Kakhi Jordania: Master Falconer Bridging Tradition and Conservation

Falconry is one of the oldest known human traditions. For Kakhi Jordania, it is more than a skill — it is a calling that blends history, culture, and conservation. From the mountains of Georgia to global cultural festivals, Jordania has built a career as both a master falconer and a voice for wildlife protection. His story shows how one person can carry an ancient art into the modern age.

Early Years in the Caucasus

Kakhi Jordania grew up in Tbilisi, surrounded by the vast landscapes of the Caucasus. His grandfather, a shepherd and hunter, first introduced him to birds of prey. At just ten years old, he watched a golden eagle swoop down from a cliff in Kazbegi.

“That moment changed me,” Jordania recalls. “I saw the power of the eagle and felt its freedom. I knew I wanted to spend my life close to these birds.”

While his peers focused on city life and sports, Kakhi sketched hawks and eagles, learned their calls, and spent time with hunters who practiced falconry. This early exposure to both wildlife and tradition set the stage for his future.

Learning the Ancient Craft

In his teenage years, Jordania began a formal apprenticeship under a traditional falconer in eastern Georgia. He trained with saker falcons and golden eagles, birds long prized by Georgian nobility.

“Falconry is not only training a bird,” he explains. “It is patience, respect, and trust. You do not own the bird. You form a partnership.”

Eager to expand his skills, Jordania traveled through Central Asia, the Middle East, and Mongolia. These journeys gave him insight into different falconry traditions. He combined them with modern science to create a unique approach to training and conservation.

Building a Career in Falconry and Conservation

By his early thirties, Jordania had become known worldwide for his mastery. He founded the Caucasus Raptor Conservation Initiative (CRCI), an organization dedicated to protecting endangered raptors and preserving falconry culture.

CRCI’s impact has been significant:

• More than 400 injured raptors have been rescued and rehabilitated.
• UNESCO recognized Georgian falconry as part of the world’s intangible cultural heritage.
• School programs in rural Georgia teach children about ecology, biodiversity, and tradition.
• Satellite tracking now monitors the migration of saker falcons and imperial eagles.

Jordania also brings falconry to international stages. His demonstrations — combining live bird displays with storytelling — have drawn audiences from Abu Dhabi to Berlin.

“When people see a falcon dive at full speed, they feel something ancient inside them,” he says. “It connects them to nature in a way few things can.”

A Philosophy of Balance

For Jordania, falconry is not simply sport. It is a dialogue between human and bird. He often describes the falconer’s glove as a symbol.

“The glove is not control,” he explains. “It is trust. It is the space where wildness meets humanity.”

This philosophy guides both his conservation and his cultural work. He believes that by preserving falconry, people can also protect the ecosystems that make it possible.

Author and Cultural Advocate

Jordania’s influence extends to writing. His book, Wings of the Caucasus, is both memoir and cultural study. It tells the story of falconry in Georgia and its role in shaping identity. The book has been translated into five languages.

“I wanted people to see falconry not as a forgotten custom,” he says, “but as a living tradition that teaches us about respect for nature.”

His work has earned recognition, including the UNESCO Cultural Heritage Advocate award (2019) and the Global Conservation Award (2021). He is also an honorary member of the International Association for Falconry and Conservation of Birds of Prey.

Life at Home

Despite his global reach, Jordania remains rooted in Georgia. He lives in the hills outside Tbilisi with his wife, Nino, and their two children. Their home doubles as a sanctuary for rescued birds — from saker falcons to barn owls.

Family life blends with conservation. It is not unusual to find a falcon perched near the family’s outdoor table or to hear the call of an owl at night. In quieter moments, Jordania paints birds in flight, plays the panduri (a Georgian string instrument), and hikes in the Caucasus.

Looking Ahead

Jordania continues to balance tradition with innovation. His conservation work focuses on building awareness among young people while expanding global research on raptor migration. He remains committed to protecting the species that shaped his life’s path.

“Falconry teaches humility,” he reflects. “When a bird chooses to fly back to your glove, it is not obedience. It is trust. That trust is what we must build with nature itself.”

Through his career, Kakhi Jordania has shown how an ancient practice can shape modern conservation. His story is proof that the past and future can meet — in the wings of a falcon.

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