The Bird Man of Big Sur Helps This Resort’s Guests Connect With Nature

In a secluded campground among the redwood forests, overlooking the coast of northern California, Antonio Balestreri, 63, is finally doing what he loves. He leads the falconry program at Ventana Big Sur, a small luxury resort, as well as at its sister resort Carmel Valley Ranch, about an hour south. During his presentations, he brings a group of people into a clearing among the massive redwoods, where he takes his birds out one by one, describes them, and even lets guests touch them. “The birds are so fascinating,” Balestreri said, adding that all of his birds are native to North America. “How could you not find these birds the most amazing creatures on the planet?” Although he has loved birds since he was a child growing up in Monterey, California, he spent most of his life working in construction. After high school, he got a degree in wildlife management but was not able to find a job in the field. It was through a stroke of luck that he connected with Ventana. Two y