619-722-0092 info@skyfalconry.com

Sky Falconry, Southern California’s premiere federally licensed falconry school, invites you to experience flying a trained bird of prey to your glove and learn about one of the world’s oldest hunting traditions in the picturesque settings of San Diego and the mountains of Alpine.


A bucket list must!

falconry lesson | san diego

Basic Falconry Lesson

Put a glove on & free fly a bird of prey. Learn the basics of falconry & its history. Play field games and take photos with a raptor.
hawk walk | san diego

Hawk Walk

Put a glove on & free fly a bird of prey. Take an exciting interactive walk with a hawk. Observe the raptor in its natural habitat. Amazing long flights & more.
photo hawk walk | san diego

Private Hawk Walk

Due to the popularity of our Hawk Walk we are now offering Private Hawk Walks geared for 2+ participants.  Make this raptor adventure an intimate one with just you and yours.

hawk walk | san diego

Private Raptor Experience

Take a deep dive into falconry. Meet & fly our hawks, falcons and owl. Our most intimate encounter with the world of raptors in their natural habitat, reserved for your private group alone.

WE ARE SKY FALCONRY

We want to thank National Geographic & Photographer Sam Tippetts for their amazing work showcasing Sky Falconry. 

  •   Exceptional!

    This is in one word how I would describe our recent experience at Sky Falconry.  I am an amateur photographer with a passion for capturing birds in flight.  Denise and Kirk met and exceeded our expectations.

    We booked the Private Raptor Experience.  After an informative discussion on raptors, we got down to watching and photographing a harris's hawk and lanner falcon perched and in flight.  Kirk and Denise listened!  Once I got a feel for how the birds were positioned and flown, they were very flexible on how to stage for maximum photo accomplishment.  They as well made suggestions on staging that expanded my opportunities for great shots.

    Finally, we have a family member confined to a wheelchair.  We were at first concerned that this experience might not be well suited to someone with disabilities.  We were assured that they could accommodate a wheelchair, and they delivered.  If you have a family member who is in some way disabled, you might clear it with Sky Falconry first.  Showing that family member some beautiful scenery on the way, and then having them enjoy the raptors, is a unique "off the beaten path" great way to spend a few hours!

    thumb James N.
    5/27/2022

      AMAZING experience! We splurged and got the Private Raptor Experience. You start off by meeting all the birds, and getting a quick lesson about the Harris hawks and Lanner falcons. The trainers are so knowledgeable, and are clearly passionate about their birds. It is amazing to hear how much trust and dedication it takes to train each bird.

    After that, you get to take a walk around their beautiful property with one of the Harris hawks (we had Kwa Koi). There are tons of opportunities for photos and hands-on time with the birds. It was also so fun to see how each bird has its own unique personality, and how much that actually shows as you interact with them (especially finding out that Kwa Koi is definitely a mama's boy!).

    After plenty of time with the Harris hawk, we switched over to the Lanner falcons. We interacted with both Ali Baba and Habibi. They DEFINITELY are full of personality, and are absolutely stunning to see in action and up close. (Plus, they have to wear a gps tracker that looks like a tiny backpack and honestly, who doesn't want to see that?) You can hear facts about how fast these birds are, but it doesn't even come close to seeing them in action.

    The trainers are absolutely as friendly as they are knowledgeable, and made for a very engaging, entertaining and informative experience. Their love and respect for their animals is abundant, and the trust these birds have in "Mom and Dad" is incredible to see.

    thumb Sarah N.
    4/25/2022

      Spending time with these amazing raptors, and learning from Denise and Kirk was a transcendent experience. No other way to describe it.   if you love wildlife and nature, you must do this !

    thumb Pam M.
    7/02/2022
  •   Wonderful experience, truly amazing. Kirk and Denise have put together a thrilling and educational program. You definitely want to sign up to fly the raptor. We flew a 12 year old female Harris' Hawk, who was as polite and agreeable as you could ask for. Unless you are a falconer who does this all the time (lucky you), this is a truly rare opportunity to work closely with an amazing animal and learn about their world. If you are in the San Diego area and have a little free time, don't miss this.

    thumb Underwater S.
    4/08/2022

      An epic adventure in a wide open part of Alpine.  We did the full raptor and owl add on.   Pay attention to the directions you get or you will have trouble finding it.  

    Very highly recommended, wonderfully knowledgeable handlers, and the birds are in charge.  If they don't feel like doing anything, they don't force them or withhold rewards.

