Banquet & Auction

Our Saturday night program includes a banquet, keynote address by a prominent "owlologist", live auction, and the presentation of the World Owl Hall of Fame Awards.

The mission of the International Festival of Owls is to:

- spark a personal connection to owls and the environments we share with them

- provide financial support for the Houston Nature Center

- stimulate tourism in the Houston area.

(c) Brenda Rone

Keynote Presentation

Twenty Tundra Summers Studying Snowy Owls

by Denver Holt, Founder and President of the Owl Research Institute in Charlo, Montana and winner of the 2012 World Owl Hall of Fame's Champion of Owls Award

This year's Snowy Owl irruption is making everyone ask "Why?" Denver Holt will share his 20 years of experience with Snowy Owls on their breeding grounds in the harsh climate of Barrow, Alaska to help sort through what we do and don't know about Snowy Owls and the current irruption. Prepare to be entertained as well as informed by Denver with his animated, passionate, engaging presentation style.

About 8:30 PM on Saturday, March 3, 2012

Owl Systematics

by Prof. Dr. Micheal Wink, Director of the Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology at the University of Heidelberg in Germany

How many species of owls are there in the world? Good question, and Prof. Dr. Wink is the man to ask. He's analyzed the DNA of most of the world's owl species to help determine when species should be lumped together or split into more than one species.

About 8:00 PM on Saturday, March 3, 2012

There will be a live auction of some spectacular owl items to benefit the Houston Nature Center following the banquet. Auction items include:

Canada Pack: Individualized Guided Bird Trip in Southern Manitoba and Great Gray Owl: On Silent Wings by Robert Taylor. donated by Manitoba Conservation and Christian Artuso
One Month's Use of a Honda Civic Hybrid Car donated by Honda Motorwerks
Fly Like an Owl (in an airplane) donated by Dale Scobie
Dinner for Two and a One Night Stay at the Hilton Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport Mall of America and a matted owl photo, courtesy of Executive Chef Eric Baker
Lanesboro Package: Two tickets to the Commonweal Theatre and a stay at The Inn at Sacred Clay Farm
Shadow box mounted Purple Owl buttery from Brazil donated by Marian Schnell
Carved Bone Owl Earrings with Turquoise on Solid Copper donated by Lane Zaffke
Owl Wall Hanging by Joyce Grier and Snowy Owl Table Decoration

The World Owl Hall of Fame awards will be presented before the keynote presentation to humans and owls who have made tremendous strides to make this world a better place for owls.

Banquet menu:

Mixed Green Salad with Poppy Seed Vinaigrette

Meatloaf with Spiraled Greens

Honey Butter Chicken Breast

Maple Glazed Root Vegetable Medley

Steamed Broccoli

Dessert Sampler: Raspberry Panacotta and Fried Ice Cream

Vegetarian Option: Chickpea Tomato Curry

5:00 PM Social Hour & Cash Bar, 6:00 PM Meal. Auction & programs to follow the meal. Saturday, March 3, 2012, Valley High Golf Club (7.5 miles east of Houston off Highway 16)

*Please note that there is no cell phone reception at Valley High Golf Club.

Cost is $30/person to attend the banquet, auction, World Owl Hall of Fame award presentation, and keynote presentation ($28 for Friends of the Houston Nature Center members). Cost is $40/person if registering February 27 or later. Limit 130. Pre-registration required, and this event is expected to sell out.

website hosted by The Owl Pages

Please note that some activities require pre-registration and separate fees. These are noted on the individual activity pages, the schedule page, and when registering.