Latest news with #Falconry
Arab News
4 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
International Falcon Breeders Auction draws experts from Kingdom and abroad
RIYADH: The International Falcon Breeders Auction 2025, which is taking place at Malham, north of Riyadh, is aiming to boost the falcon-breeding industry in Saudi Arabia by drawing experts from the Kingdom and abroad. The event provides a competitive platform from which falconers can explore the latest breeding and hybridization techniques and exchange expertise with breeders worldwide. The auction is known to draw eye-watering sums for the best birds, with some fetching upwards of SR375,000 ($100,000). Last year's auction raised a total of SR10 million after 866 falcons were sold. Falconer Hamad bin Mislih Al-Qahtani told the Saudi Press Agency that falconry in the Kingdom had made significant strides over the past five years, thanks to direct interaction with international farms participating in the auction. Such engagement, he said, had exposed local falconers to superior bloodlines and modern methods that enhanced falcons' speed and hunting skills. Saudi falconer Badr Al-Aradi spoke to the SPA about his peregrine called Salman, reportedly one of the finest specimens produced by a Saudi farm, with an entirely local lineage resulting from the mating of two pure peregrines. The bird weighs 1,090 grams, measures 17 cm in length and 16.5 cm in width, with a balanced build and exceptional acrobatic capabilities. Al-Aradi noted that his falcons typically avoid leaving the farm's provided shelters, which had prompted him to develop a tracking device to monitor their movements. He added: 'I was surprised to find that Salman travels long distances daily. On one occasion he flew 606 km in just eight hours, starting from Turabah, passing through Qassim, then returning to Hail — soaring at altitudes exceeding 3,600 meters.' He said that Salman's feat occurred at the age of less than three months, demonstrating remarkable endurance and sustaining flight despite high temperatures — an uncommon achievement for a young peregrine. The event, which runs until Aug. 25, is organized by the Saudi Falcons Club, and is open daily from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Visitors and enthusiasts can follow the proceedings live on television and the official digital platforms of the Saudi Falcons Club. The event includes pavilions for breeders, an auction yard, supplies stores, and a special corner for the Future Falconer children's area. There are also a number of interactive presentations by falconers on care and breeding methods.
Arab News
05-08-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Saudi club hosts global falcon auction in Riyadh
RIYADH: The International Falcon Breeders Auction opened on Tuesday at the headquarters of the Saudi Falcons Club in Malham, north of Riyadh. Running until Aug. 25, the event attracts top breeders and farms from within the Kingdom and around the world, with Europe, the Americas and Asia all represented, the Saudi Press Agency reported. More than just a sales platform, the auction provides an opportunity for people across the world of falconry to meet, interact and share ideas on this ancient sport. The many pavilions, including a 'Falconer of the Future' stand, provide a showcase for breeding farms and equipment suppliers. The event also supports the Saudi Falcons Club's efforts to promote the heritage, culture and development of falconry, including pioneering breeding farms, and reinforcing the Kingdom's position as a global hub for the sector. Last year's auction saw 872 birds changing hands for a combined value of more than SR10 million ($2.7 million). That represented a 25 percent increase in revenue and a 36 percent rise in the number of birds sold from 2023. This year's event is expected once again to attract the very best falconers and breeders from across the globe, highlighting Saudi Arabia's leadership in preserving intangible cultural heritage and its growing international stature in the falconry world.
Telegraph
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Hawk that attacked bald men is adopted by a bald man
A Harris Hawk that attacked bald men in a village has been adopted by a bald man. The bird of prey, nicknamed 'Bomber Harris', attacked over 50 people in Flamstead, Hertfordshire, during a four-week reign of terror in March. A falconer who helped trap the hawk previously told The Telegraph the bird 'saw bald men' and attacked them because it was 'hormonal'. But the bird has now been adopted by Wayne Housden, a falconer who has recently had a buzz cut. The 58-year-old village warden told The Telegraph that Bomber had changed – pointing to the fact he could shave his head without fear of attack. 'If you looked at me now, you'd say, 'he's bald',' Mr Housden said. 'I'm not worried about him. I've shaved my head and, when I shaved it, it was to the bone. 'But I go into his aviary and he doesn't attack me.' Mr Housden, who lives near Flamstead, described his new friend as 'really tame', adding: 'He wasn't terrible. He was more scared than anything when he was caught. 'I can kiss him on the head. He nibbles around my neck and on my chin... He's so friendly to me. He's obsessed with me.' For four weeks last year Flamstead ground to a halt. Postmen stopped delivering mail, fearful scaffolders left work unfinished and villagers would not dare leave their homes without a hat, umbrella or hooded coat to protect themselves. The siege was finally brought to an end when Steve Harris, 40, threw a cage over the bird after it followed him into his back garden. The physiotherapist and father-of-two, who had been returning from a run, told The Telegraph that he and his children had not been in their garden for 'weeks and weeks' because of the attacks. Mr Housden, who also owns another falcon, said that he had decided to adopt the bird after the police contacted him for help. Bomber is now housed in a new £1,000 aviary which was built by Mr Housden. The falconer said the idea that the bird might attack someone again was 'always in the back of your head' but added that 'he's got to go loose'. He said that he has already started taking Bomber on excursions, including a visit to his friend's house. 'He's calmed down', Mr Housden added. 'He needed to calm down.' Asked whether he thought the bird was misunderstood, he said: 'Yes he was. 'He's going to be going to a scarecrow festival in Flamstead and he will end up meeting everyone that he's hit on the head, so they will all see how he's changed.'
