St. Pete's Boyd Hill Nature Preserve to Host 12th Annual Raptor Fest

St. Pete's Boyd Hill Nature Preserve to Host 12th Annual Raptor Fest

Feb. 2, 2026 - The City of St. Petersburg's Boyd Hill Nature Preserve will host its 12th Annual Raptor Fest on Saturday, February 7, from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., at 1101 Country Club Way S. This free family-friendly event invites the community to celebrate raptors, wildlife conservation, and environmental education.

Raptor Fest offers a full day of engaging activities for all ages, including:

• Live demonstrations of trained raptors in free flight

• Hands-on environmental exhibits for all ages

• Guided bird walks

• Photo opportunities with live birds of prey

• Interactive actives

• Food and drinks

Parking at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve will be limited to handicap accessible only. Free shuttle service will be provided from Lake Vista Recreation Center (1401 62nd Ave. S) and Lakewood High School (1400 54th Ave. S), with continuous transportation to and from the event site.

The mission of Raptor Fest is to support the Birds of Prey Program at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, which is home to 17 non-releasable raptors that serve as ambassadors for wildlife education. These birds, deemed non-releasable by licensed rehabilitators, are cared for by the City of St. Petersburg Parks & Recreation Department in partnership with the Friends of Boyd Hill Nature Preserve.

Each year, Raptor Fest raises more than $10,000 to support the care and well-being of these birds while drawing over 5,000 visitors and welcoming dozens of local vendors and environmental organizations.

For more information about the event or to learn how to adopt a bird of prey, visit https://www.friendsofboydhill.org/raptor-fest or contact Boyd Hill Nature Preserve at 727-893-7326.