French version available here.
Falcon trapping, different from falconry that consists in using falcons to hunt other baits, is known to be a very traditional practice in the middle east for nomadic population. It is a part of the social world of Bedouin men who inhabit the Jafr Basin where the practice is now entering the fourth generation of practitioners. Indeed, “the passion for falcons is inherited” says Abu Yazin, one of the most respected leaders in the tribe. In recent years, there have been increasing numbers of Jordanian interlopers seeking to try their hand at falcon capture and gain potential financial reward. However, spending three months in the desert is definitely not all about money.
Every year, from early September to middle of November, around 50 temporary shelters dedicated to the falcon chasing activity are set up in the south eastern desert of Jordan, hosting approximately 400 Bedouins, dedicating their time to generate social activities around birds.
Enter the world where all activities are ultimately connected to the capture of falcons and serve to build, rebuild, and strengthen existing social relationships that may have fragmented over the course of the year. While falcons are typically seen as a symbol of power and wealth, they are instead a uniting force for the Abu Tayeb Bedouins that renew their social world on a yearly basis through the tradition of trapping.
