird may be released to “Allah’s will” if it continues not to
improve in this sense of historical falconry. Fortunately more
modern techniques and medicines are able to treat many of the
ailments to falconer’s keeps. But wild populations released with
such illnesses each year may ultimately cause widespread disease
and population declines among the Arab populations.
