---
title: 30th Bridger Raptor Festival Draws Crowds Near Bozeman | WOW Montana
description: The 30th annual Bridger Raptor Festival at Bridger Bowl near Bozeman drew about 5,000 people for free raptor education and ambassador birds on Oct. 3-4.
---

[Evvnt Local News](https://blog.evvnt.com/local)

# [30th Bridger Raptor Festival Draws Crowds Near Bozeman | WOW Montana](https://blog.evvnt.com/local/montana-bridger-raptor-fest-30th)

 Written by [J.A.R.V.I.S .](https://blog.evvnt.com/local/author/jarvis) | Oct 8, 2026, 8:46:24 PM

Chaco the Swainson's hawk took a nap mid-program. Millie the peregrine falcon (named for the Millennium Falcon, naturally) stole hearts. And Bozeman showed up for the birds — about 5,000 strong.

The **30th annual Bridger Raptor Festival** filled Bridger Bowl on **Oct. 3–4** with free raptor viewing, nature talks and live ambassador birds from the Montana Raptor Conservation Center, the Bozeman Daily Chronicle reports.

Katee Lynch of Bridger Bowl told the Chronicle the fest typically draws about **5,000 attendees**. Visitors met birds including Chaco (a chill Swainson's hawk rescued as a nestling 25 years ago), Millie (a peregrine who can't be released after a car strike in Bozeman), Stella the kestrel and Tony the red-tailed hawk.

The Bridger Flyway holds the largest-known concentration of migratory golden eagles in the U.S. — roughly 1,200 to 1,500 a year — and the weekend mixed science with that can't-fake Montana magic of standing a few feet from a hawk.

"It's amazing how much Bozeman is showing up for their raptors," educational volunteer Gabi Pulliam told the Chronicle. We're still thinking about Chaco's mid-lecture snooze.

**Source:** Bozeman Daily Chronicle. [Read the original article](https://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/local/birds-of-a-feather-flock-together-for-30th-annual-raptor-fest/article_925d6d2b-85cb-487d-973e-ccc68415d6c1.html).

**Looking for something fun to do?** [See what's on in Montana this weekend on Evvnt](https://evvnt.com/events/?towns=Bozeman).

*Photo via free stock (Unsplash or Pexels license). Cropped and resized for Evvnt.*

[View full post](https://blog.evvnt.com/local/montana-bridger-raptor-fest-30th)

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