Winter Raptor Fest 2020 Program Schedule
Schedule may be subject to change
Saturday, October 3, 2020 – 10 AM to 4 PM
Please do not try to touch the birds or animals, for your own safety and theirs! THIS IS A NO SMOKING EVENT
11:00 AM: “Predators of the Sky” – Vermont Institute of Natural Science
Join VINS educators and birds of prey as they reveal the tools and skills that help native hawks, owls and falcons rule the sky in this exciting free-flight demonstration!
You never know what you’ll see and learn when VINS educators take the stage with their fabulous birds of prey!
Photo courtesy Sandi Sullivan
12:00 PM: “Night Owls” –
North Country Wild Care
Educator Diane Hime introduces you to a very special Barred owl and Great horned owl in this presentation about native owls that come out to “prey” at night!
Learn about nocturnal owls, their habitat, prey and specialized tactics for survival.
Photo courtesy Sandi Sullivan
1:00 PM: “Wildlife Alive!” –
New York State Wildlife Rehab Council
NYSWRC Director Kelly Martin introduces you to a variety of birds of prey from the great Northeast. She’ll share stories about the owls, hawks and falcons she’s rehabbed and give you tips on what you should do when you find orphaned or injured wildlife.
Kelly has been rehabbing wildlife for over 30 years, including state endangered Short-eared owls, Northern harriers (threatened), American kestrels and more!
Short-eared owl photo courtesy Fred Wehner
2:00 PM: “Those Amazing Grassland Raptors!” – The Wildlife Institute of Eastern NY
We’ve lost 700 million grassland birds in the U.S. and Canada since 1970!
Meet and learn about the amazing owls, hawks and falcons that depend on open grasslands for their survival! TWIENY Director Trish Marki explores the interconnected relationship between grassland raptors and their habitat. Discover the myriad benefits of grassland bird conservation, from protecting our food supply to mitigating climate change.
Photo courtesy Cliff Oliver
3:00 PM: “Winged Wonders” –
Vermont Institute of Natural Science
Learn how raptors reach for the skies as they take flight before your eyes! See hawks and falcons demonstrate their aerial prowess as VINS educators uncover the mysteries of defying gravity and the physics of flight.
This is one show you won’t want to miss!
Photo courtesy VINS
WILD Encounter!
Meet live owls, hawks, falcons and a few mammals in the habitats they depend on for their survival! NEW: See Snowy owls, Short-eared owls, a live Lynx and more on their Arctic or Boreal breeding grounds!
Funded through grants from International Paper Foundation and New York State Conservation Partnership Program
(photo courtesy Sandi Sullivan)
Horse-drawn Birding Wagon!
Take a horse-drawn wagon ride on a one-of-a-kind family birding adventure! Test your spotting skills and try to identify a variety of life-sized bird cutouts along the way… be sure to record any live birds you see! FREE drawings for give-aways for kids!
(photo courtesy Sandi Sullivan)
Kids Activities & more!
Raptor Photo Booth, “For the Birds” store, Kids’ Activities, food vendors, and more round out this exciting weekend where raptors rule!
Wildlife Photographer Gordon Ellmers will sign poster prints of his terrific raptor photos on both days! (visit GBT’s INFO Table in the Activity Building)
(photo courtesy Melanie LaFond)
Advanced Tickets Available
VIP Reserved Seating
DONATE $25 or more by September 30th to receive VIP Admission and guaranteed front row seating at ALL Live Bird of Prey Programs!
Weekend Member Pass
NEW! Grassland Bird Trust members can purchase general admission ticket(s) for both days of Winter Raptor Fest at a special rate! Click below to see how much you’ll save…
Honorary Committee
Become a WRF 2020 Honorary Committee Member and show your support for New York’s endangered and threatened grassland birds!
Special Thanks to our Winter Raptor Fest Owl Sponsors!
Sunday, October 4th 2020 – 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM
All Winter Raptor Fest programs and activities – except birding wagon – take place under cover.
11:30 AM: “Predators of the Sky” –
Vermont Institute of Natural Science
Join VINS educators and birds of prey as they reveal the tools and skills that help native hawks, owls and falcons rule the sky in this exciting free-flight demonstration!
Photo courtesy Codey Pulver
12:30 PM: “Raptors in Flight” – Adirondack Raptors
See and learn about birds of prey adapted for hunting on the wing in this exciting aerial demonstration by Master Falconer Mark Manske! Discover fascinating facts about hawks and falcons, their behavior and changes in local raptor populations. Mark will also share details of various research projects he participates in – including the American kestrel nest box project.
Mark is a retired science teacher and children’s book author when he’s not practicing falconry.
Photo courtesy Longbow Media
1:30 PM: “The Threat to Boreal Habitats” – Adirondack Wildlife Refuge
AWR Director Wendy Hall and Kayla, a Lynx who lives at the refuge, introduce you to the mysteries of these big cats and how they, Great gray owls and other animals survive in such frigid climates. Find out why boreal forests matter to all of us.and learn about the human activities that threaten their survival.
Wendy will share fascinating facts about Lynx and her stories about living with a lynx at the refuge.
Photo courtesy Wendy Hall
2:30 PM: “Those Amazing Grassland Raptors!” – Page Wildlife Center
We’ve lost 700 million grassland birds in the U.S. and Canada since 1970!
Meet and learn about the amazing owls, hawks and falcons that depend on open grasslands for their survival! PWC Director Cindy Page explores the interconnected relationship between grassland raptors and their habitat. Discover the myriad benefits of grassland bird conservation, from protecting our food supply to mitigating climate change.
Photo courtesy Gordon Ellmers
3:30 PM: “Winged Wonders” –
Vermont Institute of Natural Science
Learn how raptors reach for the skies as they take flight before your eyes! See hawks and falcons demonstrate their aerial prowess as VINS educators uncover the mysteries of defying gravity and the physics of flight.
This is one show you won’t want to miss!
Photo courtesy Sandi Sullivan
Elite Honorary Committee
Jeff Leon, Dave Hasko, McCarthy & Conlon LLP
Honorary Committee
Sandi Sullivan, Beth & Rich Saunders, Helen Otte, Debbie Kidalowski, Kathleen Roberts, John Kent, Mack Brook Farms, Todd Scheuermann & Karen Hunter, Linda & David McAllister
Special Thanks
Washington County Fair, Karen Chapman, 2020 WILD Encounter Committee (Mary Beth, Antoinette, Jon, Laurie & Mark), 2020 Winter Raptor Fest Committee (Ron, Scott, Keith, Laurie, Sandy A., Mark J., Elizabeth N., Jeff & Mike M.), Steve Sanford, Brookside Nursery, NYS DEC, Little Theater on the Farm, Gordon Ellmers and all our WRF 2020 Live Bird of Prey educators and volunteers!