A Walk in the Park with Nick Mollé

MAJOR FUNDING FOR "A WALK IN THE PARK WITH NICK MOLLE: BIRDS WITHOUT BORDERS" HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY...

THE ESTES INSTITUTE -- AN EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATION WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONSERVATION PRACTITIONERS AND STUDENT PROFESSIONALS.

IN ESTES PARK, COLORADO, WE START THINGS HERE.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN GATEWAY -- INFORMATION AND INSPIRATION.

SHOPPING AND DINING AT THE FALL RIVER ENTRANCE TO ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK.

RAMS HORN VILLAGE RESORT.

RENTAL AND VACATION OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES CLOSE TO ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK.

AND THE CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AT EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY.

Molle: "THE FORESTS ARE THE FLAGS OF NATURE.

THEY APPEAL TO ALL, AND AWAKEN INSPIRING UNIVERSAL FEELINGS.

ENTER THE FOREST, AND THE BOUNDARIES OF NATIONARE FORGOTTEN.

IT MAY BE THAT SOMETIME AN IMMORTAL PINE WILL BE THE FLAG OF A UNITED, PEACEFUL WORLD."

ENOS A.

MILLS -- FOUNDING FATHER OF ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK.

THERE IS AN EXTRAORDINARY ENVIRONMENT WE CALL ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK, AND IT IS HOME TO SOME EXTRAORDINARY INHABITANTS.

AVIAN INHABITANTS, FROM INTIMIDATING TO DIMINUTIVE, SOME CLASSICALLY COLORADO, AND SOME WITH STORIES TO TELL.

STORIES OF ADVENTURE, STORIES OF AN AMAZING JOURNEY.

STORIES OF HABITAT AND THEIR NEIGHBORS.

STORIES OF FAR-OFF LANDS AND THEIR OTHER NEIGHBORS.

SCIENTISTS ARE NOW COLLABORATING THEIR EFFORTS IN THE EXCITING, IF NOT FRUSTRATING, NOBLE PURSUIT AND STUDY OF THESE CREATURES WHO HAVE NO BORDERS.

ON A BRISK WINTER DAY IN ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK, A GROUP OF NATURALISTS IS SHARING SOME TROPICAL THOUGHTS.

MANY SPECIES OF BIRDS MAKE ANNUAL MIGRATIONS BETWEEN COSTA RICA AND ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK.

OUR PROJECT WILL FOCUS ON THE MIGRATORY HABITS OF FOUR OF THESE BIRDS.

THROUGH OUR RESEARCH, WE WILL REDISCOVER THE IMPORTANCE OF SHARED CONSERVATION AND BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND HOW CLIMATE CHANGE MAY AFFECT THESE SPECIES IN THESE VASTLY DIFFERENT, BUT STRANGELY SIMILAR ENVIRONMENTS.

THE ABLE GROUP INCLUDES, .

BEN BOBOWSKI, CHIEF OF RESOURCE STEWARDSHIP FOR ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK; FORMER PARK SUPERINTENDENT AND PRESIDENT OF THE ESTES PARK SISTER CITIES ORGANIZATION, JIM THOMPSON; AND RESEARCH BIOLOGIST JEFF CONNOR.

ALSO PRESENT ARE CINEMATOGRAPHER JOHN GOERNER, AND MYSELF, NICK MOLLE, FILMMAKER ASSIGNED TO DOCUMENT THE ADVENTURE.

AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE SISTER CITIES OF ESTES PARK AND MONTEVERDE HAVE BROUGHT ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK AND THE NATIONAL PARKS AND PROTECD AREAS OF COSTA RICA INTO AN UNPRECEDENTED COLLABORATIVE EFFORT.

THIS HAS CREATED AN EXCEPTIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR RESEARCHERS STUDYING BIRD MIGRATIONS -- STUDIES CONCERNING CORRIDOR PATTERNS, HABITAT LOSS, AND ALTERATIONS IN CLIMATE.

THE UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS OF THESE CORRIDORS RELATE TO AN ULTIMATELY FASCINATING RANGE OF MOUNTAINS, EXTENDING FROM EXTREME NORTH TO EXTREME SOUTH, COVERING TWO CONTINENTS -- MAINTAINING THEIR INTEGRITY THROUGH THE NARROWEST OF LAND STRIPS BARELY BIG ENOUGH TO HOLD A COUNTRY.

OVER 150 SPECIES OF BIRDS SHARE THE BIOSYSTEMS OF ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK AND COSTA RICA.

MORE THAN 50 OF THEM ARE KNOWN TO NEST IN THE NATIONAL PARK AND LIVE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS IN COSTA RICA.

WE ARE FOCUSING ON FOUR, BASED ON MIGRATORY STATUS, VISIBILITY, AND SUSCEPTIBILITY TO CLIMATE CHANGE -- THE WILSON'S WARBLER, YELLOW WARBLER, SWAINSON'S THRUSH, AND WESTERN TANAGER.

OUR GOAL IS TO DOCUMENT THESE RESOLUTE MIGRANTS IN ACTION IN BOTH ENVIRONMENTS.

FINDING OUR STARRING CAST IN COLORADO MEANT WAITING FOR JUST THE RIGHT TIME OF YEAR.

SPRINGTIME COMES LATE AMONG THE PEAKS OF THE ROCKIES.

OUR BIRDS ARRIVE AROUND MID-MAY.

SO JUNE IS A GOOD MONTH FOR OUR RESEARCH.

THE STANDS OF WILLOWS ALONG WITH THE MARSHES IN THE NATIONAL PARK ARE AN EXCELLENT PLACE TO BEGIN OUR PURSUIT.

YOU REFER TO THE TERM "WILLOW CARR" -- WHAT'S THAT?

Bobowski: WILLOW CARR IS AN ECOLOGICAL TERM THAT JUST DEFINES THIS AREA WHERE THERE'S HIGH CONCENTRATION OF WILLOWS, AND WHERE IT'S VERY DENSE AND THICK, AND WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF HABITAT.

AND THIS IS LIKELY WHERE WE'RE GOING TO FIND OUR WARBLERS.

AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO EXPLORE THE INTERFACE BETWEEN THE WILLOW CARRS AND THE FOREST.

AND WE'RE HOPING TO FIND SOME SWAINSON'S THRUSH THUGH THERE.

AND THEN JUST BEYOND THAT WILL BE OUR WESTERN TANAGERS UP ON THOSE SLOPES.

AND BETWEEN ALL THESE LOCATIONS, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIND ALL FOUR SPECIES.

ARE THESE AREAS THAT WE'RE GOING TO EXPLORE HERE, OR ARE THEY IN OTHER PARTS OF THE NATIONAL PARK?

WELL, THIS IS TYPICAL OF WHAT WE'LL FIND IN OUR ELEVATIONS OF THE PARK.

AND THESE WILLOW CARRS WILL GO ALL THE WAY UP TO THE ALPINE TUNDRA.

AND THE WARBLERS THAT USE THEM TELL US A STORY -- A LITTLE BIT ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE.

RIGHT NOW, THE WILSON'S WARBLER, WE SULD BE ABLE TO FIND CONSISTENTLY, ALL THE WAY UP TO ALPINE TUNDRA, BUT THE YELLOW WARBLER, IT'S GOING TO BE AT LOWER ELEVATIONS.

IF CLIMATE CHANGE IS INDEED MAKING THIS AREA WARMER, WE'D EXPECT YELLOW WARBLER TO MOVE UP TOWARDS TUNDRA OVER TIME.

Molle: AS JEFF, JIM, BEN AND I PROCEED INTO THE WILLOWS, OUR EXPECTATIONS ARE HIGH, AND IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG FOR OUR FIRST GLIMPSE.

Connor: HEAR A WILSON'S WARBLER.

WE'VE GOT ONE.

Molle: WE'VE GOT A WILSON'S IN HERE RIGHT NOW.

YEAH, WE'VE GOT A WILSON SOMEWHERE RIGHT IN THIS AREA IN HERE.

