The Bridger Raptor Festival is an annual event held in early October in and around Bozeman, Montana. The festival, which is free to the public, centers around the largest known Golden Eagle migration in the United States.

Since 1991 a raptor migration count has taken place every fall at the Bridger Bowl ski area in the Gallatin National Forest just north of Bozeman. Festival activities center around raptor viewing and include nature walks and talks, educational and entertaining programs and activities for people of all ages.

Schedule :

October 7th 2023

Bridger Bowl Doors Open

SADDLE PEAK LODGE AND JIM BRIDGER LODGE

10:00am to 3:00pm : Family Activities, Nature Walks and Live Birds both days. Bridger Bowl Season Pass, Snowsports, Rental, Retail and Administration Offices will be open throughout the weekend. Oktoberfest food and beverages available all day!

Exhibitors : SADDLE PEAK LODGE AND JIM BRIDGER LODGE

10:00am to 3:00pm : Bridger Bowl Sustainability, Boy Scouts of America, Crosscut Mountain Sports Center, Custer Gallatin National Forest, Freedom In Focus, Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center, Montana Outdoor Science School, Montana Raptor Conservation Center, Montana Science Center, Museum of the Rockies, Opticron/Front Range Birding, Sacajawea Audubon, The Magic Book Series, Wild Montana, Yellowstone National Park, Zoo Montana

Live Birds : JIM BRIDGER LODGE DECK

10:00am to 3:00pm : Come meet the Ambassador birds from Montana Raptor Conservation Center.

Oktoberfest  : JIM BRIDGER LODGE

10:00am to 6:00pm : Food & Beverages served all day! Live Music from 3pm-6pm!

Build a Nifty Nest Box : JIM BRIDGER LODGE 1ST FLOOR

10:00am to 3:00pm : Join Sacajawea Audubon members as they assist you to build a Chickadee Nest Box. If you decide to purchase the box for $20 you will be given instructions on where to hang and how to monitor/maintain the nest box.

Binocular Blitz : SADDLE PEAK LODGE DECK

10:00am to 3:00pm : Binoculars come in handy when taking a close look at the raptors that migrate using the Bridger Ridge and other wildlife. Sacajawea Audubon Society will help you learn how to use the binoculars. Find the word on each target and win a prize.

Beak Match and Raptor Gliders : SADDLE PEAK LODGE

10:00am to 3:00pm : Join Zoo Montana and learn about different forms of bird beaks by playing a beak matching game. Also learn about different styles of flight by cutting out and assembling your own raptor-shaped glider.

Great Migration Challenge : OUTSIDE OF JIM BRIDGER LODGE

10:00am to 3:00pm : Take the Great Migration Challenge and explore the hazards and helpers that raptors face on their migratory journeys. Find the Great Migration Challenge Game outdoors anytime between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm.

Bear Safety Education : OUTSIDE OF SADDLE PEAK LODGE

10:00am to 3:00pm : Grizzly bears and black bears are present across much of the Custer Gallatin National Forest, learn how to use bear spray with our charging bear simulator.

Sketch–a–Bird : SADDLE PEAK LODGE 4TH FLOOR

10:00am to 3:00pm : Drawing birds is a wonderful way to make yourself look more carefully at nature. Join Sacajawea Audubon for step-by-step demonstrations and details about drawing birds. Presentations from 11:30-12:30 and 1-2, self-guided activity available from 10-3.

Raptor vs Raptor : SADDLE PEAK LODGE 3RD FLOOR

10:00am to 3:00pm : Learn about the connection between dinosaurs and modern raptors through MOR's hands on teaching materials.

Family Nature Walk : JIM BRIDGER LODGE DECK

10:30am to 11:30am : Join Montana Outdoor Science School and learn about the habitats and behaviors of raptors and other montanimals.

Live Bird Presentation : SADDLE PEAK LODGE 4TH FLOOR

1:00pm to 1:45pm : Join Montana Raptor Conservation Center for a live bird presentation and learn about the raptors that call MRCC home.

Family Nature Walk : JIM BRIDGER LODGE DECK

1:30pm to 2:30pm : Join Montana Outdoor Science School and learn about the habitats and behaviors of raptors and other montanimals.

