There is literally nothing better to do on Catalina than this. One of the most unforgettable experiences my husband and I have ever shared together (and that's saying something)! We came away completely in awe. We already know this will be a must-do every single time we visit Catalina. If you're on the fence, just go. You won't regret it for a second. Getting up close and personal with a Harris Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, and Eagle Owl was nothing short of magical. Dave was incredible - genuinely passionate and incredibly knowledgeable, having grown up with it, making the whole experience feel both educational and deeply personal. We learned about the history and techniques of falconry, the vital role raptors play in our ecosystem, and the best part - we actually got to do it ourselves. Donning the glove, calling Willow (Harris Hawk), and being face to face with PK (Peregrine Falcon) and Ruby (Eagle Owl) - it still gives me chills thinking back to it. The setting in Descanso Canyon makes the whole thing even more breathtaking. It's hands-on, immersive, and inspiring to be this close to nature. read more

Seriously one of the coolest and most exciting experiences of my life. If I come to Catalina again, I would do exactly the same thing! Our party was all sitting there in awe, mindfully discussing how nothing else could have compared. The hosts were so friendly and knowledgeable, I learned so much about these beautiful birds. They did a beautiful job of making everyone's time special but they took extra care with the kids to make it outright magical We saw Gyr Falcon, Harris Hawk, Perregrine Falcon, and an Eurasian Eagle Owl. Each bird was beautiful and we got to witness their skills. We all got to have the Hawk land on our arm. Soooo amazing. The Owl was a delight and we took photos with her. 10/10 will recommend. Bring yourself (they partner you up if you are solo), great for couples, great for families. This absolutely made our trip! read more

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We've been to Catalina a few times and we're looking for something new to do so we booked tickets for Falconry on the lawns of the Descanso Beach Club and ended up having a blast! We learned a ton about man's oldest sport and got the chance to not only have a hawk fly and land on our arms but we also got to see a falcon up close (the fastest animal on the planet) and see and take pictures with Ruby the owl. Dave was our instructor and you could tell he really loves the birds and was very knowledgable and explained how birds came to the island and how the birds protect visitors from pesky seagulls! I can't speak highly enough for this experience and really made this visit unique. As one of only 30 licensed falconry places in the US, it was a treat to experience this. read more

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Let me start from the beginning, I've been going to Catalina Islands for many many years and have enjoyed Avalon tremendously. In my time on the island, I've noticed a falconer, keeping the area free of seagulls and nuisance birds. I have spoke to the falconer many times his name is Dave, very nice dude and very willing for any conversation about his job. Well, while we are walking around in the afternoon Friday, we found him and talked to him briefly again and he explained to us that he had a class on Saturday at 9:45 and to go online and sign up, with myself and two of my friends, I did and I can't tell you what very cool and satisfying experience and educational to boot Dave and his co-worker Kristy were awesome! We got to see and hang out with 4 different birds of prey First was a GYR hawk, very cool, second was a Harris Hawk, with this Hawk, "willow" we were treated to a fly on and landing on each of own hands, with a glove....we were clearly informed on how to handle our portion of the experience...totally professional. The third bird was a perigon falcon and the last was an Eurasian Eagle owl....huge!!! Very impressive. Our host was Dave, very personal and very well versed in his business. Can't say enough nice things about Dave. The way he explained everything and his personal interactions with each of us class people was very helpful. Once again thanks again for the experience read more

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This is a must see experience! Jerry and Dave are fantastic teachers of the history of falconry. The best part is the up close inaction you get by going here. You actually have a raptor land on your gloved hand, surprisingly, the bird was much lighter than I expected. If you love nature and animals, this is the one stop to make on any visit to Catalina island. read more

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And incredible interactive experience with amazing birds. Husband and wife team working to educate about the birds and how they function in the world. This is a must when on Catalina Island read more

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What an amazing experience! Our falconer Dave shared his love for raptors with us and we enjoyed every moment. It was a mix of education and entertainment as we learned about the birds background and benefit to humans over thousands of years of history. I'm going to take my kids when next time we visit the island. read more

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What an incredible experience from start to finish. Dave and his team are so professional and full of knowledge. Their birds are all fascinating and our group walked away amazed at all we learned. Getting to get a taste of being a falconer for a day was awesome! Got some great photos and highly recommend this not to miss experience. read more

