AVI KWA AME NATIONAL MONUMENT
2025 SPRING BIOBLITZ
Click below to view each day’s event page & schedule.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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WHAT IS THIS?
The Avi Kwa Ame 2025 bioblitz is a celebration of biodiversity. Scientists, naturalists, students, culture keepers and community members will join together to explore nature and take a snapshot of the diversity of Avi Kwa Ame National Monument, finding and identifying as many species as possible over a short period of time. Participants will learn new techniques for observing and collecting data about plants and animals, and help biologists answer questions about specific species. We will be identifying species and recording our observations with the iNaturalist app, which will make them available for the public and researchers to utilize in the future.
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The highlight of our Spring bioblitz is our April 25-27 weekend, filled with events open to the public and ways to learn about and explore the monument. However, the bioblitz actually lasts for all of Spring, beginning on March 20th and continuing until the first day of summer, June 20th. Participants can record species in the monument using the iNaturalist app anytime during this timeframe, so once you know how to make observations in iNaturalist, you can come back and continue to explore and share your findings.
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Avi Kwa Ame National Monument was designated by President Joseph R. Biden on the Spring Equinox in 2023, so this 2025 bioblitz event is the perfect way to celebrate the second anniversary of the area’s protection as a national monument. This landscape was protected to ensure that it remains healthy for its plant and animal residents, and for future generations of people to enjoy. So let’s come together, and get out there and look around – who knows what we will find?
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Friends of Avi Kwa Ame will have snacks and drinks available by donation at Walking Box Ranch.
Friday night dinner at Walking Box - bring your own or a dish to share with others.
Saturday night dinner at Walking Box - bring your own or order a catered box BBQ meal (details to come).
Nearby restaurants in Searchlight include McDonalds, Denny’s & Terrible’s Bar.
Convenience stores are located in Searchlight, CalNevAri, Cottonwood Cove & Palm Gardens
Nipton no longer has a store or restaurant but the Habberdashery Thrift Shop has snacks.
Cottonwood Cove Cafe @ Lake Mead National Recreation Area is open Saturday and Sunday from 8AM-3PM
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Water - Please bring plenty of water for your stay and excursions. Walking Box Ranch does not have potable running water. Friends of Avi Kwa Ame will have bottled water available.
Water bottle
Snacks & meals
Sturdy, close-toed shoes with thick soles
Sunhat
Sunscreen
Clothing layers (it will get down into the 40’s at night)
Hand sanitizer
Phone charger
Camping chairs are a great choice if you’re going to be hanging out for a while
Reusable plate/utensils for the potluck Friday Night (we’ll have disposables, but bringing reusable items helps reduce waste)
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SEARCHLIGHT - El Rey and BV Motels, Cree’s Mobile Home Park overnight RV stays
CALNEVARI - Blue Sky Motel & RV Park
COTTONWOOD COVE - Camground, RV Park, Resort Motel
PRIMM, NV - Various hotels
Additional lodging can be found in Boulder City and Laughlin. There is no lodging or services in Nipton.
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Primitive camping is available throughout the monument - no facilities are available. Check fire restrictions here before the event and remember to pack it in, pack it out.
There are two main areas that will be set up with a couple of port-o-potties: one in Wee Thump near the corral, and one down Walking Box Ranch Road near the corral.
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Avi Kwa Ame National Monument is higher in elevation than the Las Vegas Valley, and temperatures range from 10 degrees hotter to 10 degrees cooler than Vegas. In the evenings it can become suddenly cool, even on warm days. Prepare for sun and wind exposure and sudden temperature changes.
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Cell service varies throughout the monument area. Expect that some areas will have no service. It is recommended that you turn your phone to airplane mode when not in use to save your battery life.
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Select your shoes and clothing with the following things in mind:
sun exposure
bitey animals
pokey plants (cholla cactus needles are merciless and will find their way through the soles of your shoes if your footwear isn’t substantial enough)
sudden temperature changes
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Fill up your gas tank - group monument excursions will include carpooling and caravanning.
Check your spare tire.
It’s snake season. Don’t put your hands or feet anywhere you can’t visually see first.
PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS & SUPPORT
The Avi Kwa Ame Spring bioblitz is being hosted by Friends of Avi Kwa Ame and the Great Basin Bird Observatory, with additional support from Red Rock Audubon, the Nevada Department of Wildlife, the Bureau of Land Management, Nevada State Historic Preservation Office, Nevada Site Stewardship Program, the Mystery Ranch, Equinox Castle Mountain Mine, the Las Vegas Astronomical Society, the San Manuel Gaming and Hospitality Authority, and more!
We welcome donations to help us make the bioblitz a success! Please consider making a donation to Friends of Avi Kwa Ame here.
PHOTOGRAPHY & USE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Friends of Avi Kwa Ame plans to take photographs, audio, and video during our in-person events, and reserves the right to use any photograph/video taken at events without the expressed written permission of those included within the photograph/video. We may use the photograph/video in educational, news, or promotional materials, whether in print, electronic, or other forms of media, including on our website. To ensure the privacy of individuals, images will not be identified using full names or personal identifying information without written approval from the photographed subject.
The 2025 Spring Bioblitz is a public event, and by participating you are agreeing to release, defend, hold harmless and indemnify Friends of Avi Kwa Ame from any and all claims involving the use of your picture or likeness.