Bird the iconic American West at the first-ever Jackson Hole Birding Festival! Explore the beauty of the wild Jackson Hole valley and the stunning biodiversity of the Greater Yellowstone region, rich in public lands and adventure. Join us for an unforgettable wildlife experience amid the spectacular Tetons.

Registration includes all the activities in the Experiences column below, as well as featured speakers, select birding tours, and more.

Schedule:

Birding Tours
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Grand Teton National Park Half-Day Excursion
This exciting trip into one of the country’s most beautiful and biologically diverse National Parks will be led by local experts in comfortable touring vans. Park fees will be included with registration, so this is a great value and a special outing.

There will be several stops to allow plenty of chances to see a diversity of birds and other wildlife, including moose, pronghorn, and possibly bears.

Curlew Cruise: Behind the Gates at the National Elk Refuge
Meet park ranger and avid birder Kari Cieszkiewicz, Education & Outreach Coordinator, at the spectacular 24,700-acre National Elk Refuge for this special “behind the scenes” outing that focuses on a really cool bird: the Long-billed Curlew.

This outing is FREE to registered festival participants, but attendance is limited, as we’ll board vans for the tour.

Trumpeter Swan Breeding Program
Once nearly extinct, Trumpeter Swans are making a comeback in the Greater Yellowstone. Register for a tour of ponds critical to the Wyoming Wetland Society's captive breeding program. Or join them in their office for intimate views of their nesting facilities and the egg incubation process. These events are FREE to registered Festival participants but spots are limited.

Jackson Birding Tour
Visit several birding hot spots around the town of Jackson with a knowledgeable local. Locations may include the National Elk Refuge, Karns Meadow Park, Cache Creek Canyon, and Russ Garaman Park.

West of Jackson Birding Tour
Visit several birding hot spots west of Jackson with a local guide and maybe a surprise guest. Locations may include Rendezvous Park, Emily Stevens Park, Skyline Pond, and more. Wherever the birds are!

South of Jackson Birding Tour
Meet Jackson local Mike Cavaroc for this tour of birding hot spots south of town, which may include South Park Wildlife Habitat Management Area, the Snake River Bridge, and more!

Mindful Birding by Gondola at Snow King Mountain Resort

Ride the gondola up Snow King Mountain, spotting birds and getting fantastic views of the Teton Range and the National Elk Refuge along the way. On a clear day, you can see Yellowstone!

After ascending nearly 1,600 feet, explore the trails at the top with Holly Thomas of the Mindful Birding Network as you look for MacGillivray’s Warblers, Western Tanagers, Black-headed Grosbeaks, and Mountain Chickadees.

Holly loves exploring and sharing her greatest passions: birding and mindfulness practices. She believes that directing attention to the present moment with kindness and without judgment can lead to well-being.

Mindful birding merges mindfulness practices with bird observation, fostering nature-based wellness and joy. It brings an intention to explore our relationship with birds and nature.

This is a unique and special outing with a fantastic guide. The price of the gondola lift ticket is included in the registration price.

ZEISS Nighttime Adventures
Explore the wild at night with our partners ZEISS Optics. Registrants will use thermal imaging gear to spot waterfowl, mammals — and probably a few surprises!

Speakers and Classes
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Diego Calderón-Franco presents “Birding with FARC: How Birds Connect People”
We are all facing new times, and Colombia, fortunately, is not the exception. After years of internal conflict, Colombians are enjoying a peaceful window of time, when everyone, from all corners and social backgrounds, has the chance to come closer together to be part of building a new country.

Biologists and naturalists are exploring areas that were forbidden because of the conflict, finding new species and filling gaps in natural history knowledge from Colombia’s amazingly rich fauna and flora. More and more species of birds and habitats are now accessible, and with the advent of birdwatching tourism, more and more knowledge is produced. There is nothing cooler, more participative, and healing for everyone than exploring these areas with the people who were responsible for labeling them as dangerous non-go sites — and kept Diego captive for 88 days in the mountains almost 20 years ago.

