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>> festival of falconry

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EVERYTHING ABOUT THE SECOND INTERNATIONAL

FESTIVAL OF FALCONRY IS IMPRESSIVE. Where can

you travel from the steppes of central Asia, across the

deserts of Arabia, through Europe history, and then

turn back to Japan, Korea and China, without leaving

Berkshire?

Jim Chick, one of the organising committee and

chairman of the Hawk Board (representing falconry in

the UK), is infectiously enthusiastic: “This is not any

old costume parade or re-enactment event. The

falconers that the public will meet are genuine; they

have crossed continents to be here, and are passionate

about their long tradition and culture. What is really

fantastic is how one sport brings some forty-five

nations together through a love of birds of prey. Some

will have travelled for days to get to Reading; many have

never left their country before.”

Falconry is ancient. No one really knows when man

first trained a hawk or falcon but the popular theory is

that it started in Asia somewhere

about the time of Genghis Khan: an

obsessive falconer and, despite his

warlike tendencies, a known

conservationist. From there it

spread across the globe,

INTERNATIONALFESTIVAL OF

FALCONRYEnjoy the spectacle of the worlds’ falconers with their

birds of prey, horses, dogs, costume and heritage at an

English country estate. Falconer, Nick Kester finds out

why this is one of the summer’s must visit events.

MAIN PICTURE;

Artic Gyr falcon.

Historically the

most prized bird

used in falconry

TOP; Over 40

countries will be

represented at this

year's event

LEFT; A meeting of

cultures - Arab

tradition and

English elegance in

a parkland setting

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although it didn’t get to America until the 18th

Century. As it migrated, the sport evolved with the local

peoples, their terrain and culture. The only places were

falconry doesn’t exist are those with permanent ice or

dense rain-forest, where it is totally impractical. All of

this very individual and spectacular history and

costume, along with the most fantastic eagles, hawks

and falcons, will be on display between 11-12 July at the

Englefield Estate, Theale, Reading; just off junction 12

of the M4.

And not just on display, because many will be flying

free in the central arena in a series of demonstrations

reflecting the national variations. Each region has its

particular favourite bird of prey. The nomads of central

Asia live in domed tents known as yurts. Here they

train the golden eagles, who live as a part of the family.

A yurt is surprisingly large – it has to fit an entire

family – and the eagle. At the

Festival there will be a village of

these tents with their

representatives from Mongolia and

Kazakhstan.

Crossing the English parkland,

there is another surprise for which

you would normally have to travel

thousands of miles. The Gulf Arabs

have a long tradition of falconry.

Their desert camp serves delicious

coffee that is a long way from a

Starbucks’ cappuccino. Take a small

cup, eat a date, and talk to the Arab

falconers about their way of life;

they are no less passionate about it.

Traditional Arab falconry used

horse or camel and included the

great desert hunting dog: the saluki.

You will see all three at the desert

camp, and the saker falcons that

have been used by the Arabs since

time immemorial.

European falconry is the stuff of

King Arthur. The Middle Ages were

the golden age, and much of our

language came from then. Booze,

cadge, fed up and haggard may be

familiar words, but to falconers they

mean quite different things. Find all

the answers at the Festival. Every

European nation will be represented

from the Hungarians, who also use

the yurt style of tent, to the British

and their love of the Highland

grouse moor: to which many make

an annual pilgrimage, but with

falcons not guns.

Birds of prey are some of the most

spectacular creatures on the planet.

Eagles look impressive, weighing in

at 8 pounds plus; hawks are equally

...the falconers that thepublic will meet aregenuine; they have crossedcontinents to be here...

TOP; Training a horse

to accept an eagle in

such close proximity

requires great skill

RIGHT; The

Northumberland

Crow Falcons are one

of only two mounted

falconry groups in the

UK. FAR RIGHT; For a

Kazakh the golden

eagle is central to

their nomadic way of

life on the steppes of

central Asia

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july 2009

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beautiful smaller versions – the

goshawk was known as the cook’s

hawk because it could easily feed a

family with what it caught. But it is

the falcons that really capture the

imagination. The peregrine falcon is

acknowledged as the fastest

creature alive. Stooping (diving)

from the sky to catch its prey it has

been recorded as reaching 200 mph!

To see them flown free, and

returning of to the falconer’s fist or

lure, is a heart stopping moment

because, as every falconer knows,

they could just as easily decline and

keep on flying. Why they come back

is something you might care to ask

a falconer.

When you walk up the weathering

you will find every possible bird of

prey sitting on perches, and

experienced falconers will be on

hand to answer your questions. For

some the mini arena may offer the

chance to have one sit on your fist.

And if you think that this ancient

sport is for you, you are at the right

place for all the necessary

information. Birds of prey are

heavily protected by law; and quite

rightly so. Animal Health is the

government department

responsible, and will be there to

explain the law.

Falconers are conservationists. They

care passionately about the

environment, without which their

sport could not exist, and the

Festival will demonstrate this in a

series of exhibits adjacent to the

main arena. Here you can find out

about the grouse, partridge, even

the humble rabbit that all provide

the food for falconer and falcon

alike. Falconers help run

conservation projects all over the

globe covering countries as far

apart as Mongolia and New Zealand.

Their work is fascinating and not

well recognised. So if the

environment is important to you,

then stop by the conservation area.

Equipment makers will demonstrate

the delicate art of hood making. The

art tent displays some of the best

work available, and much is for sale.

There will be food and drink a

plenty and much, much more.

If you just want a great and unusual

day out, then come with all the

family. It is a bargain because the

tickets are only £15 each, parking is

free and most importantly, children

under 16 are free. You can pre-book

online at www.falconryfestival.com.

You will not regret it.

WINTICKETS

HURRY!

WORTH £30 PER PAIR

ENTER BEFORE

10TH JULY

To enter log on to www.roundandabout.co.uk

and follow the instructions

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