Kazakh hunting. Kazakh hunting. The art of hunting. Features of Kazakh hunting

Zhatkanbaev A., Turlybaev A.

Several relatively extensive works are devoted to hunting with birds of prey in Kazakhstan. They contain a large number of contradictory facts and even incidental moments. Apparently, this is due to the incorrect transmission of the meaning of any fact or legend told by local hunters. main reason mistranslation there was the fact that most of the authors were not falconers and did not speak the native language of local hunters. The authors of this article are an ornithologist (A. Zh. Zhatkanbaev) and an experienced “kusbegy”, a representative of an ancient dynasty of Kazakh hunters with birds of prey (A. T. Turlybaev).

Hunting with birds of prey is one of the most ancient hunts that has been widely used on the territory of Kazakhstan since time immemorial. Apparently, this refers to the period when man began to tame various animals as his helpers for obtaining food. One of the ancient Kazakh legends says that in the VI century AD. e. Magomed, the founder of Islam, first saw hunting with birds of prey in Kazakhstan, ordered to send several birds of prey to his dignitaries in Arabia, where this occupation was not yet known, but there were all the opportunities for learning such a hunt. However, in Arabia, without understanding, they considered that birds should be cooked and eaten. Subsequently, in the Arab countries, hunting with birds of prey became widespread and flourishes today.

It is no coincidence that the peoples living on the territory of modern Central Asia and Kazakhstan were the progenitors of this type of hunting. Nomadic tribes of pastoralists lived in this region. Wandering through the endless expanses of steppes, deserts and mountains, these people, by virtue of their natural powers of observation, could not but try to tame wild birds of prey for hunting.

Currently, within Kazakhstan, hunting with birds of prey has been preserved only in some places. In this vast region, in recent years, hunters with birds of prey have become so few that they hardly exceed the number of fingers of both hands. These are the "last of the Mohicans", people of advanced age. There are almost no young people among them. May fade to ancient land Kazakhs is one of the most colorful folk traditions. Together with the latest “kusbegs”, centuries of invaluable experience can sink into oblivion, since living mentors cannot be dispensed with even with accurate written recommendations. But at the beginning of the 20th century and up to the 50s, this type of hunting was widely used in Kazakhstan.

Hunters used many types of birds of prey. But the golden eagle has always been considered the main among them. According to the Kazakh name of this bird, a hunter with a bird of prey is called "burkutshi". They hunted with golden eagles mainly for foxes, to a lesser extent - for corsacs, hares, sometimes gazelles, saigas and roe deer. And with an experienced large eagle, they even caught wolves. The main objects of hunting with golden eagles were animals - inhabitants of open landscapes with stunted sparse vegetation. Hunting was carried out on a good hardy horse and often with a Kazakh greyhound - "tazy" (translated from Kazakh - purebred). Usually hunted in October-November and in winter. Intensive training of birds of prey took place in September.

In addition to the golden eagle, several species of falcons and hawks were used as birds of prey. The most unsurpassed catcher among them was considered the gyrfalcon, with which they caught almost any flying game. This bird was highly valued. For a well-trained gyrfalcon, you could get a fortune. And during the matchmaking, this bird was considered one of the best gifts from the groom to the bride's parents (“kalym”). In Arab countries, the gyrfalcon is highly valued even now. So, for example, in the 80s, members of the royal family from Saudi Arabia paid 120,000 dollars for a female gyrfalcon.

With a peregrine falcon and a shahin, they usually hunted geese and ducks, less often - other birds. For one attack, the peregrine falcon knocked down up to one and a half dozen geese and ducks. It could be compared to a wolf that climbed into a sheepfold. He knocked down the birds until they had time to scatter. Pheasants, kecliks and hares were caught with Saker Falcons. With the help of a specially trained Saker Falcon, even goitered gazelles and saigas were hunted with the help of a “tazy”. The bird grabbed the ungulates by the head, thereby dispersing them, and the “basins” that ran up took the beast. accustomed small species falcons, such as the merlin and the hobby falcon, for hunting small passerines, and with the merlin, in addition, quails were also hunted. The white-clawed kestrel was used to capture small rodents when they were harvested by flooding burrows. The kestrel grabbed the animals that ran out of the holes. This technique was used to train beginner young hunters, who for the first time mastered the skills of setting birds of prey on prey. A trained goshawk was good at catching pheasants, partridges, geese, ducks, hares and even bustards. With a sparrow hawk, quail was hunted.

Hunting with birds of prey, having originated in ancient times as one of the ways to get meat, later became a national art among the Kazakhs, a special tradition that requires great skill and sportsmanship. Such an occupation was not bizarre fun, it required great responsibility and, in fact, the whole life was devoted to it. Hunting with birds of prey was a very serious matter, just like carpet weaving or making national musical instruments- dombra. This business could not be done by anyone. It required knowledge of biology, habits and many specific aspects of the upbringing and training of birds of prey. The most important thing was, of course, love for birds, which were regarded as equal members of the family. There are cases when nursing mothers gave part of their milk to sick golden eagle chicks. Hunting with birds of prey was practiced only in individual families, passing knowledge from generation to generation.

At major tribal holidays, peculiar shows of the sportsmanship of hunters and their birds were arranged. Here they received a critical assessment of relatives. And if the bird did not take prey, then this was considered the greatest, long-forgotten shame for the hunter. Poor families could not afford such an occupation. It was necessary to be able to feed birds of prey, education and training required a lot of time, patience and perseverance. By exchanging the skins of captured foxes and valuable fur-bearing animals for sheep and other livestock, successful hunters had a certain income from hunting with birds of prey. There were also hunters who became rich in this occupation.

In the Kazakh language, there are more than one and a half thousand words related to hunting with birds of prey. Most of these words are found in historical manuscripts. Many special words-terms refer to the equipment necessary for keeping and training birds of prey. Each piece of equipment has its own meaning and a special name.

