Why Raptors at the Clark Planetarium
2025-10-09 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Denver) | Clark Planetarium, 110 400 W, Salt Lake City, 84101, United States
HawkWatch International makes the claim that we can conserve entire ecosystems simply by focusing on the birds of prey that live in them. Join Education and Outreach Director Melissa Halvorsen and special guest, Goose the Peregrine Falcon, as they weave together three stories that make the case for protecting these charismatic birds as indicators of ecosystem health.
About Melissa
Melissa credits her love of animals to early years spent following her biologist father around in the field whenever she wasn’t in school. After pursuing a B.A. in English from Weber State University, she began working as an interpretive ranger for the National Park Service. It was doing this work that helped her realize she could unite her love of storytelling and the natural world by working as an informal environmental educator. Since then, she has worked for state and national parks, nature centers, schools, zoos, and aquariums. She is currently the Education and Outreach Director at HawkWatch International.
Melissa has certifications in Environmental Education from Utah State University and Instructional Design from the University of Utah. Melissa is excited to share HawkWatch International’s mission with the world and hopes to reach new audiences with creative approaches to teaching and learning.
When Melissa has spare time, she likes to read, play complicated board games, and start craft projects she never intends to finish. She has a fantastic husband, two incredibly smart (and nerdy) children, and lots of adorable pets.
About Science Utah
Clark Planetarium’s Science Utah Lecture Series is dedicated to bringing the latest scientific discoveries and discussions to the public, for free, by offering engaging lectures led by Utah-based scientists and researchers working in various fields.
This event is free and open to the public, but seating is limited. Please reserve only the number of tickets you will use. Click here to register.

Raptors at the Hunter Library
2025-11-12 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Denver) | Hunter Library, 4740 W 4100 S, West Valley, UT, 84120, United States
Ever wonder what makes a raptor different than other birds? Come by the Hunter Library and find out! Meet our live raptor ambassadors and ask our educators all your burning raptor questions.
This is a family-friendly event, no tickets or registration required!
This event is made possible by Salt Lake County ZAP and the generosity of supporters like you.

HawkWatch Holiday Market
2025-12-06 10:00 - 14:00 (America/Denver) | HawkWatch International, 2240 S 900 E, Salt Lake City, UT, 84106, United States
Join us at the HawkWatch Holiday Market! Shop local artisans whose work highlights the spirit of resilient ecosystems on Saturday, December 6th, from 10-2 at HawkWatch International. Every purchase supports a small business and the conservation of raptor species. Plus, you’ll get to meet HWI’s Raptor Ambassadors!
Event Highlights

Shop local, environmentally-minded vendors
Meet our Raptor Ambassadors
Dine on baked goods and empanadas
Free gift wrapping for one item purchased at the market by our partners at the Wildlife Center of Salt Lake. Additional items can be wrapped for a small donation to the rehab center.

Vendors

2creativeadventures
Anna Bugbee Studio
Amanda Green Pottery
Alison H Spencer Art
Birds of Rey
BluGoo
Bri Forcier
Caffee Ibis
Jordan Herman
Micky Makes
Of Flowers and Forever
Susan Snyder Art
The Hex Press
Wonders of Nature
Birdy merchandise, wreaths, and swags by HWI

Food and Drink

Empanadas 801
Wasatch Mountain Bakery

Raptors at the Millcreek Library
2025-12-15 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Denver) | Millcreek Branch, 2266 E Evergreen Ave, Salt Lake City, UT, 84109, United States
Ever wonder what makes a raptor different than other birds? Come by the Millcreek Library and find out! Meet our live raptor ambassadors and ask our educators all your burning raptor questions.
This is a family-friendly event, no tickets or registration required!
This event is made possible by Salt Lake County ZAP and the generosity of supporters like you.

Owl Day at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
2026-01-10 10:00 - 16:00 (America/Denver) | Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, 2155 West Forest ST, Brigham City, UT, 84302, United States
Join HawkWatch International to celebrate Owl Day. Come explore the Exhibit Hall, view special owl exhibits, participate in owl-themed activities and scavenger hunts, visit the nature store for a free owl take-home craft, enjoy live bird presentations, and so much more!
Owl Day Presentations:

10:00 a.m. Live Bird Presentation (Ogden Nature Center)
11:00 a.m. Photography Workshop (Local Photographer, Meg Kast)
11:30 a.m. Puppet Storytime (Refuge Staff)
12:00 p.m. Owl Pellet Dissection Demonstration (Refuge Staff)
1:00 p.m. Live Bird Presentation (HawkWatch International)
2:00 p.m. Beginner’s to Birding Presentation (Friends Board Member, Dean Lester)
2:30 p.m. Puppet Storytime (Refuge Staff)

Pre-reserved tickets are strongly encouraged for the live bird presentations and the featured speakers. Due to limited seating, guests with tickets will be seated first. Tickets are free and issued on a first-come, first-served basis on the Friends of the Bear River Refuge’s website linked below. Staff will seat guests without tickets, if there is space, once the presentations start. All other activities are open to all, and no tickets are required.

