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. 

  •   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

      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

      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
  •   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

      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
  •   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

      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

      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
  •   What a great experience!  Very interesting and learned a lot. Denise and Kirk were wonderful- very informative and incredibly personable. You can really tell they care and are passionate about falconry. Well worth the $. Highly recommend this adventure!

    thumb J H.
    1/29/2023

      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

      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
  •   Visited Sky Ranch Falconry with Sarah and Daniel today.  Great morning with Denise, Kirk and 2 amazing raptors.  My kids treated me to a private hawking experience for my 70th birthday and it was a wonder- perfect weather, great hosts that are passionate and knowledgeable.  Having these beautiful animals light upon your lifted hand, seeing their grace, power and perfect adaptation up close, what an awesome morning

    thumb Seth F.
    3/06/2022

      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

      This was an amazing experience!!! These were my type of people and could see being friends with them. The owners were friendly, knowledgeable, and great at leading the group. The raptors appeared to be well cared for and the owners had an obvious care and compassion for the birds well-being. I high recommend visiting and doing a class / walk.

    thumb Chris S.
    4/15/2022

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.