    If you have any curiosity or interest in the wildlife right over our heads, this is the place to go!

    thumb Robert M.
    5/21/2023

      Sky Falconry was an incredible experience! Denise and Kirk are not only knowledgeable and patient with questions, but their energy and enthusiasm for falconry spreads to every aspect of the experience. They were welcoming and friendly as soon as we arrived and felt like old friends.
    The birds themselves are magnificent! They definitely know they are the stars of the show and are absolute professionals the entire time!!
    My partner and I did the basic falconry lesson and it was not only breathtaking, it whet our desire for more. We'll definitely be returning for the hawk walk in the near future!
    Thank you to Denise and Kirk for such an amazing and informative visit!
    There can only be one and it is Sky Falconry!!

    thumb Connor J.
    4/03/2022
  •   My husband, son and I spent a fantastic morning with Sky Falconry!  The experience was informative, organized and one of a kind.  The site was beautiful and a very nice drive up the mountain.  I would recommend this lesson to anyone interested in doing something special!

    thumb Lloyd K.
    1/23/2023

      Outstanding experience - a chance to do something so unusual, in stunning countryside with highly engaging hosts. When would you otherwise have the chance to see a falcon swooping right by at ground level at nearly 70 miles an hour? Or have a hawk or falcon land on your outstretched glove? This encounter is so interactive with majestic and beautiful birds. We also added the owl encounter and it was so worth it. Denise and Kirk are also passionate and engaging about educating visitors about the birds, which rounds out one of the most unusual and exhilarating experiences in the whole of California. You need to sign up online but it was a straightforward experience and the drive finishes down an unmade road (you are out in the wilderness even though only two miles away from the edge of town) but that means you get spectacular views as a bonus. Just go!

    thumb Jane B.
    3/27/2023

      I've wanted to do this ever since I first read about Sky Falconry a few years ago. I managed to keep the Hawk Walk a secret from my 10 year old until we got there! Denise, Kirk, and Steam were all amazing. But let's face it, Steam is the star and stole the show.

    Look at everyone's faces in all of the pictures! Pure joy and wonder, because this was unlike anything I've done before (and I've done some cool things in amazing places in this world) and it must be the same for most. Same for our visit, our AMAZING group (GO class of March 19th 2022 at 1:30!!) all showed how we felt in our faces: smiles as well as oohs and aahs all around...

    Genuine, heartfelt, spontaneous wonder and laughter and amazement during our Hawk Walk. So much so that I can't wait to do it again and bring along others. And part of this experience was learning about these magnificent raptors and how we, in our far removed neighborhoods and lives can still do our part in helping to protect them.

    My kiddo excitedly wore his "Sky Falconry" shirt to school today.

    Thanks to everyone involved in showing us how extremely badazz Mother Earth is. And I almost forgot to mention the clean air and spectacular view!

    thumb Amy P.
    3/21/2022
  •   Sky Falconry experience was gifted to me by my children for my 75 birthday.  All 4 of us participated.  I've had many exciting adventures in my life; and this rates right at the top.  I encourage anyone to do the upgrade experience where you have the most interaction with the Raptors.  They don't just place a bird on your fist or have it do tricks.  They give you an experience of all the many natural talents and abilities these magnificent birds possess.  We flew a Harris's Hawk and a Lanner Falcon.  I can't describe well enough how special this was and how great the two Falconer guides were.  Do it!!!

    thumb Kay S.
    5/23/2022

      We did the private hawk experience with Denise and Kirk and it did not disappoint. They were super fun, informative and made sure we had the best time and we did! We will definitely be coming back and would recommend this awesome experience to anyone else who wants to learn or experience these amazing animals up close.

    thumb Sam C.
    2/09/2023

      There is a reason this place has over 200 reviews and not a single rating below 5 stars: they deserve it.
    The couple that runs Sky Falconry are so knowledgeable, passionate, and kind. They offer an extremely unique experience that I believe everyone should try.
    I brought my partner here because he has an obsession with birds of prey, and I left sharing in that with him.
    I LOVE THIS PLACE
    great for all ages

    thumb Iliana V.
    3/21/2022
  •   Absolutely a blast! I've been wanting to visit for a while and we decided to go finally. Honestly, the experience exceeded my expectations. The falcons whizzing past you while they fly is exhilarating. Walking with the hawks is such a unique experience that is hard to describe. Denise and Kirk are such a pleasure to be around and are so knowledgeable. I'm already planning another visit soon!

    thumb Mad B.
    5/17/2022

      Best experience ever. Instead of holiday gifts we wanted a local experience. Living in San Diego my entire life and having explored almost everything, I wasn't expecting this. My husband heard an about Sky Falconry on KPBS and was sold.
    If you love San Diego's back country, raptors and a total hands on experience you'll love this. Great photos too!

    thumb Julie A.
    2/08/2023

      Really quite amazing experience. Denise and Kirk are excellent hosts. The whole experience was very well organized and structured, with lots of opportunity to interact and to learn. Guides are extremely knowledgeable and also clearly devoted to their birds. Great experience for both adults and a nature-interested 11-year-old.

    thumb Bruce M.
    10/15/2022

Gift Certificates

Give the unique gift of falconry!

Our enriching encounters with birds of prey create memories that will last a lifetime.

Preservation through education

Our mission at Sky Falconry is to educate the public through hands-on experiences free flying birds of prey. We aim to preserve the art of falconry, teach raptor biology and the need for conservation.

Located in San Diego, California, we are a satellite school of West Coast Falconry, located in Marysville, northeast of Sacramento, California.