Diego, a Colombian biologist, has been birding for over 25 years across Colombia. He founded COLOMBIA Birding in 2007, guiding trips nationwide and in Latin America. Passionate about natural history, Diego studies bird behaviors, distributions, and nesting, while exploring remote regions like the Darién, the Chocó mountains, and the white-sand forests of eastern Colombia, discovering new country records. He's also participated in the description of a few new species for science.

Featured in THE BIRDERS and NatGeo’s BIRDWATCHING WITH FARC, he co-hosts The Birders Show on YouTube and shares his talk, “Birding with FARC: How Birds Connect People,” promoting reconciliation in Colombia.

Denver Holt presents “The Hidden Hunters: Exploring Evolutionary Owl Adaptations”
Discover the secretive world of owls in an exciting presentation by Denver Holt, founder of the Owl Research Institute. Spanning nearly every continent with approximately 270 species, these remarkable birds have evolved unique adaptations to thrive in diverse habitats, from dense tropical forests to isolated islands.

Their intricate history is etched in ancient art, myth, and literature, while modern science continues to uncover their secrets, from their unparalleled vision and hearing to their incredible camouflage techniques. Despite their global recognition, much remains to be discovered about these elusive creatures.

Learn how owls have evolved to become masters of camouflage and stealth. From cryptic plumage and stillness to their remarkable ability to fly silently, owls are perfectly equipped for their lives as nighttime hunters.

Denver will explore their exceptional senses, explaining how they see in near darkness and hear with pinpoint accuracy. You'll also gain insights into locating these mysterious birds by understanding their breeding seasons, vocalizations, and habitats.

From their cultural significance to their biology and behavior, this lecture promises a deep dive into the world of one of nature’s most admired and intriguing birds and their unique role in nature.

Tiffany Kersten presents “Birdie Big Year: Elevating Women Birders”

Tiffany Kersten didn't set out to do a Big Year, but after a series of unanticipated and serendipitous events, she suddenly found herself amidst one. As a sexual assault survivor, she spent 2021 traveling to all corners of the Lower 48 States, tallying birds and gifting personal safety alarms to women she met along the way. Her goal was to see 700 species and raise awareness of women's safety outdoors. She surpassed her goal and set a new record of 726 species. In her presentation, Tiffany will lead us through the fear, empowerment, struggles, and healing that all played vital roles in the personal growth she experienced on this wild adventure.

A Wisconsin native, Tiffany holds a B.S. in Wildlife Ecology from Northland College. She has spent over a decade as an environmental educator, teaching about bird migration with the Cape May Bird Observatory, monitoring shorebirds on Cape Cod, banding Honeycreepers in Hawaii, and finally landing in South Texas where she worked at Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge and then managed the McAllen Nature Center. After completing her Lower 48 States Big Year in 2021, she founded her own company, Nature Ninja Birding Tours. She guides primarily in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas and offers international tours.

Lynette St. Clair presents “Beauty, Power, and Wisdom: The Symbolic Significance of Our Winged Relatives.”

Bird Photography: In the Field with Jackson Local Mike Cavaroc
Join Mike Cavaroc of Free Roaming Photography at the South Park Wildlife Habitat Management Area for a bird photography workshop. All experience levels are welcome! This birding hot spot is bound to produce interesting subjects for your photographs and, with Mike to guide you, you’re sure to come away with images you love.

Teton Raptor Center Tour and “Free as a Bird” Art Workshop with Lori Franklin
This special outing starts with a tour of the Teton Raptor Center in Wilson, Wyoming. The Raptor Center is a state-of-the-art facility whose staff works to advance raptor conservation through research, conservation, and rehabilitation. They admit 174 birds annually. Get up close and personal with eagles, owls, and more.

Then, join artist Lori Franklin for tips, techniques, and tools for how to express your creativity through “no rules” nature and art journaling. Suitable for all skill levels, this class will feature time with a Raptor Center bird who will inspire your creativity. All supplies are included!