To prepare hunting birds, they took chicks from nests or caught birds leading an independent lifestyle. If nestlings were taken, observation was established near the nests from the moment the eggs were laid. One or several observers almost constantly lived near the nest from the beginning of oviposition until the chicks emerged. During this period, the features of biology and habits of birds of prey in nature were studied. The hunters knew that the full development of the chicks can take place only in the parental nest, so they tried to take the chicks just before they left the nests. When fully fledged chicks began to try to fly up in the nest, they were scared away and caught.

Birds leading an independent lifestyle were caught with a specially installed net for bait - a live bird (usually a dove or a quail) or a hare. The chicks taken from the nests quickly got used to the person and became almost domestic, in contrast to the older birds caught. But nevertheless, the latter were more valued, especially the “tastulek” - a three-year-old golden eagle, which completely changed its nesting outfit. Such birds possessed a large arsenal of hunting techniques learned from their parents and honed over three years of independent life. These birds, after becoming accustomed to humans, gave in to training faster than chicks taken from nests.

The initial stage in the preparation of a bird of prey is accustoming to a person. The hunter in the first days after removal from nature is almost inseparable for several days - both day and night - is near the bird. During this period, the bird is put on the “yrgak” and is not allowed to fall asleep. At the same time, the chest and sides of the bird of prey are periodically gently stroked. A tired bird gradually ceases to be afraid of people. AT last days accustoming with her even walk through crowded places. Then they gradually achieve that the bird takes meat from the hands and eats it in the presence of a person. Then, tying the bird to the cords various lengths, achieve that she jumped on her hand from a distance of up to 10 meters. At the same time, she is lured with a piece of meat.

Proper feeding of birds of prey is one of the main conditions for their successful maintenance and preparation for the hunting season. The diet and feeding system developed over many generations of hunters ensure the normal state of the bird's body and its ability to hunt. It is necessary that the bird of prey be in the "hunting" body. Hunters feed the birds from their hands, while making specific vocal sounds. The bird develops a conditioned reflex to the host's urge, which is associated with food intake. When establishing a feed ration, it is taken into account that birds kept in captivity are much less in motion and use their muscular strength less than those living in the wild. Horse meat, beef, lamb, meat are used for feeding birds of prey. various birds. Meat is fed - as fresh as possible and in no case salty or spoiled. In order for a bird of prey to regularly burp pellets, it is allowed to swallow an artificial pellet made from a felt mat and pieces of wood. Add to chicks food bone meal and pounded eggshell. To achieve a "hunting" body, the golden eagle is usually fed with minced and soaked in water, cleaned of fat and veins.

The golden eagle is trained using the "shirga", dragging it by the cord along the ground. Sokolov is let loose on the "dalbay", twisting it in the air on a cord. In the early days, the birds are trained by tying a long cord to the putts. As you train, the cord is shortened and completely removed at the end, leaving only puts with short straps. When the bird catches the target, it is lured into the hand with a piece of meat and vocal signals to the hunter. After the bird learns to take the target confidently, it is replaced with wounded (or with partially connected wings) birds (passerines, pigeons, quails), hares, rabbits, corsacs and foxes. After repeated baiting, the training and preparation of birds of prey is completed and the first trial trips are made for a real hunt.

One well-trained and constantly trained bird was hunted for several seasons. But since even in constantly trained birds the muscular strength of the wings and paws still weakens over time, the birds of prey were released into the wild after 5-6 years. Released birds did not die, but almost immediately began an independent lifestyle. The use of birds of prey for hunting was not a mass phenomenon among Kazakh cattle breeders and was clearly regulated, since the hunter could prepare a limited number of individuals. Therefore, hunting with birds of prey did not undermine the number of populations of birds of prey in Kazakhstan.

Birds of prey hunter equipment

Also necessary when working with birds of prey:

"Zheztuyak" - metal claws that act as a prosthesis for cases when any of the claws breaks off during the hunt.

"Shuzu" - cloth ropes with which tail feathers are tied in a special way. They are used in the process of training a bird of prey so that it cannot rise high in flight. This is a kind of technique for limiting the rudders of lifting the height of the bird.

"Yrgak" - rocking perch, used in the initial period of training of a recently caught bird. This is usually a stick tied at both ends between two posts. Sitting on it, the bird must constantly maintain balance so as not to fall. Therefore, her attention is more concentrated on this. The bird cannot fall asleep, gets tired, weakens and thus quickly gets used to the person.

"Shyrga", "dalbai" - artificial targets used for training birds of prey. "Shyrga" - a "running" target, is made from a piece of thick skin stuffed with straw and a fox's tail. A strong long cord is attached to it, for which the target is pulled. "Shyrgoy" trains mainly golden eagles. "Dalbai" - a "flying" target, usually consists of two wings of a duck, dove or partridge attached to a felt frame lined with leather or cloth. Several strips of matter are sometimes sewn to the frame, resembling a bird's tail. A long cord is attached to the "dalbai" and it is used mainly for training falcons. Top dressing is tied to the targets - small pieces of meat.

Hunting and hunting economy №7 1990

Today in Kazakhstan there is an active revival of one of the most ancient nomadic traditions: hunting with birds of prey. Berkutchi competitions have become a cultural page new history Kazakhs. The symbiosis of a feathered predator and a hunter, the fight between nature and man - sayat - is not just catching prey, it is a colorful action, a magical ritual, part of the ethnos of modern koshpendilers who discovered Kazakhstan to the whole world

On site - to Kazakhstan

Hunting with birds of prey (sayat) has become part of the national sport of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Numerous associations, schools and clubs created in every region of Kazakhstan revive not only the occupation, but also the methods of training, keeping birds, seasonal subtleties of hunting, rituals, and costume. Hundreds of tourists from near and far abroad strive to take part in the hunt or simply admire the skill of the golden eagle, kusbegi, falconers. And although falconry is part of the everyday culture of many other peoples of the world (and is popularized, in particular, in Mongolia, Japan, Switzerland), sayat in Kazakhstan is unusually beautiful and special - thanks to the unique natural landscapes that are characteristic only for this area.