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My son chose this experience and while I was excited for it--I didn't know how much our whole group would love it! Everything about the experience was top-notch. We met at a beautiful grassy area that overlooked the water and the harbor. From the moment we arrived, Dave and Gina were welcoming and kind. We got to meet and interact with 5 different birds. They gave us an overview about the animal and the history of the animal in the context of human history (like the role of falconry in the Middle East). You also get to have the chance for the hawk to land on your arm and watch the birds feed. We got lucky and a bald eagle also flew over during our experience. We were part of a Disney Cruise group excursion--but the group was small and we really felt like we had an "exclusive" and "behind the scenes" experiences. Many thanks for Dave and Gina for a wonderful morning getting to see Ruby and the other birds! read more

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Dave was an amazing falconry, educated us about the species of birds they currently have. He respected his birds very well and handle them properly. Healthy beautiful birds. From the eagle Owl to the Gyrfalcon. Love them all definitely worth the experience and to do again as an activity on the island 10 stars read more

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An unforgettable and educational experience! Dave went out of his way to make sure everyone in our group had a meaningful interaction with the birds. My 10-year-old son had an absolute blast, he even made a point to find Dave again later in town! I highly recommend doing this at least once. Not only is it incredibly fun, but it also supports a great cause. A solid 10/10, would absolutely do it again! read more

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This was an amazing experience. Dave was so kind to my 10 year old daughter and really got her involved to interact with these amazing animals up close. Very grateful read more

What an exhilarating, beautiful experience it was taking part in the Catalina Falconry Experience recently with my best friend! Dave and Gina were both incredibly knowledgeable, humorous and full of compassion & respect for these incredible birds. We enjoyed meeting and interacting with Willow, Ruby, Paxson and Tess who were all amazing sports & stars of the show. We learned so much & are grateful for this epic experience. We would highly recommend!! Book this now!!! Thank you again, Dave & Gina!! Lory & Tova read more

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If you love birds, don't miss out on this chance of a lifetime. Stunning raptors and the owl Ruby is a beauty. So informative and fun. Dave was a wealth of information and also the falconer that keeps all of Catalina free of sea gull poop. His beautiful falcons keep the casino and town clean. We got some photos on our phones to frame because of this up close and personal experience. Very memorable. read more

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Dave and his birds are amazing. Very informative and professionally done. A great experience for the whole family.

We spent a good two hours meeting and learning about these beautiful birds. It was an honor to get up close and personal with a Gyr Falcon, a Peregrine Falcon, a Harris Hawk and a Eurasian Eagle Owl, and to delve into Dave's knowledge about these and other birds of prey. It's clear that this is a passion as well as a career for Dave. He speaks about his charges with fondness and humor, and was willing to share information with anyone within earshot. Having participated in a previous falconry experience, we thought we knew what to expect, but were wowed by the variety of birds and the time we could spend close to them. Still feeling the awe and excitement hours later! Side note: the Harris Hawks have a side gig in the community, working as seagull mitigation. Look for them if you're in downtown Avalon! read more

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Great experience. Unique and fun thing to do on Catalina island. Can't find similar anywhere else

This falconry experience is such a great way to experience these amazing birds up close and personal. And Dave shares just the right amount of interesting information. Enough to learn and get practical knowledge, yet not overwhelm you with too much information, since he clearly knows a lot and is happy to answer questions. It is one thing to be able to see the various birds, then to be able to feed a hawk just takes the whole experience over the top. Such a great experience! I really appreciate that this is a kid-friendly activity. Dave does a great job involving the kids as they are comfortable. read more

Dave and his staff are very kind and respectful of their birds. The are knowledgeable about the history of this sport, and their individual bird, which make this unique experience a one in a lifetime adventure. He knows which birds are Ok with being touched, and which aren't. Dave is very clear on his instructions, and if you follow them your experience will be incredible. I was so surprised how light Willow, our HArris hawk, was. She was also extremely gentle when she landed. This is a must see if you're visiting Catalina!!! read more

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My family visited Avalon and found Catalina Falconry to be an awesome experience. The location is beautiful and easy to access, plus the information and learning aspect is interesting, it's super interactive for everyone in the family, and the whole thing is very unique. You get to see and learn about falcons, hawks, and a big beautiful owl. There is also some good information about the island and the role eagles and predator birds play on the the island and in the city. We had a great day in Avalon and the Falconry experience really added to the memories. We're so glad we did it and highly recommend it. read more

