International Conference of Falconry concludes in Al Ain

The Festival of Falconry Conference has concluded its third and final day on Saturday 17th of December at the Rotana Hotel in Al Ain. The Conference was attended by members of the falconers, biologists, educators, vets, journalists, conservationists and politicians who were listening to raptor experts from the Middle East, North and South America, Africa, Asia and Europe debating key issues that threaten wild raptor populations and falconry around the world. The conference Sessions included on its last day presentations on the management of quarry species in Arabia, Central Asia, North Africa, Europe and north America, a diverse range of talks promoting the global public image of falconry and a forum exploring how falconry is taught and communicated around the world. The sessions covered the following topics: Falconry in the Middle East: is falconers’ ecological knowledge matching scientific findings? Submitted by Yassir Hamdan Al Kharusi and Hamda Hamad Al Ameri -International Fund for Houbara Conservation. How? What? Why? Who? When? Where? Strategies for the Management of the Public Image of Falconry submitted by Dr. Javier Ceballos - Ministry of Culture's Delegate for Falconry, Santa Cruz de Marcenado, Madrid. Sheikh Zayed’s Houbara Conservation: A Comprehensive Development Strategy submitted by Mohammed Saleh Al-Baidhani-International Fund for Houbara Conservation. Houbara Management in North Africa submitted by Yves Hingrat-Ecology and Conservation Manager, RENECO Wildlife Consultants. Houbara Management in Central Asia submitted by Jacky Judas-National Avian Research Center. Hawking Culture of Pakistan submitted by Kamran Khan Yousafzai. Conservation of Houbara bustards using chimeric chicken submitted by Chunhai iu, Vijay Baskar, ZhorGuerineche, Kamal A. Khazanehdari,ShaziaSaleem,Jörg Kinne, Renate Wernery, Ulrich Wernery and Il-KukChang-Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL). Houbara Management in Abu Dhabi submitted by Mark Lawrence-Ecology & Conservation Department, National Avian Research Center, Reneco Wildlife Preservation Ltd. North American Grouse, Identification, Status, and Conservation Rolls of Falconers submitted by Ralph Rogers. Regeneration of the Red Grouse on the North Yorkshire moors, Great Britain submitted by Steve Smith and Julian Hepburn. Free Flight, Limited Space submitted by Tula Stapert. Lessons learned from other Field sports submitted by Jim Barrington. Animal Supported Therapy with Birds of Prey for Autistic Children submitted by Klaudia Brommund-Centre of Horus. Eagle Encounters” – Rehabilitation, Education and Outreach by Falconers submitted by Hank Chalmers-Chairman, Cape Falconry Club and owner of Eagle Encounters. Influencing Falconry’s Public Image in North America submitted by Larry Dickerson-President, North American Falconers’ Association. Women in Falconry submitted by Diana Durman-Walters-International Wildlife Consultants, Carmarthen, Wales. Working with Politicians submitted by Tage Jessen-Denmark. Changing Public Views of Falconry submitted by Dr Mike Nicholls1 and Helen Macdonald2 1Dr Mike Nicholls, Senior Lecturer in Education Studies & Partner College Liaison, University of Greenwich 2Ms Helen Macdonald, Affiliated Research Scholar, Department of History and Philosophy of Science, University of Cambridge To See Ourselves as Others See Us submitted by Debbie Stewart-Wingspan Birds of Prey Trust. Heritage as a Falconry Image-Enhancer - the UNESCO Experience submitted by Dr Bohumil Straka-IAF Vice President for Europe-Asia-Africa-Oceania, International Association for Falconry and Conservation of Birds of Prey.