Her charismatic looks and obvious bond with her falcon make her a favorite for photographers. I overnighted at her home and photographed her at 1AM. After we were done, she asked me to show her all the images on my computer. To my surprise, her energy kept her up until 4AM. My question was: “Are you going to be tired at school tomorrow?” Her answer: “We do get an excuse to skip class when we meet foreigners.
For centuries Bürkitshi (eagle hunters) have been hunting with their eagles during the frigid winter months for subsistence and fur (foxes, wolves, and hares). Eaglets are captured from their nests high in rocky crevices. Only female birds are selected, as they ultimately grow to be larger than males, giving them an edge as hunters. The bond between hunter and bird is deep; she answers only to the hunter’s voice.
