Hawking

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Hawking, or predator hunting, is one of the oldest traditions in Georgia. Hawking has been recognized and protected by UNESCO as a tradition of both art and science in ancient countries and is recognized as an intangible monument in Georgia.
Hawking mostly developed in western Georgia, where a major world migration of birds begins. The family names of Shevardnadze and Koridze in Guria originate from ancestors of hawking. There are currently more than 100 hawkers in the villages throughout Guria.
At present, most hawkers in Georgia use falcons and they mostly hunt pheasants. The predatory birds are typically caught at the beginning of August, are trained and released to nature in October. Every October, an annual traditional hawking competition takes place in Chokhatauri.