Rocky Mountain National Park August 24 & 25, 2012

BioBlitz Comes to Rocky... What’s Inside Biological diversity, or , is National Park, and Saguaro National Park have What is a the variety of life on earth. National parks are all hosted BioBlitz events which catalogued BioBlitz? sanctuaries of biodiversity. Every year, millions thousands of . of visitors come to Rocky Mountain National On August 24 and 25, BioBlitz 2012 Park to catch glimpses of and animals will provide scientists, park visitors, and Biodiversity they don’t find at home. Scientists, too, often students with the opportunity to discover and Festival Map & choose the protected settings of national parks in experience the biodiversity of Rocky Mountain Events Schedule order to study species in relatively undisturbed National Park. Whether it’s a park visitor environments. National parks provide a unique seeing a black-billed magpie for the first time window into the rich variety of the or a scientist finding a new to Public Field natural world, because they are often science, discoveries of all kinds will be Excursions the last strongholds for species that celebrated. Excursions with have disappeared from other parts scientists into the park, of the world due to development, interpretive programs, and Biodiversity habitat fragmentation, climate activities at the Biodiversity Ranger change, or other threats. Festival at the Estes Park Since 1997, All Taxa Fairgrounds will all Programs Biotic Inventories, or ATBIs, BioBlitz: highlight the role of science have been conducted in in helping us understand various national parks around A 24 hour the complex web of life to the country to document all species which all species belong. the species found inside their Species biodiversity boundaries. Over the years, inventory provides beauty and opportunities for the ATBI has given birth to recreation. It contributes to the natural the idea of the BioBlitz. Part systems that help regulate climate, air quality, rapid biological survey and part public outreach and the cycles upon which all life, including event, a BioBlitz brings scientists, volunteers, ours, is dependent. Biodiversity provides park visitors, and students together to record a building material and ingredients for medicine. snapshot of the biodiversity in a designated area Conserving biodiversity may have benefits we do over a short amount of time. not yet even realize. Recently, the National Geographic Society To preserve biodiversity in our parks and has partnered with the to in our own backyards, we must first discover bring a large-scale BioBlitz to a different national the variety of life that exists. Our future is park each year during the decade leading up to closely tied to understanding and preserving the the National Park Service Centennial in 2016. richness of life around us. A BioBlitz is merely , D.C.’s Rock Creek Parkway, Santa the first step in this important process. The Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, appreciation and preservation that must follow Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Biscayne these discoveries is up to you.

Call Park Information (970) 586-1206 http://www. nationalgeographic.com/bioblitz with your questions. Available 8-4:30 Daily. http://www. nps.gov/romo Join the National Geographic Society and Rocky Mountain National Park for a Biodiversity Celebration! Estes Park Fairgrounds Located at the Estes Park Fairgrounds, 1209 Manford Avenue, the Biodiversity Festival is free and open to August 24 & 25, 2012 the public and does not require advance registration. Biodiversity Festival 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Free on-site parking is available at the Fairgrounds.

Ponderosa Stage Science in the City Biodiversity is everywhere--including Friday Saturday your own backyard! Learn how to 10 a.m. Playground Theatre 10:30 a.m. Puppet Show explore the living things in your A hilarious green adventure Dead Trees are Full of Life neighborhood.

11:30 a.m. Opening Ceremonies 11:30 a.m. Billy B Let the BioBlitz begin! The natural science song and dance man

1:00 p.m. Raptor Summit 12:30 p.m. Average Joe’s Game Show Meet and learn about live raptors Everyone can play, and anyone can win! Aspen Stage 2:00 p.m. Billy B 1:30 p.m. Jim Salestrom Friday Saturday The natural science song and dance man Beautiful mountain melodies 1:00 p.m. Puppet Show 10:30 a.m. Backyard Naturalists Join the mountain lion on his big adventure! Where art and science meet technology 3:00 p.m. Raptor Summit 2:30 p.m. Billy B Meet and learn about live raptors The natural science song and dance man 2:00 p.m. Average Joe’s Game Show 11:30 a.m. Tools of Adventure Everyone can play, and anyone can win! Discover the tools explorers use 4:00 p.m. Jim Salestrom 3:30 p.m. Closing Ceremonies Beautiful mountain melodies The BioBlitz ends with a species tally 3:00 p.m. Adventures in Camera 12:30 p.m. Nature Storytime Trapping Go on a bear ‘hunt’ in this bilingual storytime The inside scoop on saving wildlife 1:30 p.m. Beetlemania 4:00 p.m. Beetlemania With “Isabeetle,” a Beatles-crazy pine beetle With “Isabeetle,” a Beatles-crazy pine beetle 2:30 p.m. Last Grizzlies of the Gobi A sneak peek at a National Geographic article Exhibitor Tent Enjoy fun, hands-on activities in our exhibitor tent and throughout the festival!

