Arab Falconry

The traditions of Arab falconry are told with a Western voice as Roger Upton delves into the mystique of the tradition of falconry in the Middle East. Since pre-Islamic times, the Arab world has had a proud history of flying hawks, including sakers, lanners and peregrines. From Morocco to Pakistan, falconers, princes and sheikhs come together at hunting camps to share their experiences and techniques for trapping hawks and flying them at quarry. Whether the hawking party involves a handful or hundreds of men, they sit around the campfire to discuss their day, tell stories and prepare their hawks for the next day of hunting. Whether the prey is the houbara bustard, the stone curlew or the desert hare, Arab falconers train their prized falcons to be successful hunters of their chosen quarry. Using traditional techniques such as hooding to modern developments like telemetry, Arab falconers find success and satisfaction in the sport of falconry. "Arab Falconry" explores their stories. With a personal account by author Roger Upton, including excerpts from his own diaries that follow his adventures on hawking trips over decades, this book provides a real glimpse into the world of Arab falconry, which is rarely documented in the West.