Presentations

Mike shares his conservation work and storytelling projects across the Great Plains and beyond. Explore upcoming and past talks, read testimonials, and book him for your next event.

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What People Are Saying

  • “Mike delivered one of the most powerful opening plenaries we’ve ever experienced. Many attendees remarked that the session featured TED Talk–quality storytelling and truly compelling insights. One participant summed it up perfectly: ‘Best plenary I have ever attended.’

    Beyond the stage, Mike’s generosity and authenticity left a lasting impression. His book signing was exceptionally well received, and attendees deeply appreciated the genuine time and attention he gave to every single person who came for an autograph. Mike doesn’t just deliver a keynote — he creates an unforgettable experience.

     As a meeting planner, I especially appreciated how easy Mike was to work with. His kindness and professionalism made every interaction a pleasure, and I would highly recommend him as a keynote speaker for any event.”

    — Beth Miller-Tipton, CMP, Director, University of Florida/IFAS

  • “At a speaking engagement in 2025, Michael Forsberg captivated an audience of over 200 with a powerful visual and learning experience articulated with genuine caring, deep knowledge of cranes, and his kind, humble, yet charismatic personality. Mr. Forsberg’s presentation and book, along with his conservation efforts, give us joy, hope, and concern as we try to fathom the perils that birds face each day, especially the magnificent Whooping Crane as it navigates a rapidly changing world.

    — JoAnne Puckett, President, Bighorn Audubon Society

  • “Mike’s talk on Whooping Cranes left us spellbound. His photos and cinematography are breathtaking, but as a born storyteller, Mike takes an already fantastic presentation to a whole new level. We all left feeling a strong connection to these magnificent birds, many of whom we got to know by name. Following their journey through “Whooperland” was as much an emotional experience as it was an educational one.”

    — Karen Flores, President, Woodside-Atherton Garden Club

  • “Michael Forsberg provided a truly unforgettable presentation. His extraordinary images, quiet wisdom, and masterful storytelling drew us into the world of whooping cranes and sandhill cranes in a way that felt intimate, inspiring, and deeply personal. Grounded in decades of conservation work in the Great Plains and enriched by the perspective behind Into Whooperland, his presentation combined breathtaking photography with powerful storytelling and renewed our sense of the importance of conservation.”

    — Kurt Eilo, Executive Director, Alaska Forum

  • "Everything about Mike exudes care and conservation for the natural world.  His presentation, stunning photography and stories bring the Whooping Cranes and their world vividly to life. He connected us to these magnificent birds and their hidden, beautiful journey by sharing his talents, experiences and remarkable story-telling.  By the end of his presentation and our journey through “Into Whooperland” with Mike, we were changed; educated, inspired, and invested in their unforgettable stories.”

    — Woodside-Atherton Garden Club

Past & Upcoming Events

Wild Wonder Nature and Journaling Conference
Sep
15
to Sep 19

Wild Wonder Nature and Journaling Conference

Mike presents “Into Whooperland: A Photographer’s Journey with Whooping Cranes” at the Wild Wondering Nature and Journaling virtual conference. The annual Wild Wonder Nature Journaling Conference一the largest international event of its kind一gathers people who are passionate about nature, art, science, curiosity, awe, and wonder to share ideas, learn from each other, inspire each other, and have fun together in nature’s beauty.

More information here: https://www.wildwonder.org/wild-wonder-conference-2026

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Lodi Crane Festival
Nov
7

Lodi Crane Festival

Mike presents his talk, “Into Whooperland: A Photographer’s Journey with Whooping Cranes” at the Lodi Crane Festival. For 28 years, Lodi’s Sandhill Crane Festival has celebrated the return of the cranes. In partnership with the City of Lodi, the Festival tradition continues in November of 2026, welcoming an ever-growing circle of friends to our community to share the wonder of the Sandhill Crane …and so much more.

More information here: https://lodisandhillcrane.org/art-show/festival-artist/

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Festival of the Cranes
Dec
3

Festival of the Cranes

Mike is the keynote speaker at the 27th annual Festival of the Cranes.

“Immerse yourself in an awe-inspiring experience as thousands of sandhill cranes, snow geese, ducks, and a myriad of other migratory birds return to the beautiful Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. This year’s Festival will be co-hosted at the City of Socorro Convention Center and Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge and will include over 85 unique birding and photography workshops, tours, hikes and more!”

More information here: https://friendsofbosquedelapache.org/festival/

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Into Whooperland Artist Talk
Sep
8

Into Whooperland Artist Talk

  • The Dr. Edwin G. & Dorothy Balbach Davis Global Center (The Global Center) (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

UNMC and the Healing Arts Program will host an artist’s talk, “Into Whooperland,” at the Edwin G. & Dorothy Balbach Davis Global Center. This artist talk will feature photographs and digital content on display throughout the Davis Global Center – including the three-story-tall screen at the north of the atrium – from timelapse photos in whooping crane habitats to AR film footage of their migration path.

More information and registration here: https://events.nufoundation.org/index.cfm/events:register/home/eventId/698

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Alaska Forum
Feb
2
to Feb 6

Alaska Forum

Mike serves as the Keynote speaker at the Alaska Forum on the Environment in Anchorage, Alaska. The festival is February 2-6, 2026, at the Dena’Ina Center in Downtown Anchorage or online.

More info here: https://akforum.org/

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Friend Historical Society
Jan
25

Friend Historical Society

Mike presents his Cranes, Plains, and a Watershed talk for the Friend Historical Society in Friend, Nebraska.

Mike explores the world of cranes using his visual wonderland of photographs. He is an author and educator who has received national recognition for his many books, articles, and films focused on wildlife and conservation stories. Living in Lincoln, Nebraska, Mike is a sought-after speaker and has been named one of the “150 Notable Nebraskans”. In 2017, one of his sandhill crane images taken near Wood River, was selected for the NE Statehood USA Forever Stamp.

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Nancy Armitage Wildlife Lecture Series
Sep
4

Nancy Armitage Wildlife Lecture Series

The Nancy Armitage Wildlife Lecture Series features a variety of speakers each year who are leading conservation efforts around the world. On Thursday, September 4, 2025, at 6:30 PM, Mike presents his talk Into Whooperland: A Photographer’s Journey with Whooping Cranes at the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo for this series.

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Rowe Sanctuary’s 50th Anniversary
Mar
29

Rowe Sanctuary’s 50th Anniversary

Mike presents his talk, Into Whooperland: A Photographer’s Journey with Whooping Cranes, on March 29, 2025, from 1:00 – 3:30 PM at the Younes North Conference space in Kearney, Nebraska, for Rowe Sanctuary’s 50th Anniversary celebration. A book signing will precede the presentation and is from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM at this location 44450 Elm Island Road, Gibbon, 68840, NE.

More details about the presentation and registration can be found here: https://rowe.audubon.org/events/rowes-50th-anniversary-celebration-receptions-and-program
More details about the book signing can be found here: https://rowe.audubon.org/events/book-signing-whooperland-michael-forsberg

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