School Visits with Birds of Prey

A Memorable Learning Experience for All Ages

Our School Visits bring the excitement and wonder of birds of prey directly to your classroom or playground. Each visit is tailored to your curriculum needs and age group – from early years through to secondary – combining close-up encounters, fascinating facts, and unforgettable moments of hands-on learning.

Students will meet several of our hawks, owls, and falcons, learn about their adaptations and behaviour, and, where appropriate, enjoy the chance to handle one under expert supervision.

What’s Included

  • Duration: Flexible sessions, typically 40 – 60 minutes

  • Birds: Usually 4–6 species, including owls, hawks, and falcons

  • Format: Indoor or outdoor presentations – perfect for halls, classrooms, or playgrounds

  • Interaction: Handling can be arranged – please call to discuss your specific needs

Each session is delivered by an experienced falconer who combines engaging storytelling with clear educational content. Sessions encourage curiosity, reinforce key learning themes, and create a unique shared experience that staff and pupils remember for years.

Children being introduced to Elvis our Eurasian eagle owl during a school visit on birds of prey

Learning Themes

We can adapt our content to fit your topic or term plan, including:

  • Habitats and Adaptations – how birds of prey are designed to hunt and survive

  • Food Chains and Ecosystems – understanding predator–prey relationships

  • Senses and Survival – how owls hunt silently in the dark

  • Conservation and Responsibility – protecting wildlife and habitats

  • Falconry and History – from ancient tradition to modern conservation

We are happy to support themed events such as Science Week, Careers Week, or Outdoor Learning Days.

Pricing and Travel

  • First hour on site: £175

  • Subsequent hours (same day, same site): £125

  • Travel: 75p per mile from Market Harborough

  • Additional falconer (if required): £100

We can provide up to five sessions in a day. If you have multiple sessions booked, we allow around 15 minutes between each to give the birds and falconer a short break.

Occasionally, large schools or complex timetables require two falconers –  this can be arranged with the additional charge above.

We usually travel within a two-hour radius of Market Harborough, covering Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Rutland, Derbyshire,  and nearby areas of Buckinghamshire, Warwickshire, Bedfordshire, and Oxfordshire.

Boy with Elvis the Eurasian eagle owl ( bubo bubo ) on his children's falconry experience day.

How to Arrange a Visit

Please email enq@birdonthehand.co.uk or call 07868 243490 to discuss your school’s needs, class sizes, and location.

We’ll tailor a visit that fits your timetable and space, ensuring pupils of all ages have the opportunity to meet and learn from these magnificent birds.
Advance booking is recommended, especially during spring and autumn terms.

Bringing the Curriculum to Life

Our school visits inspire curiosity, spark conversations, and bring science to life. Watching an owl fly silently across a hall or seeing the talons of a hawk up close turns classroom learning into a powerful, unforgettable experience.

Owl and Hawk Pellets and Feathers

Additional to your birds of prey visit we can supply sterilised pellets for dissection. These are mainly owl pellets that are produced after feeding mice and rats but we will also include some from day old chick feeding and hawk or falcon feeding containing avian remains.

This to show certain differences. Owl pellets contain bones. Day old chick bones are not fully calcified and some are digested. Hawks and falcons digest most bones and the pellets consist of just the fur or feathers.

What is included in 1 pack

– 10 Owls Pellets

-2/3 Falcon/Hawk/Eagle Pellets

– 1 Owl Feather

– 1 Falcon/hawk/buzzard Feather

£35 per pack.