FALCONS IN QATAR
Reports 1997 - 1999 Hunting Season
Only small number of falconers had the chance to go Iraq. Generally the number of bird’s game is less than last year. From our side Mohammad Bin Khalifa went with small group.
Falconers being addictive to Iraq games. Even some hunters started during the month of Ramadan, fasting and hunting. It was very difficult for some Falconers, but we had good season more rain than last year. Houbara birds being spotted in every place but not in "Enikhab" or "160k". We had good heavy duty Shaheens and enjoyed the most of 60 days full hunting season.
Again Iraq is the place to go !
Started very slow training the new Falcons no rain has recorded in the south of Iraq, and few Houbara birds being seen.
Most of the falconers went to "Esllman" East.
In mid Jan Qatari falconers have been told to leave Iraq due to tension between USA and government of Iraq.
Most of the falconers left back to Qatar and some continued hunting in Saudia Arabia.
I left to Frankfurt, I lost contact with my update, but I know that my friends including my brother Abdul Aziz went to Sauid Arabia to hunt games. My brother Aziz had a good paragrine falcon and it was the fastes of all the bairds they have. Not much to mention before the summer of 1999, and all falconers are closing the season and awaiting for October '99.
In the fourth quarter of 1998 most of good falconers have left to Iraq again for the season. Our group was late going there due to trip preparation and shortages of Falcons. I believe our group purchased the best falcons peregrine in the Gulf region. Shs' Ali, Mohammed , and Ahmad (brothers) purchased the biggest nicest peregrine at the time. Also, Sh. Ahmad bin Jabor has nice Falcons as well. Khalid Al Badi also went with the group. In 16 days they captured 102 Houbaras. In the meddle of the fun time and during the problem again with US military action against Iraq leader ship, the group received a messenger from Qatar government requesting them to leave the Iraq state urgently and warning them that US will hit the country with Air missiles . It was risky to stay hunting plus they have shortage of fuel . The decision was made by Sh. Ali to leave in the middle of the good time.
They decided to go back to Doha in the condition to return after the Iraq government sort out the problem with UN. But that did not happen.
In the end of the holly month of Ramadan i.e. first of February our group of good falconers leaded by Sh. Ali ben Khalifa ben Abdulla Al Ahmad Al Thani and his brother the Grate Falconer sh. Mohammad, visited Iraq for 24 days hunting. The games were a lot and they had good time . However, most of thier falcons were sick due to the road traviling and low tempreture. After one week of hunting thier birds become more stronger and fast flying. They were trying to stay longer but due to shortage of falcons and sh. Ali's best Paragrine got sick and could not fly it any more in- addition to the U.S. thretining the government of Iraq to use meletary force against the Iraqis and any body in Iraq through the U.N. They were back on the first week of March and they started looking for Stone Corlows " KIROWAN" on 10 March, 98.
The falconers started the year 1997 celebrate going to Iraq to catch games. Most of the keen falconers like to go to Iraq due to the migration of the Hubara bird ( Bustard) through the desert of Iraq. The prices of Peregrine falcons shoot up to the sky. However, the price of Saker Hurr remained stable. Some of the best valuable and expensive falcons reached Qatar market but no body could afford baying. One of the broker " Mr. Marshad " had to ship his birds to Saudi Market, and he sold seven nice white falcons to one of the royal family.
I did not have the chanse to go to Iraq this season but Sh Ali Al Thani and me went to Yeman. It was so hut and most of the falcons could not fly after 9 am or before 4 pm. We caught alot of rabbits.
Now it is summar time most of the falcons are in cool rooms in multing period time ( Changing feathers) waiting for September to start the new season.
New season started on falconary for the last quarter of 1997. In Qatar ; we had a lot of rain started on Mid of September. The migration of Hubara this season is very impressive. Many falconers had good chance to try thier effort of training on wild Hubara and in general it was a good season. In our group of falconers we cought all togather 30 Hubaras, but some of the groups reached up to 80 Hubaras in this season.
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