Catalina Falconry Experience
Catalina Falconry Experience
Catalina Falconry Experience
5
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About
Experience the thrill and anticipation, as a trained bird of prey—with wings spread and talons extended—swoops toward you and gently lands on your outstretched hand. Catalina Falconry Experience in picturesque Descanso Canyon is one of the few places in Southern California where you can don the glove and “be the falconer.” Against a backdrop of the beautiful Pacific, you’ll learn the history and basic techniques of falconry, as well as the important role that raptors play in maintaining balance in our natural environment. Get to know our falcons, hawks, and owls as your instructor guides you in the proper way to hold a raptor, cast it from your glove, and then call it back again. You don’t want to miss the opportunity to have your picture taken with one of these majestic birds, so bring your camera. A mix of conservation, education and adventure, this is the experience of a lifetime.
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Catalina Falconry Experience
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
83 reviews
Excellent
83
Very good
0
Average
0
Poor
1
Terrible
0
KPD
Newport Beach, CA9 contributions
Jul 2021 • Couples
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!
Written 17 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lee
Santa Monica, CA3 contributions
Aug 2020 • Friends
I really enjoyed listening to Dave Long talk about the various birds of prey. He was very knowledgeable. There were five different birds of prey that were beautiful to look at and very well-trained. I highly recommend it for a great family outing.
Written 8 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
April J
1 contribution
May 2024 • Couples
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 even has a remote interest in falconry and/or birds of prey! Thanks again, Dave!
Written 29 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bradley N
3 contributions
Jun 2022 • Couples
This was an absolutely wonderful experience! Much more than I expected. We were able to actually put on the falconry glove and call a Harris' hawk to feed her, as well as pet one of the others. Dave was an amazing guide, extremely knowledgeable about all of the birds and the history of falconry. The training and stunts that the birds knew were stunning to watch and it was clear that they are kept and treated very well by their handlers. It was an all around great time, very entertaining and educational with some great opportunities for photos.
Written 20 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WanderingWoman75
Dallas, TX99 contributions
Jun 2022
This experience was epic! My nephews (both 15 yo) and I recently participated in the Catalina Falconry Experience.
As Dave speaks, you can feel is passion for what he does, and he's so knowledgeable about birds of prey in general. Not only did he share information about his birds, he spoke very intelligently about other rescue efforts.
If you're on the fence about this activity, DO IT!
As Dave speaks, you can feel is passion for what he does, and he's so knowledgeable about birds of prey in general. Not only did he share information about his birds, he spoke very intelligently about other rescue efforts.
If you're on the fence about this activity, DO IT!
Written 20 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kristina F
1 contribution
Jun 2024 • Friends
We came across Dave while he was walking/flying a Harris hawk around the Catalina pier and discovered he was our falconer for the Catalina Falconry Experience we had booked for the next day. He is charismatic, knowledgeable, and respectfully enthusiastic about sharing his love of birds of prey with the public. We were thoroughly impressed with the specimens displayed: Peregrine falcon, Harris hawk, Gyr falcon, Eagle owl. I have experienced hawking before and would highly recommend this particular activity, especially with this particular falconer. Dave and Gina are worth every cent spent on this experience. So worth it!!
Written 16 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
janice385
Whittier, CA48 contributions
Jun 2021
This was a fun and informative experience. Got a good talk on the history of falconry and hawks. Each guest got to put on a glove and hold some food and the bird landed on their arm and ate. Has plenty of time to take pictures of them eating from your glove.
Written 29 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
nancyjesca
El Segundo, CA424 contributions
May 2022 • Friends
This was much more than an experience. Dave is an amazing teacher talking avidly about his passion. The time passes way too quickly and we enjoyed every minute. He is an excellent advocate for his birds of prey and did an excellent job of engaging the young person participating. We saw falcons, perched a hawk, saw an enormous owl and a brand new (40 day old) bird he has been acclimating. We had serendipitous luck to see two eagles also fly overhead. It was worth every penny and THEN some. I would highly recommend this experience without hesitation! Just do it!
Written 15 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PD P
Huntington Beach, CA1 contribution
Apr 2023 • Couples
The Falconry Experience is by far the best activity we have done on Catalina Island. Dave involves everyone in the program, and is incredibly knowledgeable - able to answer any question thrown his way. The real stars of the show are the raptors, however. I could not take my eyes off them, and watching them swoop, perform aerobatics, and having them land on your gloved hand was thrilling. Great for kids and adults alike, and extremely educational. Can't wait to do it again!!
Written 15 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joe M
8 contributions
May 2023
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!
Written 14 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
how do I get to the Experience and what is schedule?
Written 30 July 2019
The Falcon Experience is in Avalon, Catalina Island at Descanso Beach. It is a 15 minute walk from the center of town or you could take a cab. I believe they only do Saturdays & Sundays. You might want to sign up in advance before getting to the Island.
Written 31 July 2019
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