Dave was an amazing tour guide and showed off some incredible birds to us! We learned so much about falcons, hawks and even a beautiful owl named Ruby What an awesome Father's Day Celebration and we will be back! read more

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Participated in the Catalina falconry experience and was excellent as usual! I love how this program gets you up close and personal with hawks, owls and falcons. You get to meet the birds, touch them and really learn about them and their history in falconry. Dave does a great job keeping the experience fun, educational and interactive. We love this experience and have participated three times. It never gets old and where else are you able to have a stunning hawk literally eat out of your glove?!?! Very cool experience, I highly recommend! read more

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I had such a wonderful and informative time at the Catalina Falconry Experience! From the very beginning, our instructors Dave and Kirsty knew all of our names and would relate to us individually. It made me feel welcomed into the group and valued as a member of the experience. Dave took the time to answer all of my questions and was extremely knowledgeable about the Falcons. I loved meeting all of the different types of birds he introduced to us and being able to interact with them. He even led me through catching a falcon on my arm! Dave and the birds have a very good relationship and it was so great to see how much fun the birds had interacting with us and doing their tricks. Overall 10/10 experience and I would recommend it to any families or adults! read more

Definitely the "most for your money" experience on the island, especially if you are interested in learning about raptors and ecology of Catalina. As exotic animal owners ourselves, you can tell that Dave (the falconer) knows and cares a lot about his animals and Catalina Island. We started our experience with checking in and filling out our waivers, the staff gave a good explanation about the history of Falconry and it's importance to Catalina Island itself. We then got into groups for our literal "hands on" experience with Duke the Harris Hawk. The next step was heading up a short staircase to Raptor Ridge where we met the rest of the educational raptors, Tess, PK, Rosie, and Paxton. The whole experience ended up lasting about 2 hours or so and was definitely a highlight of our trip. read more

Catalina Falconry Experience - Active Life Near Me - Avalon, California

Knowing what a huge bird-nerd I am, my husband surprised me with this activity for our 25th anniversary during our week on Catalina Island. It was my first falconry experience, and it has always been a dream of mine to interact with and hold a bird of prey. To say that our expectations were exceeded would be an understatement! Dave is an expert on these incredible raptors and we were captivated from beginning to end. His knowledge is vast and he patiently answered all of our questions. During the class, we were introduced to several beautiful birds that are all under his care and got to witness several impressive flight demonstrations - including an interactive falconry experience with a Harris Hawk (my dream come true!). Since our class was on a weekday, our group size was small which enabled everyone to participate. Admittedly, I am sometimes leery of how the animals are treated with these kinds of tourist-focused activities, but after witnessing them firsthand and also talking with Dave at length about how they've been raised, it's obvious that they've received nothing but the absolute best of care. To me, that made all the difference in my enjoyment of this experience. This was definitely a highlight of our anniversary week and we would absolutely recommend it to anyone who has even a remote interest in falconry and/or birds of prey. Thanks again, Dave! read more

10/10 would do again. Learning about different falcons and getting the chance to call one to you was an unbelievably wonderful experience. The guy running the activity was so friendly and knowledgeable about the history of falconry as well as the island uses of it. A fun activity for all ages! read more

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We've visited Catalina several times and have done most of the various activities offered. The falconry experience was one we were always interested in, but due to timing or it being sold out, we've never managed to do it until this last trip. What a great experience! Dave is most knowledgeable and entertaining. The presentation is fun, and you almost don't notice that you're learning as well. We interacted with 4 different and amazing birds, all while Dave is educating you and explaining what he does on the island. I could go on and on, but the bottom line is after doing most island activities, this is one that I would definitely do more than once. It's not often you get up close and personal with these beautiful creatures. Book it. You won't be disappointed. read more

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I highly recommend this special interaction with birds of prey on your next visit to Catalina island. My best friend and her son treated me and my daughter to this incredible experience. Dave & Gina were engaging, extremely knowledgeable, professional and so kind. My daughter wants to be a falconer one day and this experience solidified that goal. Thank you Dave & Gina for your compassion, kindness and showing your love for these incredible birds. It was a pleasure meeting you and your flock. We are definitely returning to visit you again. read more

