About us

Redtail Falconry were probably the first birds of prey team in the country to visit schools free of charge. The team have been attending schools throughout the South East since 1983 and can supply many references.

Alan Van Vynck's love of all wildlife started as a young boy, which grew into a passion for birds of prey and falconry, a passion shared by his wife Sue.

Their enthusiasm is infectious and a great deal of imaginative work can be expected from the children but one thing is for sure.....they will never forget the visit......a marvellous learning experience enjoyed and remembered by everyone who sees it.

The Experience

The team bring along hawks, falcons and of course owls. This enables the main differences between them to be explained. The talk is linked to the national curriculum and covers subjects such as camouflage, springtime, the food chain, the environment, adaptation and many more. The talk is also designed to encourage further research into wildlife and the world around us.

The talk is just part of the experience. After lunch, a never to be forgotten display showing in practice what the team explained earlier during the talk. The speed of the falcon, the agility of the hawk and the silent flight of the owl.

Weather and area permitting, the team will fly the birds outside. However, some schools do not have enough room to fly the birds outside (or the weather may be unsuitable). If this is the case, the team will fly the birds inside. Schools that have seen both types of display say that they are both equally good......what is lost by being inside if more than made up for by the closeness to the birds.