FAQ for Tours
Note: Most of the Thursdays for 2024 are booked. As we are preparing to start offering stage presentations in 2025, we are currently not booking any 2025 Thursday tours. We will release the new Thursday tour policies later this year and will begin taking 2025 bookings after those policies have been announced. Weekend tours will remain unchanged. -10/11/2024
1. When are tours offered?
Guided tours are currently being booked by appointment only for Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 with a maximum of 10 people.
Large groups (such as school groups with no more than 30) can book on Thursdays. We only run one tour per day but the time can be somewhat flexible to accommodate school schedules. For these large groups, we ask that you stay at your bus/vehicles on your arrival and tour guides will meet you in the parking lot where the group will be divided into smaller groups for the tour. We would really appreciate it if large groups were already divided into groups of no more than 10 people and the members of your group know which group they are in.
2. Can I do a tour on days other than weekends or Thursday? Can we do a different time than is offered?
No. It is very difficult for us to provide tours that are not on our assigned tour days or at different times. We are a working facility. Non-tour days and times are fully devoted to eagle care and facility maintenance. Therefore, we do not book tours other than what is described on this page.
3. Can I bring more than 10 people on weekends or more than 30 on Thursdays?
No. Due to staffing, care of eagles, and the comfort level of our resident birds, no more than 10 people on Saturday/Sundays or 30 people on Thursdays are allowed. Due to a large number of tours not following these policies, if you bring more than the allowed number of people, only the allowed number of people will be allowed to go on the tour and excess people may have to leave the property.
4. How do I book a tour?
Tours scheduled for the weekends can book their tour using the online form below. Thursday tours need to call the office 405-334-7471.
5. When should I book my tour?
We recommend that you book your tour as soon as you are interested in a particular date! Thursdays book up quickly at the start of each semester and during nice weather. The weekend tours book up quickly as well especially during nice weather. Please be aware that drop in and last minute scheduled tours are difficult to accommodate for as we do not always have enough staff members present to provide a tour.
6. When is the best time of year to see the birds?
The best time to plan your visit is spring-mid summer and fall-early winter. We stop offering afternoon tours once the heat is a consistent 95 degrees and do not provide tours if the temperature is below 40 degrees. In the winter, we install winterizing panels on the enclosures to keep the wind off the birds and the workers. Unfortunately, these panels do limit the viewing of the birds. However, these decisions have been made to ensure the eagles are kept in good health and well-being.
7. Do tours get to handle/touch the birds?
No, due to permitting requirements, as well as the well-being of our birds, no birds are ever able to be handled by the public.
8. What do tours cost?
Tours are always free, but we appreciate it if you make a donation or stop by our gift shop!
9. There is only a small number in our group/I am by myself. Can I still do a tour?
Of course! We will be more than happy to schedule you on a weekend.
10. I do not want a guided tour. I just want to walk around. Is that an option?
No, we are a sanctuary and therefore do not allow people to give self-guided tours or walk around our facility without a staff member at any time. This includes before and after a tour is given.
11. Will the GSEH ever cancel a tour?
Unfortunately, at times it may be necessary for us to cancel a tour the day it is booked. As tours are conducted outside, rain or unexpected cold/warm fronts that drastically change the weather may make us call and reschedule. We may also have to cancel a tour if we get a call to rescue an injured eagle. We always call a few hours in advance to give you as much notice as possible. The GSEH has the right to cancel a tour at any time.
12. What time should I arrive for my tour?
Please arrive for your tour no more than 5-10 minutes early. As we are a working facility and do not have staff dedicated to tours, we must make sure all of our duties such as giving medication, caring for critically injured eagles, and feeding our resident population of birds is done on time. We will not be able to let you on the grounds if you arrive earlier than your tour is scheduled.
13. What do the colors on the calendar mean? Why can’t I click on a certain day? Why is there no calendar-it just says there are no available appointments?
Days that are grey are completely booked up and therefore not available. Monday-Fridays are not available. The online calendar is only available for 30 days out from the current date. Therefore, if all of the available tours have been booked in the next 30 days, no calendar will show up.
14. Do I need to provide all of the information in the form?
Yes, the system requires a phone number and email to work properly. Please provide a VALID phone number and VALID email address so you can receive all necessary information for your tour. The confirmation email you receive after booking the tour will have important information. If an issue arises, we may ask for your confirmation email so please have it available. If you did not receive a confirmation email, your tour is not booked.
15. Do I have to use the system below to book a weekend tour?
Yes, all weekend tours need to be booked by the individual requesting the tour, using the system below. Due to busy workloads, the aviary does not keep waitlists for any tour day. If the tour you want is unavailable, please check back as the original tour may cancel and the date may open back up. The aviary staff will not book farther than 30 days out for weekend tours.