Sunday, Sep 26, 2010
Gulf News
Americans interact with Emirati falconers at Abu Dhabi event
Abu Dhabi The eighth annual Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (Adihex) provided US Air Force cadets Paul McArthur and Michael O’Kelly and their instructor, Lieutenant Colonel Donald Rhymer, a great opportunity to exchange ideas and techniques with Emirati falconers and learn more about falcons in Arabian culture.
The cadets are also members of their academy’s falconry club.
“This is our first trip to the Middle East…we were told that Adihex was the ideal event to learn about how important falconry is for residents here and what programmes there are in place for falcons,” Rhymer said.
“We haven’t had an opportunity yet to set up a student-exchange programme or something similar in the UAE that will allow us to exchange ideas and learn more about each other... but this trip is the first step in that direction.”
The academy’s falconry club comprises 12 cadets. To raise awareness about their programme, the club members travel extensively not only around the US but around the world.
“When I joined the Air Force Academy, there were only three people from my squadron in the academy’s falconry club out of the 12 squadrons that make up the student body there… the falconers would go around and talk to the cadets about what they do and I heard a lot of nice things about the club so I decided to join them,” McArthur who will graduate in 2011, said.
Both are open to working with falcons if the opportunity presents it self.
“They are amazing birds… hopefully, we can build a relationship with the UAE that will give us and future cadets a chance to learn more about how Emiratis train and hunt with their falcons as well their culture and how important falcons are to them,” McArthur said.
abdel-krim kallouche/Gulf News
Feathered friends
Paul McArthur (left) and Michael O’Kelly of the US Air Force Academy at the Adihex event in Abu Dhabi.
By Nathalie Farah ?Staff Reporter
Gulf News 2010. All rights reserved.
