Rio Grande Nature Center

The very unique Nature Center Entrance.
On this Saturday, I woke up early to attend an all day Bosque Education Class at the Rio Grande Nature Center. There were about 20 of us: public school teachers, museum educators and a few homeschool parents, too. We learned a wealth of fascinating information about the Rio Grande Bosque, how it affects all of the communities and wildlife along it's length, and how we all affect the life of the river. We discussed the river's geologic and social history and we took several nature hikes and played special Bosque related group games...some quite hilarious for us adults as we jumped, crawled, and shuffled in insect, mammal and plant life relay races.
We also created nature journals as we discovered the beautiful Bosque wildlife. I even found the exoskeleton head of a centipede beside a nest of carpenter ants. Very cool!
We also learned of the dire situation our Bosque's Cottonwoods are experiencing, if we don't do something soon to ensure a long and healthy future for these majestic and beautiful trees.
The bridge leading across the main canal towards the nature trails and river.
Hummingbirds outside the Nature Center windows
An amphibian friend found at the Nature Center pond: Bull Frog.
Gorgeous Fall view across the Nature Center pond towards the Sandia Mountains
View out to the pond from the peaceful viewing room
A common reptile inhabitant of New Mexico and the Bosque: Fence Lizard
Looking over a Jetty Jack at the pretty views
A prolific mammal and coyote prey: The CottonTail rabbit
Some Jetty Jacks, once used to help control flooding of the river.
A beautiful Garter Snake enjoying the area around the Nature Center pond.
New Mexico's State Reptile: The WhipTail Lizard
A Bosque Insect: The Butterfly resting after sipping nectar from wildflowers
A common and welcome sight: The RoadRunner, also the state bird of New Mexico