[leadin]Somewhere on the outskirts of the man-made wonders of Dubai, high above the rolling dunes, falcons are training with drones.[/leadin]
For centuries, falconry was crucial for the Bedouins’ survival in the harsh desert. As traditional ways of life have receded with modernization, the sport of falconry, much like so many aspects of the UAE, has adapted with the times.
At the helm of this evolution is my falconer buddy Peter Bergh. Peter has been a falconer for the past 16 years, and in the last few years he has created a new way to train his birds of prey: drones.
While we often think of recreational drones as the tools used to capture epic videos showcasing great expanses, Peter has imprinted his birds with the drones, conditioning them to instinctually knock the machines out of the sky, just as they would prey.
This method allows him to train the birds efficiently, and comes with the added bonus of the enjoyment of watching nature’s fastest predator race across the sky.
Safety First: RC Aircraft As Prey
Last month, my adventure buddy Jacob Vanags and I had the privilege of taking part as Peter flexed his pilot skills while training his falcons to increase their speed, agility, and stamina in a battle royale in the desert sky.
In Peter’s arsenal of aircraft is a fixed top wing trainer RC plane, with a lure line attached to the base of the fuselage dragging the falcon’s food a safe distance from the plane.