Mongolia. Berkuchi 2011

Mongolia - Berkuchi 2011 - 10 days

Berkuchi – a man with the Bird.

Berkuchi  is a native way  of hunting with eagles traditional for the north part of Mongolia. For a long time, Mongolian hunters use this way of getting food in the winter time.

Today, at the Eagle Festival - Berkuchi, we can see the skills which passed on from generation to generation of hunters. The competition of berkuchies take place near small city Bayan Ulgii in the Golden Autumn time.

Hunters must show to public how they can communicate, cooperate with birds and understand their  characters. The distance between hunter and his bird is huge – from the bird’s viewpoint you can see only small figures below.  And the Bird should recognize her berkuchi by voice or costume and understand what the hunter  asks to do.

Missions are different: to recognize the hunter from the public, to land in a direct place, to catch a “rabbit” behind the horse or to hunt a fox or a wolf for the final performance.    By the way, all birds are females and not tolerate any aggression.  

Competition takes two days. Except Berkuchi  you can enjoy camel riding, see traditional games, families horse racing, try the local food and even buy bright souvenirs at the festival market. In the evening of the first day in Bayan Ulgii they invite you for the concert of traditional music in the National Theater.

Not far from Ulgii there is a big and beautiful  lake – Tolbo (Nuur).. Its shores are famous as the place of nesting of many kinds of birds – the dream for ornithologists. The Tolbo is also rich of fish and suitable for swimming in the summer time. We will go there to take a rest from hard days of competitions).

The way to Bayan Ulgii from Novosibirsk passes on M-52 from its beginning till the Mongolia border – it’s about 1000 km, and more than a half way we will delight the panoramas of mountain country – Republic of Altai.  In Altai we bring you in Foothills, Highlands and Steppes that are smothered in the Gold of Autumn – this is just incredible Beauty!