Thirsk Birds of Prey Centre (Falconry UK)

26/08/2026

🦅 It’s Rick’s Turn in the Spotlight!

With so many big personalities here at Thirsk Birds of Prey Centre, sometimes some of our quieter feathered friends can have the limelight stolen from them… so today, it’s all about Rick the Lanner Falcon!

Rick might not always demand the attention that some of our other birds do, but he certainly deserves it. Lanner Falcons are fantastic birds, known for their speed, agility and impressive aerial skills. Hopefully, you’ve seen Rick showing off some of those skills in our African Adventure Display at 1:30pm, part of our summer timetable.

But there’s much more to Rick than his flying ability. ❤️
Rick has an absolute heart of gold and gives everything 100%. Whatever the weather throws at him, he always tries his very best and pushes himself to the limit. He’s brave, loyal, hardworking and a total superstar – even if he doesn’t always get quite as much attention as some of our bigger personalities!

Kerry is particularly fond of working with Rick and loves his determination, enthusiasm and willingness to always give it his all. He really is one of those special birds who quietly gets on with the job and never fails to make us proud. 🥰

So here’s to Rick – no sharing the spotlight today! 🦅❤️
Next time you visit, keep an eye out for this handsome chap and give him the appreciation he deserves.

25/08/2026

✨ Amazon Wishlist Update 💫 🦉

Sorry for the delayed Wishlist update – it's been a very busy few weeks here at Thirsk Birds of Prey Centre!

A huge thank you to C A Boyd for the hand soap and plastic tweezers. They couldn't have arrived at a better time, as we've had a surprise and suddenly found ourselves hand-rearing two hawks we weren't planning on! 🐣🦅 It was also lovely to recently put a face to the name and thank you in person. 💚

We also received some mealworms with no name included. These always go down very well with our Burrowing Owls and African Pygmy Falcons! If these were from you, please let us know so we can thank you personally.

Every Wishlist donation helps us care for our birds and allows more of our funds to go towards bird food, specialist avian veterinary treatment, conservation work and improvements around the centre.

💚 Wishlist Notice
We share our Wishlist donations on social media to say thank you. If you've sent something but haven't seen it featured, it may not have arrived yet or there may not have been a name included in the parcel, so please feel free to get in touch.
Thank you to all our wonderful Friends of TBOPC for your continued kindness and support. Every item really does make a difference! 💚🙏🏻

🔗 Wishlist: https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/3PX1DRDKTJETV?ref_=wl_share

24/08/2026

📅 A REMINDER OF OUR UPCOMING CLOSED DATES 📅

TBOPC will be CLOSED on Thursday 27th August, but we are OPEN as usual on Wednesday 26th August.

After this week, we will be closed every Wednesday until the end of our display season, along with the following additional dates:

❌ Thursday 3rd September
❌ Monday 7th September
❌ Saturday 19th September

Thank you for your understanding. 💚

🌍 DON’T MISS OUR SUMMER TIMETABLE!

Our Summer Timetable runs until Saturday 12th September, so there’s still time to join us for our spectacular African Adventure Display– it’s not just a show, it’s an experience!

🍂 COMING THIS OCTOBER…

Our Myths, Legends & Music Flying Display will be returning once again in October – with more myths, more legends and even more birds! 🦅🦉

We can’t wait to share it with you.

Please check our opening dates before travelling and we look forward to welcoming you to TBOPC!

12/08/2026

HOT WEATHER WARNING – THURSDAY 13TH AUGUST

Temperatures are expected to reach over 35°C, particularly within our south-facing walled flying arena, where temperatures can rise significantly during the afternoon.

11:30am – Warriors of the Sky Display - Expected to go ahead

1:30pm – African Adventure Display - Expected to go ahead

3:30pm – Training Flying Display
Unlikely to take place due to the increasing afternoon temperatures

The welfare and safety of our birds, visitors and staff will always be our priority. Our team will continue to monitor the temperature and conditions throughout the day, and displays may be altered or cancelled if we feel conditions are unsuitable.

We recommend arriving earlier in the day where possible and keeping hydrated during your visit.