Bobowski: IS IT DOWN LOW, JEFF?

Connor: SOUNDS LIKE HE'S KIND OF RIGHT IN THE MILE, MAYBE BACK -- Molle: THERE IT IS.

YOU SEE IT?

YEAH.

WELL, HE WENT BY.

YEAH, WARBLERS ARE -- THEY'RE VERY QUICK.

THEY DON'T TEND TO SIT IN ONE PLACE VERY MUCH.

THEY TEND TO FLY AROUND A LOT.

Molle: WELL, THAT'S AN UNDERSTATEMENT.

GOOD LUCK TO JOHN WITH THE CAMERA.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT IN HERE.

Connor: THERE'S ONE LIKE TWITTERING AROUND RIGHT IN THAT WILLOW.

WE'RE -- WE'RE RIGHT AT THE SOUTHERN RANGE OF THEIR BREEDING HABITAT FOR THE SOUTHERN ROCKIES.

THEIR PRINCIPAL HABITAT IS IN CANADA, TO THE NORTH OF US.

AND THERE'S JUST A FINGER -- A SMALL, PATCHY AREA OF WILSON'S ALONG THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE.

AND SO ROCKY IS VERY FORTUNATE TO BE LOCATED RIGHT ALONG THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE, IN THAT WE HAVE A BIRD LIKE THE WILSON'S THAT GO THROUGH CENTRAL AMERICA AND COSTRICA.

SO THIS LITTLE BIRD THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT HERE GETS -- TAKES THAT TRIP, THIS PARTICULAR ONE, OR ANY OF 'EM -- COULD TAKE THAT TRIP FROM HERE ALL THE WAY TO COSTA RICA?

IN FACT, A LADY THAT WAS DOING SOME BANDING IN COSTA RICA, ONE OF HER WARBLERS THAT SHE'D BANDED IN MONTEVERDE WAS ACTUALLY CAPTURED RIGHT UP HERE IN COLORADO VERY CLOSE TO ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK.

Molle: THE PERSON JEFF IS REFERRING TO IS A NOTED BIOLOGIST -- DEBRA HAMILTON -- AND SHE WILL BE HAPPY TO HEAR THIS NEWS WHEN WE MEET WITH HER AND HER FELLOW NATURALISTS IN MONTEVERDE.

WELL, NOW WE KNOW THEY'RE HERE, GETTING A GOOD CLEAR LOOK AT THEM AND FILMING THEM IS ANOTHER STORY.

WE'RE CERTAINLY NOT GIVING UP ON THESE WARBLERS.

BUT NOW WE ARE ON THE TRAIL OF ANOTHER OF OUR FEATHERED FRIENDS -- THE BEAUTIFUL, IF NOT ORNATE, WESTERN TANAGER.

BEN, THIS LOOKS BIT LIKE THE AREA YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT FOR A POSSIBILITY FOR THE TANAGER?

Bobowski: YEAH, THIS IS EXACTLY THE KIND OF COUNTRY WE'D EXPECT TO SEE A TANAGER.

Molle: AS WE SEARCH FOR OUR TANAGER FRIENDS, WE HAPPEN UPON SOMETHING A BIT LARGER.

CONIFER FORESTS ARE A FAVORITE DOMAIN OF THE GREAT HORNED OWL.

PREYING ON RODENTS, BIRDS, AND WHATEVER ELSE THEY CAN GET THEIR TALONS INTO, THESE ARE HUGE, FORMIDABLE PREDATORS.

JEFF HAS BEEN STUDYING AND DOCUMENTING BIRDS IN THIS PARK FOR 25 YEARS.

HE HAS THE UNCANNY INSTINCTS ONLY SEASONED BIRDERS POSSESS.

IT IS NO SURPRISE WHEN HE POINTS OUT THE NEST OF A NORTHERN GOSHAWK -- ANOTHER AWESOME PREDATOR.

THIS ALREADY HEFTY CHICK WILL SOMEDAY GRACEFULLY MANEUVER ITS LARGE MASS THROUGH THESE PINES TO POUNCE ON UNSUSPECTING PREY.

CAREFULLY AVOIDING THE AREA OF ANY RETURNING MOM OR DAD GOSHAWK, WE FIND THE QUITE COMMON ROBINS THAT SHARE THIS HABITAT.

ANOTHER CLASSIC RESIDENT IS THE STUNNING WESTERN BLUEBIRD -- ALWAYS WORTH A SATISFYING FEW MINUTES OF ADMIRATION.

THESE CAVITY NESTERS SHARE THEIR RANGE WITH THEIR CLOSE RELATIVE, THE MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD.

IN THE WORDS OF MARLIN PERKINS, "WE SENT JIM IN."

AND IT WAS A GOOD IDEA BECAUSE JIM HAS FOUND A TANAGER.

ALTHOUGH A BRIEF GLIMPSE, WE KNOW THEY'RE HERE.

SPEAKING OF MARLIN PERKINS, YOU NOTICE THE RESEMBLANCE?

JIM, YOU'VE BEEN TO COSTA RICA SEVERAL TIMES.

I KNOW THAT.

I'VE BEEN DOWN THERE WITH YOU.

HAVE YOU SEEN THIS -- THESE TANAGERS?

NOT THIS EXACT ONE, BUT TANAGERS DOWN THERE?

I HAVE SEEN WESTERN TANAGERS DOWN THERE, AND I WOULD LIKE TO THINK IT WAS THE SAME INDIVIDUAL BIRD, BUT THEY CERTAINLY ARE THERE, AS WELL AS HERE A FEW MONTHS LATER.

DO THEY MAKE THE TRIP OVER THE WATER OR OVER MEXICO?

THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WE'RE TRYING TO GET ANSWERED.

WITH THIS PROJECT, WE'RE USING THE GEOLOCATORS TO FIND OUT WHERE THEY GO.

Molle: GEOLOCATORS -- HOW COOL IS THAT?

WELLEVENTUALLY, WE ARE GOING TO CONNECT WITH SOME COLLEAGUES WHO ARE GOING TO INCLUDE US IN THE PROCESS.

AS WE CONTINUE OUR SEARCH AFTER SOME MODERATE FRUSTRATIONS, IN A "WORTH THE WAIT" MOMENT, WE SPOT THE STUNNING WESTERN TANAGER.

THE COLORS OF THIS CREATURE SPEAK OF THE TROPICAL ENVIRONMENT WHERE IT SPENDS OVER HALF OF EVERY YEAR.

RESEMBLING A FLYING TEQUILA SUNRISE, THIS IS A FAVORITE OF ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIRDERS.

NESTING IN THE HIGH ELEVATIONS OF THE ROCKIES, THEY ENJOY FEEDING ON THE INSECT LIFE IN THE UPPER BRANCHES OF THE PINES, SPRUCES, AND FIRS.

THEY ALSO DINE ON FRUIT WHEN AVAILABLE, SUCH AS IN THEIR COSTA RICAN WINTER HABITAT.

WHAT A GIFT IT IS TO HAVE THE WESTERN TANAGER HERE IN OUR ROCKY MOUNTAINS.

HEY, JIM, I NOTICE YOU'VE BEEN CARRYING A GPS WITH YOU.

NOW, I ASSUME, AS A FORMER PARK SUPERINTENDENT, IT'S NOT BECAUSE YOU THINK WE'RE GOING TO GET LOST?

I DON'T THINK WE'LL GET LOST.

BUT WE MIGHT HAVE THE PLACE THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR GET LOST.

SO WE ACTUALLY RECORD THE LOCATION WHERE WE FOUND THE BIRD ON THE GPS, AND THEN WE CAN FIND THE EXACT SPOT WHEN WE COME BACK.

YOU CAN BRING US BACK HERE AND RELOCATE IT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING THE BANDING, OR THE... THAT'S RIGHT.

AND WE CAN FIND THE EXACT LOCATION WHERE WE'RE STANDING RIGHT NOW NEXT YEAR.

THAT'S GREAT.

WHERE DO YOU FIND YOUR PASSION FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN -- WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO YOU?

