Get Closer to Ireland’s Birds of Prey & Wildlife

A hands-on falconry and wildlife experience in the heart of Ireland’s Ancient East – with hawk walks, indoor wildlife exhibits and unforgettable encounters for all ages.
Qualified, Experienced Falconer
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Tripadvisor review
Fully Licensed & Approved
Fully Insured
Qualified, Experienced Falconer
Tripadvisor review
Tripadvisor review
Fully Licensed & Approved
Fully Insured

Visit Our falconry & wildlife experience on the Waterford Greenway

At Mayfield Birds of Prey & Wildlife Centre you don’t just look at animals from a distance – you step into their world.

Set in Waterford along Ireland’s Ancient East, we offer a unique blend of falconry, hawk walks and Irish wildlife education. It’s a proper hands-on experience that kids, adults, families, schools and wildlife lovers all remember for years.

Whether you’re planning a family day out, a school tour or you’re travelling the Ancient East, Mayfield is a must-stop. Booking in advance is necessary.

Visitors entering the Mayfield Birds of Prey Falconry Centre wooden log cabin building.

Must Try Experiences

Our Must-Try Birds of Prey Experiences bring you face-to-face with incredible hawks, owls, and falcons. Guided by expert handlers, you’ll enjoy hands-on moments, learn fascinating facts, and witness these remarkable birds in action — creating memories you’ll never forget.

A woman smiling as a hawk with wings spread lands on her falconry glove during a walk.

Birds Of Prey Experience – Show & Tell

Meet some of nature’s most impressive hunters up close.
You’ll see owls, hawks, falcons and eagles, hear their stories and learn how they hunt, fly and survive in the wild, all guided by Willie, a qualified falconer.

Highlights:

  • Up-close encounters with birds of prey
  • Learn from Willie, your experienced falconer
  • Incredible photo opportunities
  • Educational, fun and interactive sessions
A woman in a red jacket signals a Harris's hawk to land on her gloved hand in a grassy field.

Hawk Walks in the Irish Countryside

Take a break from the busy world and have a walk with a hawk flying to your gloved hand.

Guided by Willie, you’ll walk through trees while a Harris hawk – often Max, Mikey or Scotty – follows you, flies ahead, and returns to the glove.

Perfect for:

  • Couples and families looking for a unique experience
  • Visitors exploring Ireland’s Ancient East
  • Small groups who want something a bit special

Not suitable for:

  • Young children in buggies or wheelchair users. Wheels may get caught on the difficult terrain

DEMONSTRATIONS & FALCONRY SHOWS

Nothing beats seeing these birds in action.
Join us for flying displays and falconry demonstrations, where Willie explains:

Close-up profile of an eagle owl showing its striking orange eye and sharp beak.

How birds of prey hunt and use their senses

Several owls perched on stands in a bright green field during a photography session.

The differences between owls, hawks and falcons

A Harris's hawk in mid-flight with its wings spread wide against a blurred green forest background.

The challenges they face in modern Ireland

A falconer hand-feeding a Harris's hawk perched on a leather protective glove.

How falconry works and how the birds are trained and cared for

It’s relaxed, a bit of craic, and very interactive – with plenty of chances to ask questions.

