Tuesday, September 1

5 – 7 p.m. – Crane Fest Kids’ Night 

Library Hall at Bud Werner Memorial Library
Join us for a special kids’ night featuring:

• 5 pm – Children’s activities & games open
• 5:30 pm – short crane-focused children’s film,  followed by the Crane Coloring Contest Award Ceremony
• 6:15 pm – Children’s activities & games!

 

Wednesday, September 2

4:30 – 6:30 p.m. – Yampa Valley Bird Calling Contest

Yampa River Botanic Park
Kick off the 15th Annual Yampa Valley Crane Festival with a night of thrilling, trilling family fun! Join the Yampa River Botanic Park and the Colorado Crane Conservation Coalition for a celebration of community, nature, and our incredible local birds as participants of all ages showcase their best call, from realistic imitations to creative interpretations. Prizes awarded in 5 different categories. Pack a picnic, bring your lawn chairs or blankets, and get ready to caw, chirp, and screech!
Registration opens at 4:30, contest begins at 5:15pm.  Click here to learn more. 

Thursday,  September 3

9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Paint A Crane with Sumi Ink at Steamboat Art Museum

Join Lauris Phillips for a morning workshop learning to paint a crane with sumi ink, based on Master Hokusai’s technique of painting cranes. Well know for his Great Wave, Hokusai was a famous teacher in his day and made many “how to” manuals on drawing with a brush, including how to paint a crane with one stroke of sumi ink. Click here for more information and registration through Steamboat Art Museum.
**This event requires registration and a fee through Steamboat Art Museum. 

 

2 – 2:30 p.m. – eBird Basics for iPhone Users

By Sue Riffe, birding guide and expert on bird song – Library Hall at Bud Werner Memorial Library
What is eBird? We will briefly introduce the web application for this powerful birding program. Most of the session is spent learning the ins and outs of the phone app using your iPhone. Finally, we will put our new skills to work creating a checklist outside while birding. We start from the beginning so no experience is necessary. Please download the free eBird app and create an account prior to the session.
**Advance registration and $20 fee required.

 

3 – 8 p.m. – Crane Education Displays

Outside Library Hall at Bud Werner Memorial Library

 

4 – 5 p.m. – “Crane Basics”

By Sandra Noll and Erv Nichols, naturalists and crane experts – Library Hall at Bud Werner Memorial Library
When viewing Sandhill Cranes did you ever wish you knew more about these elegant birds, what they are doing and why? Crane Basics is your opportunity to learn fascinating details of crane biology and behavior. Through photography and captivating video you will gain insights into a Sandhill Crane’s life including their family dynamics, body language, vocalizations and migratory patterns. This program is sure to enhance your crane watching experience!

 

5:15 – 6:15 p.m. – Spirit Wind Aerial Arts

Dancers, led by local aerialist Heidi Miller  – Library Lawn at Bud Werner Memorial Library
Dancers will perform elegant high-flying dance in the hammock and silks, suspended high over the Library Lawn.

 

6:30 – 7:45 p.m. – Community Science Showcase – Brief Talk by Ted Floyd and Educational Stations

Library Hall at Bud Werner Memorial Library
Join us for an interactive evening dedicated to community science. We’ll kick off with an inspiring introduction from renowned birding expert Ted Floyd . Afterward, browse our organizational showcase to chat with representatives from top conservation and education organizations to discover the perfect project, initiative, or volunteer opportunity to turn your interest into meaningful action.

Friday, September 4

5:45 – 8:45 a.m. – Guided Sunrise Crane Viewing

Stockbridge Transit Center 
Shuttles will transport you to two locations where you can get off the shuttles to view the cranes flying overhead and feeding in agricultural fields. Sandra Noll will address your questions and provide pertinent information about Sandhill Cranes and their behavior to enhance your crane viewing experience. The shuttles depart and return to Stockbridge Transit Center. Please bring binoculars and dress for weather. Click here for directions.
**Advance registration and fee required, TBD.  

