Kakhi Jordania was born in Tbilisi, Georgia, where the mountains and open skies of the Caucasus shaped his earliest memories. As a child, he preferred nature to noise. At age ten, he saw a golden eagle dive from a cliff near Kazbegi — a moment that changed his life. While his friends played football, Kakhi spent hours sketching raptors, listening to their calls, and learning from his grandfather, a shepherd who taught him respect for wild creatures.
As a teenager, he apprenticed under a traditional falconer in eastern Georgia. There, he learned to train saker falcons and golden eagles, birds once prized by Georgian nobility. Later, he travelled through Central Asia, the Middle East, and Mongolia to study how other cultures practised falconry. Each experience taught him something new about patience, trust, and balance.
In his thirties, Kakhi founded the Caucasus Raptor Conservation Initiative (CRCI). His team has since rescued more than 400 raptors and helped UNESCO recognise Georgian falconry as an intangible cultural heritage. He also pioneered satellite tracking of migratory birds to better understand their routes and risks.
Kakhi’s book, Wings of the Caucasus, blends memoir and history, sharing lessons from a life spent between humanity and the wild. At home near Tbilisi, he lives with his wife, two children, and several rescued birds. His philosophy is simple — falconry is not about control; it’s about trust, patience, and harmony.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
My day begins before sunrise. The first sound I hear is often the wingbeat of a falcon stretching on its perch. I spend the early hours caring for the birds — feeding, checking feathers, and observing their moods. These quiet moments set the rhythm for the day. Later, I focus on conservation work — coordinating with field teams tracking migratory routes or working on education projects. Productivity, for me, comes from balance. I divide my day into three parts: nature, people, and planning. If all three align, it’s a good day.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I sketch them first. Whether it’s a new falconry method or a conservation project, I visualise it before I act. My grandfather once told me, “If you can draw it, you can do it.” That habit helps me test ideas on paper, refine them, then bring them to the field.
What’s one trend that excites you?
Technology in wildlife conservation. When I began, everything was done by observation and instinct. Now, satellite tracking allows us to monitor raptors across continents. The data has helped identify migration bottlenecks and illegal trapping zones. It’s the meeting of ancient practice and modern innovation.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
I end each day by cleaning the falcons’ gear. It sounds simple, but the act keeps me grounded. Routine brings clarity, and clarity drives productivity.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Don’t rush the flight. When I was young, I wanted results fast — a trained falcon, a perfect hunt, a finished book. But falconry teaches you that everything happens in its own time. I’d tell my younger self to slow down and trust the process.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
That humans are not at the top of nature’s chain. We’re part of it — not above it. Many people see animals as secondary, but in my experience, the falcon is the teacher. We learn more from the wild than we ever give back.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Spend at least one hour outdoors every day. No phone, no distractions. Just observation. Even if you live in a city, look for the sky. It reminds you of scale and perspective.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
I go flying — not in a plane, but with a bird. Watching a falcon soar clears my mind better than any meditation. Nature has a way of resetting focus.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Partnerships. Conservation is never a solo effort. Working with UNESCO, schools, and local governments expanded our reach. Collaboration creates impact.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
Early in my career, a falcon I trained escaped during a public demonstration. I was devastated. But a week later, it returned — hungry but unharmed. That experience reminded me that control is an illusion. Trust and preparation matter more than perfection.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
Develop a platform that connects traditional craftspeople with modern conservation projects. There’s untapped potential in combining cultural knowledge with sustainability.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
We use GIS mapping software to analyse raptor migration. It turns raw GPS data into visual maps we can use for research and education.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
I often reread The Peregrine by J.A. Baker. It captures the spirit of the falcon and the solitude of observation. Every time I read it, I notice something new.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
I recently watched The Eagle Huntress. It follows a young girl learning falconry in Mongolia. It reminded me of my own travels and how passion can cross generations.
Key learnings
- True productivity comes from rhythm, not speed — aligning nature, people, and purpose.
- Trust and patience are more powerful than control in both life and work.
- Technology and tradition can coexist to protect cultural and natural heritage.
- Failure can teach humility; returning to simplicity restores focus.
- Collaboration is essential — no lasting progress happens in isolation.