Once-in-a-lifetime experience for anyone who loves wildlife, Dave is knowledgeable and genuine in his love and care for these magnificent creatures! You will get up close and personal with falcons, a hawk, and an eagle owl while learning about their past, present and future along with the remarkable conservation efforts of falconers. Highly recommend! read more

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This is a must do activity on Santa Catalina Island. Not only do they take great care of their animals, they also invest into the island conservation. The falconry experience was an amazing life experience and exceeded my expectations. You will get to interact with the birds of prey as well as learn so much about them. Truly a joy! Dave and Jerry are wonderful! read more

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4.5 (16) Rate and Review on Google Reviews All owls6 Sort by Most relevant Newest Highest Lowest Diana Lemos 3 reviews 2 days ago NEW **WARNING** choose another company for your bird of prey experience! I should have gone with the more reliable company in San Diego. My spouse and I booked a trip to Catalina Island for the sole purpose of doing this falconry experience. ... More Catie Kovelman 6 reviews·4 photos a year ago One of my best friends and I recently did the Catalina Falconry Experience and were completely amazed. We booked the experience for her birthday, and it exceeded expectations. We saw a variety of birds, including falcons, hawks, and owls. ... More Kelsey Cohen 7 reviews·4 photos a year ago Loved this experience today! We met so many types of birds- 3 types of falcons, a desert hawk which we got to call and hold, and an owl. The instructor was friendly, super knowledgeable, and obviously cared for the birds. Remember sunscreen! There's very little shade available. DK 7 reviews·15 photos a year ago Faclcons & Owls & hawks oh my! We had such a wonderful experience for our anniversary! We will definitely return. I highly recommend it to everyone. +11 https://m.facebook.com ' catalinafal... Catalina Falconry Experience | Facebook Fun experience! It was very educational and the birds were beautiful and well behaved. Our tour guys were awesome and very friendly. They made us feel welcomed ... 5.0(31) · $$ https://www.catalinatours.com ' tour Catalina Falconry Experience This experience is available from late spring to mid fall. Meet Amazing Catalina Birds with a Falconry Experience. You'll be thrilled by these amazing predators ... https://www.businessyab.com ' catal... Catalina Falconry Experience, 1 St Catherine Way, Avalon, CA 90704 ... Aug 6, 2022 -- Great experience! I always wanted to get close to this magnificent birds. The handlers where very knowledgeable on what they do and answered all ... https://girlwithbluesails.com ' falcon... Falconry Experience at Catalina Island - Girl With Blue Sails Jul 14, 2022 -- The falconry experience at Catalina Island was one of the first things I booked for my recent trip in May. I love animals and take any ... https://www.mapquest.com ' catalin... Catalina Falconry Experience St Catherine Way Avalon, CA Sports ... We had an awesome experience today with Dave doing the Falconry Experience. He is extremely knowledgeable and his passion for Falconry really shines through ... 5.0(33) https://www.yellowpages.com ' mip Catalina Falconry Experience - Avalon - Yellow Pages Get reviews, hours, directions, coupons and more for Catalina Falconry Experience. Search for other Tourist Information & Attractions on The Real Yellow ... https://www.outdoorful.com ' activi... Catalina Falconry Experience - Outdoorful You'll learn about the ancient art of falconry before having the opportunity to work ... Catalina Falconry Experience ... Be the first to write a review! Related searches The Falcon experience Where can I hold a falcon Falconry wedding Falconry experience near me Catalina raptor read more

Amazing experience, Dave and his crew are incredible. Definitely checked off a bucket list item and would do it again. read more

Catalina Falconry Experience - Active Life Near Me - Avalon, California

We had an awesome experience today with Dave doing the Falconry Experience. He is extremely knowledgeable and his passion for Falconry really shines through with this tour. The weather was great and the lawn at the beach club was the perfect backdrop for learning about falconry and seeing the birds in action. We were able to have one on one time with all of the falcons and Ruby the Owl stole the show with her appearance at the end of the tour. I would definitely recommend this experience to anyone visiting Catalina and even locals who haven't had the chance to experience it yet! read more