WHAT ABOUT THE BIRDS OF ROCKY, THE BIRDS OF COSTA RICA?

WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DISCOVERED IS INVOLVING THE SISTER CITIES PROGRAM AS I TRAVELED IN COSTA RICA, WERE THAT A LOT OF THOSE BIRDS DOWN THERE ARE BIRDS THAT I ALSO SEE HERE IN THE SUMMERTIME.

AND THIS SEEMED A COMMON THREAD BETWEEN THE TWO COMMUNITIES.

AND AS I BEGAN TALKING TO PEOPLE DOWN THERE ABOUT MIGRATORY BIRDS, INSTEAD OF JUST THE LOCAL BIRDS, AND TALKING TO PEOPLE HERE ABOUT THOSE BIRDS, THAT'S HOW THIS PROJECT GOT STARTED -- IS BECAUSE WE REALIZED THAT HERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THE ENTIRE LIFE CYCLE OF THESE BIRDS.

Molle: JIM THOMPSON HAS TRAVELED THE WORLD AS A PUBLISHED AND AWARDED ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST, AND HE HAS DEDICATED HIMSELF TO THE SISTER CITRELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MONTEVERDE, COSTA RICA, AND ESTES PARK, COLORADO.

IT WAS PRESIDENT DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER WHO CONCEIVED OF SISTER CITIES AS AN INSTRUMENT FOR WORLD PEACE.

PRECEDING HIS VISION, IT WAS ENOS MILLS, THE FATHER OF ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK, WHO WROTE, "NO NATION HAS EVER FALLEN THROUGH HAVING TOO MANY PARKS."

NOW RESPECTING THE TRADITION OF THE GREAT ENOS MILLS, FOUR GUYS ARE OUT IN THE FIELD WORKING FOR THE PRESERVATION OF FOUR LITTLE BIRDS.

CAREFUL NOT TO DISTURB OR CAUSE TOO MUCH HAVOC IN THIS VALUABLE RIPARIAN ECOSYSTEM, WE NEED TO LOCATE MORE WARBLERS.

JEFF AND JIM HAVE PREVIOUSLY SPOTTED A WILSON'S IN HERE, AND HAVE ASSURED US THAT WE CAN FIND IT TODAY AND IT WOULDN'T BE TOO DIFFICULT.

BUT WHY IS JIM WEARING WADERS AND JEFF WEARING BOOTS?

YEAH, IT SAYS "ACQUIRING SATELLITES."

Molle: "ACQUIRING SATELLITES"?

DO THEY KNOW WHERE WE ARE?

AND WHERE'S THE BIRD?

WHERE'S IT AT?

I THINK WE'RE PRETTY CLOSE.

Molle: I HOPE THAT "PRETTY CLOSE" DOESN'T MEAN STRAIGHT AHEAD.

WHAT'S THIS LAUGHTER ABOUT?

[ LAUGHS ] Molle: IT'S TIME FOR THE DIRECTOR OF THIS SHOW TO TAKE CONTROL.

I WANT YOU TO ACT, JIM.

OKAY.

[ LAUGHS ] THERE IT IS, SINGING IN CELEBRATION OF JEFF AND JIM'S REDEMPTION.

POSING FOR PICTURES, OUR MALE WILSON'S WARBLER.

THIS HANDSOME LITTLE GUY WILL SPEND HIS SUMMER DAYS HERE IN THESE MEADOWS, MOVING EVEN HIGHER IN THE WILLOW CARRS OF THE ALPINE TUNDRA WHERE, COME AUGUST, IT WILL DEPART FOR POINTS SOUTH.

PERHAPS THE SANTA ELENA CLOUD FOREST IN MONTEVERDE, COSTA RICA.

FEELING IN ANY WAY LIKE WE ARE CONTRIBUTING TO RESEARCH THAT WILL ENSURE THE CONTINUATION OF SUCH A SPECIES BRINGS ADDITIONAL CREDIBILITY TO THE TERM "ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH."

Connor: IT'S BEEN A JOY, AND THERE'S BEEN SO MANY TIMES THROUGHOUT MY LI WHERE I'VE BEEN SITTING OUT SOMEPLACE AND JUST SAYING, "WOW, WHAT AN AMAZING JOB OPPORTUNITY AND CAREER I'VE HAD, TO DO WHAT I DO."

I'VE DONE SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS OVER THE YEARS THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE COME TO DO VACATIONS TO WHAT I ACTUALLY GET PAID TO DO, AND I FEEL VERY FORTUNATE, VERY GLAD THAT I DO THAT.

WHEN BEN GOT ME INVOLVED IN THIS, I WAS LIKE, "YES, THIS IS -- THIS IS GREAT.

THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I WANT TO DO."

AND IT'S BEEN QUITE A PRIVILEGE TO WORK WITH EVERYBODY ON THIS PROJECT, AND TO SEE HOW IT'S EVOLVED, AND WHERE IT'S GOING TO GO, AND HOPEFULLY WHAT IT'S GOING TO MEAN IN THE FUTURE IN TERMS OF OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.

Molle: JEFF HAS PLAYED A PRIMARY ROLE IN THE DESIGNATION OF ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK AS A GLOBAL IMPORTANT BIRD AREA.

THIS HAS BEEN QUITE A DAY.

AMONG THE MANY BIRDS THAT WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED, WE FOUND A FLYCATCHER ON HER NEST, AND TWO BIRDS THAT ALSO APPEAR IN COSTA RICA -- THE RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD AND THE BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK.

AND JUST LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE.

THESE MOISTURE-LADEN MEADOWS PROVIDE HABITAT FOR COUNTLESS SPECIES.

AS ONE ABSORBS THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING HERE, THE WORD "PRESERVATION" TRANSFORMS FROM AN EMOTION INTO AN OBLIGATION.

THESE ARE TRULY SACRED PLACES.

BIRDERS ARE SO LUCKY TO PURSUE A LIFESTYLE THAT TAKES THEM HERE.

AFTER A FEW BRIEF -- AND I DO MEAN BRIEF -- ENCOUNTERS WITH SOME NEIGHBORING WILSONS, WHICH I'M SURE IS AMUSING A SPECTATING BROADTAIL HUMMINGBIRD, IT'S TIME TO FIND ANOTHER SPECIES.

THERE'S... WE GOT A YELLOW WARBLER IN HERE.

Bobowski: WHERE?

ABOUT MIDWAY BACK.

OH.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

IT'S BACK IN HERE SOMEWHERE.

GOOD EYE, JIM.

YEAH, IT ALSO TAKES THE -- THE HEARING, AS WELL, 'CAUSE YOU HEAR 'EM SINGING.

Connor: SOMETIMES THEY CAN BE PRETTY FAINT, BUT HE'S SINGING PRETTY LOUD.

Bobowski: NOW, JEFF, THEY'RE NESTING IN HERE, BUT AT LOWER ELEVATIONS, RIGHT?

YEAH, THEY'RE OUR LOWER ELEVATION WARBLER IN THE PARK.

YOU KNOW, YOU WON'T FIND THEM MUCH HIGHER THAN WHERE THEY ARE RIGHT HERE.

SO THEY ONLY GO UP TO ABOUT, I DON'T KNOW, LIKE 8,000, 8,500 FEET IN THE PARK, I GUESS?

NOT MUCH HIGHER THAN THAT.

SO ONE OF THE THOUGHTS IS, IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO PREDICT WITH CLIMATE CHANGE WHAT'LL HAPPEN TO THESE BIRDS.

BUT ONE THOUGHT IS THAT THEY MIGHT INCREASE IN ELEVATION ALL THE WAY TO THE TUNDRA.

YEAH, AND THAT'S -- THAT'S ONE THING WE'RE WONDERING ABOUT, IS LIKE, THE WILSON'S WARBLER IS A HIGH ELEVATION, GOES ALL THE WAY TO TREE LINE.

THE YELLOW WARBLER DOESN'T.

BUT WILL THE YELLOW CONTINUE TO MOVE UP IN ELEVATION, AND WILL IT THEN BE COMPETITIVE FOR THE WILSON'S WARBLER?