Willow Amphitheater Art Alley Friday Saturday Unleash your inner artist in Art Science in Action 10 a.m. Poetry in the Rockies - A selection of 10:30 a.m. Jungle Lady - Creepy crawly critters! Alley, where kids ages 3 to 103 Rocky Mountain poems can express their creativity by Look through a microscope to 11:30 a.m. Wild Wolverines - Explore the world of the making biodiversity themed art 1:00 p.m. Macrophotography - How do tiny wild wolverine discover life in tiny places, and projects. touch some real specimens from the organisms interact? Biodiversity University 12:30 p.m. Meet Your Neighbours - Photographing field! Get your questions answered 2:00 p.m. Jungle Lady - Creepy crawly critters! wildlife in your neighborhood Earn a “degree” in Biodiversity by scientific experts. Science by completing fun activities! 4:00 p.m. Jungle Lady - Creepy crawly critters! 1:30 p.m. Jungle Lady - Creepy crawly critters! When you “graduate,” you will receive a fun, educational gift. 2:30 p.m. Poetry in the Rockies - A selection of Rocky Mountain poems

Public Field Excursions After Hours at the Festival The BioBlitz offers exciting opportunities for you to join a Bring a blanket and join us at the Estes Park Fairgrounds for a fun scientist in the field. Learn how species are sampled and This is a sample of the available opportunities: evening with live music, a presentation by National Geographic identified, and participate in a hands-on inventory. At each and International League of Conservation Photographers, and an Discovery Site, scientists will focus on a different taxonomic Friday - August 24 Saturday - August 25 outdoor movie! group, such as , , or plants.  2:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., Alpine Community 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m., Lake Estes Walk Friday, August 24, 7 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. All activities are free, but space is limited. First-come, first-serve Vascular Plants, Bacteria, or Mega and Mini Join us as we explore the wide variety of bird life found in the registration will be available at the Biodiversity Festival on the  2:45 p.m. - 5:15 p.m., Subalpine Forest riparian areas around Lake Estes. Tell us about your BioBlitz day of the event. Participants will then be bused to each site. Butterflies, Terrestrial Insects, Vascular Plants, or Trees 12:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m., Alpine Community  3:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Ponderosa Pine Forest Fungi, Vascular Plants, or Mini Flora experience on Rocky’s Facebook Page! Field activities are best suited for ages 8 and up; children under Shrubs, Ants, Baby Black Flies, or Willows  12:15 p.m. - 2:45 p.m., Subalpine Forest 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Activities will cover less  3:15 p.m. - 5:45 p.m., Lake Community Bacteria, Ferns, or Mega and Mini Mammals than one mile and last about 1 hour and 15 minutes, plus travel Birds, Diatoms, Terrestrial Insects, or Trees  12:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m., Ponderosa Pine Forest time.  3:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m., Aspen Forest Terrestrial Insects, Trees and Beetles, Invasive Plants, or Water Bugs  Please make sure to wear close-toed hiking shoes, long pants, Vascular Plants, Bees, or Water Bugs 12:45 p.m. - 3:15 p.m., Lake Community a hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses. Bring a daypack with extra  7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., Lake Estes Bird Walk Diatoms, Zooplankton, Water Bugs, or Water Plants clothing, a rain jacket, snacks, and a bottle of water. Most Join us as we explore the wide variety of bird life found in the  1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m., Aspen Forest importantly, bring your curiosity! riparian areas around Lake Estes. Vascular Plants or Birds Biodiversity Ranger Programs - In The Park All children must be accompanied by an adult Note: Programs may be cancelled at any time due to high winds or lightning Alpine & East Side Length Location FRI SAT Tundra To Trees - Explore the biodiversity of multiple life zones as you hike from alpine heights 4 hour Milner Pass 9 a.m. down through old-growth forest. Plan to carpool hike parking lot for this moderate 4-mile hike. Bring warm clothing, rain gear, water and snacks. Here Come the Beetles! - Pine bark beetles 20-30 Fall River 10 are rapidly transforming our forests. Learn what this minute talk Visitor Center a.m. means for all species who share the park.