 

8 – 10:30 a.m. – Rehder Ranch Guided Bird Walk

Led by Sue Riffe, birding guide and expert on bird song.
Bird at this historic sheep ranch along Harrison Creek that is surrounded by willows, aspens, and open fields. Click here for details.
**Advance registration and $28 fee required.

 

8:30 – 10:30 a.m. – Yampa Preserve Guided Bird Walk

Led by Noah Stryker, along with local birders, Lisa and Paul Williams.
This property is owned by The Nature Conservancy and harbors one of the largest remaining examples of a rare riparian forest type dominated by narrowleaf cottonwood, box elder maple, and red-osier dogwood. Click here for details.
**Advance registration and $28 fee required.

 

 8:30 – 10:30 a.m. – Carpenter Ranch Birding and Nature Study 

Led by Ted Floyd, editor of Birding magazine.
Bird at The Nature Conservancy’s historic Carpenter Ranch, a birdwatcher’s paradise located along the Yampa River west of Steamboat Springs. Click here for details.
**Advance registration and $28 fee required.

 

9 – 10:30 a.m. – Birding the Steamboat Springs Core Trail

Led by Rebecca Weiss, naturalist and author of Birds of Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley.
Join Rebecca for a casual stroll along the core trail outside the Bud Werner Library. As you walk along the trail that parallels the Yampa River, Rebecca will help you identify the birds and other fauna of the area. Bring binoculars, water, and wear comfortable shoes. Meet on the core trail next to the Bud Werner Library parking lot. This walk will be easy and on a paved surface. Click here for details.
**Advance registration and $10 fee required

 

9 – 10:30 a.m.; 10:30 a.m. – 12 noon; 12 noon – 1:30 p.m. – Scenic Excursion by Pontoon Boat

Led by Julie Arington – Steamboat Lake State Park Marina
Enjoy a scenic tour around Steamboat Lake located in North Routt. Julie will guide you through the ecology and birds of the area. Choose from 3 separate boat rides. Colorado State Park pass required for parking. Day pass can be purchased for $12.* Non-Colorado residents must pay an additional $5.00 fee for a total of $17 per day for non-residents. Click here for directions.**

*If you do not have a Colorado State Parks Pass or a Keep Colorado Wild Pass you will need to purchase one at the Steamboat Lake Visitors Center ahead of time. Steamboat Lake Visitors Center hours: Sunday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information contact Steamboat Lake Visitors Center: 970-879-3922, steamboat.lake@state.co.us

**The meeting place for the pontoon boat excursion is in front of the Steamboat Lake Marina store. Please plan to arrive 30 minutes early to ensure that you find the correct location, get required passes and find the correct parking area prior to the boat leaving.
**Advance registration and $44 fee required.

 

10 a.m. – 12noon – Nature-Journaling Workshop

Led by Cindy Wither and Stevi Quate – Bud Werner Memorial Library
Artist Cindy Wither and writing instructor Stevi Quate share techniques to enhance your nature journaling experience. This workshop introduces the basics of nature journaling including materials, approaches and styles, and references. Using art to enhance the journal adds visual elements and color to your journal. Participants will have the opportunity to start their own journal. Meet at Bud Werner Memorial Library’s Project Room (1st floor), then move outdoors. Fee includes a journaling notebook.
**Advance registration and $26 fee required.

 

10:30 a.m. – 11:30 am – Optics 101: Choosing the Best Binocs For You

By Chip Clouse – Library Hall at Bud Werner Memorial Library
Learn from an expert about how binoculars work and how to choose the best binoculars for your needs and budget. If time allows, Chip will also present information about digiscoping.
FREE event, no registration required.

