Free Flight Exotic Bird Sanctuary

Free Flight Exotic Bird Sanctuary We're a non-profit exotic bird sanctuary dedicated to helping birds and people. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED
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Come say hi to our Outreach Team in Webb Park on Sunday April 12th! We'll be onsite with some of our feathered ambassado...
04/10/2026

Come say hi to our Outreach Team in Webb Park on Sunday April 12th! We'll be onsite with some of our feathered ambassadors from 10am-1pm as part of Rancho Bernardo's Earth Day Fair! The event is FREE to attend and open to the public!

You only wear pink on Wednesdays?! The want you to know that pink is fashionable EVERY day of the year! Rose-Breasted ...
04/08/2026

You only wear pink on Wednesdays?!
The want you to know that pink is fashionable EVERY day of the year!

Rose-Breasted Cockatoo "Ruby" and Moluccan Cockatoo "Penny" would also like to consider changing "pony" to "parrot" in their favorite dance tune!

"BeeBee" our beautiful red-front macaw wants to give everyone a friendly reminder that Free Flight will be CLOSED today,...
04/05/2026

"BeeBee" our beautiful red-front macaw wants to give everyone a friendly reminder that Free Flight will be CLOSED today, April 5th, in observance of the Easter holiday.

We have FOUR hatch days to celebrate in the month of April! Today (April 1) is Toby and Baby's birthday! Casper's birthd...
04/01/2026

We have FOUR hatch days to celebrate in the month of April! Today (April 1) is Toby and Baby's birthday! Casper's birthday is April 4th, and Obi (our oldest resident!!!) celebrates his on April 19!

Happy Hatch-Days, everybirdy!

Would you like to send one of our birthday birds a special toy or treat? Consider visiting our Amazon Wishlist!

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3ETBC9PF3Y4Y5?ref_=wl_share

Toby LOVES pistachios!
Baby enjoys nothing more than shredding popsicle stick toys!
Casper is a master wood-block destroyer!
Obi loves nutriberries and yucca kabobs!

A letter from Free Flight's Board President, Lauren Alvarez.
04/01/2026

A letter from Free Flight's Board President, Lauren Alvarez.

Have we mentioned how much the flock LOVE Junior Docents? In addition to their critical role as guest greeters and educ...
03/29/2026

Have we mentioned how much the flock LOVE Junior Docents?
In addition to their critical role as guest greeters and educators, the Jr Docents often help us with the tasks the birds appreciate the most: preparing their food and enrichments! As a result, the flock develop particularly strong relationships with these awesome teens!

Are you a teen that loves parrots? We want YOU to apply to join the 2026 Jr Docent team! You'll train with us in the last week of June, then be eligible to volunteer and receive community service hours!

Apply Here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd07MHMOQGF2UmurFvwnDb8EtYvfMqb1IgDxdvi8vcAMxzzbw/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=114036535397978727968

It's Spring Break Season! Early April is a busy time at Free Flight. As local schools stagger their Spring Breaks over t...
03/29/2026

It's Spring Break Season!

Early April is a busy time at Free Flight. As local schools stagger their Spring Breaks over the next few weeks, we're looking forward to welcoming visitors from near and far to the sanctuary. To give everyone the best opportunity for a positive experience, we ask everyone to be mindful of the following:

1) Reservations are required to visit Free Flight.
2) Same Day Reservations are limited and available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
3) Please limit your stay to one hour. Our free parking in front of the sanctuary is extremely limited.
****** Do NOT park in front of the vet clinic next door or in the staff lot behind the sanctuary. If our spaces are full, please utilize the paid parking lot directly across the street.

Thank you!

-the Free Flight Flock

Sweet resident "Nikki" was such an excellent gate supervisor today! She may have proclaimed "Bye Bye!" instead of "Hello...
03/28/2026

Sweet resident "Nikki" was such an excellent gate supervisor today! She may have proclaimed "Bye Bye!" instead of "Hello" a few times - but her adorable enthusiasm easily makes up for that🥰

March 27, 2026Dear Free Flight Friends & Family, As of April 1, 2026, I am stepping down from my position as Executive D...
03/28/2026

March 27, 2026

Dear Free Flight Friends & Family,

As of April 1, 2026, I am stepping down from my position as Executive Director at Free Flight. It is my pleasure to recall with fondness my 34 years with Free Flight - initially working for Dr. Stonebreaker for 17 years, and then as Executive Director when Free Flight transitioned to a nonprofit in 2009.

Free Flight has successfully grown every year. We continue to build upon our mission to shelter, nurture and re-socialize parrots, while educating the public to inspire a lasting concern for the well being of exotic birds. We are so proud of our success in rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming countless parrots through our Relinquishment and Adoption Programs who would have otherwise been stranded.

Among my most favorite ideas, the Junior Docent Program and the Learning Center have become huge opportunities to involve our young community in the perpetuation of the care and conservation of exotic parrots in captivity as well as in the wild.

We are so grateful for the scores of volunteers who choose to give their time in service to the flock’s care. Their support enables our staff to see to the administrative tasks behind the scenes that, while less pleasant, are required to keep the sanctuary thriving.

Moving forward, Free Flight’s leader is someone that most of you know well. She has come up from the bottom - starting as a volunteer intern. She has already been leading the Learning Center for several years, and has been assisting in administration for the last two years. Of course, I am
speaking of Isabelle Zapata. The Board of Directors and I have the utmost confidence in her ability to lead Free Flight in its continued upward momentum. I look forward to continuing my service as a member of the Board,
as well.

Warmly

Mary Struble

This handsome fella made sure that "Fun Friday" lived up to its name today... he proudly serenaded staff with his best r...
03/27/2026

This handsome fella made sure that "Fun Friday" lived up to its name today... he proudly serenaded staff with his best rendition of "rock-a-bye Orphy" (his version of 'rock-a-bye baby), with strong emphasis on his favorite word: CRADLE!

We sure love when Orpheus comes to board at Free Flight!

Applications are open for our 2026 Junior Docent (teen volunteer) training program! Learn about parrots, gain hands-on e...
03/04/2026

Applications are open for our 2026 Junior Docent (teen volunteer) training program!
Learn about parrots, gain hands-on experience volunteering in a nonprofit sanctuary setting, and accumulate community service hours to meet school graduation and/or scholarship requirements! Training will take place 10am - 1pm, June 29- July 3, 2026.

03/03/2026

Remy had a great time showing off his moves (and enjoying scritches from volunteer Valerie!) while meeting everyone at Bird Fest last weekend! We want to send a special thank you to the for inviting us to be part of this delightful annual event!

Special thanks also go out to our supporters who hung in there with us while we navigated technical difficulties at the beginning of our presentation, and to our friends at the for generously loaning us their pop-up canopy to keep the parrots cool when we were unexpectedly relocated outside. The bird community is truly a kind, welcoming, and wonderful environment to be a part of!

Address

2132 Jimmy Durante Blvd
Del Mar, CA
92014

Telephone

+18584813148

Website

http://www.freeflightbirds.org/donate, http://www.freeflightbirds

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Our Story

Free Flight is a 501(c)(3) non-profit sanctuary for companion parrots whose former owners can no longer continue caring for them. Our mission is to shelter, nurture and re-socialize parrots, while educating the public to inspire a lasting concern for the well being of exotic birds. We are open to the public 7 days a week (weather permitting). Come walk around the sanctuary, feed and interact with our feathered friends, and learn more about parrots of all kinds from our knowledgeable and friendly team of docents and staff!