Molle: YELLOW WARBLERS ARE WIDELY DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE LOWER ELEVATIONS OF COLORADO.

HERE AT THEIR ELEVATION LIMIT, THESE WILLOW THICKETS PROVIDE PROTECTION AND A WEALTH OF INSECT LIFE FOR THEM TO DINE ON.

A COUPLE OF COOPERATIVE INDIVIDUALS HAVE GRACED US WITH THEIR PRESENCE.

JUST TRYING TO IMAGINE HOW A DELICATE LITTLE ANIMAL SUCH AS THIS MAKES A JOURNEY BACK AND FORTH TO DISTANT COSTA RICA IS MIND-BOGGLING.

WHILE WE ARE PRETTY SURE IT IS NOT NONSTOP, THE QUESTION OF WHERE THEY STOP IS OFTEN A MYSTERY.

HOW THEY DO IT WITH NO CHECKED BAGS IS AMAZING.

A SURPRISE ENCOUNTER IS ABOUT TO ADD AN ASTONISHING ADDITION TO OUR EXPERIENCE.

ON A NEIGHBORING SLOPE UP FROM THE WILLOWS, A GROUP OF SCIENTISTS FROM THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIRD OBSERVATORY HAS SET UP IN THE SHADOWS OF THE PINES AND IS CONDUCTING INTERACTIVE RESEARCH WITH THE TANAGERS.

THEY HAVE INVITED US TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PLACEMENT OF GEOLOCATORS ON THESE PRECIOUS CAPTIVES.

THIS IS A SECOND-YEAR BIRD.

IT WAS HATCHED SOMETIME LAST YEAR.

SECOND-YEAR MALE.

AND I KNOW THAT BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME REPLACED FEATHERS AND SOME RETAINED FEATHERS.

Molle: NOW AN EXPANSION OF WHAT USED TO BE PRIMARILY A BANDING PROCEDURE INCORPORATES GEOLOCATOR TECHNOLOGY.

Man: THE HARNESS IS 1.2 GRAMS.

WE'RE TRYING TO STAY 3% OR LESS OF THE BIRD'S TOTAL BODY WEIGHT.

AS LONG AS THE BIRD WEIGHS 25 GRAMS.

Molle: TINY DEVICES ARE CAREFULLY FASTENED TO THE BIRDS CREATING A FUTURE OF RESEARCH WHERE DEFINING EXACT FLIGHT PATTERNS WILL BECOME A REALITY.

SO THESE RADIO TRANSMITTERS, THEY'RE LITTLE GEOLOCATORS, IN OTHER WORDS, IT STORES THE INFORMATION?

Connor: YES.

AND THEN YOU HAVE TO RECAPTURE THATIRD.

YEAH.

AND THEN DOWNLOAD THAT INFORMATION AND GET ALL THE HISTORY AS PART OF IT.

IT'S REDEFINING HOW WE UNDERSTAND MIGRATION.

SO IT'S THE SAME METHOD THAT THEY'VE USED FOR YEARS, AS FAR AS BANDING BIRDS -- PUTTING UP NETS, AND MIST NETS, AND...?

YOU STILL HAVE TO CAPTURE THE BIRD SOMEHOW.

CAPTURE THE BIRD, BAND THEM, AND LET THEM GO.

NOW WE'RE BANDING THEM AND PUTTING A LITTLE BACKPACK ON THEM.

THEN LETTING THEM LOOSE.

AND WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?

WELL, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS CONSERVE THESE SPECIES FOR THE FUTURE.

AND OFTENTIMES WHEN PEOPLE EXPERIENCE THE OUT OF DOORS, THEY SEE A BIRD, THEY SAY IT'S A BLUE BIRD, OR A BLACK BIRD.

THEY IDENTIFY IT BY COLOR.

BUT WHAT WE'RE HOPING IS THROUGH THIS EXPERIENCE IS THAT FOLKS WHO ARE FAMILIAR WITH BIRDS GET TO KNOW THE INDIVIDUAL SPECIES, AND THEN HOW FAR THEY TVEL.

THEIR LONG-TERM CONSERVATION DEPENDS UPON IT.

Molle: WITH STOPS IN ARIZONA, TEXAS, MEXICO, AND THROUGHOUT CENTRAL AMERICA, CONSERVATION IS A MULTI-NATIONAL EFFORT.

THOUGH UNHAPPY DURING A FEW BRIEF MOMENTS OF HUMAN INTERACTION, TSE BIRDS ARE CAREFULLY RELEASED, AND WILL SOON FLY SOUTH, GATHERING CRITICAL DATA TO ENSURE THE PRESERVATION OF THEIR SPECIES.

WE'LL CATCH 'EM AGAIN NEXT YEAR AND DOWNLOAD THE DATA, AND FIGURE OUT WHERE HE SPENT THE WINTER, AND WHAT HIS MIGRATORY PATHWAY WAS.

AND THAT'S THE GOAL.

JUST LET HIM GO.

Bobowski: FUNDAMENTALLY, I KIND OF LOOK AT IT -- THIS IS MY WATCH.

AND WHILE I'M ON MY WATCH, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I CAN LEAVE THE RESOURCES IN A CONDITION, AT LEAST AS GOOD AS I FOUND THEM, IF NOT BETTER.

AND SO BEING ABLE TO PASS THAT TORCH ALONG TO THE NEXT GENERATION IS PRETTY IMPORTANT TO ME.

AND SUCCESS OF THIS PROJECT, WE CAN'T DO IT ROCKY ALONE.

WE HAVE TO -- WE HAVE TO NECESSARILY WORK ACROSS A LOT OF BORDERS, A LOT OF BUREAUCRACIES WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE OF A LOT OF DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS TO HAVE SUCCESS.

SO THAT'S WHY I'M INVESTING A LOT OF ENERGY IN THIS, 'CAUSE I THINK IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO, AND I THINK IT'S THE NECESSARY NEXT STEP TO ENSURE THAT THESE BIRDS ARE HERE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.

Molle: AFTER SPENDING JUST A LITTLE TIME WITH BEN, YOU QUICKLY BECOME CONVINCED OF THE IMPORTANCE OF SHARED CONSERVATION, AND THE SPECIAL ROLE FIELD BIOLOGISTS AND CITIZEN SCIENTISTS HAVE IN THE PRESERVATION OF THESE SPECIES.

WELL, NOW WE HAVE ANOTHER SPECIES TO FIND.

THE SWAINSON'S THRUSH LIVES AND NESTS IN THE CONIFERS OF ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK, ESPECIALLY FAVORING AREAS NEAR THE FLOWING STREAMS WHERE MOIST SOIL SUPPORTS A POPULATION OF EARTHWORMS AND GRUBS THEY SO LIKE TO FEED ON.

AT FIRST OBSERVATION, I CAN SEE THAT THIS WILL NOT BE ANY EASIER THAN FILMING OUR OTHER RELUCTANT SUBJECTS.

IS THAT ONE?

OR THAT ONE?

OR... WE HAVE RECONNECTED WITH OUR FRIENDS FROM THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIRD OBSERVATORY, AND SET UP MIST NETS, HOPING FOR THE SAME RESULTS WE HAD WITH THE TANAGERS.

WHILE PLAYING RECORDED CALLS WITH THE NETS AND DECO IN PLACE, ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS WAIT.

[ BIRD CALLS PLAYING ] AND WAIT.

AND WHERE DID JEFF DISAPPEAR TO?

TAKING A BREAK FROM TAKING A BREAK, JIM AND I ARE OFF TO FIND JEFF.

JIM'S TRUSTY GPS WILL HELP SINCE HE HAS A PRETTY GOODDEA OF WHERE TO LOOK THEYAD PREVIOUSLY SPOTTED A SWAINSON'S IN HERE.

WELL, WE FOUND JEFF, BUT WHY IS HE WATCHING US?

OR IS HE WATCHING SOMETHING BETWEEN US AND HIM?

