Hunting foxes with eagles

The landscape of Tianshan Mountain [Photo provided to China Daily]

"Some people in their 80s do it to stay healthy ... It's a true sport. It's like going to the gym for me. I'm old but in great shape."

Most local burkitshi head for the mountains before sunrise and return around 10 to tend to their livestock.

Wormanbek says coaching relies on rewards without punishments.

"Fear training doesn't work," he says.

"You have to be kind to them."

He says birds won't eat from trainers' hands at first.

"You must build trust," he says.

Nomads initially skewer meat on sticks and patiently wait until the birds' hunger overcomes their apprehensions - until their stomachs trump their brains.

It's a battle for the mind.

"Gradually, they'll feel comfortable eating from your hand," Wormanbek says.

The process takes about a month.

"At first you must raise your arm about a meter above your head and it'll perch on your falconry glove," he said.

The birds later learn to respond to calls.

Eagles also join household dinners during the training.

"He's a family member, too," Wormanbek says.

To train eagles to perch on people's arms on horseback, Ili's Kazakh burkitshi place them on a swinging rope to learn balance. They awake the raptors if they doze off during these rock-a-bye-birdie sessions.

Nomads prop up the arms upon which they carry the birds on horseback with a Y-shaped crutch.