Experiences
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Opening Night Snacks and Fun
Join us for a casual get-together with complimentary snacks and non-alcoholic beverages in the lobby of the beautiful Center for the Arts. Say hi to old friends and meet some new ones! Preview the Art Show. Meet some special raptors!

Art Show
Between Earth and Sky brings together local and regional artists to explore the breathtaking diversity of birds in the Teton range and surrounding ecosystem.

A wide variety of art will be on display, celebrating the talents of local and regional artists through painting, photography, and sculpture. This exhibit is a tribute to the wonder of birds.

Bear Spray Interactive
Jackson Hole is bear country. Do you know how to use bear spray? Test your reflexes at this fun interactive grizzly bear exhibit, and learn how to keep yourself — and the bears — safe.

Mural Walking Tour with Lynette St. Clair

Take a seven-minute walk with Shoshone language preservationist Lynette St. Clair to visit the “Never Forget Our Language” mural by Nanibah Chacon, completed in 2024.

According to Eastern Shoshone leaders and Ms. St. Clair, the mural serves as a conceptual billboard, reclaiming space for the Shoshone people, whose ancestors called this region home. By incorporating Shoshone language, the mural connects the land, culture, and people, emphasizing their deep-rooted relationship. This public display is a powerful act of language preservation for the Eastern Shoshone community.

You may also drive to the mural and meet the group there.

Magpie Marketplace
Talk with expert optics vendors, local nonprofits, and more in the lobby of the Center for the Arts, our home base.

All of these experiences are FREE for registered attendees.

Agenda Summary
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May 23, 2025
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"Between Earth and Sky" Art Exhibit
May 22, 2025 – May 25, 2025
 4:00 PM-5:00 PM MT
Center for the Arts Theater Gallery

Between Earth and Sky brings together local and regional artists to explore the breathtaking diversity of birds in the Teton range and surrounding ecosystem. A wide variety of art will be on display, celebrating the talents of local and regional artists through painting, photography, and sculpture. This exhibit is a tribute to the wonder of birds.

Grand Teton National Park Half-Day Excursion with Diego Calderón-Franco and Tiffany Kersten
May 23, 2025
 7:00 AM-11:00 AM MT
Center for the Arts, 240 S Glenwood St., Jackson, WY 83001

This exciting trip into one of the country's most beautiful National Parks will be led by local experts in comfortable touring vans. There will be several stops to allow plenty of chances to see a diversity of birds and other wildlife, including moose, pronghorn, and possibly bears.

Registration covers the $35 Grand Teton National Park entrance fee and includes a $40 discount over a typical half-day outfitter trip, so this is a great value for a special outing.

One of your tour guides will be either Tiffany Kersten, winner of the 2021 Big Year, or Diego Calderon-Franco, Colombian biologist. Don't miss this special opportunity!

Meeting place will be the Center for the Arts lobby.

Birding Jackson Tour
May 23, 2025
7:30 AM-11:30 AM MT

Visit Karns Meadow Park and Cache Creek Canyon with a knowledgeable local. Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance will be on-hand to talk about their important work at Karns Meadow.

Curlew Cruise: Behind the Gates at the National Elk Refuge
May 23, 2025
7:30 AM-9:30 AM MT
Center for the Arts

Meet park ranger and avid birder Kari Cieszkiewicz, Education & Outreach Coordinator, at the spectacular 24,700-acre National Elk Refuge for this special outing that focuses on a really cool bird: the long-billed curlew. Kari has been a park ranger in Jackson Hole for 12 years. She’ll take registered participants to areas of the Refuge that are otherwise closed to the public!

Trumpeter swans, sage thrasher, calliope hummingbird, and many more species use the Refuge’s important habitat. Elk, wolves, weasels, and a variety of amphibians, reptiles, fish, and insects also depend on it.

This outing is free but attendance is limited, as participants will board vans for the tour.

