Enjoy a Hands-On Experience

They say that birds of a feather flock together, and during western vacations in southern Alberta, that’s definitely the case. A state-of-the-art bird refuge is not only providing shelter and protection for feathered animals, injured and otherwise. It’s also offering guests a chance to see these beautiful birds of prey in a natural environment designed to showcase their splendor.

If you’re enjoying a ranch or farm vacation in Alberta this summer, you’ll likely see magnificent birds circle above as they scan for prey or swoop out of the blue sky and hit their target. Southern Alberta’s Birds of Prey Centre is the largest of its kind in Canada–and its reputation is growing. Not only can you see these birds up close, in many cases, you can handle them.

Discover the Beauty of Birds of Prey

Visitors from around the globe are discovering the beauty of birds of prey in a unique country facility that not only shows these birds to their best advantage, but which also helps nurse the injured back to health.

A picturesque two-hour drive south of Calgary, Alberta’s gateway city to the Canadian Rockies, the Birds of Prey Centre is located in the town of Coaldale. Situated just 10 minutes east of Lethbridge, it’s also a short drive from the American border and readily accessible during your western vacation.

Take a Hawk Walk

The Birds of Prey Centre is situated on 70 acres of  wetland habitat, which serve as a home (both temporary and permanent) to the hawks, falcons, eagles and owls of Alberta.

Western vacations at this working conservation centre start with the Hawk Walk, which sees visitors walking pathways as birds of prey peer down from their perches only feet away. Flying demonstrations are also held every 90 minutes, offering a unique chance for visitors to watch huge Alberta eagles, falcons and other birds of prey as they are exercised and trained.

Among the birds that call the Centre home are the great horned owl, burrowing owl, short eared owl, American kestrel, turkey vulture, golden eagle, bald eagle, great grey owl, snowy owl, ferruginous hawk, long eared owl, merlin falcon, barn owl and more. “We also have a peregrine falcon and all the main species native to the Alberta prairies,” says Colin Weir, Director of the Birds of Prey Centre.

Get Up Close and Personal

It’s not just about the “see” when you visit —there’s plenty of “do” on this western vacation, as well. Visitors get a chance to handle the Alberta birds personally, under the supervision of centre's staff. You can slip on a leather gauntlet and have a live owl or falcon perch on your arm, or hold a newly hatched goose or duckling, if that’s more your speed.

“We also do some flying demonstrations where we have a hawk swoop around and land on someone’s arm,” Colin says. “People really enjoy the fact that we do a lot of handling with the birds. Often if you go to a zoo you watch the birds behind mesh, but here we allow visitors to handle some of them.”

Children who visit the Centre have a chance to touch and appreciate the Alberta birds. The smaller owls will even perch on the arms of young children. “There aren’t many places in the world where people can reach out and touch an owl,” Colin says. “We also have some specially trained birds like great horned owls, barn owls, and the burrowing owl.”

People Protecting Nature

The burrowing owl, in particular, is a popular attraction. Not only is it a high-profile endangered species, but it’s only found on the great plains of north America. The burrowing owl, which nests underground, is a native of Alberta’s grassland areas.

The centre’s staff and volunteers are regularly called upon to help in the rescue of birds in distress. Many of these Alberta birds are captured and then nursed back to health. The goal is to use falconry techniques and training methods to exercise and manage the birds in captivity before they are released back into the wild. Some of the birds that cannot be released are permanent residents, and the centre serves as a refuge for them.

The Birds of Prey Centre is not a government facility. Instead, the work is done by volunteers, and funded by donations. “By visiting us, people are actually participating in wildlife conservation and supporting it in western Canada,” Colin says. Visitors to the website can also choose to sponsor one or more of the birds, receiving a tax receipt and a photograph of their “adoptee” in return. The birds who are sponsored are injured, non-releasable residents the Centre uses for public education, breeding and foster-parenting orphans.

Nature Photographer’s Delight

Many of the centre’s visitors appreciate the chance to take photos of the birds in residence. The bald eagles in particular are popular. Staff and volunteers are happy to accommodate everyone with a penchant for pictures.

“A lot of people travel a very long way to be an arm’s length away from a golden eagle or get a perfect picture of it silhouetted against the sky,” Colin says. “You can get a spectacular photo rather than standing behind wire mesh or from a long way off.”

Guests are welcome to bring their photography equipment  to make sure they get the photos they want.

Things to Bring and See

When you visit Alberta’s Birds of Prey Centre, keep in mind the fact it is completely out-of-doors. Dress for the weather, and make sure you’re comfortable because you’ll be doing plenty of walking since there’s so much to see and do.

The centre is open yearly from May to September. The 2,000 square foot Interpretive Centre features books, gifts and a variety of hard-to-find items.

Birds Shoot for the Stars

The birds housed at the Centre aren’t just making an impact with visitors—they’ve actually mingled with a variety of stars as they’ve been featured in several motion pictures. They rubbed shoulders with Tony Danza in Noah, starred with Jackie Chan in Shanghai Noon, and even appeared in the award-winning, made-for-TV series Into The West.

Visitors to the Birds of Prey Centre enjoy an authentic experience that’s reflective of what they’ll see throughout their visit to Alberta. “It’s guaranteed these are the kinds of birds you’ll see while staying at an Alberta ranch or farm,” Colin says.


There’s certainly no question that the Birds of Prey Centre is a hit with its guests. “We have visitors come from all over the world and people always say it exceeds their expectations,” Colin says. “One visitor even drove all the way from Ohio. It’s the interaction and contact people get with our staff and the birds that sets us apart from a large zoo.”

Resources

Alberta Birds of Prey Centre
Alberta South
Birding in Alberta