[Oman-L] falcons in Oman

[Harrison]

Further to the very rosy but rather uninformed picture painted by Terence
Clark's message, the only falcons in Oman are indeed normally wild falcons.
However, birds with jesses are also sometimes seen - indicating that they
have escaped from their handlers. These handlers are visitors from other
countries who come to hunt the Houbara Bustard, an endangered species. They
are occasionally apprehended normally through the efforts of local people,
of official rangers and of the Royal Oman Police. Their falcons are
apparently normally confiscated but not always. These same visitors go
regularly to Pakistan and Kazakhstan with their birds to hunt the bustard in
their breeding grounds. They are welcomed with open arms because of their
wealth.

People may also be interested to learn that although hunting is now banned
in Oman, the British political, intelligence and military personnel killed
tens of thousands of duck, sandgrouse and francolin in the 50s, 60s and 70s
before the ban came into force, judging from their stories and records.
Hunting still goes on unfortunately - gazelle but also duck and regrettably
sometimes anything that flies. Birdwatchers have been threatened by people
with guns at an important birdwatching site in Muscat where duck are common
in winter. Gun butts are a feature of the landscape there.

Widescale illegal hunting also still occurs on the Salalah Plain in May when
the Marsh Warblers are passing through from Africa on their way north. Fine
mesh nets are placed over bushes to trap them. Omani naturalist colleagues
have said to me that this was acceptable when the birds were needed for food
but that it is wrong to do so now. I agree with them. Official measures are
indeed taken to stop the hunting but it still goes on. Finally, seabird eggs
are also still illegally taken from nests on Masirah - again a hangover from
a previous age when such harvesting was essential for survival.

Ian Harrison


. ----- Original Message -----
From: "Henning Neuschaeffer" <neuschaeffer@gmx.de>
To: <oman-l@oman.org>
Sent: Monday, December 16, 2002 1:47 PM
Subject: [Oman-L] falcons in Oman


Dear Members,
I'm doing a research on falcons in Oman (and the neighbouring gulf states)
and would be thankfull for any contact or literature-advice about the raise
and training of these birds.

Wishing you all a peacefull christmas I do thank you for your kind help.

Henning Neuschäffer




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