Harzfalkenhof, Bird zoo in Bad Sachsa, Germany

The Harzfalkenhof is a bird zoo located on Katzenstein hill that focuses on birds of prey such as eagles and falcons. The facility brings together different species of raptors in an open setting where you can observe them up close.

Hans Reinecke from Osterwald founded the facility in 1964; the roughly four-hectare site on the Katzenstein opened to visitors in 1965, built entirely through private initiative without public funding. In 1984 Joachim Klapproth, who had learned falconry from Reinecke, took over the site. In 2020 he passed it to the Swiss master falconer Rochus Brotzer, who moved to Germany to run it.

The flight demonstrations here show birds of prey in action and give visitors a direct look at how these hunters use their skills. Watching them move through the air makes it clear why they are so successful in nature.

The site lies on the Katzenstein, a foothill of the Ravensberg above Bad Sachsa, and covers about four hectares. Flight demonstrations take place twice daily in good weather but only with at least 10 visitors present. Since 2020 the park also offers bird-of-prey walks, falconer experience days and hawking.

According to the facility, its breeding of great snowy owls is unique worldwide, and its falcons have won trophies on racecourses in Saudi Arabia. Owner Rochus Brotzer belongs to the Saudi RUH-Falcons team, and racing falcons such as peregrines and gyrfalcons are again bred here.