CAREFUL NOT TO DISTURB WHATEVER IT IS, I HAVE TAKEN THE LONG WAY AROUND.

HE HAS A SWAINSON'S IN HIS SIGHTS.

SHE IS SITTING ON HER EGGS, AND NOT ABOUT TO GO ANYWHERE UNLESS FORCED TO.

WE DEFINITELY DO NOT WANT TO DISTURB HER.

GUESSING AS TO HOW MUCH LONGER IT WILL BE BEFORE THEY HATCH AND FLEDGE, WE PLAN TO RETURN.

A FEW DAYS LATER, WE REALIZED THAT WE HAVE BEEN AT THIS NOW FOR SEVERAL WEEKS, AND WITH SUMMER RAPIDLY CONTEMPLATING A CONCLUSION, WE WANT TO SEE OUR WILSONS AT TREE LINE BEFORE THEY LEAVE.

HOME TO ELK, VARMINTS, PIKAS, PIPITS, AND HORNED LARKS, THIS IS THE ELEVATION LIMIT FOR WILSON'S WARBLERS IN ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK.

JUST BELOW THE EDGE OF THE TUNDRA IS THE KRUMMHOLZ FOREST, WHERE STUNTED TREES MIX WITH A WILLOW CARR WHERE WE WILL FIND OUR WILSON'S.

AND WE DO, BRIEFLY.

COULD THIS BE HIS IT FOR POINTS SOUTH?

WHILE MIGRATION IS HAPPENING BEFORE OUR EYES, WE NEED TO WRAP UP OUR WORK HERE AND PREPARE FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER.

AND WITH VISIONS OF COSTA RICA ON OUR MINDS, WE HAVE TWO MORE STOPS TO MAKE HERE IN COLORADO.

RETURNING TO THE SWAINSON'S THRUSH NEST, I CAN SEE THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG.

DID A PREDATOR WREAK HAVOC HERE?

IN NATURE, STUFF HAPPENS.

OR IT COULD BE THAT I'M TOO LATE, AND THEY HAVE FLEDGED ALREADY, AND ARE GONE -- GONE SOUTH.

I PREFER THE POSITIVE THOUGHT, AND HOPE THAT THE SWAINSON'S FAMILY IS SAFELY ON THEIR WAY TO COSTA RICA.

SEVERAL STUDENTS FROM THE SANTA ELENA CLOUD FOREST IN MONTEVERDE ARE HERE IN COLORADO AS A PART OF OUR SISTER CITY SCIENCE EXCHANGE.

IN CONNECTION WITH THIS PROJECT, RESEARCHERS HAVE TAKEN THEM TO MEET WITH A BANDING OPERATION RUN BY THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIRD OBSERVATORY AT A LAKE NEAR DENVER -- A LAKE WHICH COULD BE ONE OF THE FIRST STOPS FOR OUR BIRDS, LIKE THIS YELLOW WARBLER, AS THEY LEAVE THE ROCKIES.

JEFF HAS POINTED OUT TO ME THAT THIS IS THE VERY PLACE THAT CAPTURED THE WILSON'S WARBLER THAT WAS BANDED IN MONTEVERDE.

THAT'S FANTASTIC.

Molle: THESE DEDICATED STUDENTS FROM THE ACCOMPANIED BY OUR FRIENDS FROM MONTEVERDE -- GRETHEL, ISAAC, AND WALTER.

THEY WILL BE A MAJOR PART OF OUR TEAM AS WE SEARCH THE CLOUD FOREST, RAIN FOREST, AND DRY FOREST OF COSTA RICA.

NOW AS ONE LITTLE WARBLER LEAVES MY HD, AND HEADS INEVITABLY SOUTH, I, TOO, WILL PREPARE TO DO THE SAME.

MY FIRST EXPERIENCE IN COSTA RICA WAS ON A FILMING EXPEDITION SEVER YEARS AGO, OPENING MY EYES TO AN EXCEPTIONAL AND WONDROUS LAND, CONSISTING OF AMAZINGLY DIVERSE ECOSYSTEMS STEWARDED BY PEOPLE WITH AN ADMIRABLE ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE ENVIRONMENT, AND A TRUE SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY.

THIS NARROW STRETCH OF VOLCANIC HANDIWORK MAY BE BARELY BIG ENOUGH TO HOLD A COUNTRY, BUT WHAT A COUNTRY THIS IS.

OVER 25% OF THIS NATION HAS BEEN SET ASIDE AS NATIONAL PARKS AND PRESERVED AREAS -- MORE THAN ANY OTHER COUNTRY ON EARTH.

IN THE CENTER OF THIS ECOLOGICAL WONDERLAND IS A PLACE WHERE WEALTH IS MEASURED IN LIVING BEAUTY -- A PLACE CALLED MONTEVERDE.

NOW BEN AND I ARE HERE AT THE ENTRANCING SANTA ELENA CLOUD FOREST.

WITH JEFF AND JIM SOON TO JOIN US, AND NO TIME TO SPARE, WE HAVE A JOB TO DO.

IN A TWO-WEEK PERIOD OF TIME, WE NEED TO FIND FOUR SMALL BIRDS AMONG HUNDREDS OF THEIR NEIGHBORS.

WHAT WILL WE SEE?

TO ENSURE OUR SUCCESS, MARIA, MANAGER OF THE RESERVE, HAS ARRANGED ASSISTANCE FROM MY FRIEND JOHNNY PEREZ, A SEASONED GUIDE AND EXCEPTIONAL NATURALIST WHO POSSESSES AN INTIMATE KNOWLEDGE OF THE FORESTS OF MONTEVERDE.

SOME MIGRATE FROM YOUR PLACE TO HERE.

BUT SOME THAT WE HAVE ARE UNIQUE TO THIS PLACE.

SO I THINK TODAY IT'S NICE, BECAUSE IT'S CLOUDY.

SO THIS IS A GOOD THING FOR US.

Molle: WELL, IT IS A CLOUD FOREST.

THE WILSON'S WARBLER ARRIVES IN COSTA RICA IN OCTOBER AND OCCUPIES HIGHER ELEVATION FORESTS.

IN THIS CASE, THE CORDILLERA TILARAN MOUNTAINOUS REGION, PRECISELY ON THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE.

THE UNIQUE CLIMATE OF THE DIVIDE IN COSTA RICA CREATES THE CLASSIC CLOUD FOREST BIOSYSTEM.

WARM, MOIST AIR FROM THE ATLANTIC SIDE IS CARRIED UP ON TRADE WINDS FROM THE CARIBBEAN, WHERE IT MIXES WITH THE DRIER, PACIFIC AIR, AND DELIVERS AN ALMOST OMNIPRESENT SHROUD OF CLOUDS.

AS IN COLORADO, THE ALTITUDE SEEMS TO BE A DRAW FOR THE WILSON'S.

SEARCHING THE CLOUD FOREST FOR A WILSON'S WARBLER, IT IS APPARENT THAT FILMING WILL NOT BE AT THE SAME LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY AS IT WAS IN COLORADO -- THIS WILL BE HARDER.

WITH JIM AND JEFF NOW HAVING CAUGHT UP TO US ON THE TRAIL, THEIR TRAINED EYES ARE A WELCOME ADDITION.

THERE, BUT... ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE IS THAT MIXED FLOCKS ARE QUITE COMMON.

YOU SEE MANY BIRDS ALTOGETHER.

SO ONE OF THEM IS THE WILSON'S WARBLER.

ONE OF THEM UP THERE RIGHT NOW?

I JUST HEAR IT, BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN IT YET.

COUPLE HUMMINGBIRDS, AS WELL.

WHAT ARE THOSE RIGHT UP THERE?

THOSE ARE COMMON BUSH TANAGERS.

OKAY.

UM, AND ALSO I SEE A RUDDY TREERUNNER -- THE ONE HANGING FROM THE BRANCH.

THE LITTLE ORANGE AND BROWN BIRD.

Molle: SCANNING THE BRANCHES, JOHNNY SEES AND IDENTIFIES SEVERAL SMALBIRDS.

