I haven't posted in awhile, apologies. I had a friend visiting me from the states, so I was busy entertaining her. We mostly hung out around the city. And went out. We went to the same bar so many nights that the waitstaff recognized us and greeted us like old friends. One of the waitresses knew our shot preference and I'm pretty sure she convinced men to buy us drinks one more than one occasion. We went to Dubai too of course, which I loathed, which made my friend loathe it too, haha. I like it when people prefer Abu Dhabi. (One day I will fully explain the difference between Dubai and Abu Dhabi and you too will prefer Abu Dhabi.)
We also went to the falcon hospital. See picture. That was a new experience for me. I don't particularly like birds (or anything that can fly at me,) but my friend wanted to go and so we went! It was pretty touristy. But it was also clearly a hospital. We passed a room marked ICU at one point, which boggled my mind. The picture is the room where they keep the birds who need to be examined or are waiting for their owners to come get them. The falcons are used for hunting, but the hunting goes down in Pakistan mostly, so they have to be ok-ed before they can travel. They also have their own passports, which is hilarious.
We watched them cut the nails and beaks of the birds too. The bird was sitting there on his perch and this bird doctor came up from behind and clutched him around the wings so he couldn't move, although he definitely tried to. Then this other bird doctor put this thing over the falcon's head. It had anesthesia, which made the bird go limp like he'd died. Then they clipped his nails and then resharpened them. Then they did the same to his beak. Then they took off his anesthesia mask and took him back to his perch. When he fully woke up, he sort of tried to fly off, but they're all tied to the perch, so that didn't work. And the bird doctor just caught him and put on the mask-hood that covers the eyes so the falcons stay calm.
Birds are strange little mini dinosaurs. And they still scare me. But I am glad I went.
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| Picture stolen from my friend, (c) her |
We watched them cut the nails and beaks of the birds too. The bird was sitting there on his perch and this bird doctor came up from behind and clutched him around the wings so he couldn't move, although he definitely tried to. Then this other bird doctor put this thing over the falcon's head. It had anesthesia, which made the bird go limp like he'd died. Then they clipped his nails and then resharpened them. Then they did the same to his beak. Then they took off his anesthesia mask and took him back to his perch. When he fully woke up, he sort of tried to fly off, but they're all tied to the perch, so that didn't work. And the bird doctor just caught him and put on the mask-hood that covers the eyes so the falcons stay calm.
Birds are strange little mini dinosaurs. And they still scare me. But I am glad I went.
A falcon hospital is probably something that will bring out major anxiety for me! I am deathly afraid of birds. XD
ReplyDeleteAlso, are falcons really that sacred in the UAE to have a hospital just for falcons? That's pretty awesome, nonetheless. And a falcon having their own passport? That's just icing on some weird cake.
They are the national bird of UAE, so they've put a lot of effort into becoming its largest protector and enthusiast. Many of the sheikhs in the country and surrounding countries go on hunting expeditions with their falcons. They are indeed very into it.
DeleteWhoa, I never knew a falcon hospital even existed! That's really cool that you and your friend got to visit the place though. And wait--who has their own passports? The falcons? Haha WHAT.
ReplyDeleteThat picture is really weird and cool at the same time. Are the falcons wearing little masks?
There must be a lot of bird poop scattered about thru that hospital. ><
Yeah, they wear things to cover their eyes. It helps them to stay calm.
DeleteWhoa, I didn't know there were such things as falcon hospitals! I know there's usually vets just for birds, but I didn't realize they had ones that look like that for falcons. I think that's interesting that they're just sitting on benches and stay there. I thought they'd have to be in cages or something.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
Well they're tied to the benches. I'm sure after attempting to fly off so many times they just become resigned to it, haha.
DeleteA falcon hospital? That is surely an awesome sight. And I never knew that pet passports existed before now. Apparently, they are a thing in the European Union and the US too! When you write that book about your experience in Abu Dhabi, I will surely read what you write about the falcon hospital carefully!
ReplyDelete