Steamboat Springs — The Fourth annual Yampa Valley Crane Festival takes flight this weekend throughout Steamboat Springs and Hayden. Events include daily crane viewings, event speakers, films, crane art, workshops, family activities, live raptors, ranch tours, a community barbecue, guided bird and nature walks and more.

As the air turns crisp and fall descends on the Yampa Valley, the greater sandhill cranes can be found throughout the valley before their southern migration.

Friday, Sept. 11

All day: Educational crane displays will be available for viewing outside Library Hall

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Guided bird walk — Catamount Ranch, 3 to 4:30 p.m.

Bring your binoculars. This walk is open to anyone interested in learning about birds of the area. Ted Floyd — editor of “Birding” magazine, author and birder extraordinaire — will host the walk, along with Susan Dorsey, executive director of the Yampa Valley Land Trust and members of the Yampa Valley Birding Club. Meet the group at 2:45 p.m. at Catamount Ranch and Clubhouse parking lot. The walk will be at the Green Creek Ranch nearby.

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Wine and cheese reception and gallery show — Depot Arts Center, 4 to 8 p.m.

Featuring nature photographer, John Fielder, the reception is co-hosted by the Steamboat Springs Arts Council. Fee is $5, and advance registration is required.

Family activities, dessert and crane viewing — Yampavian Ranch in Hayden, 6 to 8 p.m.

The event will take place at the Yampavian Ranch in Hayden. Activities include a crane calling contest, a campfire sing-along and crane viewing. S’more and beverages will be provided, but organizers ask attendees to bring a camp chair. Attendees are welcome to drive their own vehicles or take the complimentary shuttle, which will leave the Stockbridge Transit Center at 5:30 p.m. Advance registration is required.

Saturday, Sept. 12

All day: Educational crane displays will be available for viewing outside Library Hall

Guided sunrise crane viewing — Stockbridge Transit Center, 6:15 to 8 a.m.

Keynote speaker Paul Tebbell will guide the viewing. Shuttles leave at 5:45 a.m. from the Stockbridge Transit Center, and the location of the viewing is to be announced. Organizers ask that attendees arrive a few minutes early to check in for shuttles.

• Shuttle 1 is for crane viewing only. It will depart the transit center at 5:45 a.m. and return at 8:45 a.m.

• Shuttle 2 is for crane viewing and guided bird walk. It will depart from the transit center at 5:45 a.m. and return at 10:45 a.m.

Guided bird walk — Nature Conservancy’s Yampa River Preserve in Hayden, 8:30 to 10 a.m.

The walk will be led by Ted Floyd — author, birder extraordinaire and editor of “Birding” magazine — along with members of the Yampa Valley Birding Club. Those not registered for the shuttle must provide their own transportation to the Yampa River Preserve.

Wildlife photography workshop — Bud Werner Memorial Library, 9 to 10:30 a.m.

The workshop is taught by Gerhard Assenmacher and Abby Jensen and is open to anyone interested in wildlife photography who owns a camera. The workshop will be held in the second floor conference room of the Bud Werner Memorial Library. Participants should bring one of their photos for discussion. Advance registration is required with a fee of $10. Limited to 15 participants.

Optics display— Library lawn, 10 a.m. to noon

A hands-on way to check out the newest technology in binoculars, spotting scopes and cameras with Leica and Mogil’s on the Mountain.

Guided nature/bird walk — top of Thunderhead at the Steamboat Ski Area, 10 a.m. to noon

Meet at entrance to the gondola in Gondola Square. Bring drinking water, wear sunscreen and don’t forget a camera and binoculars. Advance registration and $5 non-refundable fee are required. Number of participants is limited.

“Bird as Sign and Symbol: Writing a Nature Journal” — Bud Werner Memorial Library, 10:30 a.m. to noon

Susan de Wardt, certified journal facilitator, will lead the workshop, which is designed for adults of all levels of writing experience and combines basic techniques of field observation with the descriptive power of language. Wear clothing appropriate to the weather, as the workshop will be held outdoors. Advance registration and $10 non-refundable fee are required. Fee includes a “Rite-in-the-Rain” notebook. Number of participants is limited.

Children’s Crane Activity — Bud Werner Memorial Library, Storytime Room, 10:30 a.m. to noon.

Led by BookTrails, this activity is designed for children 5 through 8 to learn about cranes, the different parts of their bodies and how they work.

Screening of the film “Cranes of the Rockies” — Bud Werner Memorial Library, Library Hall, 12:15 to 1 p.m.

The film focuses on the Rocky Mountain population of greater sandhill cranes and was produced by Colorado videographer Michael Bennett.

Crane yard art display and silent auction — Bud Werner Memorial Library, Library lawn, 1 to 4 p.m.

Come bid on a crane or family of cranes to take home. All cranes have been decorated by talented local artists and VIPs, and all proceeds benefit the Colorado Crane Conservation Coalition, presenters of the Yampa Valley Crane Festival.

Lecture on “The Private Lives of Sandhill Cranes” — Bud Werner Memorial Library, Library Hall, 1:30 to 2:45 p.m.