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If I could leave more than 5 stars I would. We had a blast. This is one of the best activities on the island. A definite hidden gem. Dave was both knowledgeable and patient answering every question we asked. Getting a close up and personal view of these magnificent creatures was amazing. read more

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Dave was great, very knowledgeable and put on a fantastic show. The team was also very accommodating to our handicap grandmother by still allowing her to participate in the activities. Highly recommend this tour! read more

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My wife and I had a great experience! We got to see a nice selection of birds, including a lanner falcon and an aplomado falcon. Flying the Harris' hawk between everyone in the group and watching it chase down a careless starling was the highlight of our trip. Dave was very friendly and knowledgeable as well and took the time to chat with us about falconry afterwards. Thanks Dave! read more

Catalina Falconry Experience - Harris' Hawk - Active Life Near Me - Avalon, California

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My son wanted to check out this experience after seeing Dave with his owl, Ruby, at our hotel in town. We decided to go check it out and ended up being such an awesome experience. We never knew the importance falconry! We learned so much and just really had a wonderful experience. Dave was even kind enough to let my almost 4 year old in on the experience. Would highly recommend! read more

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A bucket list check off. It was so much more than I expected. I was totally enthralled with listening to Dave talk about his birds, how he cares for them, the jobs they can do like keeping the seagulls away so they are not stealing your food and pooping all over. Also, in agriculture to keep other birds from eating crops. The information on how long humans and birds of prey have been working together to hunt. All so interesting. Of course the highlight, having Duke land on your arm to get a tidbit of meat. He stayed long enough for me to have a good stare at this beautiful bird. I definitely want to do this again! read more

Catalina Falconry Experience - Dave and Duke - Active Life Near Me - Avalon, California

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What an amazing experience! Gorgeous birds, very interesting info from the and having the unique opportunity to have them fly to you and land on your arm - it all was incredible! Dave & Gina clearly love what they do and are passionate about conservation of these birds of prey. Book this while you can - they currently only offer it seasonally. read more

What an AMAZING experience! My husband and I, along with 4 friends, were so impressed by the entire Catalina Falconry Experience. Though the company has only been offering the experience since June, proprietors Dave & Gina are obviously well-educated about birds of prey, and their love & care for their birds are obvious in every aspect of the experience. The 1.5 hr experience was very educational, and kept our interest the entire time: we started by sitting and listening/looking as Dave showed us Paxton, a 2.5 year old Gyr Falcon, and told us not only about the background of Paxton in particular but about that breed of falcons and about the different ways that birds of prey are raised in captivity. After answering a few questions and giving us guidance on how to behave, Dave released Paxton to show us what he could do - and it was amazing! This was no scripted, bird on a wire zoo show - Paxton was free to do what raptors do, and soon enough, the canyon was free of doves, seagulls, and other ne'er-do-well birds! Then he followed the lure that Dave swung, and after catching it, he traded it for a yummy chunk of quail meat. After that, Paxton got to relax while we learned about Duke, a Harris Hawk normally found in the desert Southwest. Dave and Gina had the 10 of us participating in the experience spread out in a circle on the grass lawn, and one person from each couple put on a falconry glove. Dave guided the 2nd person of the couple into the best position for photos & video, which I much appreciated, while Gina went around and placed a meat tidbit on the glove. Each person in turn called Duke, who flew from person to person, sometimes flying to his perch or to Dave if he preferred that - remember, no script, no wires! One person had a video glitch, and Dave & Gina kindly put another piece of meat on the glove and had Duke fly to the person again so they could get video. In everything they did, Dave & Gina exuded kindness for the customers and care for the birds. After getting to handle Duke, our group walked up a couple flights of stairs to a shaded seating area, where we were introduced to PK, a little owl (I can't remember the specific breed) and Ruby, a HUGE 15 wk old eagle owl who was quite the character. She hopped around on the astroturf, playing with her toys and allowing us to admire her beautiful large yellow eyes and 5-ft wingspan. Dave carried her around so that we could touch her soft downy feathers and get a close look at the fine hairs that line the front of her flight feathers, allowing her to fly silently. Catalina Falconry Experience was a highlight of our trip to Catalina Island and my husband and I highly recommend it. Based on our experience and awesome photos, our kids are now BEGGING us to take them to experience it too! (The website says that the minimum age is 7, so we're good to go!) read more

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