AT THIS DISTANCE AND BACKLIT, I'M AMAZED AT HOW HE IDENTIFIES THEM.

YOU CAN TELL FROM HERE THAT THAT'S A COMMON BUSH TANAGER -- NOT THE ONE WE'RE LOOKING FOR?

NO, THE WAY HOW THEY MOVE, THE CALL... BECAUSE BY COLOR, IT'S HARD TO TELL, BY THE CALL IS FOR SURE, YOU KNOW?

Molle: ONE OF THE MOST COVETED SIGHTINGS FOR BIRDERS WHO COME TO COSTA RICA IS THE RESPLENDENT QUETZAL.

THANKS TO JOHNNY, I HAVE SEEN THEM ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, INCLUDING RIGHT NOW.

THE QUETZAL IS ONE OF THE NEAR-THREATENED SPECIES IN CENTRAL AMERICA.

HABITAT LOSS AND CORRIDOR DESTRUCTION ARE CONSIDERED THE MAIN CULPRITS.

FEEDING ON WILD AVOCADOS AT A VARIETY OF ALTITUDE-RELATED BIOSYSTEMS, THIS YOUNG MALE WILL BENEFIT FROM THE EXTENSIVE CONSERVATION EFFORTS IN COSTA RICA.

AFTER A CLOSE ENCOUNTER WITH A CURIOUS YELLOW-THIGHED FINCH, AND A THREE-STRIPED WARBLER, WE STILL HAVEN'T FOUND OUR WILSON'S.

WITH TIME RUNNING OUT ON OUR FIRST DAY, WE ARE RETURNING TO THE HEADQUARTERS, WHEN I SPOT A LARGE BIRD SITTING ALMOST CLUMSILY ON A BRANCH SEEMING TOO SMALL FOR SUCH AN ANIMAL MASS.

IT IS A BLACK GUAN.

RELATED TO A TURKEY, THE OLD-TIMERS IN TOWN CALL THEM "FLYING SOUP."

ALTHOUGH NO LONGER LEGAL FOR SUCH A FATE, IT IS AN UNDERSTANDABLE MONIKER.

NOW, THEY LOOK BIG, BUT REMEMBER THAT BIRDS, FOR EXAMPLE, HAVE THEIR BONES HOLLOW.

THAT'S WHY THEY -- LOOK AT THAT.

IT'S JUST SITTING ON THE LITTLE FERN.

SO IT'S NOT A HEAVY ONE.

IN FACT, IT'S VERY LIGHT.

Molle: THE NEXT DAY, AFTER MEETING AT THE SANTA ELENA HEADQUARTERS, WE HAVE PLANNED OUR ATTACK.

WE WILL SPEND THIS DAY SEARCHING ADDITIONAL SECTIONS OF THE CLOUFOREST.

HOW MANY PEOPLE COME THROUGH HERE IN A TYPICAL DAY?

WELL, USUALLY, A COUPLE HUNDRED PEOPLE.

Molle: AFTER NUMEROUS CLOSE ENCOUNTERS, WE FINALLY CATCH A GLIMPSE OF A WILSON'S WARBLER.

AND THANKFULLY, ANOTHER.

THE REST OF OUR DAY IS SPENT INVESTIGATING EVERY BEAUTIFUL CORNER OF MONTEVERDE, UNTIL MORE WILSON'S GRACIOUSLY APPEAR FOR THEIR PHOTO OPS.

GRANTED OUR WISHES BY THIS ENCHANTED FOREST, A SPECIAL DAY IN MONTEVERDE IS NEARLY OVER.

A SPECIAL NIGHT, HOWEVER, HAS JUST BEGUN.

ONE OF THE MOST FASCINATING TRADITIONS AMONG ADVENTURERS IN COSTA RICA IS THE NIGHT HIKE -- DEFINITELY DIFFERENT, A LITTLE DAUNTING, A BIT OMINOUS, AND ALWAYS EXCITING.

THE FOREST TAKES ON A CHARACTER HARD TO EXPLAIN.

THE CREATURES ARE IN THEIR ALTERNATE FRAME OF MIND.

SOME ARE SLEEPING, SOME ARE DINING, AND SOME ARE HUNTING.

THE NORMALLY DIFFICULT TO DEFINE DAYTIME BALL OF FUR, TWO-TOED SLOTH, COMES TO LIFE AS ONE OF THE WONDERS OF THE NIGHT.

BUT WILL WE FIND BIRDS?

WE WILL -- BEGINNING WITH THIS LONG-TAILED MANNEQUIN.

THESE SAME INDIVIDUALS SO HARD TO FILM DURING THE DAY ARE PERCHED FOR THE NIGHT, AS IS THE SUMMER TANAGER, AND THE OPPORTUNISTIC BROWN JAY.

IT IS ONE OF THE -- AGAIN, ONE OF THE SPECIES THAT WE HAVE SEEN MOVING UPHILL MORE AND MORE, FROM LOWER ELEVATION UP TO THE CLOUD FOREST.

Molle: IS THAT A RESULT OF THE CLIMATE CHANGING, YOU THINK, OR...?

WE BELIEVE IT'S -- ABOUT THE CHANGE OF THE CLIMATE.

SO THIS IS ONE OF THOSE MOVING UP, LIKE KEEL-BILLED TOUCANS, AND SOME OTHER BIRDS.

THERE'S ONLY SO HIGH THEY CAN GO.

YEAH, I MEAN, THEY CAN FLY, AND WHEN IT'S DRY, THEY CAN MOVE ALL THE WAY UP.

AND THEN THAT'S IT.

YEAH.

AND FOR SOME OF THOSE ANIMALS, LIKE, BIRDS THAT WE HAVE IN THE CLOUD FOREST, IT'S A PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE MORE SPECIES FOR COMPETITION, BUT ALSO THIS IS ONE OF THE BIRDS THAT EAT THE EGGS OF THE BIRDS, AND ALSO THE BABIES, THE CHICKS.

SO IT'S MORE ENEMIES THEY HAVE, LIKE FOR QUETZALS AND SOME OTHER ONES.

Molle: THE WOOD THRUSH RESEMBLES THE SWAINSON'S THRUSH, ONLY WITH MORE SPOTS, AND A MORE PROMINENT RED-BROWN COLOR ON ITS HEAD AND BACK.

IT TRAVELS TO THE UNITED STATES, AND WE ARE MORE THAN HAPPY TO MAKE ITS ACQUAINTANCE.

IT DOES NOT TYPICALLY TRAVEL TO COLORADO.

ALTHOUGH IT IS WISE TO WATCH WHERE YOU PUT YOUR FINGERS IN THE FOREST, THE WAY LESS DANGEROUS THAN ITS REPUTATION ORANGE-KNEED TARANTULA HAS A VENOM THAT DOES NOT LIVE UP TO ITS HOLLYWOOD PORTRAYAL.

THE UNINITIATED IS MORE LIKELY TO DIE OF FRIGHT.

THE VENOM OF THE SIDE-STRIPED PALM VIPER IS ANOTHER STORY.

THESE EMERALD SERPENTS DESCEND AT NIGHT TO AWAIT A PASSING POTENTIAL MEAL.

IT'S A PRETTY GOOD-LOOKING SNAKE.

WELL...YEAH.

IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER?

GEA LITTLE CLOSER?

GO AHEAD.

I CAN WAIT HERE.

Molle: WITH MORE DAZZLING DISCOVERIES LIKE THIS GOLDEN BEETLE, THIS HAS BEEN QUITE A NIGHT.

BUT WE CANNOT LEAVE THIS PLACE UNTIL WE FIND A SWAINSON'S THRUSH.

WITH HOPE DWINDLING, JOHNNY KNOWS THEY ARE HERE.

BUT WHERE?

THERE IT IS.

A SWAINSON'S THRUSH JUST WAITING FOR US, PERCHED IN THE WIND.

WHETHER STAYING HERE FOR THE WINTER OR MOVING ON TO SOUTH AMERICA, THIS ONE IS HERE NOW, AND WE HAVE TWO OF OUR FOUR BIRDS SIGHTED AND CHECKED OFF THE LIST.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK, YEAH.

