Frequently Asked Questions

We are open daily during the holiday season which runs from March to October – when Trabolgan is open, we are too! Our opening times are 10.30am to 4.30pm every day, except Trabolgan changeover days which are Mondays (or Tuesdays on bank holiday weeks) and Fridays when we open from 10am until 1pm.

If you’re a day visitor to Trabolgan you can redeem your day passes for free entry into the Bird of Prey Centre. Please check availability for day visitor entry with Trabolgan Holiday Village before travelling.

If you’re in the Cork region or neighbouring counties, you can contact Sam Murphy for her advice. In other areas, contact the ISPCA or a local vet to see if they can offer any guidance. Birds of prey aren’t like other garden birds, in that their diet consists of raw meat. Many of the birds we take in have been nursed by well-meaning people, but are malnourished and weak due to being fed incorrectly. For an injured bird to stand the best possible chance of ever being returned to the wild, swift action must be taken and the correct care has to be given.

Our birds are all on a diet of raw meat in the form of day old chicks, mice, rats, quail, rabbit, venison, duck, pigeon and gerbils. Typically a single mouse costs €1.00, a vitamin E enriched rat is €5.60, so Charlie’s first meal of 37 mice didn’t come cheap!

All the birds at the centre are captive bred – they all have a numbered ring on their ankles to prove it! We do have disabled and injured wild birds that we care for, but these are not for public viewing.

To fly a bird of prey and to be in possession of a bird of prey requires two licences. Both licences are issued by The National Park and Wildlife Services. Sam has been a state licensed falconer since 1999.

Things to consider:
• Finding a supervisor to train you
• The cost of the bird
• Housing the bird
• Food source

Yes, we regularly go into schools, universities and hotels with displays and attend special events. We even do private parties. If you’d like more information, please contact us.

Think about Flamingos! When the birds are really relaxed they stand on one leg so they don’t put pressure on two – just the same as us.

Yes! So all the birds have dividers between them and, for this reason, they are housed separately at home.

No, we generally have one sex of each species. All birds are obtained from reputable breeders, sanctioned by the Wildlife Department.

No, all our food is supplied by a company in Holland who also supply zoos and wildlife parks. All our food is blast frozen and defrosted as needed. We do not ‘live’ feed. The risk of them picking up poisoned food when they’re out flying is too great.