 

12 – 12:45 p.m. – “Through the Lens: Insights into the Lives of Sandhill Cranes through the Nest Camera”

By Meg Karschner, CCCC Executive Director, and Lily Svoboda, CCCC Conservation & Education Coordinator –  Library Hall at Bud Werner Memorial Library
Step into the secret world of nesting Sandhill Cranes through the lens of CCCC’s Crane Nest Camera Project. This presentation takes you behind the scenes of a live nest camera to explore the intimate behaviors, daily rhythms, and parenting rituals of these remarkable birds. From the suspense of egg incubation to the first glimpse of a newborn colt, discover what high-definition wildlife monitoring reveals about crane conservation and behavior.

 

1 – 2:15 p.m. – “Indigenous Peoples of The American Southwest and Their Relationships with Sandhill Crane”

By Van Graham – Retired wildlife biologist and expert on the Rocky Mountain Population of Greater Sandhill Cranes – Library Hall at Bud Werner Memorial Library
While traditionally labeled “rock art”, the stone imagery of the Southwest represents a profound system of communication—or rock writing. In this presentation, a crane biologist pairs biological insights with ancient imagery to explore the deep connection between Indigenous peoples and Sandhill Cranes. The talk reveals how intimately the People understood crane life history, decoding stone depictions of crane anatomy, migration, and unique vocalizations, alongside nesting, and hunting.

 

2:30– 3:15 p.m.; 3:30– 4:15 p.m.; 4:30-5:15 p.m. – Pollinators: Hummingbirds and Hummingbird Moths

Led by Ted Floyd, editor of Birding magazine, Yampa River Botanic Park.
Short introduction followed by a pollinator walk at a relaxed-pace. Meet at the Trillium House within the Botanic Park. Choose from 3 separate walks. Click here for details.
**Advance registration and $22 fee required.

 

4 – 6 p.m. – Crane Festival Happy Hour

The Press
Co-hosted by Crane Trust and the International Crane Foundation – The Press, 1009 Lincoln Ave., Steamboat Springs
Join fellow “craniacs” and festival goers for a relaxed gathering with drinks and conversation at the The Press.

 

4:30 – 7:45 pm – Guided Evening Crane Viewing

Stockbridge Transit Center
Shuttles will transport you to two locations where you can get off the shuttles to view the cranes flying overhead and feeding in agricultural fields. Sandra Noll will address your questions and provide pertinent information about Sandhill Cranes and their behavior to enhance your crane viewing experience. The shuttles depart and return to Stockbridge Transit Center. Please bring binoculars and dress for weather. Click here for details.
**Advance registration and fee required, TBD.

 

6:15 – 7:30 p.m. – Film – A Young Crane’s Long Journey

Library Hall at Bud Werner Memorial Library
Jouni Hiltunen has filmed cranes for many years. He follows one crane family’s summer in Finland from early spring to the birth of a crane chick. After the nesting, he leaves on a so-called “bird’s road” with migrating cranes, towards Hungary and finally to Israel, to find out if there is a winter paradise for migrating cranes somewhere. The film about the year of the cranes and the migration journey expands to a story about the coexistence of man in a rapidly changing world.

 

All Day – Crane Education Displays

Outside Library Hall at the Bud Werner Memorial Library

Saturday, September 5

5:45 – 8:45 a.m. Guided Sunrise Crane Viewing

Stockbridge Transit Center 
Shuttles will transport you to two locations where you can get off the shuttles to view the cranes flying overhead and feeding in agricultural fields. Sandra Noll will address your questions and provide pertinent information about Sandhill Cranes and their behavior to enhance your crane viewing experience. The shuttles depart and return to Stockbridge Transit Center. Please bring binoculars and dress for weather. Click here for directions.
**Advance registration and fee required, TBD.

 

8:30 – 10:30 a.m. – Mt. Harris History and Guided Bird Walk 

Led by Lisa and Paul Williams, Yampa Valley Birding Club, with history talk by Laurel Watson, curator of Hayden Museum.
Learn about this historic coal-mining town and bird along the Yampa River’s unique cottonwood-dogwood-box elder maple plant community. Click here for details.
**Advance registration and $28 fee required.

