Top 5 for Falconers

A falconer is "a person who keeps, trains, or hunts with falcons, hawks, or other birds of prey" (google definition). I've always been immensely interested in the practice. This list is for the falconers of the world, each of the flags depicting a specific bird of prey used in falconry.   

 

1. Flag of Kazakhstan

 

 

The eagle on the flag of Kazakhstan is the Golden Eagle (also referred to as a steppe eagle, but it should not be confused with the true Steppe Eagle). It is referenced in a Kazakh proverb "There are three things a real man should have: a fast horse, a hound, and a golden eagle". The saying refers to berkutchy, the renowned Kazakh profession of hunting with the raptor. Medieval Europeans considered them to be the finest of the raptors and they were handled only by Emperors.

 



2. Flag of the Azores

The Flag of the Azores tells a rather humorous story. The title of the islands comes from the Portugese word 'açor', which translates to 'goshawk', the bird of prey illustrated on the flag. The name was adopted by early explorers because goshawks were supposedly very plentiful in the islands. As it turns out, the species was misidentified, goshawks not living in the Azores at all; the bird they saw was actually a type of buzzard. The flag, adopted in 1979, acknowledges and celebrates that error. There are several species of goshawks and they are among the most popular birds used in falconry.

3. Flag of Zambia

 

The African Fish Eagle, illustrated on the flag of Zambia, in reality looks very similar to a Bald Eagle. Not only is it the official national bird of Zambia, but also of Namibia, South Sudan and Zimbabwe. The eagle on the flag also represents the Zambians' ability to rise above all obstacles or problems their country faces. African Fish Eagles are used in falconry, but far less commonly than Golden Eagles.

 

4. Flag of Iowa, USA

The Bald Eagle, found on Iowa's flag, is the national bird of the USA and appears on several other state flags. As far as I know, it's illegal to use Bald Eagles for falconry in the USA, but they can be handled in Canada with a license. Fun fact about bald eagles taken from Guiness World Records: "The largest bird's nest was built by a pair of bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), and possibly their successors, near St Petersburg, Florida, USA and measured 2.9 m (9 ft 6 in) wide and 6 m (20 ft) deep. It was examined in 1963 and was estimated to weigh more than two tonnes (4,409 lb)." Craziness.

5. Flag of Mexico

Like the flag of Kazakhstan, Mexico's flag (also found on the "Top 5 for Snake Charmers" list) has a depiction of the Golden Eagle, the country's national bird. The bird on the flag is chowing down on a snake, but its prey is not limited to snakes alone. The Golden Eagle is not a picky eater and has been witnessed feasting on nearly 200 different animal species. They are used in falconry to hunt a variety of game, even large game such as deer and wolves!

Top Five for Sun Worshippers

Winter: shorter days, longer nights, the temperatures dip well below freezing, and the skies are frequently covered with snow-filled clouds. It's at this time of year that I most appreciate appearances from the sun, making the cold days feel a little less cold and depressing, giving out some much-needed Vitamin D, and melting some of the excessive ice and snow. To thank our life-giving star for its light and warmth, this list will include my five favourite flags that pay homage to the sun. There is a lot of flags depicting the sun, so this was a difficult list to compile! 

1. Flag of Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine

My favourite sun flag does not belong to a nation, but rather to a province in Eastern Ukraine, an eye-catching design of the sun rising over the Black Sea. This flag has been flown just about as close to the sun as it could get, planted by Ukrainian climbers on top of the world's highest mountain.   

2. Flag of Greenland

I love the flag of Greenland, a simple yet effective design, a red sun rising over a red ocean, surrounded by white ice. It is unique among the Nordic flags, being the only one without a Nordic Cross.

The flags of Japan ("the Land of the Rising Sun") and Bangladesh also have simple designs with a prominent red sun.

3. Flag of Argentina

The flag of Argentina is ideal for sun worshippers in the most literal sense. The "Sun of May" depicted on the flag is modelled after the Incan god of the Sun, known as Inti, worshipped by farmers in times past. A representation the sun god is also found on the flag of Uruguay.

4. Flag of Macedonia

 

"Today over Macedonia, is being born
the new sun of liberty.
Macedonians are fighting,
for their rights!"

-a verse in Macedonia's national anthem

 

5. Flag of Antigua and Barbuda

 

 

Just looking at the flag of Antigua and Barbuda makes me want to go there to escape the cold Canadian winter for a while. It's a perfect place to lay on the beach and sunbathe, well illustrated on the flag: the white representing sand, the blue representing water, and the golden sun representing the dawn of a new era.