Thank you for your understanding and for supporting us in putting the welfare of our birds first.

10/08/2026

⚠️ EARLY CLOSURE – TUESDAY 11TH AUGUST ⚠️

Due to unforeseen centre commitments, we unfortunately have to close Thirsk Birds of Prey Centre at 3:00pm on Tuesday 11th August.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and thank you for your understanding. ❤️

🦅 FLYING TIMETABLE

10:45am – Arrive at TBOPC
11:30am – 🦅 Warriors of the Sky Flying Display
12:15pm – 🍴 Ideal Lunch Time
1:00pm – 🐾 Meet the Minnie’s Experience*
1:30pm – 🦅 African Adventure Display
➡️ Our main display of the day, featuring 20–25 birds!
2:30pm – 🐾 Meet the Minnie’s Experience*
3:00pm – 🔒 TBOPC Closes

If you’re planning a visit on Tuesday, please make sure you allow plenty of time to enjoy the centre and our displays before we close at 3pm.

Thank you for your continued support and understanding! 🦅❤️

Meet the Minnie’s Experience is an additional experience and can be booked at reception*

07/08/2026

🌞 THE AFRICAN ADVENTURE DISPLAY 🌞 💛 IT’S NOT JUST A SHOW… IT’S AN EXPERIENCE!

Step into a world of survival, resilience and, most of all, life as our spectacular African Adventure Display takes centre stage.

Featuring up to 25 incredible African birds, you could see the elegant White Storks, the speedy Lanner Falcon, the majestic African Fish Eagle, and our impressive White-Headed Vulture, with a wingspan approaching an incredible 8ft!

🧡 Watch these amazing birds showcase their natural behaviours as they swoop, stoop and soar around the arena and over the audience.

Blending music, theatre, natural behaviours and conservation, this exciting display tells an important story about some of Africa’s most remarkable birds and highlights how we can all play a part in protecting threatened species and their habitats.

✨ The atmospheric grand finale is guaranteed to raise the hairs on the back of your neck — and may even bring a tear to your eye.

🕜 1:30pm daily

✅ Please note: All flying displays are weather dependent and may be altered or cancelled due to weather conditions, bird welfare or the Centre’s operational commitments.
✅ We aim to fly as many of the advertised birds as possible each day. However, certain weather conditions may not be suitable for younger or less experienced birds, meaning some may be unable to take part on the day.

📣 BE AWARE
The African Adventure Display contains realistic carcass-style theatrical props to provide a visual representation of a natural wild feeding scene. Additional visual and audio effects are also used throughout the display.

📱 For more information, including our latest photography policy, please visit:
https://falconrycentre.co.uk/summer-flying-displays/

06/08/2026

☀️🦅 ONLY 5 WEEKS LEFT TO EXPERIENCE OUR AFRICAN ADVENTURE DISPLAY! 🦅☀️

🌍 Don’t miss your chance to see our biggest and most spectacular flying display of the summer!

With just 5 weeks remaining, now is the perfect time to plan your visit to Thirsk Birds of Prey Centre and experience our unforgettable African Adventure Display – featuring over 20 incredible birds in one action-packed presentation! 🦅🌍

🗓️ SUMMER TIMETABLE
👋🏻 10:45am – Arrive at TBOPC
🦅 11:30am – Warriors of the Sky Flying Display
🍴 12:15pm – Lunch Time
🦉 1:00pm – Meet the Minnie’s Experience*
🌍🦓 1:30pm – AFRICAN ADVENTURE DISPLAY ⭐ Main Display of the Day – featuring over 20 birds!
🦉 3:00pm – Meet the Minnie’s Experience*
🌿 3:30pm – Training Flying Display
🚪 5:00pm – TBOPC Closes

🦉 MEET THE MINNIE’S HANDLING EXPERIENCE
Book at reception on arrival. £10 per person, in addition to standard day admission.

🌦️ Please note: All flying displays are weather permitting and may be altered if conditions are unsuitable for the welfare of our birds.