 

8:30 – 10:30 a.m. – Carpenter Ranch Guided Bird Walk 

Led by Ted Floyd, editor of Birding magazine.
Bird at The Nature Conservancy’s historic Carpenter Ranch, a birdwatcher’s paradise located along the Yampa River west of Steamboat Springs. Click here for details.
**Advance registration and $28 fee required.

 

8:30 – 10:30 a.m. – Fish Creek Falls Guided Bird Walk 

Led by Sue Riffe, birding guide and expert on bird song.
Bird at the scenic waterfall just outside of town in montane shrubland and aspen groves. Click here for details. CCCC, in partnership with Yampatika, offers this guided bird walk at Fish Creek Falls through a Special Use Authorization on the Routt National Forest for the purpose of providing interpretive and interactive education to participants on the walk.

Note: There is a $5/day vehicle day use fee. 
**Advance registration and $25 fee required.

 

9 – 10:30 a.m. – Birding the Steamboat Springs Core Trail

Led by Rebecca Weiss, naturalist and author of Birds of Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley.
Join Rebecca for a casual stroll along the core trail outside the Bud Werner Library. As you walk along the trail that parallels the Yampa River, Rebecca will help you identify the birds and other fauna of the area. Bring binoculars, water, and wear comfortable shoes. Meet on the core trail next to the Bud Werner Library parking lot. This walk will be easy and on a paved surface. Click here for details.
**Advance registration and $10 fee required

 

9 – 10:30 a.m. – Sketch-a-Bird Workshop 

Taught by local artist, Joanne Orce with Nature’s Educators live birds and crane taxidermy – Library Hall at Bud Werner Memorial Library 
All ages welcome and supplies provided. Meet in Library Hall for this FREE workshop. No registration required.

 

10 – 11:30 a.m. – Children and Family Activities

Library Lawn near the raptor booth and Children’s Library 
Enjoy educational bird and nature activities presented by Colorado Parks and Wildlife and Yampatika. FREE and no registration required.

 

10 a.m. – 12 noon – Guided Nature Walk 

Led by botanist and naturalist, Karen Vail – Steamboat Ski Resort 
Learn about the flora, the animals, and the forest habitat at the Ski Resort, complete with amazing views of the valley. The walk will involve a gondola ride to the top of Thunderhead and walking up to 1 mile on an uneven dirt road. Meet at the entrance to the Steamboat Gondola at Steamboat Ski Resort. CCCC, in partnership with Yampatika, offers this guided nature walk through a Special Use Authorization on the Routt National Forest for the purpose of providing interpretive and interactive education to participants on the walk. Passes to ride the gondola are included as part of registration. Click here for directions.
**Advance registration and $35 fee required.

 

11 a.m. – 4 p.m. – Nature’s Educators Live Raptor Booth

Library Lawn near Children’s Library
Visit with live raptors on the Library Lawn. Learn about raptors and the physical and behavioral adaptations they have that help them survive in their environment. Meet some real raptors and learn their personal stories and amazing features. All ages are welcome for this FREE event. Learn more about Nature’s Educators.

 

11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. – “Where the Wild Birds Are”

By Noah Strycker, author, photographer, and bird man.
Library Hall at Bud Werner Memorial Library
Take a whirlwind tour of the world from a birder’s-eye view. Noah Strycker roams the many habitats that wild birds call home to bring you the ultimate guide to birding planet Earth. Birds have close relationships with their natural environments, from owls in boreal forests to hardy penguins in Antarctica, chattering parrots in the Amazon rainforest, and showy birds-of-paradise in the jungles of New Guinea. This presentation—based on Noah’s groundbreaking book, National Geographic Birder’s Atlas of the World—will broaden your horizons and give you a fresh perspective on where the wild birds are.