SO THIS IS ANOTHER BIRD ON OUR LIST.

WITH A SCHEDULED MEETING IN THE MORNING, IT'S TIME FOR US TO END THIS AMAZING HIKE.

MORNING FINDS US COLLABORATING OUR EFFORTS WITH SOME OF THE MOST HIGHLY QUALIFIED NATURALISTS IN COSTA RICA.

THEY ARE HERE TO DISCUSS THE CHANGES TAKING PLACE IN CLIMATE, HABITAT, AND MIGRATORY CORRIDORS.

WORD HAS IT THAT BOTH THE YELLOW WARBLER AND WESTERN TANAGER HAVE ENTERED THE COUNTRY THROUGH NICARAGUA -- SOMEHOW AVOIDING THE BORDER PATROL -- AND HAVE BEEN SIGHTED IN PALO VERDE NATIONAL PARK.

WASTING NO TIME, AND HAPPY TO HAVE ADDED SOME MORE EXPERTISE TO OUR ENTOURAGE, WE ARE HEADED NORTH ON THE TEMPISQUE RIVER.

THE BOAT RIDE ITSELF IS QUITE AN ADVENTURE.

WATERBIRDS ABOUND ALONG THIS RIVER, AND JIM EVEN POINTED OUT THE NON-MIGRATORY MANGROVE WARBLER, WHICH IS JUST A CHROMOSOME OR TWO AWAY FROM THE YELLOW WARBLER.

FILMING FROM THE BOAT CAN BE DIFFICULT, BUT I PREFER NOT TO GO ASHORE JUST YET.

THE AMERICAN SALTWATER CROCODILE THRIVES INHIS AREA, AS DOES THE NOT-SO-DANGEROUS CTENOSAUR, OR BLACK IGUANA, AND THE HUGE GREEN IGUANA.

VARIOUS HERONS, EGRETS, AN IBIS OR TWO, AND A COUPLE OF MIGRANTS THAT MAKE THE TRIP FROM COLORADO -- A SPOTTED SANDPIPER, AND A FAVORITE OF MINE, THE OSPREY -- REPRESENT JUST SOME OF THE WEALTH OF THE BIRD LIFE ON THE TEMPISQUE.

JEFF AND JIM HAVE JUST INFORMED US THAT THEY HAVE SIGHTED A HUGE BOA CONSTRICTOR SWIMMING ALONGSIDE THE BOAT, BUT IT DISAPPEARED INTO THE WEEDS BEFORE WE COULD SWING OUR CAMERAS AROUND.

AND WITH NO PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE, IT WILL REMAIN FOREVER GIGANTIC, AND EVEN GROW A LITTLE LARGER WITH EACH TELLING OF THE STORY.

MAYBE 20 FEET LONG.

YEAH.

Molle: A LARGE, IMPRESSIVE WOOD STORK REMINDS US THAT WE ARE APPROACHING PALO VERDE NATIONAL PARK.

WITH NO TIME TO SPARE, WE ARE HONORED TO BE EXPLORING ANOTHER ONE OF COSTA RICA'S NATURAL WONDERS.

A VISIT TO PALO VERDE NATIONAL PARK IS COVETED BY NATURALISTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

A UNIQUE DRY FOREST ENVIRONMENT MEANS THAT THERE ARE TRUE DRY AND RAINY SEASONS, WITH DECEMBER TO APRIL BEING THE DRY.

THIS IS WHEN HUGE NUMBERS OF BIRDS CONGREGATE ALONG THE WATERHOLES AND LAGOONS.

FLOCKS OF SEVERAL SPECIES OF DUCKS, SHORE BIRDS, WOOD STORKS, AND EVEN THE EXTREMELY ENDANGERED JABIRU STORK, CAN BE FOUND IN THESE WETLANDS -- A MOST MEMORABLE PLACE.

Artavia: THAT IS A JABIRU.

IT'S A REALLY ENDANGERED SPECIES.

WE HAVE -- I DON'T KNOW -- MAYBE MORE THAN 30 OF THEM IN COSTA RICA.

I THINK IT'S THE ONE SITTING RIGHT IN THE OPEN RIGHT NOW.

OH, THERE IT IS.

YEAH.

WE HAVE BEEN INVITED FOR A RARE VIEWING OF A NEST WHERE JABIRU CHICKS ARE ABOUT TO FLEDGE.

JUST VISITING HERE IS A SENSITIVE UNDERTAKING.

IT'S WORTH NOTING THAT IN PLACES LIKE THIS AROUND THE WORLD, RANGERS PUT THEMSELVES AT RISK TO PROTECTHE SPECIES.

SO WE FOUND THE RARE JABIRU STORK.

NOW CAN WE FIND THE YELLOW WARBLER?

WELL, NOT TONIGHT.

WE'RE GETTING TO OUR BUNKS A LITTLE LATE.

THERE'S A FEW INTERESTING CRITTERS ALONG THE WAY, RIGHT WHERE THEY BELONG -- NOT IN OUR BUNKS.

THIS MORNING WE ARE HAPPILY AT IT AGAIN.

WITH JOHNNY, ISAAC, AND GRETHEL LEADING THE WAY, WE ARE CHASING WARBLERS.

NOT HANDSOME PYGMY OWLS, NOT STUNNING SCARLET MACAWS -- WARBLERS.

IF WOULD BE A LOT EASIER IF WE WERE CHASING MONKEYS.

MENACING WHITE-FACED, GRUMPY HOWLERS, AND EVEN THE SHY SPIDER MONKEYS, ARE CONDUCTING INVESTIGATIONS.

AND THEN WE HAVE IT -- A YELLOW WARBLER, FLITTING AROUND, OF COURSE, IN THE TREETOPS.

YELLOW WARBLERS HEAD SOUTH TO CENTRAL AMERICA EARLY IN THE FALL.

ALTHOUGH FOUND IN HIGHER ELEVATION AREAS LIKE MONTEVERDE, THEY ARE OFTEN SEEN IN MANGROVES, AND THEY LIKE TO HANG OUT NEAR THE WATER IN THESE LOWLAND DRY FORESTS.

THESE BIRDS ARE SURVIVORS -- SMALL, BUT TOUGH.

THEY ARE REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN SEEN FLYING OVER THE GULF OF MEXICO.

WITH THREE OF OUR FOUR BIRDS CHECKED OFF OUR LIST, WE ARE IN PURSUIT OF NUMBER FOUR.

THE WESTERN TANAGER IS NOT EASY TO FIND IN COSTA RICA.

BUT WE KNOW THEY ARE HERE.

WHEN I CATCH UP WITH BEN AND JOHNNY, APPROPRIATELY ON THIS SUMMIT, THEY ARE SETTLING AN INTERNATIONAL DISPUTE -- WHOSE BIRDS ARE THEY?

Bobowski: SO THEY REALLY ONLY SPEND A FEW MONTHS UP IN NORTH AMERICA.

Artavia: YEAH, THEY ARE FROM THERE, THEY ARE FROM THAT PLACE, BUT THEY STAY MORE TIME, I THINK, HERE.

BUT IT MAKES SENSE THAT WE WORK TOGETHER.

YEAH, THAT'S THE THING.

I MEAN, WORKING TOGETHER IN CONSERVATION IS SEEN AS THE BEST WAY.

BECAUSE YOU GUYS PROTECT THE FOREST THERE, BUT IF WE DON'T DO IT HERE, THEY WILL BE IN TROUBLE.

OR YOU CAN DO THE SAME HERE, BUT YOU DON'T DO IT THERE...

THE SAME THING, SO... VERY GOOD.

THERE ARE SOME SPECIES THAT MIGRATE FROM HERE UP TO THE CLOUD FOREST, LIKE LLBIRDS.

BELLBIRDS MIGRATE AT SO MANY PLACES.

AND THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE NEED TO HAVE ALL THESE PLACES CONNECTED BY CORRIDORS.