South of Jackson Birding with Denver Holt
May 23, 2025
7:30 AM-11:30 AM MT

Meet Jackson local Mike Cavaroc of Free Roaming Photography and owl expert Denver Holt of the Owl Research Institute for this tour of birding hotspots south of town, which may include South Park Wildlife Habitat Management Area, the Snake River Bridge, and more! This is a “meet us there” trip.

West of Jackson Birding
May 23, 2025
7:30 AM-11:30 AM MT
Emily Stevens Park Rd Lot, Jackson, WY 83001

Visit beautiful birding hot spots with Peter Burke of Rocky Mountain Birding. Stops include Emily Stevens Park and the Jackson National Fish Hatchery.

Meeting place will be emailed to registered attendees. This is a “meet us there” trip.

Grizzly Bear Interactive Exhibit: Test Your Skills
May 23, 2025
11:00 AM-3:00 PM MT
Center for the Arts Lawn

Jackson Hole is bear country. Do you know how to use bear spray?

Test your reflexes at this fun interactive grizzly bear exhibit, and learn how to keep yourself — and the bears — safe.

Mark Aughton, Large Carnivore Biologist and Bear Wise Wyoming Coordinator with Wyoming Game and Fish, will be on hand to answer any questions.

Robo Bear is looking forward to seeing you.

Trumpeter Swan Breeding Program Field Tour
May 23, 2025
1:00 PM-2:30 PM MT
Center for the Arts

Once nearly extinct, trumpeter swans are making a comeback in the Greater Yellowstone. Register for a tour of ponds critical to the Wyoming Wetlands Society's captive breeding program to learn about swan conservation in the field.

This outing is free to registered Festival participants, but spots are very limited.

We will board vans at the Center for the Arts.

Please note:

Relative quiet and calmness is important on site because spring is swan breeding time. Hiking boots or closed-toe shoes are recommended over sandals. If raining, there may be mud or puddles. Attendees should be aware there are "free-range" swans and cattle, as well as wild ducks, geese, and songbirds on site that may have been naturally exposed to Avian Influenza, so protocol should be followed to avoid contact with animals, scat, feed, etc.

Bird Photography: In the Field with Jackson Local Mike Cavaroc
May 23, 2025
2:00 PM-4:30 PM MT

Join Mike Cavaroc of Free Roaming Photography at the South Park Wildlife Habitat Management Area for a bird photography workshop. All experience levels are welcome! This birding hotspot is bound to produce interesting subjects for your photographs and, with Mike to guide you, you’re sure to come away with images you love. Meeting place will be emailed to registered attendees. This is a "meet-us-there" trip.

Magpie Marketplace
May 23, 2025 – May 24, 2025
2:00 PM-6:00 PM MT
Center for the Arts, 240 S Glenwood St., Jackson, WY 83001

Visit with optics vendors, nonprofits, artists, and more in the beautiful Center for the Arts, the festival's home base. Magpie Marketplace will be open from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Mindful Birding by Gondola
May 23, 2025
2:00 PM-4:00 PM MT
Snow King Mountain Resort, 400 E. Snow King Ave. Jackson, WY 83001

Ride the gondola up Snow King Mountain, spotting birds and getting fantastic views of the Teton Range and the National Elk Refuge along the way. On a clear day, you can see Yellowstone!

After ascending nearly 1,600 feet, explore the trails at the top with Holly Thomas of the Mindful Birding Network as you look for MacGillivray’s Warblers, Western Tanagers, Black-headed Grosbeaks, and Mountain Chickadees.

Holly loves exploring and sharing her greatest passions: birding and mindfulness practices. She believes that directing attention to the present moment with kindness and without judgment can lead to well-being.

Mindful birding merges mindfulness practices with bird observation, fostering nature-based wellness and joy. It brings an intention to explore our relationship with birds and nature.

This is a unique and special outing with a fantastic guide. The price of the gondola lift ticket is included in the registration price.

Meeting place will be Snow King Mountain Resort parking lot. Outing is weather-dependent.

