What do you know about the `hawks' peregrine`?

Weather of Arabia - The falcon’s life cycle annually witnesses a stage of feather renewal, known as “the roost” or “stud” locally, which requires great attention and an appropriate environment to ensure its success. This stage is considered necessary for the falcon to regain its vitality and its ability to fly and hunt efficiently.

What is the menstrual period?

The molting period extends for about eight months, from the beginning of March to the beginning of October, during which the old feathers gradually fall out to be replaced by new feathers. The process includes renewing about 22 feathers in the falcon's wing, starting with the primary feathers, which are the core of the falcon's wing and depend on it for hunting, all the way to the diving feathers that cover the rest of the wing.

The process of feather regeneration begins with the short feathers and gradually grows until it reaches the last “moose feather,” which is shorter than the feathers before it. Then it continues the growth process until it reaches the “naifah,” which is the longest feather in the wing. It takes between 3 to 8 weeks for new feathers to grow, depending on their length. A complete moose feather takes about eight weeks.

The importance of taking care of the molting period for falcons

The molting period requires special care, and falconers are advised to prepare rooms for molting that contain good ventilation spaces, create the appropriate environment, and repeatedly sterilize them to avoid health problems such as infections. The official spokesman for the Saudi Falcons Club, Walid Al-Taweel, also points out the importance of preparing for this period by providing a calm environment for the falcon, and a diet rich in proteins and vitamins to support the growth of new feathers, and reducing hunting and training activities.

For his part, falconry expert Khaled Al-Qahtani confirms that the molting period is necessary to restore vitality and improve performance in flying and hunting, as well as providing better protection from harsh weather. Al-Qahtani also adds that this stage requires special care to ensure that the new feathers grow in a healthy way, and a calm environment and an appropriate diet must be provided for the falcon.

Falconer Sultan Al Khanfari stresses the role of the falconer in supporting the molting period through health care and periodic examinations, which helps in early detection of any problems that may affect the feather regeneration process. Building a close relationship with the hawk can reduce stress during this sensitive period.

The Saudi Falcons Club continues its efforts to enhance the environmental culture related to falcons, and preserve the heritage associated with them, by educating falconers about the importance of the molting period and providing appropriate care to ensure the health and strength of falcons, and their continued effective performance in hunting.

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Sources:

sabq