Jesus...i was doing some research on falconry etc the other day when i came across some research on the Eagle Hunters of Ghengis Kahn etc...
it is still a tradition today on the Mongolian Step...anyway...
Golden Eagles are total badasses...
i knew that they killed and hunted smaller birds and mammals, but the folks in modern Mongolia (and Khazakhstan/Krygstan) (sp?) and throughout the ages have taught them to hunt wolves...
it is absolutely crazy...
also, they hunt goats, and they either carry them off the mountain and carry them away, or they simply drag the goats off the mountain, dropping them a couple hundred feet to their death and then grabbing them...
I always knew they were pretty bold, but apparently, they exert 750 pounds of pressure per square inch with each Talon (which are pretty scary)
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2218/1860660775_ba8722b52c.jpg
also consider they have a wingspan of 7-8 feet and a really sharp beak.
anyway, the following videos show them hunting, so be warned if you don't like that kind of thing.
the first video is the one showing them hunting goats in their natural environment
the second shows them with their masters in Mongolia as "Eagle Hunters" known as the Berkut, hunting wolves.
pretty fucking amazing...i would not want to mess with one of these.
warning: a tad violent.
1. Golden Eagles hunting mountain goats
YouTube - golden-eagle-drags-goats-off-cliff
2. Golden Eagles hunting wolves (incredible music, a type of chanting)
YouTube - hunting wolves with a golden eagle in Mongolia. Kazajstán-Ky
it is still a tradition today on the Mongolian Step...anyway...
Golden Eagles are total badasses...
i knew that they killed and hunted smaller birds and mammals, but the folks in modern Mongolia (and Khazakhstan/Krygstan) (sp?) and throughout the ages have taught them to hunt wolves...
it is absolutely crazy...
also, they hunt goats, and they either carry them off the mountain and carry them away, or they simply drag the goats off the mountain, dropping them a couple hundred feet to their death and then grabbing them...
I always knew they were pretty bold, but apparently, they exert 750 pounds of pressure per square inch with each Talon (which are pretty scary)
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2218/1860660775_ba8722b52c.jpg
also consider they have a wingspan of 7-8 feet and a really sharp beak.
anyway, the following videos show them hunting, so be warned if you don't like that kind of thing.
the first video is the one showing them hunting goats in their natural environment
the second shows them with their masters in Mongolia as "Eagle Hunters" known as the Berkut, hunting wolves.
pretty fucking amazing...i would not want to mess with one of these.
warning: a tad violent.
1. Golden Eagles hunting mountain goats
YouTube - golden-eagle-drags-goats-off-cliff
2. Golden Eagles hunting wolves (incredible music, a type of chanting)
YouTube - hunting wolves with a golden eagle in Mongolia. Kazajstán-Ky