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What's Included
• Welcome and tour of the falconry collection
• Learn about the behaviour and characteristics of a variety of birds
• Handle and fly the birds to glove
• Plenty of photo opportunities
• You may be part of a small group of up to 10 participants
Birds of Prey Experience
• Learn about the husbandry of Birds of Prey
• You will be shown the basics of training and fly some of the birds to your gloved fist
• Birds flown include Harris Hawks, Kestrels, Ferruginous Hawks and a selection of owls
• Allow two hours for this experience
Owl Encounter
• Get up close and personal with a selection of owls
• Species include Barn Owl, Dark Breasted Barn Owl, Long Eared Owl, African Spotted Eagle Owl, Vermiculated Eagle Owl and Great Grey Owl
• Informal and educational talk about each species of owl flown
• Allow two hours for this experience
What Can I Expect
See birds of prey in Staffordshire and enjoy meeting the magnificent raptors in a very lovely setting at Byrkley Park Garden Centre, just a few miles west of Burton upon Trent.
David the falconer and his feathered friends love life here in Staffordshire and love to show you, the inquisitive visitor, their world. You'll look at husbandry skills and how the birds of prey are housed, as well as discovering more about their diet, how food is prepared and why weight control is important.
Then there's the long process of how young birds are trained for flight, using specialist falconry equipment such as lures and jesses and even how telemetry plays a part. It's all truly fascinating stuff here in Staffordshire!
The main player during these birds of prey experiences in Staffordshire is Scout the Harris Hawk. He loves nothing better than to put a bit of a show on for spectators. Then there's Jess the gorgeous little European Kestrel and Frog, the Ferruginous Buzzard.
The two hour Owl Experience concentrates on these wonderful, almost mythical creatures. You'll hear all about their nocturnal and diurnal habits, as well as being able to get right up close to these little cuties. You might well meet the likes of Hobbit, the Vermiculated (that's wavy-effect feathers) Eagle Owl with his tufty ears, Tilly the gorgeous Barn Owl or Kojo the lovely African Spotted Eagle Owl.
The land surrounding the garden centre is a wonderful mix of woodland, fields and fish ponds, interlaced with walking paths along hedgerows - the perfect habitat for watching and participating in owls and raptors in flight.
Throughout your two hours with the birds of prey in Staffordshire, there's ample opportunity for everyone in the group to handle and fly birds.
When Is It Available
• Subject to weather conditions
Location
Suitable For
• Under 16s must be accompanied by a participating or spectating adult
Spectators
Anything Else
Reviews
5 out of 5 stars
Total Reviews: 10
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