Keynote speaker Paul Tebbel — crane biologist, former director of Audubon’s Rowe Sanctuary on the Platte River in Nebraska, and currently executive director of the Effie Yeaw Nature Center in California — will share his extensive knowledge of crane behaviors, vocal and body language and conservation issues.

“Bird Identification: Starting Over” — Bud Werner Memorial Library, Library Hall, 2:45 to 3:45 p.m.

Presented by “Birding” magazine editor and birder extraordinaire, Ted Floyd.

Barbecue dinner, talk, and guided crane viewing — The Nature Conservancy’s Historic Carpenter Ranch in Hayden, 4:30 to 8 p.m.

The barbecue dinner will be held at the Nature Conservancy’s Historic Carpenter Ranch in Hayden.

The community is welcome to come for all or part of the event. Attendees can provide their own transportation or register for a seat on one of the shuttles. From 4:30 to 6 p.m., enjoy the barbecue dinner prepared by the Routt County Cattlewomen or bring your own picnic dinner. At 6:45 p.m., the shuttle will leave Carpenter Ranch for a guided crane viewing with keynote speaker Paul Tebbel and wildlife biologist Van Graham. Shuttles return to the transit center at 8:45 p.m. Advance registration is required for the shuttle and if purchasing a barbecue dinner. Visit coloradocranes.org for more information.

Sunday, Sept. 13

All day: Educational crane displays will be available for viewing outside Library Hall

Guided sunrise crane viewing with the Yampa Valley Crane Festival — Locations in Routt County, 6:15 a.m.

Keynote speaker will be Paul Tebbel. Pre-registration required for shuttle.

Yampa Valley Crane Festival’s Dutch treat coffee — Wild Goose Coffee at the Granary, 8 a.m.

Dutch treats and coffee will be available at the granary.

Guided bird walk — Carpenter Ranch, 8:30 to 10 a.m.

The guided walk will be with “Birding” magazine editor Ted Floyd and the Yampa Valley Birding Club.

Ranch tour — Routt County, 9 to 10:30 a.m.

Tour a crane-friendly ag operation. There will also be a horse-drawn wagon tour. Pre-registration is required.

Sketch-a-bird workshop — Bud Werner Memorial Library, 9 to 10:30 a.m.

The workshop will be guided by Chula Beauregard using HawkQuest’s live birds and taxidermy cranes.

Historic Carpenter Ranch building tour with the Yampa Valley Crane Festival — Carpenter Ranch, 10:15 to 11:15 a.m.

13250 U.S. Highway 40, Hayden.

Crane Code — Bud Werner Memorial Library, 10:30 a.m. to noon

This event includes writing for children 7 to 10 with BookTrails and the Yampa Valley Crane Festival and will take place in the Library Storytime Room.

HawkQuest’s Live Raptors — Bud Werner Memorial Library, 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Experience live birds and learn about the different species for the Yampa Valley Crane Festival

John Fielder’s gallery show — Depot Art Center, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

1001 13th St.

Yard art cranes— Bud Werner Memorial Library, 12:45 to 4 p.m.

The yard art cranes are decorated by local artists on display for silent auction benefiting the Yampa Valley Crane Festival.

Screening of documentary film “Fledge for Freedom” — Bud Werner Memorial Library, 1 p.m.

This film, by Nina Faust, is about the challenges of raising a crane colt and teaching it to fly. It was filmed at the Kachemak Crane Watch in Homer, Alaska.

Award ceremony for 2015 Yampa Valley Crane Festival photo contest — Bud Werner Memorial Library, 2:15 p.m.

HawkQuest community talk — Bud Werner Memorial Library, 2:30 p.m.

“Birds of Prey” will be the topic of discussion with Kin Quitugua, of HawkQuest. The event is for ages 8 and older.

Yampa Valley Crane Festival film screening of “Raising Kid Colt” — Bud Werner Memorial Library, 4:15 p.m.

This film, by Nina Faust, follows the life of a sandhill crane family at the Kachemak Crane Watch in Homer, Alaska.

Monday Sept. 14

All day: Educational crane displays will be available for viewing outside Library Hall

Guided sunrise crane viewing with the Yampa Valley Crane Festival — Locations in Routt County, 6:15 a.m.

Paul Tebbel will lead the viewing as keynote speaker. Pre-registration is required for shuttle.

Crane-themed Little Crafters Storytime — Bud Werner Memorial Library, 10:30 p.m.

Children ages 2 to 5 will listen to a story about cranes and stay for a simple craft based on that story.

Yampa Valley Cranes — Bud Werner Memorial Library, noon to 1 p.m.

Crane biologist Van Graham will lead a presentation on Yampa Valley cranes.

Screening of “Cranes of the Rockies” — Bud Werner Memorial Library, 1:30 p.m.

This film focuses on the Rocky Mountain population of greater sandhill cranes and was produced by Colorado videographer Michael Bennett.

Guided sunset crane viewing— Locations in Routt County, 6 to 8:15 p.m.

Wildlife biologist Van Graham will lead the viewing. Shuttles will depart the transit center at 6 p.m.

To register for events and read more about the Colorado Crane Conservation Coalition visit the website here: http://coloradocranes.net