{"id":1187,"date":"2021-12-02T20:03:44","date_gmt":"2021-12-03T03:03:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/ideas\/?p=1187"},"modified":"2025-05-23T12:36:03","modified_gmt":"2025-05-23T19:36:03","slug":"northern-winds-the-eagle-hunters-of-mongolia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stocksy.com\/ideas\/northern-winds-the-eagle-hunters-of-mongolia\/","title":{"rendered":"Northern Winds: the eagle hunters of Mongolia"},"content":{"rendered":"
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When Russian photographer and filmmaker\u00a0Nick Bondarev<\/a>, in collaboration with the\u00a0Milles Studio<\/a>\u00a0team, first travelled to Mongolia\u2019s Altai region to document the Kazakh\u00a0berkutchi<\/em>\u00a0eagle hunters, he was unaware that his experience would be so fulfilling that he\u2019d be returning for a second round with the captivating falconers of the north.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe hunters make an unforgettable impression in the first few seconds of making their acquaintance\u201d Bondarev recollects. With their decorative clothing and regal composure, the\u00a0berkutchi<\/em>\u00a0and their eagle counterparts emit a magnetic presence that penetrates through video and photo.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n \n \n \n

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The cultural custom of hunting with eagles has been passed down through some 6,000 years of generation knowledge but even with those skills built into a hunter\u2019s gene code, developing a relationship with a talon-bearing raptor is not a simple task. Founded upon the principles of respect and trust, an understanding between the two must be established early on for a successful unification. \u201cPatience and skill are paramount,\u201d Bondarev cautions, \u201cA bird of prey can seriously injure a person. Berkutchi<\/em>\u00a0hunters often suffer a few attacks at the outset.\u201d<\/p>\n\n \n \n \n <\/div>\n

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But once a mutual understanding has been established, the\u00a0berkutchi<\/em>\u00a0and eagle will learn to communicate with each other, creating a tight, almost intuitive bond. Their companionship will endure through several hunting excursions over the course of 10-30 years before the\u00a0berkutchi\u00a0<\/em>sever ties, releasing their winged companion back into the wild.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Berkutchi skill is a multifaceted art full of mysterious secrets,\u201d Bondarev shares. \u201cBut the main components that help a person break the pride of the ruler of heaven are patience, perseverance, a deep knowledge of nature and, of course, experience.\u201d<\/p>\n\n \n \n \n <\/div>\n

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MILLES STUDIO<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n
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View\u00a0more of\u00a0Bondarev’s<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Milles Studio<\/a>‘s visits to Mongolia and take 5 to watch Bondarev\u2019s beautiful short film below.<\/p>\n\n \n \n <\/div>\n

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