Live Bird Presentation : SADDLE PEAK LODGE 4TH FLOOR

2:00pm to 2:45pm : Join Montana Raptor Conservation Center for a live bird presentation and learn about the raptors that call MRCC home.

October 8th 2023

Bridger Bowl Doors Open : SADDLE PEAK LODGE AND JIM BRIDGER LODGE

10:00am to 3:00pm : Family Activities, Nature Walks, and Live Birds both days. Bridger Bowl Season Pass, Snowsports, Rental, Retail and Administration Offices will be open throughout the weekend. Oktoberfest food and beverages available all day!

Exhibitors : SADDLE PEAK LODGE AND JIM BRIDGER LODGE

10:00am to 3:00pm : Bridger Bowl Sustainability, Boy Scouts of America, Crosscut Mountain Sports Center, Custer Gallatin National Forest, Freedom In Focus, Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center, Montana Outdoor Science School, Montana Raptor Conservation Center, Montana Science Center, Museum of the Rockies, Opticron/Front Range Birding, Sacajawea Audubon, The Magic Book Series, Wild Montana, Yellowstone National Park, Zoo Montana

Live Birds : JIM BRIDGER LODGE DECK

10:00am to 3:00pm : Come meet the Ambassador birds from Montana Raptor Conservation Center

Oktoberfest : JIM BRIDGER LODGE

10:00am to 3:00pm : Food and Beverages served all day!

Build a Nifty Nest Box : JIM BRIDGER LODGE 1ST FLOOR

10:00am to 3:00pm : Join Sacajawea Audubon members as they assist you to build a Chickadee Nest Box. If you decide to purchase the box for $20 you will be given instructions on where to hang and how to monitor/maintain the nest box.

Binocular Blitz : SADDLE PEAK LODGE DECK

10:00am to 3:00pm : Binoculars come in handy when taking a close look at the raptors that migrate using the Bridger Ridge and other wildlife. Sacajawea Audubon Society will help you learn how to use the binoculars. Find the word on each target and win a prize.

Beak Match and Raptor Gliders : SADDLE PEAK LODGE

10:00am to 3:00pm : Join Zoo Montana and learn about different forms of bird beaks by playing a beak matching game. Also learn about different styles of flight by cutting out and assembling your own raptor-shaped glider.

Great Migration Challenge : OUTSIDE OF JIM BRIDGER LODGE

10:00am to 3:00pm : Take the Great Migration Challenge and explore the hazards and helpers that raptors face on their migratory journeys. Find the Great Migration Challenge Game outdoors anytime between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm.

Bear Safety Education : SADDLE PEAK LODGE SLOPESIDE DECK

10:00am to 3:00pm : Grizzly bears and black bears are present across much of the Custer Gallatin National Forest, learn how to use bear spray with our charging bear simulator.

Sketch–a–Bird : SADDLE PEAK LODGE 4TH FLOOR

10:00am to 3:00pm : Drawing birds is a wonderful way to make yourself look more carefully at nature. Join Sacajawea Audubon for step-by-step demonstrations and details about drawing birds. Presentations from 11:30-12:30 and 1-2, self-guided activity available from 10-3.

Raptor vs Raptor : SADDLE PEAK LODGE 3RD FLOOR

10:00am to 3:00pm : Learn about the connection between dinosaurs and modern raptors through MOR's hands on teaching materials.

Family Nature Walk : JIM BRIDGER LODGE DECK

10:30am to 11:30am : Join Montana Outdoor Science School and learn about the habitats and behaviors of raptors and other montanimals.

Live Bird Presentation : SADDLE PEAK LODGE 4TH FLOOR

1:00pm to 1:45pm : Join Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center for a live bird presentation to learn about their resident raptors.

Family Nature Walk : JIM BRIDGER LODGE DECK

1:30pm to 2:30pm : Join Montana Outdoor Science School and learn about the habitats and behaviors of raptors and other montanimals.

Live Bird Presentation : SADDLE PEAK LODGE 4TH FLOOR

2:00pm to 2:45pm : Join Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center for a live bird presentation to learn about their resident raptors.

Date : October 7, 2023 - October 8, 2023

Location :

Bridger Bowl Ski Area 

15795 Bridger Canyon Rd

Bozeman, MT 59715

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