Two white gyrfalcons that were seized from smugglers at Moscow's Domodedovo international airport were handed over to the Kremlin to be used in official ceremonies.
© RIA Novosti . Alexey Kudenko / Go to the mediabankTwo white gyrfalcons that were seized from smugglers at Moscow's Domodedovo international airport were handed over to the Kremlin on Wednesday to be used in official ceremonies.
Two white gyrfalcons that were seized from smugglers at Moscow's Domodedovo international airport were handed over to the Kremlin on Wednesday to be used in official ceremonies.
© RIA Novosti . Alexey Kudenko / Go to the mediabankThe two birds were seized by airport customs officers in 2010 as smugglers attempted to take the rare birds to the United Arab Emirates.
The two birds were seized by airport customs officers in 2010 as smugglers attempted to take the rare birds to the United Arab Emirates.
© RIA Novosti . Alexey Kudenko / Go to the mediabank“The white gyrfalcon is a unique bird that historically has always symbolized Russian statehood,” Russian Environment and Natural Resources Minister Sergei Donskoi said during the handover to the Kremlin commandant’s office.
“The white gyrfalcon is a unique bird that historically has always symbolized Russian statehood,” Russian Environment and Natural Resources Minister Sergei Donskoi said during the handover to the Kremlin commandant’s office.
© RIA Novosti . Alexey Kudenko / Go to the mediabankThe office said the birds will be used to scare off crows...
The office said the birds will be used to scare off crows...
© RIA Novosti . Alexey Kudenko / Go to the mediabank...as well as in equestrian and foot guard mounting parades and other ceremonies.
...as well as in equestrian and foot guard mounting parades and other ceremonies.
© RIA Novosti . Alexey Kudenko / Go to the mediabank“We have a variety of birds working for us; all of them are on the Kremlin’s payroll,” commandant Sergei Khlebnikov deadpanned, adding that the number of gray crows in the Kremlin has declined recently...
“We have a variety of birds working for us; all of them are on the Kremlin’s payroll,” commandant Sergei Khlebnikov deadpanned, adding that the number of gray crows in the Kremlin has declined recently...
...while the population of songbirds has grown.
© RIA Novosti . Alexey Kudenko / Go to the mediabankThere are currently about a dozen birds of prey in service with the Kremlin, mainly goshawks, as well as one eagle owl, he said.
There are currently about a dozen birds of prey in service with the Kremlin, mainly goshawks, as well as one eagle owl, he said.