For an eagle - 6 camels

Hunting with a golden eagle has been known since the Andronov period. According to the petroglyphs of the Bronze Age, this is how our ancestors hunted in the Eurasian steppes millennia ago.

The history of the Kazakh sayat dates back to the 13th century. Hunting with a hawk and a falcon was traditionally practiced in the southern regions of Kazakhstan, with a golden eagle they went to game in the central and northern regions. As a rule, during the season, which began with the formation of snow cover (when fur-bearing animals are especially valuable), an experienced golden eagle could catch 5-6 foxes and up to 80 pheasants.

The price of a trained eagle was equal to the cost of 5-6 camels, for a falcon they gave a pair of two-humped ones. It is very difficult to tame and teach a feathered predator, and those who could do it were highly revered by the people. Berkutchi enjoyed great respect, they were considered intermediaries between the spirits of nature and people, and they did not doubt the hunters' command of the language of birds.

Favorites of the kings

Since ancient times, sayat was a favorite occupation of the king. In the burial of the second "Golden Man" (discovered in the Aktobe gorge), a golden eagle was found. In the burial mounds of Zheti-Tobe, discovered during archaeological excavations in 2012 near Taraz, burial places of people were found, near the remains of which were the remains of hunting birds. According to Karl Baikapov (academician of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, head of the Kazakhstan Archaeological Society), the 25 mounds found on the territory of one and a half kilometers are the graves of the Saka kings, who were buried along with their favorite birds - birds of prey.

Today sayat is a public occupation. Berkutchi is prepared in many sports schools in Kazakhstan, for example, in the Youth Sports School of the village of Asa, Zhambyl district. Bauyrzhan Eshmetov, a coach with more than 25 years of hunting experience (berkutchi in the 7th generation), transfers skill to the boys there.

Dominant bird

Modern sayat is not a craft, but an exciting and gambling spectacle. But what the golden eagles demonstrate is already the result, the result of painstaking and sometimes dangerous work: the domestication of a bird. Experienced hunters say that it is very difficult to catch, and even more so, to tame a cautious, naturally greedy and aggressive golden eagle, so the main weapon of a golden eagle is patience. Taming happens gradually. Often the hunter does not close his eyes at night, making sure that his bird sleeps. Particles raw meat only the owner gives the golden eagle. And only after the golden eagle got used to the golden eagle, his dog and horse, they begin to teach the feathered fox to hunt for an artificial fox.

Bakhyt, an experienced kusbegi

“In the pair “man-bird”, the golden eagle dominates, and the person only controls it. If the predator learns this, he will be open to learning, and the success of the hunt will be guaranteed.

In such a masculine, it would seem, type of activity there is a place for a lady. Makpal Abrazakova from the village of Aksu-Ayulu is the only female falconer in Kazakhstan (a lawyer by training), who became a kusbegi at the age of 13.

Shogel

Modern Kazakhstani golden eagles are known far beyond the borders of the country. Bakdaulet Babazhanov, Bauyrzhan Eshmetov, Userbai Kadyrkulov, Bakhyt Karnabaev and others are multiple champions of republican tournaments and national championships.

As part of the Association of National Sports under the Ministry of Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the federation "Berkutchi" (headed by Almat Idrisov) operates. Today, the organization has more than 70 berkutchi hunters. For more than 15 years Berkutchi has been a member of the International Falconry Association IAF.

At 160 km from the southern capital - Almaty - there is a Berkutchi Museum, which contains objects and information materials on the sayat. Each bird has its own name not only by type, but also by age: a teenage golden eagle (up to 1 year old) - balapan, a 2-year-old bird - cantubit, then there are tyrnek, tastulek, muzbalak, etc. The oldest is a 12-year-old golden eagle - shogel. This word is often used as a synonym for wisdom, life experience, respect for a person.

Mess and shyrga

For hunting with a feathered predator, you need special equipment: a leash, a couch, a cap and a blanket. To hold a bird weighing 6-7 kg, a mess (special support) is put on the hand. The skin of a fox or a hare stuffed with straw (shyrga) is needed for training. Dragging the shirga on a long rope across the steppe, the kusbegi teaches the golden eagle to crouch on prey. Flying out to catch, the predator is not tied, he is free. And the only guarantee of his return is trust. That is why the competition program includes not only the hunt itself, but also the landing of a bird on the hand, the "communication" of the hunter and his pet, which indicates the undeniable unity, harmony of nature and man.

With tea and baursaks

To hunt with a golden eagle or a falcon, it is not necessary to catch, train and keep a bird. This national type of activity is available to every tourist who is suitable in terms of age and physical indicators.

Traditional falconry routes operate from May to September, their average length is about 100 km. For example: Almaty - Kaskelen highway - Ushkonyr tract - Almaty. Each route is an acquaintance of tourists with the customs and ancient traditions of the Kazakhs, communication with nature, enjoyment national cuisine, whose dishes will be cooked on a fire. Route participants are met in yurts, with tea, koumiss, ayran, baursaks. Cheese and beshbarmak are obligatory on the menu. Stops are provided at sacred springs, mountain reservoirs, on observation platforms from which great views to the Zailiyskoye Alatau. Those who wish can ride horses, listen to the performance of folk songs. Such itineraries are very popular with Western tourists, and often places in groups are booked months in advance.

P.S.

According to legend, a person who put a bird of prey on his hand acquires strength, fearlessness and wisdom. In addition to falconry and golden eagle hunting, other ethnic activities are actively developing in Kazakhstan - hunting with dogs, fishing, traditional hunting. However, the biggest interest among tourists is still in bird fishing. Many are sure that it is possible to know the uniqueness of the Kazakh people and touch its ethnic group only by visiting the sayat ...

Types of birds of prey

The ancient hunting traditions of nomads are based on a great meaning. Their main goal is to hunt by natural means, maintaining the balance of nature and not threatening the life of the wild fauna of each region. Understanding the language of animals, our ancestors were able to tame birds of prey along with ground predators in order to use them for hunting. Naturally, to designate concepts related to birds of prey, kusbeg hunters developed their own classification and terminology, which differs from the scientific one.

According to the famous scientist A. Margulan, the Kazakhs divide all birds into two large groups - birds proper and clawed birds.
1 TO " the birds themselves » The Kazakhs attributed waterfowl and land birds, whose meat was used for food, and the fluff was used for household purposes.
2. Under clawed birds refers to birds of prey. They were also divided into two groups: "hunters", by taming which it was possible to hunt, and "useless".

A group of birds that look very similar to trapping birds, but unsuitable for hunting, the Kazakhs called "useless birds". These include: serpent eagle, kite, sea eagle, white-tailed eagle, buzzard or harrier, buzzard, long-legged buzzard, honey buzzard, vulture, black vulture, vulture, imperial eagle, bearded vulture, and also the greater spotted eagle.

Birds of prey used for hunting, in turn, are classified as big hunting birds and small hunters .
The Hungarian researcher Almasi György, who traveled to Semirechye in 1900-1906, wrote that the Kazakhs divided hunting birds into two groups: those flying high into the sky and hovering low above the ground. The white-throated falcon, the sparrowhawk and the kite were classified as hovering low above the ground. They were called by shouts: “Po, po!”. All the rest were ranked as soaring high into the sky.

G. N. Simakov, who studied the traditions of falconry in Central Asia and Kazakhstan, argues that the Kazakhs and Kirghiz group hunting birds into three main groups: falcons, kites and eagles.

In fact, Kazakhs divide birds of prey into three groups: eagles, falcons and hawks. When they talk about eagles, they first of all mean the golden eagle, except for him - the steppe eagle, the burial ground. The falcons are saker falcon, peregrine falcon, merlin, derbnik, kestrel, shaheen and hobby. Hawks include white goshawk, sparrow hawk and hawk-tuvik.

BIRDS OF THE GENUS OF EAGLE - AQUILA*

Eagle - golden eagle - Burkit - Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos Linnaeus, 1758)

Widespread bird of prey. It occurs in all regions of Kazakhstan. But more often it can be seen in mountainous areas - in Ustyurt, in Saryarka, in Altai, in Tarbagatai, Sauyr, Alatau, Kokshetau, Mangystau. Golden eagles are also found in saxaul thickets in the valleys of the Talas and Syrdarya rivers. They live on bare rocks inaccessible to humans, wandering dunes, in wooded areas, in floodplains, in deserts overgrown with saxaul. The golden eagle nests mainly in the south and south-east of Kazakhstan, in the cold season it is found everywhere.
The body length of the golden eagle is 90-91 cm (female), the male is about 85 cm. The live weight of the female is in the range of 3800-6500 g. The wingspan reaches 2.7 m.

According to the studies of B. Kamalashula, devoted to the Kazakh hunting business, the Kazakhs exalted the golden eagle, calling it the “Steppe fan”, “Lord of the heavenly heights”, “Favorite of the sky”, “King of birds”, “Khan of birds” and revered as “The bird allocated to the people by God himself."

The golden eagle is a hardy bird. She can eat up to a kilogram of food a day and, at the same time, live without food for up to half a month. The vision of a golden eagle is 5-7 times sharper than a human's. This is one of the few creatures that can look directly at the sun. He has a rare gift, hovering in the sky, at a distance of one and a half to two kilometers to see a small animal (gopher).

Of the birds, the golden eagle preys on snowcocks, geese, ducks, hazel grouses, partridges, and sometimes owls. Always ready to attack his enemies - owls, crows, magpies. Along with this, the golden eagle hunts animals - ferrets, badgers, ground squirrels, squirrels, porcupines, small rodents, hares, corsacs. It can attack young foxes, wild cats, argali, roe deer and other larger animals. A satiated golden eagle does not require food for up to 10-15 days, it can even starve for up to a month. The life expectancy of a golden eagle is 30-50 years, some specimens live even longer. You can hunt with it for 15-20 years. Of course, over the years it ages and loses power. Catching a golden eagle is not an easy task. True, sometimes it comes across unexpectedly. Depending on the habitat and exterior ( appearance) kusbegs distinguish many variations of the golden eagle: white-shouldered, hunting, gray, Karatau golden eagle, motley barshyn, black, grayish-brown and many others.

In addition to the golden eagle, other species of eagles are also found on the territory of Kazakhstan.

Lives in the steppe zone steppe eagle - Kyrankara - Steppe Eagle (Aquila rapax Temminck, 1828). Deployed wing male 51-59 cm, female - 53-64 cm, weight about 3 kg. Arranges roomy nests on the ground. At 55 days, the chicks are able to fly. Preys mainly on gophers.

dwarf eagle - Baqaltaq kyran - Booted Eagle (Hieraartus pennata Gmelin, 1788) the smallest species of eagles found in the mountainous regions of southern Kazakhstan. The weight of a male is only 500-700 g, females - 800-900 g, wing no more than 45 cm. It feeds on mountain partridges and other small and medium birds.

hawk eagle - Karshygarak kyran - Bonnelis Eagle (Hieraaetus fasciatus Viellot, 1822)- found in the south of the country - in the Karatau mountains and on the Syrdarya. Wing 45-60 cm, weight about 1.5-2.5 kg. It hunts mainly for birds, less often for hares and other medium-sized animals.

