Falcons and falconry

Falcons and falconry are a long-standing and important part of the culture and heritage of the UAE. These birds are treasured by Emiratis. There is even a well-known falcon hospital on the Abu Dhabi outskirts.

At the equestrian and hunting exhibition (ADIHEX) that I have been writing about, there were many falcons, most of which were for sale.  (The few price tags I saw involved tens of thousands of dirhams.)  You could hold them, touch them, and get very close to see their beautiful coloring and their striking features.

There were other birds on display by the Al Ain Zoo ...

There was even a brief show featuring several different parrots ... talking, playing a game of miniature basketball, flying through hoops. Unfortunately, I couldn't get close enough for good video of that, but I appreciated that you could get this close for still photos and to interact with these beautiful creatures.