A visit to Thirsk Birds of Prey Centre is inspiring and uplifting. The Centre is home to around 100 birds and 50 different species. We have three spectacular flying demonstrations daily, where over 30 of our impressive birds fly around the centre and some even venture out over our beautiful Yorkshire countryside. Each of the flying display takes place in our arena with a different team of birds for each display so it really is worth planning your day and staying around to see all 3 displays to maximise your visit at the centre. You can also expect to get very close to our birds as they swoop over your head whilst our passionate and knowledgeable display team provide light-hearted and informative commentaries.
If you share our passion for birds of prey and would like to get much closer and learn more about them, we offer experience days for small groups or even one to one for the ultimate personal encounter. This is a great chance to fly and learn alot about a variety of our birds and also learn more about our conservation work with vulture and other species.
We have a selection of experiences to choose from where you can meet a greater variety of our birds, or a more specialised selection of owls, vultures or eagles, just click on the Experience days tab, above, for more details.
Opening times
1st March to 31st October
10.30am to 5.00pm (last admittance 4pm)
Display times
We have three displays per day at 11:30am, 1:30pm and 3.30pm (Weather Permitting)
Entrance fees
For more visitor information please follow the link https://falconrycentre.co.uk/visitor-information/
No need to pre-book.
Arrive 15 minutes before one of our displays to really make the most of your visit. Our displays normally have 9 or 10 birds flying in each one. After the display there will be a chance to ask the handlers any questions you may have.
Explore the other 100+ birds on display.
Feel free to use the shop/snack bar for a bite to eat. We offer fresh sandwiches, crisp, cakes, plus hot and cold drinks are available or try an ice cream to cool down on a hot day.
Picnics are welcome.
You will be now ready for our 1:30pm flying display.
After the display there will be a chance to ask the handlers any questions you may have.
You may also get the chance to watch birds being exercised or in training.
Remember we also have our 3:30pm flying display to enjoy
Visit the shop/snack bar for any gifts and souvenirs prior to departure.
3 displays daily:
11:30am
1:30pm
3:30pm
ALL DISPLAYS ARE WEATHER PERMITTING
We do 3 different displays a day with at least 9 different birds in each of our displays at 11.30am, 1.30pm and 3.30pm (weather permitting).
We have one of the largest collections of flying birds in the North here at the Centre which enables us to fly an amazing variety of birds in each of our displays. We normally fly a selection of owls, vultures and eagles in every display. Ranging from the 16lbs Stellers Sea Eagle to the 2oz African Pygmy Falcon and with a few more unusual birds included as well, keep an eye out for the cheeky kookaburra and naughty caracaras.
We also run pre-booked Experience Days most days which you will be able to view from the public areas.
We are happy for photos to be taken of our birds including during the flying displays.
However please adhere to the following conditions
Hi everyone, just a little update. 🚒🚒
Fire crews have been back out monitoring the area and all seems fine 🤞🏻. Our lovely birds seem ok, some of the more sensitive ones have had an extra day off today but hopefully will be back flying tomorrow.
We would like to thank the fire crews for working around the clock to ensure no further fires started to put the centre, livestock and farm land at any further risk.
We would like to thank our lovely avian vets for being on stand by through out the night and today incase our birds needed any emergency treatment. We always sing Mark and Gemma’s praises but to have Gemma on stand by was incredibly reassuring. 🦉🦅
We would also like to thank every one that has offered to help in every possible way, from falconers to move birds to safety, extra vehicles, pumps to dampen any fires down and general man power. It’s all very kind and much appreciated to have people willing to drop everything and help 🙏🏻 .
Thank you to the local farmers for ploughing fields and creating fire walls to protect the centre and neighbouring land. 🚜
Finally thank you to everyone for all the kind messages, phone calls and emails. We are always blown away by how much kindness we receive.
Rest assured though, due to us having a zoo licence we do have protocols in place for numerous situations and one of those is a fire risk. It’s still very scary to face such a situation, we love all our birds and we all have put blood, sweat and tears into the centre and we will always do our best for our birds.
We look forward to the summer holidays 🙌🏻 we hope to see many of you again this season.
