The Glacier Institute presents their three-part 2017 winter lecture series at the Conrad Mansion in Kalispell this Thursday. Doors open at 6 p.m. for coffee and wine, desserts, and conversation. The presentations begin at 6:30 p.m. and will end by 8 p.m. A $15 admission per person is charged to support both organizations. Seating is limited and reservations are required. Payment is required at the time of reservation. To RSVP, please call Conrad Mansion at 406-755-2166.

• “Professor Guano’s Favorite Oddball Bird Stories from Glacier Country” is Jan. 19 with Denny Olson, a local biologist and naturalist who has been using humor and theater to teach natural history for over 40 years. Olson was Critterman on NBC TV for a few years.

• “Riding the Trails ... A Look Back at Glacier’s Dude Ranch Days” is Feb. 16 with Tom Nelesen, who will take the attendees back in time to 1926 when the Great Northern Railroad was developing the Park as a dude ranch. Join the dudes and wranglers on the five-day, 69-mile south Circle Trail Ride to five of the Park’s famous chalets and hotels.

• “If Rocks Could Talk...” is March 16 with Teagan Tomlin, a geologist from the Park. It is a unique program on the Park’s geology.