Teddy Roosevelt as portrayed by Kurt Skinner. TR imprinted his love of the natural world onto America – as “wilderness warrior” President, he fought for our national treasures and left a legacy of federal resource conservation and wildlife protection.

Saturday 7pm Vali 3 Theatre ($10 at door)

Keynote Speaker Sponsor

Kid’s Coloring Contest Sponsor

Guest Speaker Sponsors

Compost Technologies

LLC

Keynote Address

“I So Declare It!” Theodore Roosevelt’s

conservation crusade for America.

37th Annual Monte Vista Crane

Festival March 6-8, 2020

Monte Vista, Colorado www.mvcranefest.org

Platinum Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

Skyline Hospitality

Saturday, March 7, 2020 6-10am Birder’s Breakfast Enjoy a Kiwanis Club community breakfast. Ski Hi Complex Pay at event

7-9am Morning Crane Tour Expert-led bus tour to Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge to learn all about Sandhill Cranes. Meet at Ski Hi Complex

10am-Noon Hawks Aloft Valley Raptor Tour Expert-led bus tour to view and learn about local raptors. Meet at Ski Hi Complex

10am-Noon Home Lake Birding Tour A guided bird tour led by local birding expert and author John Rawinski. Be prepared for an easy walk. Meet Monte Vista Middle School

10am -2pm RiGHT Conservation Tour Learn about the importance of Conservation Easements and the role private lands play in wildlife conservation. No restrooms are available. Meet at Ski Hi Complex

10am -3pm BLM Elephant Rocks Tour Take a bus tour to learn about sculpted massive boulders, unique geology and biology. Porta Potti will be on site. Meet at Ski Hi Complex

11am-12pm Talk: “Grains for Cranes” Colorado Open Land Trust Learn about the history of Sandhill Cranes and barley production in Colorado, and how this program is working to ensure that Cranes will always migrate through this mountain valley. Vali 3 Theatre

1pm-2:40pm Movie: “Bird of Prey” Stunning footage of the critically endangered Great Philippine Eagle and the remarkable story of people who work tirelessly to save the bird from extinction. Vali 3 Theatre

3-4pm Talk: “Dealing with Water Scarcity” Rio Grande Water Conservation District Learn about water in the Rio Grande Basin and the San Luis Valley, and the challenges surface and groundwater users face in an over appropriated system. Vali 3 Theatre

4-6pm Evening Crane Tour Expert-led bus tour to Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge to learn all about Sandhill Cranes. Meet at Ski Hi Complex

7pm Keynote Speaker “I So Declare It” Teddy Roosevelt as portrayed by Kurt Skinner Vali 3 Theatre (see front page for details)

Craft/Nature Fair Ski Hi Building

Friday 10:00am - 4:30pm Saturday 8:00am - 4:30pm Sunday 9:00am - 2:00pm

• Unique arts and crafts • Food • Hawks Aloft displays live

hawks, owls, and falcons • Local representatives from

public land agencies available to talk with people about the San Luis Valley’s wildlife and recreational opportunities

• Free Admission

Event Locations Ski Hi Complex - 2389 Sherman Ave (Craft/Nature Fair, tours, food, info)

Monte Vista Middle School - 3720 Sherman Ave (Home Lake Birding Tour meeting place)

Vali 3 Theatre - 139 Adams St. (talks, movies, keynote address)

Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge tour loop entrance - 6120 S. HWY 15 (Sandhill Crane viewing)

Sunday, March 8, 2020 (Daylight Savings Begins)

8-10am Morning Crane Tour Expert-led bus tour to Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge to learn all about Sandhill Cranes. Meet at Ski Hi Complex

10:30-12:30 Hawks Aloft Raptor Tour Expert-led bus tour to view and learn about local raptors. Meet at Ski Hi Complex

10:30am-1:30pm Scott Miller Archaeological Site Tour Bus tour to explore this rich archaeological site on Monte Vista NWR with a FWS archaeologist. Meet at Ski Hi Complex

Friday, March 6, 2020

7-9am Morning Crane Tour Expert-led bus tour to Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge to learn all about Sandhill Cranes. Meet at Ski Hi Complex

10am-noon Home Lake Birding Tour A guided walking bird tour around Home Lake, led by local birding expert and author, John Rawinski. Bring lunch, water, and dress for the weather. Easy walk on uneven ground. Meet Monte Vista Middle School

10am -3pm BLM Blanca Wetlands Tour BLM Biologist-led 5-hour bus tour to playa lakes and wetlands. Bring lunch, water, warm clothing, and personal gear. Limited restrooms availability. Meet at Ski Hi Complex

10am -2pm RiGHT Conservation Tour Learn about the importance of Conservation Easements and the role private lands play in wildlife conservation. This tour is lead by the Rio Grande Headwaters Land Trust (RiGHT) around one of their easements. No restrooms are available on tour. Meet at Ski Hi Complex

4-6pm Evening Crane Tour Expert-led bus tour to Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge to learn all about Sandhill Cranes. Meet at Ski Hi Complex

8pm Movie - Rango (G) (Rated PG, 1hr 51 min) A good old fashioned western, the film centers on Rango (voiced by Johnny Depp), a chameleon who accidentally ends up in the town of Dirt, a lawless outpost populated by the desert’s most wily and whimsical creatures. Rango, the less-than-courageous lizard, suddenly finds he stands out and is the last hope the town has been waiting for. Sheriff Rango is forced to play his new role and save the town from a developer’s water grab. Vali 3 Theatre (FREE)

Purchase tour tickets at mvcranefest.org

$5 Talk and movie tickets can be purchased at Vali 3 Theatre

Friday 7:30 PM Kid’s Coloring Contest Winners Presentation

VALI 3 THEATRE

The Monte Vista Crane Festival is a collaborative effort by: