Could you introduce the fair and tell us how it began?
We held the first Jackson Hole Birding Festival in 2025. It was born out of our love for the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) and what we saw as a lack of birding festivals in the region. We also felt that the area is underrated as a birding destination, as a lot of focus is (rightly) on magnificent megafauna like wolves, bison, and bears. My husband, David, and I are conservation filmmakers and avid birders who spend a lot of time in the GYE and know it well. Wild Excellence Films, our production company, specializes in working with nonprofits, parks, and conservation groups, and we always end up incorporating birds into our documentaries.
We looked at a map of birding festivals in the U.S. and saw a big blank space in Wyoming. We felt Jackson, WY, would make the perfect home base for the festival because not only does the town have lots of amenities, but it is surrounded by spectacular public lands. It is the New West and the Old West, with wilderness thrown in! Even when you’re not seeing a ton of birds, you’re likely seeing moose, bears, elk, and bison in spectacular landscapes. It’s a truly unique place for a birding festival.
What happens at the fair? What could a first-time visitor expect to see or do?
The festival features an opening night gathering and then three full days of trips, classes, and speakers. Birders of all experience levels are welcome. Many of our attendees are newer birders, and still more have never been to Wyoming. We love seeing the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem through their eyes! Our guides are patient and knowledgeable, so no one should hesitate to register, even if they’ve never been to a birding festival before.
Who takes part—as exhibitors, speakers, artists, guides, local groups, or visitors—and how do you bring them together?
Our opening night features local nonprofits like Wyoming Untrapped, Wyoming Wildlife Advocates, Teton Botanical Garden, Wyoming Wetlands Society, and Teton Raptor Center. Our speakers are also often authors, so they bring their books to sign. They also serve as guides, acting like “celebrity birders” on trips into Grand Teton National Park and other outings.
What do you hope visitors take away from the event?
We want attendees to have fun, learn, and enjoy birds with a group of like-minded people. We also hope they come away with an increased appreciation for public lands, their importance, and the role these lands play in bird conservation.
How does the fair connect people with birds, birding, or bird conservation? If conservation isn’t a central focus, what role do birds and birding play in the event?
Conservation is one of our missions. We select speakers who are well-known for their work in bird research, the GYE, and conservation in general. Denver Holt from the Owl Research Institute; photographer Tom Murphy; Walter Wehtje from Ricketts Conservation Foundation; and Freya McGregor from Access Birding are 2027’s speakers. A love of birds is a gateway to a broader interest in conservation. Several of our trips specifically focus on conservation: the Murie Ranch with Teton Science Schools; the Trumpeter Swan Breeding Program trips with Wyoming Wetlands Society; and a trip to Jackson Fork Ranch with Ricketts Conservation Foundation to learn about their work and look for fire-dependent woodpeckers and sagebrush species.
What are the biggest challenges in organizing the fair, and what has helped you meet them?
Since we are still new, getting the word out about the festival is a focus. Word of mouth, ads in birding magazines, and articles like this one help a lot. Jackson is a pretty small town, so logistics like tour vans can be challenging, too. Plus, some of our trip locations are at high altitude, so weather can be a factor.
Is there a memorable moment, visitor response, or story from a past fair that captures what the event means to you?
We have trips to Murie Ranch, which is the location of the drafting of the Wilderness Act and the birth of the modern conservation movement, with Teton Science Schools. During the festival’s first year, a Barred Owl was hooting there, which is quite rare for the area, and people were in tears at the beauty of it all.
How can birders, organizations, or other interested people take part in or support the fair?
Registration is open now for the May 2027 festival. We have a core group of local nonprofits that participate every year, but we’re always open to other partnerships. We’re also interested in businesses that would like to sponsor our speaker series or participate in other ways.
Is there anything else you’d like to highlight?
Everyone is welcome! We want all our attendees to be blown away not only by the birds, but also by the other wildlife, the landscapes, and the iconic West. We call it “adventure birding”!
Also, we’re happy to offer a 10% discount code on festival registration to 10,000 Birds readers. Please use code 10KBIRDS when you register.
Are there a website or social media pages you’d like us to link to?
https://www.jacksonholebirdingfestival.com
Photos: Wild Excellence Films
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