ANDERSON: All right, your Parting Shots this evening. Many bird enthusiasts consider the falcon one of the most majestic birds of prey. Some of the finest specimens in the world were here in Abu Dhabi for annual Falcon Beauty Contest. I'm going to take you inside the competition now for your Parting Shots this evening.</s>RIMA MAKTABI, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): While for some, dogs are a man's best friend, here in the UAE, falcons rule the roost. It's a passion that's part of Arabian culture, passed down from generation to generation. The beauty, the elegance, the lethal power of hunting birds. Every year in Abu Dhabi, men dressed in traditional white kanduras come to show off the beauty of their feathered hunters. They come from all around the Gulf to participate in this falcon beauty contest. While waiting for their turn to get into the competition, the falcons stand on their colored stools, ready for a day of pampering. The owners, too, have their own ways of passing time. Food and coffee is served, and the main topic of conversation -- you guessed it -- birds. They get tips from the experts who know about these birds and tell them what tools they should use to take care of them. Later, the competing falcons are collected in a room, ready for the judges to start to the examination. The winners are then chosen based on the proportions of their measurements, on how sharp, clean, and healthy the beak and claws are, and the softness and edges of the feathers. The owner of the winning falcon goes home with a prize of 10,000 UAE dirhams, nearly $3,000, a nice amount of money to spend on his winning bird.</s>ANDERSON: I'm Becky Anderson, that was CONNECT THE WORLD from the UAE. It is a very good evening. END
Parting Shots: Abu Dhabi Falcon Contest