2026 Crane Fest Speakers – Monte Vista Crane Festival

2026 Crane Fest Talks

One of the best values of the Monte Vista Crane Festival is the depth and breadth of its talks. From crane biology and bird identification to water, working lands, culture, and art, festival talks are designed for curious minds who want to go deeper.

Important to know: All festival talks—including the keynote—are included with your Festival Pass. No additional tickets are required for talks.

Below is an in-depth look at the talks scheduled for the 2026 festival, along with information about the speakers who will be leading them.

Crane Basics: Understanding the Birds That Bring Us Together

When watching a group of Sandhill Cranes did you ever wish you knew more about these elegant birds, what they’re doing and why? Our Crane Basics workshop is your opportunity to learn more about crane biology and behavior. You will gain insights into crane migration, family life, body language, and vocalizations through our photographs and captivating video which we will then take into the field for practice. It’s the knowledge that will significantly enhance your crane-watching experience!

About the Speaker: Jenny Nehring

Jenny Nehring has 26 years of experience in the San Luis Valley (SLV) and since 2012 Jenny and fellow biologist Cary Aloia have worked across the SLV and Colorado on a number of projects through their environmental consulting business Wetland Dynamics, LLC. During this time Wetland Dynamics has worked collaboratively with agencies, land trusts, and non-profits on a variety of biological projects and issues. Jenny’s primary interest and area of expertise is with birds and she has contributed to a number of avian projects providing technical services to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), U.S. Forest Service (USFS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Since 1998 Jenny has worked with many partners and stakeholders on conservation efforts for a small population of Gunnison Sage-grouse at Poncha Pass. Working with the Friends of the San Luis Valley National Wildlife Refuges, Jenny has attended national meetings and trainings with the FWS and presented at national Friends conferences. In conjunction with the National Wildlife Refuge Association, Jenny lobbied Colorado’s congressional representatives in Washington D.C. for full funding of the Land and Water Conservation Trust Fund.

Jenny received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental, Population, and Organismic Biology from the University of Colorado in Boulder, CO and her Master of Science degree at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, TN.

Cranes, Cows, and Conservation: Working Lands in the San Luis Valley

Cranes depend on more than refuges alone. This talk explores how agriculture, ranching, water management, and conservation intersect in the San Luis Valley—and why working lands are essential to the future of cranes and other wildlife.

About the Speaker: Jocelyn Catterson

Jocelyn Catterson is the Community Engagement Director at the Rio Grande Headwaters Land Trust, working to connect landowners, partners, and communities in support of private lands conservation in Colorado’s San Luis Valley. With over a decade of experience in conservation and environmental education nonprofits, she focuses on community-driven conservation, water education, and strengthening connections between people, working lands, and wildlife.

Raptors of the Rocky Mountain West

Experience the majesty of live raptors up close with Hawks Aloft! For over 25 years, Hawks Aloft has educated audiences with engaging programs featuring permanently injured, non-releasable raptors. This dynamic presentation includes live birds, stunning photography of western raptors, and fascinating stories and facts about these incredible creatures. A must-see for bird enthusiasts of all ages!

All About Owls

Discover the mysterious and fascinating world of owls in All About Owls, a captivating presentation by Hawks Aloft, Inc., a leading non-profit dedicated to bird conservation. This unique program combines a visually stunning slideshow exploring the history, behavior, and vital role of owls in our ecosystems with the unforgettable opportunity to meet live, non-releasable owls and other raptors. Based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Hawks Aloft has been a champion for wild birds and their habitats since 1994, inspiring audiences through education and action. Don’t miss this chance to experience these incredible creatures up close and learn how we can work together to protect their habitats.

About the Speaker: Gail Garber

Gail Garber’s background is non-traditional. In 1988, she began volunteering with another nonprofit organization and was passionate about raptor conservation. Shortly thereafter, she became a staff member writing training manuals, grants, editing newsletters, etc. However, education was her first love, followed by field research. She has been the executive director at Hawks Aloft since its inception in 1994 where she enjoys working in our four main focus areas: Conservation education, Avian Research, Raptor Rescue, and Collaboration with others. Garber leads international birding and nature tours to a variety of destinaions, including upcoming trips to Ecuador, the Pantanal in Brazil, Costa Rica, and Cuba. She has authored and co-authored several peer reviewed technical papers as well as articles about birds and nature for the general public. In her other life, she is a internationally known professional quilt maker, author, judge and instructor.

The Land and People of the San Luis Valley

Over centuries, the climate and geography of the San Luis Valley has shaped human societies in profound ways. Long a favored space for Native peoples, the valley was home to the earliest towns in Colorado, and in time became one of the regions most productive agricultural areas. In this presentation, Nick Saenz explores human connections to the San Luis Valley and the ways in which diverse communities have adapted to life above 5700 feet.