👉 PLAN YOUR VISIT TODAY:
https://falconrycentre.co.uk/summer-flying-displays/

05/08/2026

💙 A Massive Thank You to Peter! 🦅

We just wanted to take a moment to say a huge thank you to the wonderful Peter.
Peter and Josie are great friends of the centre and our staff, and we’re always delighted when they pop in to see us. Peter also very kindly gives up his own time to help us around the centre — whether it’s building new bird accommodation, fixing something that’s broken, lending a hand with improvements, or tackling pretty much anything else we can throw at him!

🔨🪚 It’s fair to say that Peter really can turn his hand to just about anything, and he is a fantastic asset to the centre.

On Tuesday 4th August, Peter and Josie popped in simply to say hello to everyone… little did Peter know what we had in store for him! 😂

Before he knew it, he had been thrown in at the deep end, joining Kerry and Dave to help host our African Adventure Display! 🌍🦅

Peter stepped straight in and helped make sure the display ran as smoothly as possible — helping to fly a couple of our eagles and making sure the kites and storks entered the arena at just the right moments.
From building bird accommodation to flying eagles… is there anything this man can’t do?! 😂🦅🔨

Peter, we really do appreciate everything you do for Thirsk Birds of Prey Centre. Giving up your own time to help us means more than you probably realise, and we are incredibly grateful to have both you and Josie as such wonderful friends and supporters of the centre .

💙 Thank you, Peter — you really are a star and a great asset to Team TBOPC! 💙

05/08/2026

Still a couple of places available !! 🦅

📞 call 01845 587522

🦅 Limited Availability during our Summer season – Half Day Eagle Experience

Fancy a hands-on taster of flying eagles? Join us on Saturday 8th August or Sunday 16th August 2026 for an unforgettable experience!

✨ Handle & fly 5 different eagles
🦅 Meet iconic species including the Bald Eagle, African Tawny Eagle & the flying barn door, a White Tailed Eagle plus others.

🕥 10:30am – 1:00pm
🦉Enjoy our 11:30am flying display during your experience, and if you’d like more, feel free to stay for our 1:30pm display!
💷 £100 per person
👥 Small groups (max 5 participants)
⚠️ Age 16+ | Must be able to hold 10lb unassisted
🌦️ Weather dependent

📞 Pre-booking essential – call 01845 587522 to book your space

Please Note: Our Half Day Eagle Experience is not available to purchase online. Spaces and dates are extremely limited, and we will not be running this experience in 2027. The remaining 2026 dates are your final chance to take part, so please contact us directly to book. 👉 Limited spaces available – don’t miss out!

02/08/2026

✨ Amazon Wishlist Update 💫 🦉

Firstly, we're very sorry for the delayed Amazon Wishlist update – it's been an incredibly busy few weeks here at Thirsk Birds of Prey Centre!

We would like to say a big thank you to Steven Griffin for kindly donating the straw. We also received emeraid, hand files and dog nail trimmers, but unfortunately these parcels didn't include a name. If they were from you, please do let us know so we can thank you personally. 💚

We would also like to say a huge thank you to all of our wonderful friends and supporters of Thirsk Birds of Prey Centre for your incredibly kind and generous Amazon Wishlist donations.

Your generosity allows us to direct more of our funds towards specialist avian veterinary treatment, high-quality bird food, conservation work, and ongoing improvements around the centre. Every donated item helps us provide the very best care for our birds, and for that we are truly grateful.

💚 Wishlist Notice
We share all Amazon Wishlist donations on our social media channels as a way of saying thank you. If you have kindly purchased and donated an item but haven’t seen it featured within a few days, it may simply not have arrived yet. We would hate for any generous donation to go astray, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any concerns.

If you'd like to support us through our Amazon Wishlist, we are always incredibly grateful. Every item, no matter how small, helps us care for our birds and maintain the centre.

Thank you once again for your continued kindness and generosity. Every donation, no matter how big or small, makes a real difference to the birds in our care. We simply couldn't do what we do without your amazing support. 💚🙏🏻
🔗 Wishlist: https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/3PX1DRDKTJETV?ref_=wl_share