Birdland

Falcons are important in the UAE: they are the official coat of arms, the emblem on the presidential flag and the logo of the national oil company. Originally they were used for hunting to suplement the Bedouin diet with some meat such as hare or houbara, and today falconry is still an integral part of desert life which has been practiced in the UAE for centuries.  In the time before the UAE was formed, and before the discovery of oil allowed the development of roads and communication systems, hunting expeditions were also frequently used as a way for tribal sheikhs to 'tour' their territory and keep in touch with the latest develoments in areas which were otherwise incommunicado.  The sheikh would hunt during the day, then a desert majlis would be held around the campfire in the evenings, when the Bedouin would come to pay their respects and raise with him any matters of concern.

During autumn the south-bound flight of the houbara, the main prey of the falconer, was preceded by the migration of peregrine and saker falcons.  When a falconer, hiding in a hole in the sand, managed to trap one of the highly prized birds he had only two to three weeks to train it before the migrating houbaras started to arrive.  The training was achieved by developing a strong bond of trust between a wild captured bird and its handler.  Even today a trained falcon can sit uncaged (but hooded) on a flight, at least on a Middle East carrier, or sit on the arm of its owner as he walks through a mall in the UAE.  Nowadays flaconry is practiced purely for sport, but the skill of the falconer is still highly esteemed and the power and beauty of the falcon greatly treasured.

The Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital has become one of the main tourism attractions in Abu Dhabi and is recognised internationally for its unique and unforgettable tour program.  Opened on 3rd October 1999, the Hospital is the first public falcon hospital in the UAE, and since then it has become the largest falcon hospital world-wide with a well established breeding programme.  The hospital now practices all avian medicine, has a pet care centre and animal shelter, as well as an international internship programme.

The tour was fascinating actually, and included holding a couple of the birds as well as watching a minor-surgical procedure, which was in fact just cutting and buffing their claws (which would be trimmed naturally in the wild).  The most expensive falcons can reach half a million dirhams, and many falconers own dozens while the sheikhs can own over 200.

While hooded the falcons will sit very calmly

During the peak (autumn/winter) season up to 150 falcons will
be admitted to the hospital per day for minor treatments and
health checks

Molted feather collected and used to
replaced damaged ones

One of the aviaries used for molting birds
(during the spring season)

Traditionally falcons would have been trapped in the autumn, used for hunting in the winter, and released back into the wild in spring.  But in the last 50 years falconry has changed because hunting has drastically reduced numbers of game available for the sport.  In search of better hunting grounds, falconers of the UAE commonly go to Pakistan or Iran during hunting season.  As certain falcons are becoming increasingly rare in the wild, illegal trade in several special is increasing with falconers willing to pay high prices for wild-caught birds.  With the aim of reducing this illegal trade in falcons, a passport system has been established in the UAE, though as falcons molt their feathers every year and change their pattern and colour, a passport photo is not a requirement.