Number 2 and 3 from the left are exceptionaly good hunters.
They don't leave any tracks!

Great photo! I wish Americans were welcome in that part of the world, as I would sure love to watch these guys work with their birds. I recently got a tape from the library on Arab falconers and the fellows were hunting bustards.
I must admit, though, that the radio-controlled locaters and the Chevy Suburbans took a lot of the romance out of it. I recently finished reading Wilfred Thesiger's "Arabian Sands" (God rest Bin Kabina and Bin Ghaibasha) and am learning that the Bedu ways of the 1940s, with tents and camels and .303 Enfields, are gone forever, just like horseback travel in the American West.

Thanks for the gracious invitation to the UAE, Saeed. Someday, I vow ...
Here in Oregon, red-tail hawks are popular for falconry. We have lots of rabbits, as well as pheasants, quail, chukars, etc. I should look up a local falconry club, even if just to watch them fly some birds.

Bill,

You are always welcome in the UAE.

I doubt that you will find a friendlier place.

As to hunting with falcons, as you have already seen in that video. It is no longer hunting in the classic sense of the word.

40 years ago, Beduins used falcons to feed their families. They hunted all sorts of birds and rabbits with them. In those days, the hunters went on foot or camel back.

Compare that to what goes on today.

Radio controlled falcons, 4x4 cars, and the hunters have more falcons than there are birds to hunt with them.

In the old days, each falcon would probably kill several hundred birds and rabbits each year. They might even be used to feed a whole village.

Today, if a falconer can get his bird to kill 10 bustards a year he is over the moon.

A very sad decline in a very noble sport.