Mural Walking Tour with Lynette St. Clair
May 23, 2025
2:00 PM-3:30 PM MT
Center for the Arts, 240 S Glenwood St., Jackson, WY 83001

Take a seven-minute walk with Shoshone language preservationist Lynette St. Clair to visit the “Never Forget Our Language” mural by Nanibah Chacon, completed in 2024.

According to Eastern Shoshone leaders and Ms. St. Clair, the mural serves as a conceptual billboard, reclaiming space for the Shoshone people, whose ancestors called this region home. By incorporating Shoshone language, the mural connects the land, culture, and people, emphasizing their deep-rooted relationship. This public display is a powerful act of language preservation for the Eastern Shoshone community. You may also drive to the mural and meet the group there.

Teton Raptor Center’s “Avian Experience” & “Free as a Bird” Art Journaling Workshop with Lori Franklin
May 23, 2025
2:00 PM-4:30 PM MT
Teton Raptor Center, 5450 WY-Highway 22 Wilson, WY 83014

Enjoy a unique and inspiring outing that blends wildlife, creativity, and hands-on learning!

Your experience begins with a one-hour "Avian Experience" at Teton Raptor Center in Wilson, Wyoming. This state-of-the-art facility is dedicated to advancing raptor conservation through education, research, and rehabilitation. TRC admits over 200 injured, ill, and orphaned birds annually and leads 19 active research projects. You'll have the rare opportunity to get up close with TRC’s avian ambassadors and learn about their incredible adaptations and conservation stories.

Following this unforgettable encounter, join artist Lori Franklin for an engaging “Free as a Bird” Art Journaling Workshop. Designed for all skill levels, this session will introduce tips, techniques, and tools for expressive, “no rules” nature and art journaling. Be inspired by one of TRC’s avian ambassadors, along with specimens and biofacts, as you create your own nature journal.

All art supplies are included!

Meeting place will be emailed to registered attendees. This is a “meet us there” session.

Trumpeter Swan Breeding Program Nesting and Incubation Tour
May 23, 2025
2:00 PM-3:30 PM MT

Once nearly extinct, trumpeter swans are making a comeback in the Greater Yellowstone. Join the Wyoming Wetlands Society in their office for intimate views of their nesting facilities and the egg incubation process.

This event is FREE to registered Festival participants but spots are limited.

Meeting place will be emailed to registered attendees. This is a “meet us there” trip with on-street parking. Please note, there are steps in the building and no elevator.

Friday Speakers: Denver Holt, Lynette St. Clair, and More
May 23, 2025
6:00 PM-8:30 PMMT
Center for the Arts Auditorium

Denver Holt will present “The Hidden Hunters: Exploring Evolutionary Owl Adaptations”

Discover the secretive world of owls in a fascinating presentation by Denver Holt, founder of the Owl Research Institute. Spanning nearly every continent with approximately 270 species, these remarkable birds have evolved unique adaptations to thrive in diverse habitats, from dense tropical forests to isolated islands.

Denver will explore their exceptional senses, explaining how they see in near darkness and hear with pinpoint accuracy. You’ll also gain insights into locating these mysterious birds by understanding their breeding seasons, vocalizations, and habitats.

Shoshone language preservationist Lynette St. Clair will present "Beauty, Power, and Wisdom: The Symbolic Significance of Our Winged Relatives."

Bill Long, program director of Wyoming Wetlands Society, will also speak, and Jackson Wild will present an inspiring bird film.

Please note, there is a max capacity of 350 for this event.

Wildlife After Dark: Nighttime Adventure With ZEISS Thermal Imaging
May 23, 2025
8:30 PM-10:00 PMMT
Center for the Arts

Go out after dark with a representative from ZEISS Optics and a local guide to see what goes on in the shadows.

ZEISS will provide thermal imaging gear so we can spot waterfowl, owls, coyotes, elk, moose, bears, and who knows what else!

This trip will be a fascinating look at wildlife after sunset!

We will meet at the Center for the Arts and board vans for the trip.

Register Here.