09/09/2026
Here at the Raptor Park, one of our most asked questions is ‘can I stroke a bird?’. Whilst we do understand that our birds, especially the owls, look very soft and inviting, we do not allow people to pet the birds. We don’t even touch the birds with our bare hands unless necessary for healthcare reasons. There are a number of reasons as to why we do not allow stroking:
One of which is that it will remove the natural waterproof layer and can damage the feathers as they will become brittle. When a bird preens, they are spreading an oily substance over their feathers (preen oil) that is secreted by the uropygial gland at the base of the tail. This oil provides protection, and causes water to run off the feathers rather than soaking in so the body can stay dry. You can often tell when a bird has been excessively stroked as their feathers will appear very poor in condition.
Human hands are actually a bit gross; we carry so many different germs that can make a bird quite unwell. A bird will use their beak to preen their feathers, so it can ingest what has been on our hands. So if we were to allow lots of people to stroke one of our birds, that is a lot of different germs and that can make a bird very sick.
Birds of prey also do not like being stroked. They are not cats or dogs, they do not care for this type of affection and they do not enjoy it. Our role is to ensure that all of our birds are happy and healthy, so we are not willing to cause any unnecessary stress. For some individuals, raising a bare hand towards them can be quite threatening. You may see videos online of birds of prey, most often owls, being stroked and it looks as though they are enjoying it. This reaction is actually a stress response. Bird of prey body language is very different to that of a mammal.
So the answer to the above question will always be ‘no, you cannot stroke one of our birds’. We’re often met with disappointed faces with our response, but please know, it is with the bird’s welfare in mind! We run different experiences where you can get up close and fly a bird to the glove, but with boundaries the birds will be happy with!
📸- Alex Such