Loved by visitors from Ireland and all over the world

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Kathleen O profile picture
Kathleen O
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An unforgettable experience being up close and personal with magificent birds of prey and being educated by a team so devoted to If you are interested in nature and learning about birds of prey dont miss an opportunity to have memorable encounters with some truly magnificent birds under the guidance of a very knowlegeable team - Willie and Séan at Mayfield. Our visit went far beyond our expectations and we hope to return time amd time again with friends and introduce them to the precious experience.
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Annemarie o
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Amazing experience Amazing experience. William and Sean are so knowledgeable and their passion and love for the birds is incredible. Will definitely be going again in 2026!
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Megan H
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Exceptional place to visit Go here immediately! Willie was an exceptional guide. His passion for the birds is contagious, and he made the day fun for all three generations of our family. My retired dad, husband, and pre-school aged child all enjoyed it equally and immensely. We were delighted to fly Mikey and meet several of the other birds. We were in a private group and appreciated how he structure things to keep it engaging for the group. My family can't stop talking about it.
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Paul B profile picture
Paul B
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Awesome visit Absolutely awesome experience, Willy is a champion. He has so much care for the birds and went out of his way to give us an amazing visit. Totally recommend, PS I do not do reviews
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Jen S profile picture
Jen S
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Highly recommend!!! I cannot say enough great things about Willie and the Mayfield Birds of Prey experience. Willie is incredibly knowledgeable and gracious. The birds are thoughtfully and carefully cared for. And our experience flying Mikey the Harris Hawk and holding the other birds of prey was so fun and unpressured. If you are in the area, you should absolutely make a visit!
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Meander18407182536
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A great day out for photographers. A big thank you to Billy at Mayfield Birds of Prey on behalf of the Carlow Photographic Society for welcoming us August 2025 and spending a day with us photographing all the wonderful birds of prey. Highly recommended.
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MAbelini
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Amazing encounter with Ireland's Birds of Prey allowing holding/flying actual birds My family of four (all adults) had the privilege of experiencing a two hour bird encounter at the Mayfield Birds of Prey. It was an unforgettable experience and definitely a highlight of our trip to Ireland. The Mayfield Birds of Prey is run by a wonderfully informative and caring environmentalist named Willie. We had booked in advance a two hour private encounter. Willie met us and told us about the history of his conservation efforts and the Center. Then we went outside where there were about ten cages filled with owls, falcons and hawks. The truly exciting part of our experience was when Willie chose a beautiful hawk named Mikey to take for a walk. We all put on the safety equipment needed to handle a wild bird of prey, in particular the leather glove. As we walked, Willie sent Mikey out to fly and on his way back he took turns landing on each of our arms. It was an exhilarating experience. Mikey also surprised us by jumping from arm to shoulder to the top of our head. It was incredible!!! After our walk, we got the opportunity to choose two more birds from the aviary. We chose two owls and we all got the chance to hold them. We were never rushed through this experience. We learned so much from environmentalist Willie and truly appreciate the work he is doing for these beautiful birds. We highly recommend anyone to participate in a birds of prey encounter here a the Mayfield Birds of Prey sanctuary.
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Samantha A
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Meet an Eagle and Willie, an endangered species This was one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had. Whether you are interested in birds of prey or not - Willie's knowledge, passion, enthusiasm along with his personality and approach will win you over. You get to see eagles!!, hawks and owls and not just see them, you walk them, fly them, feed them and learn all about where they come from and the manner of keeping them and all that comes with it. This is is the most unbelievable experience that will have your face sore from smiling and your mind blown. You will come away with a new found or heightened respect for nature and it's amazing creatures along with amazing people in the world like Willie. Can't fault a thing.
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Laois G
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Beautiful birds We spent a morning with Willie and his birds. We would all recommend it and will definitely revisit. The birds were amazing and Willlie’s enthusiasm was infectious.
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Niall K
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Beautiful birds in an excellent setting from a top class Falconer Fantastic experience for all ages , Willy knowledge and passion for these birds is beyond believe , and training of this birds to be at ease with people and especially kids is excellent Just a great overall experience and not expensive at all .
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David Veale
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friendly and enthusiastic staff great time enjoyed the visit. beautiful animals
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Jenny Joyce profile picture
Jenny Joyce
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Highly recommend visiting Willie at Mayfield Birds of Pray. Everything was fantastic! Willie was knowledgeable, interesting and engaging- very kind and gentle to the birds and to the kids and all the people in our party. He was generous with his time and knowledge and we’d all highly recommend this fantastic experience which enriched our knowledge about these beautiful birds and the environment in which they live - we’ll be back
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John O'Connor
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This is a fantastic experience, where we met with Willie and his son who gave us a wonderful opportunity to get up close to a variety of birds of prey. The owls were the highlight for me. I can highly recommend it for all ages. I will definitely go back.
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Layton Hill
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We had a great multigenerational outing today. Willie is so passionate about his birds and sharing them with others. Can’t recommend highly enough.
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Sarah Berry
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What a magic afternoon we spent with Willie and his birds. He is a fabulous storyteller and so accommodating with his time and allowing us to see and interact with the birds whilst respecting their personalities and needs.
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Talia _
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Great experience, they take great care of their birds. Willie was very good at explaining all about the birds, and guided us through with the Harrison hawk, it brought us great joy as the hawk flew on our arm and jumped on our head! learnt all about them. Beautiful owls and let us hold them and take great pics! 100 percent recommend. You can tell they take great pride and care for these beautiful birds
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Alex Halliburton
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Wonderful and educational experience. Willie is a kind host and is well loved by the birds so you know they are well taken care of. Please consider supporting them!
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Martina Moore
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Willie is a character!! Amazing at his job! Has all the information you need and extremely friendly and patient!! Really gives you attention and really demonstrates his love for his passion
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Jen Shields
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I cannot say enough great things about Willie and the Mayfield Birds of Prey experience. Willie is incredibly knowledgeable and gracious. The birds are thoughtfully and carefully cared for. And our experience flying Mikey the Harris Hawk and holding the other birds of prey was so fun and unpressured. If you are in the area, you should absolutely make a visit!