Greater Spotted Eagle - Shankyldak kyran - Spotted Eagle (Aquila glanga Pallas, 1811)- one of the largest species of eagles. It occurs in the forests of North-Western Kazakhstan, in Altai and in the Syrdarya valley. The wing length of the male is 49-53 cm, females - 52-56 cm, weight 2.0 - 3.2 kg. It feeds on forest animals, rarely on fish. Burial ground - Karakus - Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca Savigny, 1809). This species can be found in all regions of Kazakhstan. The wing length of the male is 54-62 cm, the female is 57-67 cm, and the weight is about 3 kg. It feeds on birds and small mammals. Rarely used in hunting.

HAWK BIRDS - ACCIPITER

goshawk- Karshyga - Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis Linnaeus, 1758).

Quite a powerful bird of prey, larger than a crow. In Kazakhstan, it is found in Altai and Alatau. Male body length 53.2-60 cm, female - 61.5-66 cm. Male wing 30-35 cm, weight 560-740 g, female wing 31-40 cm, weight - 915-1200 g. In early May, the female lays 2-4 eggs, incubates for 35 days, and after a month and a half, the chicks are able to fly.

Depending on the place where the nest is built, the color of the chicks is different. If the nest is built on a birch, then the chicks are white-motley, on a pine - red-motley, on a jide - black-motley, in a willow - red-motley, on a Turan poplar - motley with tan marks. After the first molt, they change color and become gray. Sometimes they are darkish, with black-brown stripes on the back, with black paws and rounded tail tips.

Kazakhs willingly tame hawks for the reason that these birds pursue prey until they take it. Whereas other agility at the first failure leave her. This remarkable quality of the hawk has become a proverb: "If you tame a hawk, he will take a fox." In the practice of hunting with a bird of prey, this bird is in second place after the golden eagle.

Goshawk and outwardly prominent bird. No wonder the song says: "Dzhigit without a hawk is not yet handsome." The Kusbegs distinguish many varieties of these hawks: gyrfalcon(with a small body, grasping, desperate), black Hawk(trapping qualities are average), light hawk, dark hawk, gray hawk(these differ in suit), evasive hawk(non-permanent), black fierce hawk(the head is flat, the eyes are keen, when flying it spreads along the ground), white face of cold(arrives in the coldest time), unpretentious hawk (rare view, hunting hares in the desert steppe), labor hawk(in all seasons it lives in abundant game forests).

Particularly worth highlighting White goshawk (Aқ Tuygyn). Although rare, it is still found on the lands of Kazakhstan, with the exception of deserts and semi-deserts. It is tamed in the same way as an ordinary hawk. In terms of hunting properties, he is not inferior to him. Perhaps that is why the Kazakhs attributed this bird to the genus of hawks. The wings of the tuigyn are short, the tail, on the contrary, is elongated. He shoots up like an arrow and also quickly falls on prey. This is where the comparison came from: “it sticks like a tuigyn”.
If it does not flow, then it is not water,
A frisky horse does not need a whip.
Let the hawk take flocks of ducks a day,
But still the price of tuigyn is high, -
this is how the Kazakhs expressed their respect for this bird.

They hunted small animals and birds with her. Tuigyn chicks are gluttonous to such an extent that if they get very hungry, they can eat each other. There are the following variations of this bird of prey: tuigyn-master with a white chest tuigyn-dirty gray color with dirty gray feathers and tuigyn-servant.In the 80s of the last century, the famous falconer Abilkhak Turdybaev hunted with a tuigyn named Akbayan.

Sparrowhawk - Kyrgyi - Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus Linnaeus, 1758). Smallish, inconspicuous. Breeds in mountainous areas. In Kazakhstan, it is widely distributed - it is found in the Kokshetau highlands, along the Irtysh, in the Dzungarian Alatau, in Altai, in the Northern and Western Tien Shan. The wing length of a male is 19-23 cm, females - 22-26 cm, weight 200-250 g, wingspan - 60-79 cm. At the end of May, it lays 2-5 eggs, incubates for about a month, and at the age of a month, the chicks leave the nest. The suit of the sparrow hawk is brownish or bluish, the breast is with transverse stripes, the paws are yellowish, the claws are black. Children usually hunt quails and sparrows with him. This is a very tenacious, tenacious bird. It can be seen, therefore, under some unfortunate circumstances, the Kazakhs say: "He flew like a hawk", thereby paying tribute
wonderful qualities of this bird. Trapping and training the Sparrowhawk is the same as any other hawk.

Tuvik - Mice (Accipiter badius Gmelin, 1788). Body length 30-38 cm, wing length on average 18-24 cm, weight 200-270 g. The back is dark brown, the breast is white, with brown stripes. Inhabits Semirechye and Syrdarya valley, in Karatau, occurs on migration in South and South-East Kazakhstan. Arrives in early spring, nests in tree tops and lays 2-7 (mostly 3-4) eggs in May. It hatches for 33-35 days and after a month releases the chicks into the wild. It feeds on lizards, toads, crayfish and small rodents. There is no information that the Kazakhs used them in hunting.

FALCON BIRDS - FALCO

According to the hunting significance of falcons, Kazakhs put them after golden eagles and hawks: "When a falcon flies, other birds hide." He is very grasping, rapidly soars up and also dives rapidly at the victim. Among hunting birds, the falcon is the fastest. The Kazakhs valued the falcon for modesty, purity and nobility. His plumage is always neat, he tirelessly cleans it, removing the slightest blade of grass adhering to the feathers. In ancient times, not a single hunting outing of khans, nobility, batyrs could do without falcons. In this circle, they were also considered the best gift. From oral sources it can be gleaned that kusbegs and wealthy people, who had a lot of golden eagles, hunted with falcons in order to “share the food of the golden eagle”.

There are 58 species of birds of the falcon genus in the world. Not all species from this list are found in Kazakhstan, and even fewer of them are traditionally used for hunting. We list only the most famous of them.

