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| Summer Reading Program kids.... Shown at the Library following completion of the "Catch the Reading Express" Summer Reading Program. |
- Rise early and come out to Carlsbad Caverns National Park on Saturday, July 17 between 5:00 and 7:00 a.m. for the 53rd Annual Bat Flight Breakfast. Over the decades, millions of people have watched the bats that live in Carlsbad Cavern fly out of the cave in the evening. However, few visit the park just before dawn in order to watch the bats as they return from their night of feeding on insects. This early morning spectacle will be celebrated this Saturday from 5 to 7 a.m. The first 120 visitors to arrive will have the opportunity to participate in one of two lantern-guided tours of Carlsbad Cavern’s natural entrance trail starting at 6:30 a.m. or 7 a.m. This tour follows a steep route, so participants must be in good physical condition. The special tour tickets are on a first-come, first-served basis, and reservations will not be accepted. There is no charge for watching the bats. Like during the evening bat flight programs, cameras are not allowed at the bat flight amphitheater. As the sun rises, fewer bats will be present, birds will begin to stir, and other programs will be offered. For example, at 7:00 a.m. rangers will demonstrate vertical caving techniques by rappelling over the lip above the cave entrance. Park visitors arriving between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. for the Bat Flight Breakfast event will receive free admission to the self-guided tours of Carlsbad Cavern for the day. All other guided tours will require a purchased ticket. The visitor center and cave will open on the usual schedule. Carlsbad Caverns Trading Company restaurant, located in the Visitor Center, will open for breakfast at 5:00 a.m. A breakfast combination meal will be offered for $7.00. Included in the meal is a burrito filled with eggs, sausage, potatoes and cheese or a yogurt and granola parfait, accompanied by one of the following drinks: orange juice, apple juice, coffee, or canned soda. Individual food and drink items will be available for purchase as well. For more information, contact Carlsbad Caverns National Park at 575-785-2232.