There is also a smaller festival, the Altai Kazakh Eagle Festival, held during the last week of September in Sagsai.
The golden eagle is known for its long wings. The average adult wingspan is 6-7.5 feet! These birds have brown feathers, sharp beaks and four sharp talons on each foot. Males and females have similar appearances. Young golden eagles have fluffier plumage and white patches under their wings and on their tails.
When I saw the golden eagle, I was astonished. I had seen an eagle at the zoo several weeks ago and also in the documentary, “The Eagle Huntress." However, I had not imagined the bird would be so large and regal. The bird swooped down after the fox fur swiftly and precisely. I felt astonishment, bewilderment and a small amount of alarm - and the other audience members did, too! Did you know that golden eagles can dive at speeds faster than 150 miles per hour?
Golden eagles live mostly in the northern hemisphere, in North America (from Alaska to the highlands of Mexico), Northern Africa, large Mediterranean islands, parts of the United Kingdom and Eurasia (including Kazakhstan, of course!). These birds tend to dwell in open areas, especially in mountainous or hilly regions such as plateaus, steppes and cliffs. Golden eagles are generally not seen in densely populated areas, such as cities.