Little Critters of Rocky - Squirrels, rabbits 30 minute Fall River 2:30 2:30 and bats: find out about the lives of Rocky’s smaller talk Visitor Center animals and the critical roles they play. p.m. p.m. Critter Clues - Put your detective skills to the 1 hour West Horseshoe 1 p.m. 1 p.m. test, uncover clues and learn about the diverse walk Parking Lot animal life in West Horseshoe Park. Fun for the whole family!

Biodiversity Stroll - The concept of biodiversity 1 hour West Horseshoe 3 p.m. 3 p.m. takes on a whole new meaning when you discover it walk Parking Lot in a mountain meadow! Join us for this exploratory stroll. BioBlitz at Beaver Meadows: 1 hour Beaver 7:30 7:30 Evening Programs - Enjoy an evening program talk Meadows about how biodiversity touches every aspect of life in p.m. p.m. Visitor Center Rocky Mountain National Park! A different program each night.

Moraine Park and Aspenglen 1 hour Moraine Park 8:30 8:30 Campground Evening Programs - Check at talk & Aspenglen p.m. p.m. Moraine Park and Aspenglen campgrounds or any Campground east side park Visitor Center for topics. A different Amphitheaters program each night in each campground. Astronomy in the Park - Is the universe home 1/2 hour End of Upper 8 p.m. to the ultimate in biodiversity? Join a park ranger and program Beaver local astronomers to discover the magic of the night followed by Meadows Road sky. Dress warmly; bring binoculars and a flashlight. viewing

High Country Tails - Come learn about amazing 30 minute Alpine Visitor 2 p.m. alpine animals and what they can tell us about living talk Center life on the mountaintops.

Biodiversity on the Wing! - Join a bird walk in 1.5 hour East Alluvial Fan 7 a.m. 7 a.m. a rich mixture of aspen, willow and pine woodlands. walk Parking Lot Bring binoculars and a field guide if you have them. All children must be accompanied by an adult West Side Note: Programs may be cancelled at any time due to high winds or lightning Length Location FRI SAT The : Secrets At The Source - 50 minutes Kawuneeche This film tells the magnificent story of the Colorado 9 a.m. Visitor Center River, key to biodiversity in America’s most dramatic Take bioblitz Home! high country and canyon lands.

A Glimpse of Paradise - This easy 3-mile 2.5 hour East Inlet 9:30 round trip hike passes Adams Falls and leads to walk Trailhead a.m. distant views of a special research natural area.

Behind the Scenes - Join a ranger to view and 1 hour Kawuneeche discuss a series of short videos documenting how 10:30 discussion Visitor Center specialists at the park address challenges like elk a.m. management, pine beetles, and bear safety. Junior Ranger Program - Join a ranger for 1 hour Kawuneeche 2 p.m. activities about the biodiversity of Rocky and earn program Visitor Center Project Noah your Junior Ranger badge. www.projectnoah.org National Geographic Fieldscope The Long and the Short - Visit a research 1 hour, Colorado 2:30 www.education.nationalgeographic.com/ exclosure to learn more about elk, moose, 1 mile walk River p.m. education/program/fieldscope and beaver. Trailhead Encyclopedia of Life www.education.eol.org Skins and Things - Examine the skins, skulls, 40 minutes Kawuneeche 3:30 3:30 antlers, teeth and bones of park mammals. Visitor Center p.m. p.m.

BioBlitz Evening Programs - Enjoy an 1 hour Kawuneeche 7 p.m. 7 p.m. evening program about the Colorado River and its presentation Visitor Center Biodiversity discovery impact on biodiversity. A different program each night. doesn’t end here...

Timber Creek Evening Program - Check 1 hour Timber Creek 8:45 8:45 Your backyard and neighborhood at the campground or Kawuneeche Visitor Center presentation Campground p.m. p.m. parks are full of new discoveries! for topics. Amphitheater Holzwarth Historic Site - Buildings are open Drop-in Holzwarth 10:30 10:30 The websites listed above can 10:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. daily. Discuss how early settlers tour Historic Site a.m. a.m. help you with a BioBlitz in your adapted to this high mountain habitat. This is a great parking area to 4:30 to 4:30 own backyard and community. family activity! p.m. p.m.