SO YOU'VE BEEN DOING THAT FOR A FEW YEARS?

UM, THE MORE LAST THREE YEARS.

MORE INTEREST FROM THE GOVERNMENT AND HAVE AREAS CONNECTED, LIKE SPECIES THAT MIGRATE -- AND THAT'S WHY.

BUT ALSO THE IDEA IS NOT MOVING PEOPLE OUT OF THOSE FARMLANDS.

SO PEOPLE CAN STAY THERE, BUT TEACHING THEM HOW THEY CAN SURVIVE IN THOSE PLACES.

WITHOUT CUTTING DOWN TREES, WITHOUT HARMING, AND PROTECTING MORE OF THE ANIMALS THAT MIGRATE THROUGH THOSE PLACES.

SO THE CONSERVATION INCLUDES THE PEOPLE.

EXACTLY.

I MEAN, THERE CANNOT BE CONSERVATION WITHOUT PEOPLE.

Molle: THERE IS A WESTERN TANAGER SOMEWHERE IN THIS COUNTRY, SOMEWHERE AMONG THE BEAUTIFUL BIRDS OF COSTA RICA.

WILLING TO DIVIDE AND CONQUER, WE ARE FANNING OUT TO INCREASE OUR ODDS.

YOU GO THERE, YOU GO THERE, I'LL GO...

I'M LOST.

AFTER FINDING MY CORRIDOR BACK TO THE GROUP, I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT JOHNNY'S WORDS CONCERNING INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION, AND I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR BEN.

TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE CORRIDOR.

YEAH, SO THE IDEA OF A CORRIDOR IS NO DIFFERENT THAN A HIGHWAY.

IMAGINE JUST US DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD.

IT'S THE SAME THING FOR BIRDS.

THEY NEED A WAY TO GET FROM POINT "A" TO POINT "B."

AND THESE CORRIDORS THAT ARE PROTECTED IN COSTA RICA, AND FOR US, THE LONGESCORRIDOR IS BETWEEN US AND NOW COLORADO, ALLOW THOSE CREATURES TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH.

Molle: IT SEEMS THAT OUR SISTER CITY RELATIONSHIP IS NOW PLAYING A ROLE IN GLOBAL CONSERVATION EFFORTS.

I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK THAT MR. MILLS AND MR. EINHOWER WOULD BE PROUD.

LEAVING THE INTREPID BEAUTY OF THE LOWLAND FOREST BEHIND, WE ARE HEADED BACK TO MONTEVERDE, AND WE WILL SOON HAVE TO MIGRATE BACK TO COLORADO.

WELL, THREE OUT OF FOUR IS NOT BAD, AND OUR TANAGER SEEMS TO HAVE EVADED US FOR NOW.

Thompson: AND THE MIGRATORY BIRD IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT UMBRELLA.

THIS IS CRITICAL TO THEIR SURVIVAL.

AND THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE CAN LEARN ABOUT AND PERHAPS DO SOMETHING ABOUT.

Connor: IT'S ALWAYS BEEN AN HONOR TO ME TO BE AN EMPLOYEE OF THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE.

AND I SEE THAT DOWN HERE FOR THESE RANGERS AND BIOLOGISTS THAT WORK DOWN THERE.

THEY HAVE THAT SAME, YOU KNOW, FEELING OF PRIDE AND FEELING LIKE IT'S AN HONOR.

IT'S NOT -- IT'S NOT TO MAKE A LIVING, IN TERMS OF MONEY, BUT IT GOES BEYOND THAT, IS WHAT IT IS.

IT'S ALMOST -- TO ME, IT'S ALMOST A SPIRITUAL THING.

Artavia: WE HAVE BOTH -- WE HAVE THE ECONOMY ON ONE SIDE, BUT ALSO WE HAVE CONSERVATION ON THE OTHER SIDE.

SO HAVE TO BE IN BALANCE, BOTH OF THEM.

SOMETHING GOOD THAT WE HAVE IN MONTEVERDE IS THAT MOST PLACES OWNED BY LOCAL FAMILIES.

LIKE, ALL THE ZIP LINE THAT WE HAVE, ALL OF THEM, ALL THE NIGHT WALKS THAT WE HAVE ALSO IN THE AREA, AND MANY MORE PLACES PEOPLE CAN GO IN AND DO DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES IS OWNED BY LOCAL FAMILIES.

Molle: BEN, THIS HAS BEEN A FANTASTIC EXPEDITION, AND I MIGHT SAY, A LITTLE BIT OF FUN, AT THE SAME TIME.

CHASING AROUND THE WILSON'S WARBLER WAS GIVING US A LITTLE BIT OF TROUBLE, BUT IT WAS WELL WORTH IT.

IT WAS FUN TO WATCH IT DANCE ON THE TOP OF THE CANOPY, AND US JUST TRY TO CATCH IT WITH THE CAMERAS.

WELL, WE GOT IT.

WE DID GET IT.

YEAH.

SO WE'RE GOING HOME WITH SOME WONDERFUL MEMORIES.

WE'VE D A FANTASTIC TRIP HERE, AS I SAID.

IT'S JUST BEEN A GREAT PLACE.

WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS?

WHAT DO YOU FEEL?

WHAT I HOPE PEOPLE TAKE AWAY, NICK, IS THAT WHEN WE CONSERVE SPECIES AT ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK, IT DOESN'T STOP AT OUR BOUNDARIES.

AND THESE SPECIES SPEND MOST OF THEIR TIME MILES AWAY, IF NOT THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY, AND WE HAVE TO WORK IN SHARED CONSERVATION WITH, NOT JUST OTHER GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS, BUT NON-GOVERNMENT, AND ALSO THE COMMUNITIES THAT SURROUND THOSE HABITATS.

WELL, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ALONG.

IT'S TIME FOR US TO LEAVE COSTA RICA, BUT WE HAVE TIME FOR ONE MORE WALK IN THE FOREST.

Artavia: SOMETHING I LIKED TO DO SO MUCH WHEN I WAS A CHILD WAS LIKE SWINGING ON VINE LIKE TARZAN, LIKE BACK AND FORTH.

IT WAS REALLY COOL.

I BET.

NOW OUR CHILDREN PLAY WITH COMPUTERS, WHICH IS DIFFERENT.

I GUESS IT IS.

WHICH IS NOT BAD.

Molle: NO, IT'S NOT BAD WHEN YOU CONSIDER THIS TEXT AND PHOTO WE JUST GOT FROM A GUIDE IN GUANACASTE.

LOOK AT THIS, NICK.

WESTERN TANAGER.

IT'S PRETTY AMAZING.

I'VE BEEN TRYING LONG TIME.

THEY SAY THEY CAN FIND IT.

ONE OF MY FRIENDS FIND IT.

Molle: WELL, GOOD THING FOR COMPUTERS, AND GOOD THING FOR FRIENDS LIKE JOHNNY, AND BIRDS WITHOUT BORDERS.

STOP PLAYING VIDEO GAMES, WILL YOU?

Artavia: AND I JUST DECIDE TO WALK A LITTLE BIT OUT OF THE TRAIL, YOU KNOW?

AND I WAS LOST.

I'VE HAD THAT HAPPEN TO ME IN ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK.

WELL, THE COUGARS ARE MORE AGGRESSIVE IN HERE.

MAJOR FUNDING FOR "A WALK IN THE PARK WITH NICK MOLLE: BIRDS WITHOUT BORDERS" HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY...

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IN ESTES PARK, COLORADO, WE START THINGS HERE.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN GATEWAY -- INFORMATION AND INSPIRATION.

SHOPPING AND DINING AT THE FALL RIVER ENTRANCE TO ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK.

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RENTAL AND VACATION OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES CLOSE TO ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK.

AND THE CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AT EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY.

"A WALK IN THE PARK WITH NICK MOLLE: BIRDS WITHOUT BORDERS" IS AVAILABLE ON DVD FOR $19.95, OR BLU-RAY FOR $24.95, PLUS SHIPPING AND HANDLING.

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