 

12:45 – 1:15 p.m. – Book Signing Event with Noah Strycker, Ted Floyd and Rebecca Weiss, with book sales by Off the Beaten Path

Outside Library Hall at the Bud Werner Memorial Library

 

1 :15– 1:30 p.m. – Photo Contest Awards

Library Hall at Bud Werner Memorial Library

 

1:30 – 2:45p.m. – KEYNOTE PRESENTATION: “ Advances in Crane Conservation: An ICF Perspective”

By Anne Lacy, Vice President of North America Programs, International Crane Foundation
Library Hall at Bud Werner Memorial Library
Join Anne Lacy for a virtual tour of the International Crane Foundation’s key project sites for crane conservation in North America. From Wisconsin to Texas, and back through the Great Plains, learn how ICF is leveraging the charisma of cranes to benefit habitats and people, while keeping the Sandhill and Whooping Crane populations strong.

 

4 – 8:15 p.m. – Carpenter Ranch Event – Evening Crane Viewing and Dinner or History Tour and Dinner

This event will be held at The Nature Conservancy’s historic Carpenter Ranch in Hayden. Choose between a guided-crane-viewing option or history tour with Belle Zars. Come together afterward to enjoy a buffet-style dinner from Big Air Catering followed by an entertaining talk by Ted Floyd.

**Please note that you must be pre-registered for a shuttle (Option 1) to participate in the sunset crane-viewing. No private cars will be allowed on the crane-viewing. 
** Advance registration required, Choose one of two options:

Option 1 :Shuttle and crane viewing with dinner – $70 fee, OR

Option 2 :Provide your own transportation (NO crane viewing), with history tour and dinner – $35 fee.

Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options will be available at the buffet.

Option 1:

• 4 p.m. Shuttles depart from the Stockbridge Transit Center in Steamboat (directions here) to view cranes in one location. Shuttles arrive at the Carpenter Ranch between 6:00 and 6:15 p.m.
• 6:15 – 7 p.m. Enjoy a buffet dinner by Big Air Catering and Chef Steve Carlson
• 7 – 7:30 p.m. Presentation by Ted Floyd.
• 7:45 p.m. All shuttles depart the Carpenter Ranch
• 8:15 p.m. (approx.) Shuttles arrive back at the Stockbridge Transit Center in Steamboat.
  **Please note that NO private cars will be allowed to follow the crane viewing shuttles.

Option 2:

• 5 – 5:30 p.m. Arrive at the Carpenter Ranch for check-in
• 5:30– 6p.m. Enjoy a program from local historian Belle Zars on the history of  the Carpenter Ranch.
• 6:15 – 7 p.m. Enjoy a buffet dinner by Big Air Catering and Chef Steve Carlson
• 7 – 7:30 p.m. Presentation by Ted Floyd

 

All Day – Crane Education Displays 

Outside Library Hall at the Bud Werner Memorial Library

Sunday, September 6

6:45 – 10:30 a.m. – Marabou Ranch Bird Outing 

Led by Sue Riffe, birding guide and expert on bird song.
Enjoy birding throughout Marabou, a unique private ranch preservation community and working cattle and hay ranch. This trip involves both walking and shuttle transportation around the Marabou property. Click here for details.
**Advanced registration and fee required, TBD.

 

8 – 10 a.m. – Loudy-Simpson Guided Bird Walk 

Led by Jeremiah Psiropoulos, wildlife biologist, bird, and expedition guide, and Forrest Luke, expert birder.
Bird walk at Northwest Colorado’s best migrant trap, Loudy-Simpson Park in Craig. Click here for details.
**Advanced registration and $22 fee required.

 

8:30 – 10:30 a.m. – Yampa Preserve Guided Bird Walk 

Led by Ted Floyd, editor of Birding magazine.
Bird at this property owned by The Nature Conservancy that harbors one of the largest remaining examples of a rare riparian forest type dominated by narrowleaf cottonwood, box elder maple, and red-osier dogwood. Click here for details.
**Advance registration and $28 fee required.

 

9 – 10 a.m. – “Meet and Greet” with Festival Speakers

Riverside Cafe at Bud Werner Memorial Library
Join festival speakers Anne Lacy, Noah Stryker, Sandra Noll, Van Graham, and the festival crew for a casual, Dutch-treat coffee hour. Don’t miss this excellent opportunity to chat one-on-one with leading experts in their fields.
No registration required.