Exhibition Opening: Returning to Wonder and All Sketches Wish to Be Real
2026-01-16 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Denver) | Kimball Art Center, 1251 Kearns Blvd, Park City, UT, 84060, United States
HawkWatch International will be at the opening of Alexander Fuller’s work, All Sketches Wish to Be Real, with Chrys, our Golden Eagle Ambassador. Our Raptor Ambassadors were featured as subjects in this photographic exhibition.
All Sketches Wish to Be Real features new work by Utah artists Alexandra Fuller, Antra Sinha, and Elpitha Tsoutsounakis. The exhibition draws inspiration from a stanza in Tomas Tranströmer’s poem, The Blue House, which speaks to the alternate lives and futures that remain just out of reach.
This event is free to attend.

Lost Wolves of Yellowstone at Clark Planetarium
2026-01-17 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Denver) | Clark Planetarium, 110 400 W, Salt Lake City, 84101, United States
Join HWI at a screening of the Lost Wolves of Yellowstone at Clark Planetarium
This event is made possible by Salt Lake County ZAP and the generosity of supporters like you.

Raptors at the Holladay Branch Library
2026-01-28 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Denver) | Holladay Branch, 2150 E Murray Holladay Rd, Holladay, 84117, United States
Ever wonder what makes a raptor different than other birds? Come by the Holladay Branch Library and find out! Meet our live raptor ambassadors and ask our educators all your burning raptor questions.
This is a family-friendly event, no tickets or registration required!
This event is made possible by Salt Lake County ZAP and the generosity of supporters like you.

DinoFest at the Utah Natural History Museum
2026-01-31 10:00 - 17:00, 2026-02-01 10:00 - 17:00 UTC | Natural History Museum of Utah, 301 Wakara Way, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84108, United States
Join HawkWatch International at NHMU’s DinoFest on January 31st-February 1st. While you learn from paleontologists about how dinosaurs lived, fought, and healed in the Mesozoic era, you can meet present-day dinosaurs and find out how they have changed. How do raptors hunt? Do raptors fight like dinosaurs? All these questions and more can be answered by our education docents at DinoFest!
HWI shows at 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m.
*This event is accessible with paid admission to the museum. Tickets are available online and in person.

Raptors at the Central Davis County Senior Center
2026-02-02 10:30 - 23:30 (America/Denver) | Central Davis Senior Activity Center, 81 East Center Street, Kaysville, UT, 84037, United States
Come meet our Raptor Ambassadors!

Raunchy Raptors
2026-02-13 20:00 - 22:00 (America/Denver) | HawkWatch International, 2240 S 900 E, Salt Lake City, UT, 84106, United States
Whether you’re celebrating your tweet-heart or want to revel with a friend after escaping from the one rat got away, this event is for you! Join educators and our Raptor Ambassadors for a “tongue in beak” program that delves into the sweet and spicy sex lives of raptors. After the program, enjoy dessert and mocktails before choosing from two photobooth options to commemorate the evening: a cuddly owlentine or a grim buteo bloodbath. This event will be intimate, capping at 30 participants, and is adults-only. You must be 18+ to attend!
Tickets
$45/person, which also includes a $20 Talontine of your choosing. Your ticket fee directly supports the care of our Raptor Ambassadors.
Click here to purchase your ticket before someone else gobbles it up! Spaces are very limited!
Treats Kindly Provided By
Parfé Diem
Ruby Snap
Sugarhouse Trader Joe’s

This event is made possible by Salt Lake County ZAP and the generosity of supporters like you.

Eagle Day at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
2026-02-14 10:00 - 16:00 UTC | Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, 2155 West Forest ST, Brigham City, UT, 84302, United States
Join HawkWatch International at the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge to celebrate Eagle Day! Come explore the Exhibit Hall, view special eagle exhibits, participate in eagle-themed activities and scavenger hunts, visit the nature store for a free eagle take-home craft, enjoy live bird presentations, and so much more!
Eagle Day Presentations:

10:00 a.m. Live Bird Presentation (HawkWatch International)
11:00 a.m. Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation Featured Presentation (More details to come!)
1:00 p.m. Live Bird Presentation (HawkWatch International)

Pre-reserved tickets are strongly encouraged for the live bird presentations and the featured speaker. Due to limited seating, guests with tickets will be seated first. Tickets are free and issued on a first-come, first-served basis on the Friends of the Bear River Refuge’s website linked below. Staff will seat guests without tickets, if there is space, once the presentations start. All other activities are open to all, and no tickets are required.

