When Falcon-Shopping, Keep A Tight Grip On Your Wallet: A shop owner feeds a prized hunting falcon,... [+] for sale at the Falcon Souq in Doha, Qatar. Falcon Souk: Falcon - The most expensive bird I have ever seen! Mandi Keighran » King of birds (Qatar) Qatar falcon - search in pictures. Share. The demand for the bird has increased since Qatar has started different falconry competitions. Qatar's Largest Falcon Breeding and Research center. a training event earlier this month in the Liwa Oasis, southwest of Abu Dhabi. One may also include the enclosure inspection fee in the overall cost of the falcon’s shelter. Communing In The Desert: Emirati falconer Mohammed Rakan Bin Harwon Al-Qubassy (R) and his falcon at... [+] More ordinary peregrines and saker falcons in … In the center of the room were several falcon perches. The falcon souq is adjacent to the very famous Souq Waqif. Gyrfalcons, which happen to be the largest falcon species, can cost up to QAR1 million. It is here wherein the overall value of these birds of prey is meticulously assessed and appraised high enough to describe the contemporary equivalent of the ‘aristocratic/royal pastime.’. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. The hunters were working a section of the Iraqi desert southeast of Basra, bordering Saudi Arabia. Unsurprisingly, the Falcon Souq itself – a fortress-like arcade adjoining Souq Waqif in downtown Doha – is at the heart of the action. The falconry and the sporting knowledge of the terrain behind the event is instructive. Some of these birds are taken out for a bit of sun and fresh air in the central courtyard and ... Falconry is a big deal in Qatar. How to reach the Falcon Souq. Qatar's Largest Falcon Breeding and Research center. However, the upkeep expenditure required for the raising and caring of the bird of prey is something a falconer could not bypass. (Photo credit: KARIM SAHIB/AFP/Getty Images), al-Salmi district, 120 kms west of Kuwait City, on December 19, 2015 in preparation for a falconry competition. But any health care facilities that diagnose and treat these exotic creatures would charge around $150 per visit. The timing of the Gulf's festival season is, by the way, climatically based -- the desert cools at this time of year, hunting safaris are far less strenuous, and the birds, some of which are Northern European in origin, have an easier time at work. Many common falcons, nevertheless, in good health at the peak of their athletic capabilities can cost $5,000 to $25,000. Most of the Sunni Gulf states – including Sheikh Al-Thani's government in Qatar – are backing the opposition in the Syrian war. Try not to visit during the lunch hours though. More ordinary peregrines and saker falcons in excellent health and at the peak of their athletic prowess will bring $5000 to $25,000 on the Gulf. The screen displays which birds are to go in next for their treatment . Poor, largely Shiite southern Iraq is supporting Assad. From the Early Middle Ages until the 1800’s, falconry established its reputation as a ‘sport for the high-born.’. All these birds kill with their beaks, using a "tooth" on the side of their beaks—unlike the hawks, eagles, and other birds of prey in the Accipitridae, which use their feet. But strictly for the sake of the quantifiable figure, the conservative estimate for the average cost of purchasing a falcon is anywhere roughly between $200 and $1,000. WhatsApp. Third – perhaps the ultimate draw – as one of the oldest crucibles of falconry in the Middle East if not in the world, southern Iraq and the Euphrates delta has a very large population of wild raptors, from falcons to hawks. However, this type of exotic lifestyle could not gain a strong foothold in the United States considering the risk of genus endangerment. Although for the last couple of years many Qataris, Saudis and other Gulf-state hunting tourists have regularly booked safaris to the oases in Muthanna province, it seems that the hostage takers' action might be worth an international-falconer travel advisory. The current ecological policy in the United States practically forbids possession of potentially endangered wild animals. If that dispatch resembles fact. According to him, a beautifully feathered falcon can win cash prizes from QAR300,000 to QAR500,000. The falcon, used for millennia to hunt prey in the unwelcoming desert, is the symbol of many states in the Middle East, and is considered a byword for courage and grace. Not all vet clinics are authorized or knowledgeable at examining falcons. It is crucial for prospective falconers to take note of the following aspects that include the overall cost of living: Falcons consume morsels of its quarry during a hunting excursion. Al Khudaira Falcon Center, Qatar. Among the serious adjustments include (but not limited to) two-year apprenticeship under a general falconer, no vacations, and the meticulous oversight of the falcon’s health. Serious Money In The Bird, Serious Health Care: A falcon awaits a health check at the Abu Dhabi... [+] Falcon Hospital, the largest facility of its kind in the world, treating some 9000 birds a year. Falcons -- and raptor-hunting generally -- mean a very great deal in the Gulf States, where, as festival times intensify the market, the rarest purebred gyrfalcons, the largest of the falconidae and an Arctic bird popular for hunting among the gentry of medieval Europe, have been recently reported to fetch as much as $250,000. This does not yet include operations. Eventually, in 300 BC, this practice reached Western civilization through Aristotle’s chronicles. Are the prices for this place or activity budget ... Around the souk there are numerous stores selling falcons and all the accessories that a best-dressed falcon must have. (Photo credit: KARIM SAHIB/AFP/Getty Images). Among many Gulf State falconers, this is a beloved stretch of hunting country for three reasons. The prices of such competition are also falcons that have luxurious prices. These are the membership costs one should take note: As mentioned earlier, it is possible to avoid falcon prices if one manages to capture a wild falcon breed permitted under the license rank. And when it comes to the feathered companions, none have evoked such romanticism than that of birds of prey like falcons. This question only scratches the surface of the issue concerning the ownership of these proud birds of prey (more of this in the later part of the article). 68 were here. The falcon souq is open on all days except Fridays from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm. Traveling with your falcon is also possible. Apart from the enclosure, an outdoor perch may cost around $200 or more. The falcon hospital is part of the falcon souq. Your email address will not be published. Al Khudaira Falcon Center, Qatar. On Thursday, the second session began with a bidding price of QR70,000, and the much sought after falcon was bought by Youssef al-Sada from Qatar for QR150,000. It is important to bear in mind that not all falcons raised among people can effectively survive on their own, especially considering the unfamiliarity of their new environment. The two Iraqi guards at the oasis bivouac were apparently released. The demands of owning a falcon are considerable. All Rights Reserved, This is a BETA experience. This photo was taken aproximatley 150 miles east of the camp from which the Qatari falconers were taken hostage in Iraq. List View. Where can i BUY a FALCON and wht is their AVERAGE PRICE. This device would cost around $1,500. In Qatar, there is a detailed assessment and appraisal of these birds of prey. Generally, the prized birds can cost around QAR100,000 to QAR400,000 or $27,460 to $109,800. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images). At the end of the festival month, on January 30, what's being colloquially described as a falcon beauty pageant will take place, meaning, a thoroughbred-racehorse level judging of the birds, with the top bird taking 500,000 Qatari Riyals in prize money, or about $ 137, 336.22, at current rates.