Royal Price's Falcon in Al Kharj, Saudi Arabia

In Saudi Arabia a lanner falcon ( Falco biarmicu) perches atop an electrical insulator on a power line against a typical clear cloudless sky. Note the falconer's leather jess on the birds legs.

Falcons in Saudi Arabia play a major cultural, ecological, and sporting role, with key species like the saker, lanner and peregrine falcons widely used in traditional falconry and featured in major events such as the King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival, which offers prize pools exceeding 38 million Saudi Riyals.

This picture is taken near one of the royal prince's farms in the Al Kharj region, South of Riyadh. Other pictures taken in this region, where the author worked for two years for the local power company, are shown elsewhere in this store.

The falcon is on top of the outer phase of a live 3 phase 33000 volt line, but has clearly learned to use the outer phase insulator and thus avoid causing a flashover between phases, due to its wings.

DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME.