The ancient sport of falconry (Qans) is a tradition that is still enjoyed today in Saudi Arabia. Admired for their loyalty, beauty and mastery of the hunt, falcons have long been intricate part of the Arab heritage. Falcons, when soaring high in the sky, can spot any movement of the prey more than a mile away. Its sharp prehensile claws and dagger-like bark make it almost impossible for the prey to escape. Falcons range from 15 to 19 inches in size. Well-cared for falcons can live for 15 years or more. When not hunting falcons feed on poultry, namely pigeons and chickens. They only need water about once a week in the winter because they get water from the blood of their prey. Falcons molt during summer, and within a month they get new feathers. “Saker” (Falcon chirrup) and “Shaheen” (Falcon peregrines) are the two main species used for hunting. The Saker is most popular because it is well-suited to desert hawking, according the website Arab Hunter. The female, larger and more powerful than the male, is a brave, patient hunter with keen eyesight, and copes better under stress. The temperamental Peregrine has brittle feathers that are easily broken. Again the female of this species is preferred for hunting purposes. Wild falcons are caught during autumn migration and are trained for the hunting season that begins in early November and lasts until March or April. The training period may take a month. Slowly the falcon learns to accept food from the trainer's hand, adapting to both the touch and sound of her master's voice. The next training session takes place in the desert in the late afternoon or early evening. The best time to hunt is from sunrise till noon. Both the Sakers and the Peregrines kill in the air and on the ground. When in pursuit, the Peregrine flies very fast, hovers above her victim and makes a sudden swoop downward at tremendous speed. Shaheen is extremely fast over short distances, but the Saker has more endurance. In the evening, the hunting party clean their game, cook it over an open fire and then sit and discuss the day's bunt, with each falconer bragging about the skill and courage of his falcons.