White (polar) gyrfalcon - Ak sұңқar - Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus Linnaeus, 1758).
Known among the nomads as the most tenacious warlike bird, the gyrfalcon was depicted on the coat of arms of the empire of the "master of the world" Genghis Khan. In legends and epics, his tenacious, desperate character is sung. In Kazakhstan, it occurs only on wintering in the northern regions. The weight reaches 2 kg, the wing length for the male is 35-37 cm, for the female - 38-41 cm.

saker falcon - Itelgi - Saker (Falco cherrug Gray, 1834).
It occurs in all regions of Kazakhstan, with the exception of high mountains and treeless plains. It nests on rocks and treetops. The body length of the male is 42.5 cm, weight 730-800 g, for the female - 52-59.1 cm, 1000-1300 g, respectively. The wingspan is 114-130 cm. At the end of March, it lays 3-5 eggs, incubates for about 3-4 days, the chicks fledge and mature within 40-45 days. The color of Saker Falcons is varied. For the most part they are grayish, flight feathers can be with black stripes or variegated. The color of females tends to be brown. A hardy bird that has the ability to soar very high and sit motionless for hours, tracking down prey. Saker falcon dives powerfully, very grasping. It hunts rodents and small birds like hazel grouse and partridge, as well as hares.

The Kazakhs believe that it is very difficult to tame the Saker Falcon. Among them there are unsuccessful specimens: scarce, weak, soft-bodied. Therefore, apparently, there is a mockery among the people: “A hawk will make a fire in the hearth kindle, and a saker falcon will only wave its wings to inflate it.”

Shaheen - Bidayik - Barbary Falcon (Falco pelegrinoides - Temminck, 1829).
Lives in Dzungarian and Zailiyskiy Alatau. The length of the body of the male is 36-42 cm. Its wingspan is 86 cm, the female is 98.7 cm. The weight of the male is 350 g, the female - up to 765 g. The eggs incubate for 33-35 days, the chicks fledge and take to the wing after 40 days. Prey tracks only in the air. The saying: “A raven will not dare to sit in the place of a bidayik” is connected with the fact that the shahin takes any bird, from a quail to a swan. It feeds mostly on larks, pigeons, hooves, partridges, and sometimes bats.

peregrine falcon - Lashyn - Peregrine (Falco peregrinus Tunstall, 1771).
Body length of female 47.3-50 cm, male 41-43.5 cm, wing 33-39 cm. Weight of female 700-1090 g, male 500-800 g. Breeds in Altai, occurs everywhere on migration. The favorite habitats of the peregrine falcon are mountains with wooded or rocky slopes.

At the end of May lays 2-4 eggs, incubates for 28-30 days, the chicks mature within 38-40 days. The size of a peregrine falcon is about two fists brought together, but its slightly elongated body looks attractive. The beak is curved, the yellowish tips of the wings are razor-sharp, the currant eyes sparkle, the legs are thin, the grayish paws are crowned with sharp, curved claws, like an awl. The color is bluish, feathers with transverse spots. The back side of the iridescent wings has a recess. After two or three links it becomes grasping.

In the old days, khans and noble people often hunted with him, they especially liked to let the peregrine falcon on ducks and geese. Having escaped from the hand, at first the peregrine falcon sharply decreases, as if falling, then rushes obliquely to the flying prey and, having reached it from below, again soars up and from there falls on the victim with an arrow. All this happens so quickly that the eye does not have time to trace all these actions.

Cheglok - Zhagaltai - Hobby (Falco subbuteo Linnaeus, 1758).
On average, the body length is 35 cm, weight is 170-350 g, the wing length of the male is 24.5-27 cm, the female is 26-29 cm, the weight is 150-330 g and 230-380 g, respectively. In Kazakhstan, it is not found everywhere, but in areas where there are shrubs, open glades or forest-steppes, in mountainous and wooded areas. Nests are built in the tops of trees. In April-May, the female lays 2-6 eggs, incubates them for a month with the male in turn, and at the age of one month, the chicks learn to fly. Males and females have one color: bluish backs, light brown breast; the neck is covered with yellow stripes, whiter on the sides; legs without plumage, yellow. Feeds on small mammals, lizards and large insects.

Derbnik - Turymtai - Merlin (Falco columbarius Linnaeus, 1758).
Body length reaches 30 cm. Wing 19-24 cm, weight of male 163-215 g, female - 216-300 g. Breeds in the northern part of Kazakhstan, lives in mountains covered with forests and on plains with trees and shrubs. The back of the male Merlin is bluish, while that of the female is brown. The chest is reddish. If you look closely, you can see gray-blue or dark brown feathers with yellowish stripes. In May lays 2-5 eggs on the rocks or on the tops of trees, the process of incubation and rearing of chicks lasts two months. Its food consists of small birds and rodents.

Kobchik - Boktergi - Red-footed Falcon (Falco vespertinus Linnaeus, 1758).
Breeds in northern part of Kazakhstan, occurs everywhere on migration. The weight of a male is 150-200 g, females - 198-280 g. It nests on the tops of tall trees. At the end of May lays 2-6 eggs. A month incubates, a month fattens and raises chicks. Feeds on small rodents and reptiles. In the Kazakh tradition of hunting with a bird of prey, the Falcon was given a separate place.

Kestrel - Kuikentai. Two species live in Kazakhstan: Lesser Kestrel - (Falco naumanni Fleischer, 1818)
and Common kestrel - Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus Linnaeus, 1758).
Found everywhere except in deserts. Body length 29-33 cm, wing length 23-28 cm, male weight 160-200 g, female - 190-280 g.
brown, with yellowish spots. Nests nest on rocks and treetops. At the end of April lays 2-6 eggs with yellowish
spots. A month incubates, a month fattens. Looks out for prey, hovering in the air. It is not in demand among falconers because of its very unprepossessing appearance and very small size. Kestrel is an ardent enemy of small birds of the passerine order. Therefore, the helpless, left without shelter, people were compared by the Kazakhs with "a sparrow running from a kestrel." With the invasion of sparrows on crops, they resort to the help of kestrel.

