Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have a restroom?
No, we do not have a public restroom. However, you are welcome to use our staff restroom during your visit if needed.Disability access?
Free Flight has wheelchair access and handicapped parking.Parking?
We have onsite parking but it is limited to 7 spaces. There is also a paid parking lot directly across the street. Please carpool as much as needed and be mindful of the length of your stay. For the sake of other guests, we recommend limited your visit to one hour.When are you open to the public?
Our open hours are 11am-4pm. However, you MUST have a reservation to visit. The last reservation starts at 3pm. Please visit our scheduling page to view a calendar of available visit times.*Please note: We recommend booking your visit at least a few days in advance (especially during weekends and school holidays!)
Is there a cost to visit?
Yes. General Admission visits cost $10 per person if you book in advance, or $15 on the day of. Make your reservation to visit us at www.freeflightbirds.org/visit!If you are interested in a guided tour, group event, field trip, scout troop event, etc., please contact our Education & Outreach Coordinator Isabelle at freeflightbirds@live.com to discuss scheduling and costs.
How can I find the sanctuary?
From interstate 5:
Take Via de la Valle to the west.
Go south on Jimmy Durante Blvd past the Del Mar Fairgrounds. After you cross over the concrete bridge and go straight through the roundabout, we are the first driveway on the right.May we pet or hold the birds?
For the safety of all visitors and the well-being of our birds, only staff, volunteers, and annual membership holders who have received guidance from a staff member on proper handling techniques are permitted to pet and hold the birds.May we take pictures?
Yes, for personal use only please.May we bring food in to feed the birds?
NO. We carefully monitor what our birds eat. Some are on special diets or have allergies. We have our own food mix available to all visitors if you wish to feed the birds during your visit.May we feed the koi?
Yes, you may feed the koi. We limit the amount of koi food that we give out so that the fish are not overfed. They do not eat during the colder months.*Please be courteous during the school holidays and reserve the koi food for young children. Only one bowl of fish food per person. Thank you!
Where did all the birds come from?
All the parrots in our resident flock were pets whose prior owners were unfortunately no longer able to care for them. This is most often due to a change in life circumstances, such as aging, illness, changing household/family dynamics, increased work responsibilities, etc.
Are your parrots up for adoption?
Some of them! We have some birds who live with us in ‘permanent retirement’ due to advanced age, chronic illness, or prior owner request; others who are part of our education/outreach team; and others still who are recent arrivals that we’re only just beginning to get to know, ourselves. Before we put up any parrot for adoption, we need to know them really well so we can identify their preferences, fears, and what their ideal living environment would be.
If you’re interested in adopting a parrot, please visit www.freeflightbirds.org/meet-the-flock! There, you can meet all our residents and see their status (resident, permanent resident, or adoptable). If someone catches your interest, plan to visit OFTEN for at least 6 months. We want to know the bird knows and trusts you and that you’ve been trained/educated to provide them with a safe, healthy, and enriched home environment.
I saw a parrot at a pet store and I’m worried about it. Can you do anything?
No. We have no legal authority to cite individuals or businesses, nor do we have any authority to confiscate parrots. If you have concerns about the welfare of a parrot at a pet store or anywhere else for that matter (i.e. someone’s house), please call your local Humane Law Enforcement agency. If you’re not sure who that is, call your local police station’s non-emergency line and they will direct you to the appropriate department to take your report.
I found a parrot. Will you take it?
Legally, we can’t. If it’s a wild parrot, call SoCal Parrot (858)522-0852 to coordinate transport/drop-off with them. If you think it may be someone’s pet, take it to your local animal shelter/humane society. Someone is likely looking for their feathered friend; and, if it isn’t claimed, it still needs to go through the mandatory stray hold before any alternative adoption/placement can be approved. Also, for the safety of our flock, we can’t intake any new parrots (as residents or boarders) unless they’ve received medical clearance (via an exam and tests with a board certified avian veterinarian).