 

9 – 10:30 a.m. – Birding the Steamboat Springs Core Trail

Led by Rebecca Weiss, naturalist and author of Birds of Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley.
Join Rebecca for a casual stroll along the core trail outside the Bud Werner Library. As you walk along the trail that parallels the Yampa River, Rebecca will help you identify the birds and other fauna of the area. Bring binoculars, water, and wear comfortable shoes. Meet on the core trail next to the Bud Werner Library parking lot. This walk will be easy and on a paved surface. Click here for details.
**Advance registration and $10 fee required

 

10 – 11 a.m. – Crane Yoga 

Led by Liz Leipold – Library Lawn at Bud Werner Memorial Library 
Join yoga instructor Liz Leipold for a gentle yoga sequence about the life of the cranes, from calling, meeting, dancing, hatching, and growing up. Bring your own mat/towel. All ages welcome. Free, no registration required.

 

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Nature’s Educators Live Raptor Booth

Library Lawn near Children’s Library
Visit with live raptors on the Library Lawn. Learn about raptors and the physical and behavioral adaptations they have that help them survive in their environment. Meet some real raptors and learn their personal stories and amazing features. All ages are welcome for this FREE event. Learn more about Nature’s Educators.

 

11a.m. –12 noon – “Cranes, Culture and Conservation – a Global Perspective”

By Sandra Noll, naturalist and crane expert –  Library Hall at Bud Werner Memorial Library
Storytelling and vivid imagery draw you into the allure of crane mythology and symbolism. You’ll discover how the impact of cranes on cultures around the world is closely linked to their biology and ecology, and to worldwide efforts to protect both these iconic birds and the wetland habitats for which they are an “umbrella” species. The International Crane Foundation’s role is spotlighted.

 

11:30 a.m. –1:30 p.m. – Bag Lunch and iNaturalist Workshop

Carpenter Ranch
Led by Jeremiah Psiropoulos, wildlife biologist, bird, and expedition guide.
Participants will learn how to use iNaturalist and Seek by iNat app while learning about insects, butterflies, reptiles, amphibians, and birds at the historic Carpenter Ranch near Hayden, Colorado. This event is suitable for people of all ages, including families and children; no experience necessary. Bring your lunch and your smartphones and we’ll show you how to learn about nature with technology! Carpenter Ranch is known as a birdwatcher’s paradise (over 150 species on the ranch bird list) located along the Yampa River 20 miles west of Steamboat Springs. The ranch also offers a remarkably diverse variety of insects. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) acquired the ranch in 1996 as the centerpiece of its broader effort to conserve the natural and agricultural heritage of the Yampa River Valley. Today, the Conservancy manages this historic, biologically significant property as a working cattle ranch to explore ways to simultaneously pursue agricultural production and the conservation of streamside and wetland habitats. Click here for directions.
**Advanced registration and $22 fee required.

 

12:15 a.m. –1:15 p.m. – Film – A Young Crane’s Long Journey by Jouni Hiltunen

Library Hall at Bud Werner Memorial Library
Jouni Hiltunen has filmed cranes for many years. He decides to follow one crane family’s summer in Finland from early spring to the birth of a crane chick. After the nesting, he leaves on a so-called “bird’s road” with migrating cranes, towards Hungary and finally to Israel, to find out if there is a winter paradise for migrating cranes somewhere. The film about the year of the cranes and the migration journey expands to a story about the coexistence of man in a rapidly changing world.

 

1:30 – 2:30 p.m. – “The Caretakers of Nature” 

By Nature’s Educators – Library Hall at Bud Werner Memorial Library
Bring the whole family for an unforgettable, all-ages presentation featuring live scavenger birds from Colorado and beyond! Discover the vital role these fascinating birds play as the ultimate cleanup crew of our ecosystem during this FREE event.

 

All Day – Crane Education Displays 

Outside Library Hall at the Bud Werner Memorial Library