About the Speaker: Nick Saenz, Ph.D.

Water in the Valley: Rights, Rivers, and Responsibility

Water shapes everything in the San Luis Valley—from agriculture and wildlife habitat to community resilience. This talk unpacks the region’s complex water systems, water rights, and the ongoing challenges of balancing human and ecological needs.

Wildlife Detection Dogs: Conservation’s Canine Heroes

Join Suzie and Jake from Diamond Dog Detection & Training for an insightful presentation on the incredible work of wildlife detection dogs in conservation. Learn how these highly trained canines assist in locating endangered species, monitoring wildlife populations, and contributing to environmental research. Discover the unique bond between handler and dog and how their teamwork supports critical conservation efforts across diverse ecosystems. Don't miss this fascinating look into the innovative role of dogs in wildlife protection!

About the Speakers: Jake Lammi & Suzie Marlow

Birding Costa Rica

Costa Rica was one of the first Latin American countries to develop a robust ecotourism environment. Visitors find comfortable lodging options and skilled bird guides. The country is less than one-fifth the size of Colorado but boasts 931 species of birds along with a variety frogs, snakes, and mammals that travelers enjoy watching. In this program we’ll explore the lodges, avifauna, habitats, and wildlife of the northwestern part of the country.

About the Speaker: Chuck Hundertmark

Chuck’s career spans journalism, public relations, university teaching, and organizational development. His lifelong interest in birds began in junior high and deepened through graduate studies focused on environmental issues. He is president of Colorado Field Ornithologists and has held leadership roles with several bird organizations. He founded the Rio Grande Bird Research banding project and has taught, published, and conducted fieldwork across North America and Latin America.

iNaturalist for Photographers

Whether you're a new or experienced wildlife photographer, contributing your photos to community science efforts is a powerful way to help protect nature. This talk will introduce iNaturalist, a community science platform where your images can contribute valuable scientific data for researchers and other naturalists worldwide. With nearly 300 million observations covering over 500,000 taxa, it's one of the world's largest nature-focused social networks and species occurrence databases.

We'll go over how observations observations are used to support research and conservation, walk through some practical workflows for sharing your photos through iNaturalist, and talk about why this makes such a positive impact for biodiversity around the world.

About the Speaker: Tony Iwane

Avian Anatomy & Crane Specific Adaptations

Want to understand avian anatomy more? What adaptations do cranes have that allow them to project their voices long distances? Fly over the Himalayas? Stay warm in extreme cold? Be one of the largest flying birds? Please join Dr. Boon as she explains crane anatomy for bird lovers, scientists, and artists.

About the Speaker: Diana Boon

Dr. Diana Boon is the Director of Conservation Medicine at the International Crane Foudation in Baraboo, WI. She has worked in zoo and wildlife medicine for over 20 years. She received her DVM from NC State University after working as a wildlife technician post-baccaluareate. She graduated with a BS in Biology with a minor in Studio Arts from Tulane University. Birds are one of her favorite species to work for to help protect them. She lived in Colorado for about 10 years and is thrilled to be able to come back to her heart place for this event.

Great Sand Dunes NP&P - 3D Valley Tour

The San Luis Valley contains a variety of landforms that have developed in response to a complex and somewhat unusual combination of geologic processes. The landforms include volcanic mountains, fault block mountains, canyons, plains and much more. Some are majestic and some are blah, but regardless of their scenic value, the more you know about them the more interesting they become. This prestation uses 3D views of landforms to explain how geologic processes created the Valley and with that insight, one can grasp the story behind the scenery that is the San Luis Valley.

About the Speaker: Andrew Valdez

Lake Alamosa: The Valley Before Us

Hundreds of thousands of years ago, much of the San Luis Valley was covered by Lake Alamosa, one of the largest high-altitude lakes in North America. Led by Chayan Lahiri, PhD, Assistant Professor and Director of the Edward M. Ryan Geology Museum, this session explores how the lake formed, changed with shifting climates, and eventually drained about 440,000 years ago — reshaping the landscape and establishing the modern course of the Rio Grande. Ancient shorelines, sediments, and landforms still visible today reveal the valley’s deep geologic past.

About the Speaker: Chayan Lahiri, Ph.D.

Crossing the Divide - Weminuche Audubon Society

Overview of Weminuche Audubon Society bird conservation projects and educational programs, including participation in shorebird surveys at the Monte Vista and Alamosa NWRs.

Don’t miss out on these incredible talks and the opportunity to learn from experts in the field!

Purchase your tickets today to secure your spot at the Monte Vista Crane Festival. Visit our festival page or click the button below to get your tickets now and experience the magic of cranes, conservation, and community.

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