Our fantastic range of Bird Handling Experiences can also be booked as private sessions! Just for you and your group, these Exclusive Experiences are perfect for family gatherings, parties, team building exercises and special celebrations. Within the grounds of our visitor centre, your group can experience the thrill of handling and flying a selection of our magnificent birds of prey.
Each experience is set out in summary below, so you can easily choose the one which best suits your group and requirements. For all of our experiences, we can never guarantee which species or whether a particular individual bird will appear, but we have set out the minimum number and types of birds that will be flown. If you need any further assistance, or to enquire about booking a specific date, please telephone us on 01562 700014.
Vouchers purchased online will be valid for 12 months. To book a date, please telephone us on 01562 700014 during our opening hours.
Exclusive Half-Hour – £90 for up to 8 Participants
Suitable for up to 8 Participants (adults and/or children aged 6+). Your group will handle and fly at least three different birds, from a selection of kestrels and owls. The start/finish time of this experience is flexible, subject to availability.
Exclusive Hour – £180 for up to 8 Participants
Suitable for up to 8 Participants (adults and/or children aged 10+). Your group will handle and fly at least five different birds, from a selection of kestrels, owls, hawks and buzzards. The start/finish time of this experience is flexible, subject to availability.
Exclusive Owl Hour – £180 for up to 8 Participants
Suitable for up to 8 Participants (adults and/or children aged 10+). Your group will handle and fly at least five different owls, whilst learning all about these iconic birds. The start time for this experience is flexible subject to availability.
Exclusive Half Day – £325 for up to 8 Participants
Suitable for up to 8 Participants (adults and/or children aged 16+). After tea/coffee and an introduction with guided tour, your group will handle and fly at least seven different birds, from a selection of kestrels, owls, hawks and buzzards, and finishes with the opportunity to fly one of our smaller eagles. The Half Day starts at 10:15am and finishes at 12:45pm.
Exclusive Eagles & Vultures – £325 for up to 4 Participants
Suitable for up to 4 Participants (adults only aged 18+). Our Eagles & Vulture Experience gives you the opportunity to get up close and personal with some of our largest and most powerful birds. You will start by flying a hawk to see how the birds fly and land, before flying, handling and/or feeding at least five Eagles and/or Vultures. This experience starts at 2:00pm and finishes at 3:30pm.
Exclusive Ultimate Experience – £550 for up to 4 Participants
Suitable for up to 4 Participants (adults only aged 18+). The Ultimate Experience is the perfect opportunity to spend a day flying and handling a wide range of birds of prey. Combining our popular Half Day and our incredible Eagles and Vultures Experiences (both as detailed above) into one day, this experience will start at 10:15am with a break at 12:45pm, before resuming at 2:00pm and finishing at 3:30pm. Please note that lunch is not included; you will need to make your own catering arrangements.
Vouchers purchased online will be valid for 12 months. To book a date, please telephone us on 01562 700014 during our opening hours.
Purchase an Exclusive Bird Handling Experience Gift Voucher
Frequently Asked Questions about our Exclusive Experiences
How often do you run the Experiences and far ahead do I need to book a date?
Most of our experiences are run all year around, subject to availability. The Eagles & Vultures and Ultimate Bird Handling Experiences are available to purchase all year around but can only be booked from 1st March until 30th November each year. During this period, it is available on various days to suit demand (weekend and weekdays). We operate on a first-come, first serve basis for all dates. To book a date we generally say as far in advance as possible, but occasionally we can accommodate people at short notice if places are available. Weekend dates are the most popular and can book up very quickly at certain times of the year.
Any vouchers purchased after 1st October 2023 will include a link to our online booking system, which will show current available dates. To book over the telephone, please call us on 01562 700014 during our Visitor Centre opening hours.
I have paid online, how long does it take to receive the voucher?
Vouchers are emailed automatically upon successful completion of the payment form. Please check your junk/spam folder before contacting us if you have not receive it. If you have requested a printed voucher, please allow at least 7 days for delivery; you will also receive a copy of the voucher by email.
How do I book a specific date when I pay for the voucher?
If you wish to book a date when you purchase the experience, please call us to discuss availability. If you prefer not to pay by card over the phone, then you can arrange the date with us over the phone first and then pay online above.
What are the minimum age limits? Can younger children do a particular experience?
Our Experiences are tailored to suit the age bracket detailed in the descriptions above. Due to the size and weight of the birds flown, our experiences are not suitable for children younger than the specified age. We may allow you to bring a younger child (e.g. if they are within 6 months of the age limit) to do part of an experience, but we reserve the right to decline to fly birds to younger children if we think it is unsafe to do so. Our Eagles & Vultures Experience is strictly for adults age 18+ only. For the avoidance of doubt, our experiences are suitable for the following ages:
- Half Hour: Children aged 6+ and Adults
- One Hour/Owl Hour: Children aged 10+ and Adults
- Half Day: Children aged 15+ and Adults
- Eagles & Vultures: Adults aged 18+ only
- Ultimate Experience: Children aged 15+ may do the Half Day in the morning, but the Eagles & Vultures Experience is for Adults aged 18+ only. Anyone below this age limit may watch from outside the arena; children must be accompanied and supervised by an adult at all times.
Are these Experiences suitable for wheelchair users or people with limited mobility?
The Half-Hour, One Hour, and Owl Hour Experiences are suitable for wheelchair users and those with limited mobility.
The majority of the Half-Day Experience is suitable. Those with limited mobility/difficulty standing may request a chair to sit on during the flying and handling of the birds. However, the eagle will not fly to someone who is seated. To ensure you get the most enjoyment out of your experience, please let us know when booking if you will be using a wheelchair or if you will require seating in the arena.
Unfortunately, the Eagles & Vulture and Ultimate Experiences are not suitable for wheelchair users or those with limited mobility. If you are not certain that an Experience is suitable for you or your intended recipient, please telephone us on 01562 700014 and we will be happy to assist you.
How many participants are in a group?
We limit the number of Participants on our Experiences. Please see the individual experience descriptions for full details.
Can we take photographs?
Participants and Observers on our bird handling experiences are welcome to bring their own camera/ video cameras to take photographs during their time with us.
What happens if the weather is bad on the date of my experience, or I cannot attend on the date I have booked?
We will run the experiences in most weather conditions, but we also want you to enjoy your experience. If the weather is predicted to be bad before your booked date, it is up to you if you wish to cancel/rearrange.
If you cancel/rearrange your experience on less than 5 days’ notice, cancellation fees will apply. Please see your Booking Confirmation for full details.
Is admission to the visitor centre included?
Yes – all of the experiences take place at our visitor centre, so there will be time either before or after your experience to look around the aviaries. Once you have booked a date for your experience, your booking confirmation will include the start time of the experience to help you plan your visit around our opening times.