Since ancient times, Kazakhs valued animals and birds, used them in their lives. Highlighting distinctive properties animals, they perceived them as a symbol of happiness and wealth. Hunting for the Kazakhs was both a means of survival and entertainment. In ancient times, a spear with a stone tip, a club, a bow, snares and a trap were used for hunting. Later they tamed dogs, birds of prey, horses. A gun appeared. Skins, meat, feathers, down, horns were obtained from hunting trophies. Hunting accessories were also improved. When hunting horses, the victim was caught with a long hair lasso with a loop at the end or shot wild beast from a bow. A spear was used on an argali, a gazelle or a wolf. There was also a net for catching animals and birds. On predatory animals (wolves or foxes) they went out with a club. If they came across a predator, they used a knife. Iron traps were placed on large and cautious animals. For small animals, hand traps were used. Wire snares were intended for catching marmots. One of the leading areas of hunting culture among the Kazakhs is hunting with the use of dogs and birds of prey.

The domestication of dogs and training in hunting is called salburyn. This is a truly national heritage that has come down from the depths of centuries. Before the hunt, the Kazakhs arranged a holiday, a general festivity. This is where the word "salburyn" comes from. "Sal" - fun, games, competition. On the first snow, hunters on horseback set off to hunt and hunt until the end of February. Thick snow will fall, and the next morning it will be cloudless, light and quiet. The Kazakhs call such a very favorable day for hunting a cansonar. With the advent of life on earth, the dog became the first companion of man. She was always a true friend and helper. Dogs are duregey (mongrel) and tazy (hounds). Outbred dogs guarded the dwelling, livestock. Tobets were bred from them - wolfhounds capable of strangling a hardened wolf. These large calf-sized dogs have sensitive hearing. Among them are smooth-haired and thick-haired individuals. The Kazakhs call the hunting dog tazy. This is a hound dog of medium height. Its coat is smooth, its legs are long, the color depends on the habitat. Basins were used when hunting hares, foxes, wolves. In steppe tazy, the height at the withers corresponds to the height at the hips. They are light, fast, fragile-looking. An experienced hunter does not allow her to either get fat or lose weight.

Therefore, this breed is called shi tazy. Tazy from the highlands has a higher back than at the withers, legs are sinewy, strong, the neck is long and thick. In a state of extreme anger, Tazy enters into a duel with a wolf without fear. Kumai basins of thoroughbred blood, swift-footed, grasping. The legend says that kumai rarely appears, from the egg of a dog-like goose (italakaz). The Kazakhs compared their beloved tazy with the swift-winged kumai bird. Kumai tazy is a dog hunting the beast. Tame to hunting as a puppy, she has agility and speed, excellent sense of smell, impudence and courage. In a duel with a seasoned wolf, Kumai Tazy does not allow herself to be injured: grabbing her throat, she quickly calms him down. Only one in a hundred possesses such power. The howling of a dog is a bad omen. And the owner shouts at her to shut up, saying: "So that this happens only to you." But whining is a sign of something good. The folk tradition of burying famous horses and thoroughbred tazy according to human customs comes from ancient times.

Kusbegi is a specialist who teaches a golden eagle, a falcon, a kite to hunt. Until the golden eagle learns to return, it flies on a long leash. Then he is fed. When molting comes, they feed, planting on a loosely stretched lasso so that he loses weight, they do not give him plenty of sleep. When the bird begins to take off and land easily, it is taken for hunting. Catching with a golden eagle is a favorite type of hunting among the Kazakhs, several people participate in it. Going out hunting, kusbegi lands an eagle on right hand, holding the leg leashes, props up his hand with a stand (baldak) and sits on the horse. In his left hand he holds the reins. Arriving at the place, kusbegi with a golden eagle stands on a hill. The rest, making noise and screaming, scare the victim. Having removed the tomagu, the kusbegi releases the golden eagle. Each attribute for hunting with an eagle has its own purpose:

tomaga - a leather case tightly covering the golden eagle's eyes;
shyzhym - knitted lasso;
tamak bau - ribbon around the neck and paws;
baldak - a stand on which birds are planted;
tugyr - a stand on which a bird sits;
zhemsauyt - dishes for feeding the golden eagle;
yrgak - a mobile stand for taming a wild bird;
tutik - a tube to pour water;
kalta gem - a bag of food to attract a bird while hunting.

There is a belief that a house where there is a golden eagle is avoided by evil spirits. Therefore, his wings, feathers, paws are hung in a place of honor, the head of the cradle. The sacred bird protects from troubles, the evil eye, damage, protects from adversity. Among other ways - hunting for various baits: drags from the tail of a fox, corsac. Saiga and deer are driven into deep snow. It happens that the beast is driven in a circle for a long time. Because his head is constantly turned to one side, his neck is so numb that the beast is not able to turn his head in the other direction, from where the blow is struck. Depending on the size of the maral, gazelle and other animals, a hole is dug, where they fall. Sometimes a regular network is used. On frosty days they arrange a chase for wolves. Without giving a break, they make them sweat profusely, the wet body freezes during the night. In the morning the beast is driven again so that the ice does not melt. As a result, the beast, heavy from ice, becomes the desired prey of the hunter. Sometimes a hunter hides in the habitats of wolves and howls like a wolf. The deceived beast runs to the howl, and the hunter kills it. But foxes are caught differently. Hiding in the thickets of grass, hunters emit a mouse squeak. Deceived foxes fall for this trick and come themselves. Traces of large animals are clearly visible on the sand or the first snow. The hunter pursues them and shoots them. If the burrows of the animals are not deep, the hunters fill them with water or blow smoke into them - and the prey is in their hands.

Hunting with a golden eagle is part of Kazakh culture. In old times good bird and a fast horse were very expensive and increased the authority of the owner. But in our time there are those who want to hunt with golden eagles.

However, today only true connoisseurs of steppe hunting still go hunting with a golden eagle. For one of them, Kuanysh Isabekov, sport hunting has become a way of life. For 10 years now, together with his partner, the golden eagle Baikonur, Kuanysh has been winning prestigious awards at various competitions.