Eagle Day at the Eccles Wildlife Education Center
2026-02-21 11:00 - 15:00 UTC | George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Wildlife Education Center, 1157 South Waterfowl Way, Farmington, UT, 84025, United States
Join HawkWatch International at the Eccles Wildlife Education Center to talk all things eagles: where they live, how they hunt, what threats they face, and more! Come by and meet a live eagle face-to-face and find out what you can do to help protect them for generations to come!

Raptors at the Sahuarita Library
2026-03-12 16:00 - 17:00 (America/Phoenix) | Sahuarita Library, 670 W Sahuarita Rd, Sahuarita, AZ, 85629, United States
Ever wonder what makes a raptor different than other birds? Come by the Sahuarita Library and find out! Meet our live raptor ambassadors and ask our educators all your burning raptor questions.
This is a family-friendly event, no tickets or registration required!

Tubac HawkWatch Festival
2026-03-13 08:00 - 2026-03-17 17:00 UTC | Tubac HawkWatch, 31 Calle Iglesia, Tubac, AZ, United States
Friday 03/13 – Tuesday 03/17, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
It’s peak week at the Tubac HawkWatch! Join HWI, the Tubac Nature Center, and Tucson Bird Alliance for a week celebrating spring migration. This is a family-friendly event with free activities in the park to coincide with the peak flight of the Common Black Hawk migration. You can expect to hawkwatch alongside experts daily, enjoy birding walks and lectures, shop birdy merch and optics, and meet live Raptor Ambassadors.
On Optics Days, you can shop and try out the latest binoculars with the best optics dealers. Don’t forget to stop at HawkWatch International, Tubac Nature Center, and Tucson Bird Alliance for some bird merch!
Bring a chair, hat, sunscreen, water, and binoculars.

For a more detailed festival schedule, click here
Accommodations
For a list of hotels and restaurants, click here
Can’t Attend the Festival but Still Want to Visit the Site?
HWI counters will be at the site daily from February 15th through April 30th.
Thank You to Our Sponsors!
Kowa, Vortex, Zeiss, and Land Sea & Sky

Swan Day at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
2026-03-14 10:00 - 16:00 UTC | Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, 2155 West Forest ST, Brigham City, UT, 84302, United States
Join HawkWatch International at the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge for Swan Day! While we won’t have any swans, we will have live raptors that prey upon them. Come explore the Exhibit Hall, view special swan exhibits, participate in swan-themed activities and scavenger hunts, visit the nature store for a free swan take-home craft, enjoy live bird presentations, and so much more!
Swan Day Presentations:

10:00 a.m. Live Bird Presentation (Ogden Nature Center)
1:00 p.m. Live Bird Presentation (HawkWatch International)

Pre-reserved tickets are strongly encouraged to see the live bird presentations and for the featured speaker. Due to limited seating, guests with tickets will be seated first. Tickets are free and issued on a first come first serve basis on the Friends of the Bear River Refuge’s website linked below. Staff will seat guests without tickets, if there is space, once the presentations start. All other activities are open to all, and no tickets are required.

Bird Walks at the Butte
2026-03-25 16:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-22 16:00 - 17:00, 2026-05-20 16:00 - 17:00 (America/Denver) | Red Butte Garden, 300 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, UT, 84108, United States
Can you identify a bird by its song? Wing patterns? Size? Or do you just enjoy taking in the many species of birds throughout Utah? Whether you’re an avid birder or new to the hobby, come join a birding expert from HawkWatch International, as they guide a group around Red Butte Garden & Arboretum to identify and learn about the many birds that call the area home. Please wear comfortable footwear and dress for the weather, as you will be walking throughout the garden. We also recommend that you bring a pair of binoculars. Some extra binoculars will be available if you do not have a pair.
Registration for this program is handled by our partner, Red Butte Gardens: https://redbuttegarden.org/plan-your-garden-visit/online-classes-virtual-resources/adult-education/bird-walk-at-red-butte-garden-with-hawkwatch-international/
Class Registration
Maximum Capacity: 15
Registration Closure: Start of class/Capacity full
General Public Price: 16
Member Price: 12.80

Raptors at the South Davis Senior Activity Center
2026-04-30 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Denver) | South Davis Senior Activity Center, 726 100 E, Bountiful, 26 100 E, United States

World Migratory Bird Day with the Bureau of Land Management
2026-05-09 07:00 - 12:00 (America/Denver) | North Lake Park, 500 W 2000 S, Lehi, UT, 500 W 2000 S, United States
Every bird counts! This World Migratory Bird Day, join HawkWatch International, Bureau of Land Management, Great Salt Lake Audubon Society, and Utah Lake. Stop by for some environmental education, bird walks, a chance to meet our Raptor Ambassador, and kids’ activities. Open to everyone, no reservations required.

