The author of the film "Call of the Eagle Hunter" is journalist, film director Carsten Stormer (@carstenstormer). The creation, which aroused keen interest among foreign journalists and viewers, is called "Call of the Eagle Hunter" (Der Ruf der Adlerjägerin). The film was shot for several weeks on the slopes of the Altai Mountains. It tells about a nomadic family in Mongolia, about the life of a father and daughter in the foothills who tamed an eagle.

Photo: Carsten Stormer

The author of the film set out to show Aybota with an unwavering character, typical of men. Carsten Stormer also notes that the art of hunting with birds of prey, which has become forgotten in the world, has been preserved among the Kazakhs of Mongolia. Indeed, the Kazakh ethnic group living in Mongolia still popularizes "kusbegilik".

To train a bird well and direct it to the beast is a quality preserved only in the skills of the Kazakhs. There are only two nations in the world who know the breath of the steppe well and have mastered hunting with birds of prey. One of them is the Kazakhs, the second is the Kyrgyz. Therefore, it is no coincidence that the "Berkutchi Festival" is held annually in the Bayan-Ulgii region. About 500 berkutchi take part in the competitions. It is gratifying that the number of young people who honor the traditions of their ancestors is growing every year. Among them there are also girls. Fragile in appearance, but with a strong character and will. For example, according to Aybota, if in 2019 there were 2 girls among the young berkutchi, now there are more than ten of them. To be precise, 13 berkutchi girls. By the way, a documentary film "Berkutchi" (Eagle Huntress) was also shot in 2016 by American producers about the first famous girl-eagle hunter from Mongolia, Aisholpan Nurgayyp, who became famous outside her country at the age of 13.

Today, the oldest of the berkutchi girls is 19 years old, and the youngest is 14-year-old Aybota Koshegenkyzy.

Aybota Koshegenkyzy tamed eagles when she was in the fourth grade of school. Despite the fact that she studied at one of the schools in Bayan-Ulgii, on weekends the girl always rushed to the Altai. Today she continues the traditions of her father, family, thereby showing loyalty and respect for the customs of her ancestors. "Until that time, there were 13 golden eagles in our family. In general, hunters ("kusbegi") do not keep the bird for more than three and a half years and release it into the wild. My current eagle is three years old, it took two years for me to tame it," says Aybota. It turns out that the girl first took part in the "Berkutchi Festival."

This is not the only joyful news of the young girl-eagle hunter. Recently, Aybota won the main prize at the competition of young readers in Bayan Ulgii, in which more than 200 children took part. Then, in a week, a video of a teenage girl dressed in national clothes and reading poetry with an eagle collected more than 80 thousand views on the network. About six hundred people shared the characteristic performance, which turned out to be a successful creation.

Aybota is the winner of the main prize among young readers of poems in Bayan-Ulgii

Aybota is currently studying in the 10th grade of secondary school No. 1 in the city of Ulgii. Her dream is to become a journalist. Last summer, after taking a prize-winning place in the competition of expressive reading, she won a trip to Kazakhstan. The young berkutchi is fluent in Turkish, English, Mongolian and Tuvan languages.

It should be reminded that the 30-minute film "Call of the Eagle Hunter", which aroused great interest in European countries, was released on February 8. Already in July of this year, Kazakhstanis will be able to watch a full one-hour version of the film, revealing the secrets of Aybota's abilities and her art of hunting with birds of prey.

Aybota and her brother Sultan. Bayan-Ulgii. The main prize "Kyz Kuu". 2024

From the new achievements of the charming girl-berkutchi - Aybota took part in the traditional race "Kyz Kuu", which took place this year at the Nauryz holiday in Bayan-Ulgii and won the main prize.

Author: Serіkgүl Sұltanқazhy