Golden Eagle Falconry
Articles & Resources

U.S. falconers typically fly wild-trapped passage eagles, while Europeans work with captive-bred imprinted birds — creating fundamentally different behavioral profiles. Atkinson contrasts training philosophies, hooding practices, hunting quarry (U.S. desert hares vs. European brown hares), and the legal restrictions that shape each regional tradition. Advocates adopting European standards of respect for game and land as American eagle falconry grows.

A comprehensive overview of golden eagles as falconry birds — wingspan up to 7.5 feet, dive speeds reaching 200 mph, and specialized husbandry requirements that set them apart from every other raptor. Covers equipment, health and nutrition, legal permitting, and the advanced skill level required. Good starting point for falconers researching whether to pursue an eagle endorsement.

A hands-on experiential program featuring multiple eagle species in flight — demonstrating low sprints, thermal riding, wind working, and simulated hunts. Participants recall eagles to the glove and observe the full range of hunting behaviors. An illustration of what advanced eagle falconry looks like in a demonstration setting with professionally trained birds.

The burkitshi eagle hunting practice dates to the reign of Kublai Khan, with only several dozen hunters practicing it today. Eaglets are captured from mountain nests and trained beginning at age 13; only female birds are selected for their superior size and hunting ability. The piece highlights the tradition of releasing birds after approximately ten years — allowing them to live freely and potentially breed in the wild.

The definitive reference overview of eagle hunting as practiced by Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, and diaspora communities across Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia's Bayan-Ölgii province, and Xinjiang. Documents quarry species (primarily red and corsac foxes, hares), equipment, training methodology, and the cultural weight this practice carries for nomadic communities. Includes historical context from Khitan and Turkic peoples.

Ground-level account of how berkutchi select, capture, and train their eagles in the Altai region. Female eaglets captured during fall migration are preferred for size and hunting power. Training begins with hooding and caging on a swaying perch while the hunter sings and chants — imprinting his voice so the eagle learns to respond to only that sound. Eagles are eventually released back to nature after a decade of partnership.

The annual Golden Eagle Festival in Ölgii, western Mongolia, gathers hundreds of berkutchi to compete in speed, agility, and accuracy demonstrations with their eagles. The festival has grown from a small local gathering to an internationally attended event. Provides context on the cultural celebration of this tradition and how it is helping sustain interest among younger generations of Kazakh hunters.

A detailed breakdown of the practical mechanics of Mongolian eagle hunting: horseback pursuit, the "lure" technique to call the eagle back, hunting foxes in deep winter when golden fur stands out against snow, and the care standards berkutchi apply to birds that may live 40 years. Addresses the difficult balance between preserving cultural tradition and ensuring eagle welfare and wild population health.

Nomadic Expeditions partnered with Mongolia's Wildlife Science and Conservation Center to document 21 active eagle nests, collect blood and feather samples from 15 eaglets, and band 116 eagles during the Golden Eagle Festival. The Kazakh Falconry Association — founded October 2021 — now coordinates 14 conservation objectives including wildlife protection, youth training, and international collaboration. A model for merging cultural practice with science.

The NY DEC, Cornell University, U.S. Geological Survey, and Conservation Science Global launched a study to determine whether increased non-lead ammunition use by deer hunters can meaningfully reduce eagle mortality from lead poisoning. Hunters in nine Wildlife Management Units received up to $60 rebates for certified non-lead ammunition through the 2025 season. Lead fragments in gut piles are a leading documented cause of golden eagle death.

The Peregrine Fund's comprehensive species overview: approximately three-quarters of all golden eagle deaths in North America are human-caused. Primary threats include habitat loss, shooting, poisoning, nest disturbance, power line collisions, electrocution, and wind turbine strikes. The species is currently listed as Least Concern globally but populations are declining in parts of the western U.S. Essential background for understanding conservation context around eagle falconry.

Mark Upton, President of the International Association for Falconry, argues that falconers have been conservation pioneers — notably leading peregrine falcon captive breeding in the 1970s when larger organizations were not yet engaged. The most pressing current threat: declining quarry populations worldwide. Arab falconers are now investing heavily in houbara bustard habitat restoration. A high-level look at how falconry intersects with global raptor conservation policy.

The complete federal falconry regulation governing all raptor possession in the United States. Key eagle provisions: only Master Falconers with eagle endorsements may possess golden eagles; requires two letters of reference from people with large raptor experience; limits possession to 3 eagles maximum (golden, white-tailed, or Steller's sea eagle); wild capture restricted to birds "that would otherwise be taken" for depredation. The primary legal text every eagle falconer must know.

Utah's DWR answers the most commonly asked questions about obtaining a golden eagle for falconry: the national allocation lottery, how many eagles may be taken per year, the application and endorsement process, and what happens to eagles that can no longer be released to the wild. A practical reference for master falconers pursuing an eagle permit.

Detailed breakdown of the USFWS golden eagle allocation procedure used nationwide: annual random drawing among eligible Master Falconers with eagle endorsements, state-by-state allocations, reporting requirements, and the interaction between state and federal permitting systems. Minnesota's DNR provides one of the clearest plain-language explanations of how the national eagle-for-falconry allocation system actually works in practice.

Post-doctoral anthropologist at Colorado State University Pueblo, McGough spent over 15 years training with Kazakh nomadic eagle hunters in the Altai Mountains — becoming the first western woman to earn that distinction. She now rehabilitates injured golden eagles using techniques she learned in Mongolia, and researches how American Western communities perceive eagles to reduce mortality from lead poisoning, electrocution, and wind turbines. Includes her memorable quote: "An eagle is like a mirror. Eagles bring out your true nature."

A reported Audubon profile of master falconer and anthropologist Lauren McGough, covering her use of traditional Kazakh falconry techniques to rehabilitate captive golden eagles — restoring flight behavior and hunting instincts in birds that would otherwise never be releasable. Covers the broader case for falconry's role in raptor conservation and endangered species recovery programs.