Hunting with a golden eagle is not an easy task, even to keep such a bird on your hand you need to make a lot of effort. In addition, a real berkutchi must be very brave. After all, this is far from being a pet, but a bird of prey.

Before taming a golden eagle, often the owner suffers from his attacks. A bird of prey can seriously injure a person. Usually the golden eagle is taken from wildlife as soon as it starts to fly. First, they are taught to sit on the hand, then respond to the call of the owner.

Berkutchi Kuanysh Isabekov says that it is very difficult to educate a golden eagle, because they do not understand the punishment, they can only be encouraged. According to Isabekov, golden eagles are very proud, even when they are chicks - it is enough to shout once, and the bird will remember it for a long time and will not miss the opportunity to take revenge on you.

The hunting season is now over. Soon the birds will begin to molt, and closer to autumn, training will begin again.

Employees of one of the falconry nurseries - "Sunkar" - can be safely called the true keepers of the traditions of the national hunt. They are completely free, they put on an unusual show every day. For those who cannot afford to go on a real hunt, this is a great chance to learn all the intricacies of working with birds of prey.

As a rule, three or four birds participate in one performance: an owl, a falcon and even a vulture. The culmination of the show is the performance of the golden eagle, the chief hunter of the steppe.

An employee of the nursery, Pavel Pfander, says that if a person traveled around the world a hundred years ago, he would see a rider with a golden eagle only in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

During the hunting season, which starts in February and lasts until the beginning of summer, an experienced golden eagle and a bird can catch on average 50 or 60 foxes, a couple of lynxes and 5 wolves. Golden eagles rarely fail when catching prey. They quickly kill her. The victim does not even have time to understand what happened. After all, according to Pavel Pfander, a golden eagle has strength of up to 80 kg in one finger.

Nature has made an excellent predator out of the golden eagle. The bird has extremely sharp eyesight and incredible speed. During the hunt, the golden eagle can see a hare at a distance of two kilometers and chase the victim at a speed of more than 300 km per hour. The bird's famous frown also appeared for a reason. The brow ridges protect it from bright light and dust.

The ability to hunt with a golden eagle was passed from father to son and was not available to everyone. Perhaps this is another reason why this type of hunting is becoming a thing of the past. And yet the relationship between a bird and a person is special, they are built on the basis of equality. The owner does not consider the golden eagle his property. Therefore, after 10 - 12 years of joint hunting, the golden eagle will definitely release the bird into the wild. From there, everyone will have their own path.

Timur Sandybaev

Reference

Since ancient times, hunting with a bird of prey was not so much a way of obtaining hunting trophies as an art and entertainment at the same time. It has not lost its significance to this day. Today, enthusiasts in Kazakhstan, Germany, Japan, Italy, Spain, Pakistan, England, the United United Arab Emirates, Hungary, and many other countries. On November 16, 2010, hunting with birds of prey was included in the list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity by UNESCO.

Falconry in Russia is not only a bright page in the history of Russia, but also a symbol of national tradition, marked by royal decrees and even the patronage of an Orthodox saint. The Russian people, being hunters by their original origin, not only loved hunting, elevating its symbolism to the sphere of spirituality, but also associated their whole life with it from time immemorial, including the main amusements of the royal court, as narrated by ancient legends, annals, songs and legends. In Russia, falcon yards were still held by princes Oleg and Igor. Judging by the epics, falconry existed under Prince Vladimir, the baptist of Russia, who did not eradicate it, considering it a pagan relic. So, in one epic about Ilya Muromets it is said: “Ilya Muromets drove up to the Safat River, and he saw a hero in an open field ... let down a clear falcon from his hand ...”

Despite the fact that falconry existed in ancient times, the period of its unprecedented dawn fell on the reign of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov. By order of the tsar, more than two hundred birds of prey were brought to the capital annually - falcons, hawks, gyrfalcons, peregrine falcons, tailbones and saker falcons. Around the clock with birds in the palace villages - Pokrovsky, Kolomenskoye, Sokolniki, there were more than a hundred falconers. Moreover, none of the outsiders managed to see the mysterious birds in Kretchatnya. The connecting thread of the hunting bird and royal power can be traced even in heraldry. The eagle, as a symbol of royal power, appeared in the time of Ivan the Terrible not by chance, but as a symbol of a long-rooted ancient tradition inherited from Byzantium.

It is difficult now in Russia to name at least one place where hunting with a bird of prey is still professional and traditional. Perhaps, only Kazakh golden eagles today are still true to ancient traditions.

Hunting with a golden eagle for hares and foxes is a landmark of Central Asia. Recently Kazakhstan hosted a republican tournament in the national sport among the golden eagles, dedicated to the 20th anniversary of Independence of Kazakhstan. According to the hunters, they want to convey the traditions of their ancestors to the younger generation. Falconry has always been popular among the rulers of Kazakhstan. A rider with a bird of prey sitting on his wrist has long been a symbol of the Asian steppes. Under the Soviet regime, hunting was considered an elite occupation, and the authorities tried to prevent its spread. However, after Kazakhstan gained independence 13 years ago, interest in hunting in the country began to grow. Today there are about 40 officially registered falconers in Kazakhstan. Many Kazakh hunters live in neighboring Mongolia.

Far from nature, people in many countries consider it wrong to use birds of prey in falconry. They naively believe that a brood bird turns into a "slave" of a falconer, "fulfills his whims" and is "exploited" by him. In fact, a hunting bird is a kind of professional athlete, and a falconer acts as a coach, and the very possibility of future successful hunts depends on their mutual understanding. Equally important is the physical condition of the feathered catcher. Even the most ardent opponents of falconry will not undertake to deny that any falconer is directly interested in maintaining the strength and health of his pets for as long as possible. Thus, the only disadvantage of falconry today is the removal of individual individuals from the reproduction cycle of free populations.