The author of the film "The Call of the Berkutchi" is a journalist, film director Carsten Stormer (@carstenstormer). A creation that aroused great interest among foreign journalists and viewers called "The Call of the Berkutchi" (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 unshakable character peculiar to men.Carsten Stormer also notes that the art of hunting with hunting birds, 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 point it at the beast is a quality preserved only in the skills of the Kazakhs. There are only two nations in the world that know the breath of the steppe well and have mastered hunting with hunting birds. One of them is Kazakhs, the other is Kyrgyz. Therefore, it is no coincidence that the Berkutchi Festival is held annually in the Bayan-Ulgiy region.About 500 Golden eagles take part in the competition. I am glad that every year the number of young people who honor the traditions of their ancestors is growing. There are girls among them.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 more precise, 13 girls are golden eagles. By the way, about the first famous berkutchi girl from Mongolia, Aisholpan Nurgayip, who became famous outside her country at the age of 13, the documentary "Berkutchi" (Eagle Huntress) was also shot in 2016 by American producers.

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-Ulgiy, on weekends the girl always hurried to Altai. Today, she continues the traditions of her father and 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 ("kusbegs") do not keep a bird for more than three and a half years and let it go free. My current eagle is three years old, it took two years for me to tame it," says Ibota. It turns out that this was the first time the girl took part in the "Berkutchi Festival".

This is not the only good news for a young berkut girl. Recently, Aybota won the main prize at the competition of young readers in Bayan Ulgiy, which was attended by more than 200 children. Then, in a week, a video of a teenage girl dressed in national clothes and reading poetry with an eagle gathered more than 80 thousand views on the network. About six hundred people shared a 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-Ulgiy 

Aybota is currently in the 10th grade of secondary school No. 1 in the city of Ulgiy. Her dream is to become a journalist. Last summer, having won a prize in the expressive reading competition, she won a trip to Kazakhstan. Young Berkutchi is fluent in Turkish, English, Mongolian and Tuvan.

Recall that the 30-minute film "The Call of the Berkutchi", which aroused great interest among European countries, was released on February 8. Already in July this year, Kazakhstanis will be able to watch the full one-hour version of the film, revealing the secrets of Aybota's capabilities and her art of hunting with hunting birds.

Aybota and her brother Sultan. G.Bayan-Ulgiy. The main prize is "Kyz kuu". 2024

Among the new achievements of the charming berkutchi girl, Aybota took part in the traditional Kyz Kuu race, held this year at the Nauryz holiday in Bayan-Ulgiy and won the main prize.Aybota and her brother Sultan. G.Bayan-Ulgiy. The main prize is "Kyz kuu". 2024

Among the new achievements of the charming berkutchi girl, Aybota took part in the traditional Kyz Kuu race, held this year at the Nauryz holiday in Bayan-Ulgiy and won the main prize.

Author: Serikgul Sultankazhy