Reading with Raptors
2026-05-09 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | Discovery Gateway Children’s Museum, 444 W 100 S, Salt Lake City, UT, 84101, United States
Join HawkWatch International at the Discovery Gateway Museum for Reading with Raptors! During this monthly program, children meet one of HWI’s Raptor Ambassadors while reading a storybook that matches the bird they’ve just met. They’ll learn about raptors and enjoy a great story. Included with admission to the museum; no registration is necessary!
This program is made possible by Salt Lake County ZAP and the generosity of supporters like you.

The Great Salt Lake Bird Festival
2026-05-14 - 2026-05-17 | George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Wildlife Education Center, 1157 South Waterfowl Way, Farmington, UT, 84025, United States
Register here: https://www.daviscountyutah.gov/greatsaltlakebirdfest/registration
Hosted by Discover Davis, HawkWatch International will offer a variety of field trips throughout the festival and sell merchandise on Friday and Saturday.
Each year, hundreds of attendees flock to the Great Salt Lake Bird Festival to experience one-of-a-kind field trips, participate in hands-on learning workshops, and enjoy opportunities to listen to world-renowned keynote speakers and expert field trip guides. But most importantly, for four days, passionate birders get together and celebrate the beautiful array of birds that migrate to our region, while sharing unforgettable moments and experiences.
At the Great Salt Lake Bird Festival, you can expect to see hundreds of different species of birds, rare access to property and areas that are typically closed off to the public, and to top it all off, attendees experience the beautiful outdoor playground Utah offers.
HawkWatch International Led Trips, Workshops, and Events

5/14 American Kestrel Field Trip 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
5/14 Antelope Island Owl Prowl 4:30 PM – 9:00 PM
5/15 Antelope Island Owl Prowl 4:30 PM – 9:00 PM
5/16 Birding for Families at Red Butte Garden 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
5/16 Birding the Great Salt Lake by Kayak for Adults 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM
5/16 Drawing Raptors from Life 10:00 AM – 10:50 AM
5/16 Parade of Raptors 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
5/16 Birding the Great Salt Lake by Kayak for Kids 11:00 AM -12:30 PM
5/16 Owl Pellet Dissection 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM

Raptors at the Bingham Creek Library
2026-05-18 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Denver) | Bingham Creek Library, 4834 W 9000 S, West Jordan, UT, 84081, United States
Ever wonder what makes a raptor different than other birds? Come by the Bingham Creek Library and find out! Meet our live raptor ambassadors and ask our educators all your burning raptor questions.
This is a family-friendly event, no tickets or registration required!
This event is made possible by Salt Lake County ZAP and the generosity of supporters like you.

Raptor Encounter - Bear River State Park
2026-05-19 17:30 - 18:30 (America/Denver) | Bear River State Park, 601 Bear River Dr, Evanston, WY, 82930, United States
Meet our Raptor Ambassadors in Evanston, Wyoming! Join us for a presentation on what makes a bird a raptor, how raptors fit into their ecosystems, and how different types of raptors have different features depending on what, when, and where they hunt.
Free with pass for park entry.

Jordan Valley Water Conservancy Spring Garden Fair
2026-05-30 10:00 - 14:00 (America/Denver) | Conservation Garden Park, 8275 S 1300 W, West Jordan, UT, 84088, United States
Meet our Raptor Ambassadors at the Spring Garden Fair at Conservation Garden Park! This is a free event that has something for the whole family! Participate in our fun nature projects and activities, chat with Conservation Garden Park staff and other experts about your own landscaping project, and grab some great food at one of the food trucks. Raptors will be there until noon.
For more information, click here.
This event is made possible by Salt Lake County ZAP and the generosity of supporters like you.

Celebration of Flight
2026-09-25 09:00 - 2026-09-27 17:00 (America/Chicago) | Corpus Christi HawkWatch, 4343 Co Rd 69, Corpus Christi, TX, 78410, United States
Celebrate the magic of migration during the annual Celebration of Flight Festival at the Corpus Christi HawkWatch at Hazel Bazemore County Park. This is a family-friendly event with free activities in the park that coincide with peak Broad-winged Hawk migration in September. Thanks to our partners at the Audubon Outdoor Club of Corpus Christi and the many volunteers who make this festival possible. Vendors and food trucks will be present throughout the festival.
Schedule to come!
Directions to Hazel Bazemore County Park
Take FM624 west from SH77 for about 1 mile. Take a right onto County Road 69 at the stoplight (look for the park sign), which takes you to the park.
Looking for Accommodations?
You can get a HawkWatcher discount at the Best Western Northwest Corpus Christi Inn & Suites! King rooms are $99/night, or upgrade to a suite with a kitchenette for $114.99 (before taxes and fees)! You must call the local Best Western to receive the discount: (361) 241-6363. The hotel will not honor this rate for online reservations.
