bridger raptor festival

Bridger Raptor Fest Lecture Series

Denver Holt - 2004, 2006 Speaker
Denver Holt is a wildlife researcher with many interests. His work and research with owls and their ecology is known internationally. He has been researching owls since 1978 in Mexico, Costa Rica, Alaska, Massachusetts and Montana. This work has resulted in numerous publications in both scientific and natural history journals.

Denver is founder and president of the Owl Research Institute in Ninepipes, Montana.

In 2002, National Geographic Explorer Television and National Geographic Magazine featured, "Owls: Silent Hunters", on the Owl Research Institute's project on Snowy owls in Barrow Alaska.

Not limited to owls, Denver has also studies gulls, terns, raptors, and small mammals.

Thane Maynard - 2005, 2008 Speaker
Thane Maynard is Vice President of Public Information at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden. Thane Maynard 's mission is to teach and write, telling the story of biological diversity, natural history, and wildlife conservation to the general public.

Thane is best known as a writer and host of numerous wildlife programs, including the daily "public radio series" the "90-Second Naturalist", which airs on stations across North America. He has been featured on "Good Morning America", "Today", and "CBS This Morning", and has been a regular wildlife expert on "Late Night With Conan O'Brien".

He is the author of thirteen books on wildlife. He is currently writing a book titled the "The Nature of Hope," which is also the title of the book he is writing with Jane Goodall.

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Last Year's Festival Schedule

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3
KEYNOTE PRESENTATION: NEW HOPE FOR ANIMALS
Location: Museum of the Rockies – Hager Auditorium

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4
Bridger Bowl Ski Area
10:00 am – 3:00 pm

RAPTOR VIEWING HIKE
Thane Maynard, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
8:00 am
Join Thane Maynard, for an incredible raptor viewing hike toward the ridge. Learn from an expert wildlife biologist while experiencing nature’s bounty right here in our backyard.

RAPTOR & BIRDING HIKE
Sponsored by Greater Yellowstone Coalition
Denver Holt, Owl Research Institute & Daniel Cox, Natural Exposures
9:00 am
Join Denver Holt, leading owl researcher, author, and educator, and Daniel Cox, internationally recognized photographer, for an engaging walk on Montana owls.

RAPTOR IDENTIFICATION
Presented by Steve Hoffman, Montana Audubon
10:30 – 11:30 am
Identifying raptors in flight is a tricky business. Join Hoffman, regional bird expert, as he presents essential information and pointers in raptor identification.

FAMILY NATURALIST WALK
Presented by Montana Outdoor Science School
10:30 – 11:30 am
Enjoy a nature walk and learn about our local wildlife, plants and seasonal changes. An experienced naturalist will help awaken your senses through hands-on activities to heighten your awareness of your natural surroundings.

activities

CELEBRATE THE KITE
Presented by ArtSplot of the Arts Centered Education Society
10:30 am – 12:30 pm
Join Chelsea Smith with ArtSplot and build your own kite! Children under 10 years must be accompanied by an adult.

LIVE RAPTOR PRESENTATION
Presented by Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center
11:45 am – 12:30 pm & 2:00 – 2:45 pm
Meet live raptors and learn about the unique and interesting behaviors of native Montana birds of prey. Investigate raptor artifacts including feet and feathers.

MONTANA OWLS
Presented by Denver Holt, Owl Research Institute
1:00 – 2:00 pm
Join Denver Holt, leading owl researcher, author, and educator, for an engaging presentation on Montana owls.

BOOKS & BIRDS STORYTIME
Presented by Bozeman Public Library
2:00 – 2:30 pm
Bring the family and settle in for raptor readings.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5
Bridger Bowl Ski Area
10:00 am – 3:00 pm

RAPTOR IDENTIFICATION
Presented by Steve Hoffman, Montana Audubon
10:30 – 11:30 am
Identifying raptors in flight is a tricky business. Join Hoffman, regional bird expert, as he presents essential information and pointers in raptor identification.

BOOKS & BIRDS STORYTIME
Presented by Montana Outdoor Science School
10:30 – 11:00 am
Bring the family and settle in for raptor readings.

PHYSICS OF FLIGHT FOR KIDS & RAPTOR RACES
Presented by Steve Garvine, Summit Aviation
11:45 am - 12:45 pm
Explore the origins of flight – from birds to planes discover how people learned to fly. Then build your own raptor and watch it fly!

LIVE RAPTOR PRESENTATION
Presented by Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center
11:45 am – 12:30 pm & 2:00 – 2:45 pm
Meet live raptors and learn about the unique and interesting behaviors of native Montana birds of prey. Investigate raptor artifacts including feet and feathers.

RAPTOR VIEWING HIKE
Presented by Steve Hoffman, Montana Audubon
12:30 pm
Now that you know more about raptor identification, join Steve for a hike toward the ridge and test your new skills.

painted faces

SAFARRRRI JAPAN!
Presented by Mayu Braun, Yellowstone Glacier Adventures, Inc
1:00 – 1:45 pm
Discover the wildlife melting pot of Japan, one of the most biologically rich places in the world. Designed for children ages 7 – 10 years.

MONTANA OWLS
Presented by Denver Holt, Owl Research Institute
2:00 – 3:00 pm
Join Denver Holt, leading owl researcher, author, and educator, for an engaging presentation on Montana owls.

ALL DAY PROGRAMS – BOTH DAYS
MONTANA RAPTOR CONSERVATION CENTER (MRCC)
Meet the Ambassador Birds! Observe and learn about live birds. Raffle tickets to support MRCC will be on sale at their booth throughout the day.

KIDS ACTIVITIES
Presented by Montana Outdoor Science School &
Children’s Museum of Bozeman
Enjoy games, crafts and more for kids of all ages.

FACE PAINTING
Presented by Montana Outdoor Science School
Transform into a Peregrine Falcon, Bald Eagle or even a Great Horned Owl!

ELEMENT AT RAPTOR FEST
Element Film Festival 2008
Enjoy selected films created and produced by MSU Science and Natural History Filmmaking graduate students. Times will be posted at the event.
Raptor Fest Exhibitors:
American Wildlands
Gallatin National Forest
Gallatin Valley Land Trust
Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center
HawkWatch International
Keystone Conservation
Llama Llama Books
Montana Audubon
Montana Outdoor Science School
Montana Raptor Conservation Center
Museum of the Rockies
Northern Rockies Bioneers – BORN Network
Sacajawea Audubon Society
Sportsman’s Warehouse
Wild Birds Unlimited
Yellowstone Association Institute
Yellowstone National Park
Location: Saddle Peak Lodge Main Floor

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Wildlife Film Festival
The IWFF, now entering its 27th year, is the longest running film festival of its kind in the world. The tour includes award-winning films that come from some of the most superb film and television producers in the world.

The 2004 Bridger Raptor Festival brought the International Wildlife Film Festival - Post Tour to Bozeman for the first time and it has become a highlight of the Raptor Fest since.

The selected titles are extremely entertaining, educational and promote knowledge and understanding of wildlife films and other media in the world.

To find out more about the IWFF, Click here to visit their website.
To read more about this year's Post Tour Event in Bozeman Click here.