Falconers in Rafha Prepare their Birds for the Hunting Season

In the vast wilderness of Rafha Governorate, located in the Northern Borders Region, falconers are busy preparing their birds for the upcoming hunting season. At this time of the year, falconers train their falcons to ensure that they are ready for the hunt. The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) observed numerous falconers engaging in training activities, including by using Al-Tilwah method to hone their falcons hunting abilities. Al-Tilwah is a bird-shaped decoy designed for training falcons to hunt. Resembling the wings of a bustard bird, it is attached to a rope approximately one and a half meters long. The falconer swings it in the air to capture the falcon's attention, encouraging the bird to swoop down and catch its prey, providing essential hunting practice. Many falconers are dedicated to preparing their falcons for the hunting season well in advance. The ideal time for training falcons, they say, is from late afternoon until sunset, as this aligns with the natural hunting habits of these magnificent birds . The training process can take anywhere from two weeks to a month, depending on the falcon's response and learning pace. Falconers train their birds diligently until they are confident in their hunting abilities and that they can reliably return to their owners. Falconers who talked to SPA also shared insights into the dietary needs of their birds during the hunting season. They said that falcons should not be given a full meal or even half a meal, but rather small portions of meat to maintain their hunger. This ensures that the falcons are motivated to hunt and return to their owners for sustenance. Source: Saudi Press Agency