LICENSED, APPROVED, INSURED & QUALIFIED

When you visit Mayfield, you’re in safe hands.

  • Fully licensed and approved to keep and display birds of prey
  • Fully insured for all public visits and experiences
  • Qualified falconer with years of hands-on experience
  • Professional welfare standards for all birds and wildlife exhibits

We take animal welfare, visitor safety and education seriously – while still keeping the experience relaxed, personal and fun.

Bird of prey sanctuary with aviaries.

SCHOOLS & GROUP VISITS

We welcome:

  • Primary schools
  • Secondary schools
  • Special needs groups
  • Clubs, scouts & youth groups
  • Language schools and international groups

Visits can include:

  • Birds of prey demonstrations
  • Hawk walk elements (where suitable)
  • Indoor Irish Wildlife Centre sessions
  • Worksheets, Q&A and tailored talks on conservation, habitats and Irish wildlife

We can link the visit to topics like:

  • Irish biodiversity
  • Food chains and ecosystems
  • Conservation in Ireland’s Ancient East
  • History and folklore around birds and animals

CONSERVATION, RESCUE & EDUCATION

Mayfield isn’t just a visitor attraction – it’s part of a bigger effort to:

  • Support rescue and rehabilitation for birds of prey
  • Raise awareness about Irish habitats and wildlife
  • Encourage respect for nature in everyday life
  • Teach the next generation about the animals that share our countryside

Every ticket sold helps support the ongoing care of the birds and the development of the wildlife centre.

A group of students in green uniforms learning about a large owl held by a handler at Mayfield Birds of Prey.

ABOUT WILLIE – YOUR FALCONER

Mayfield Birds of Prey & Wildlife Centre is run by Willie, Bridget and family, a passionate, experienced falconer who has spent years working with birds of prey and Irish wildlife. He’s known for:

  • Making complex things easy to understand
  • Being brilliant with kids and families
  • Mixing solid knowledge with a bit of humour and local story-telling
  • Treating every visitor like a guest, not just a number

When you book a visit or hawk walk, you’re meeting Willie, not just a faceless attraction.

A Barn Owl leaning its head against a falconer's shoulder in a close-up profile shot.

VISITOR INFO & FACILITIES

We make it easy to plan your visit, so the adventure starts sooner.

Opening Hours Summer

Open every day
9.00am – 4.30pm (Summer June – August)
*Last show is 2.30 on and booking in advance essential

Open Hours – Winter

Open every day by request

9:00am – 4:30pm

Facilities

Free on-site parking

Indoor wildlife centre for all-weather visits

Toilets & baby changing

Picnic-friendly areas

Wheelchair-accessible areas

Small gift items and local bits available

VISIT US ON THE WATERFORD GREENWAY

Mayfield Birds of Prey is located just off the Waterford Greenway, making it a perfect stop for walkers, cyclists and families exploring one of Ireland’s most scenic routes.

Whether you’re cycling the Greenway, out for a family walk or planning a full day outdoors, Mayfield offers a unique experience just minutes from the trail. It’s an ideal place to take a break, stretch the legs and enjoy something truly memorable along your journey.

A large group of tourists outdoors taking photos of a falconer holding a bird of prey near a stone building.
Two cyclists riding along the Waterford Greenway path with sweeping views of the estuary, farmland, and rolling hills stretching into the distance on a cloudy day.
A Harris's hawk with wide-spread wings landing on a woman's falconry glove in an outdoor setting.

Set in the heart of Waterford’s countryside, and within Ireland’s Ancient East, the centre is easy to reach while still feeling peaceful and removed from the bustle.

With other attractions, cafés and scenic viewpoints nearby, visiting Mayfield Birds of Prey fits naturally into a day spent discovering everything the Greenway has to offer.

KEEP IN TOUCH

Stay up to date with new birds, wildlife exhibits and seasonal events.

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