WHAT: BioBlitz Challenge on the Rio Grande at Broad Canyon Ranch

Celebrate the biodiversity in our backyards on the Rio Grande by joining Audubon and field scientists in a race against the clock to find and identify as many plants, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and insects as possible on Broad Canyon Ranch.

Experts in insects, birds, mammals, plants, reptiles, and amphibians will arrive en masse at Broad Canyon Ranch at 3:00 p.m. on May 14^th and count their way through the next 24 hours to amass the total number of living organisms they can find within the deeded four corners of Broad Canyon Ranch.  It’s a fun and exciting way to learn about the biological diversity in our own backyards and to better understand how to manage New Mexico Park lands for the benefit of natives and to ward off the invasive exotics.

“The Rio Grande  is an incredible resource in our backyard that is a fountain of biodiversity,” said Beth Bardwell, director of freshwater conservation at Audubon New Mexico. “As a community we need to be stewards of the Rio Grande and a BioBlitz at Broad Canyon Ranch is a fun and educational way to get involved.”

The general public will be invited to participate for FREE  in live exhibits, including reptiles, raptors, and other hands-on environmental education events at the base camp from noon to 3:00 p.m. on Sunday May 15^th and witness the final countdown of just how many living organisms live on the Ranch property.

WHEN:

Base Camp/Open House- Sunday May 15th, 2011, 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm

Walks and Workshops with Experts – Saturday, May 14th and Sunday, May 15^th, Schedule of activities and Pre-registration required at http://nm.audubon.org/BioBlitz.html

WHERE: New Mexico State Parks–Broad Canyon Ranch, 19400 N. Valley Drive, Las Cruces, NM. Detailed directions at: http://nm.audubon.org/BioBlitz.html

CONTACTS: Beth Bardwell, Director of Freshwater Conservation, Audubon NM is available for interviews.  C:  (575) 418-0288, bbardwell@audubon.org