Archive for the ‘Butterflies’ Category

Fall Butterfly Count

Monday, September 12th, 2011

Date: September 17, 2011
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Location: Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center and other sites in Jeff Davis County

This summer has been hard on our fluttering fauna, but we’re finally starting to see some butterfly activity at the Nature Center (including some exciting rare species like another Ursine Giant Skipper!). Join us on Saturday, 8:30 a.m. at the Visitors Center and help us document the butterflies flying this fall. We’ll split into teams, be assigned count areas, and disperse until about 4:30 p.m. when we’ll regather at the Nature Center to compile our count numbers and tell wild butterfly stories. Learn more about butterfly monitoring at the Nature Center and find out what species have been spotted during past counts.

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Free Admission on Museum Day

Monday, September 12th, 2011

Date: September 24, 2011
Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Location: Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center

In conjunction with Smithsonian magazine’s Museum Day, the Nature Center is offering free admission on Saturday, September 24. Besides enjoying our hiking trails, exhibits and botanical gardens, visitors can watch a hummingbird banding demonstration and participate in our Fall Bird Count. Download your free admission ticket for two from the Museum Day website.

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Birding the Devils River

Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011

Guides: John Karges & Dr. Selma Glasscock
Date: April 29 through May 1
Location: Devils River State Natural Area in Val Verde County
Registration fees (includes food and housing): Bunkhouse $90/$115; Camping $70/$95

The Devils River is a gem of Texas. Its waters, not easily accessible, bubble up at the headwaters—crisp and clean—and eventually flow into Amistad Reservoir, an impoundment of the Rio Grande.

Habitat along the river provides a home to such bird species as the Green Kingfisher, Black Phoebe, Vermilion Flycatcher, Kiskadee, and the Black-Capped Vireo. If you are a birder, or simply a lover of nature, you won’t want to miss this opportunity to bird, butterfly, or simply enjoy the Devils River.

John Karges of The Nature Conservancy and Dr. Selma Glasscock of the Welder Wildlife Foundation will be our birding guides.

This trip is currently full. Call 432.364.2499 if you are interested in being put on the waiting list.

Posted in Birds, Butterflies, Events, Field Trips | 1 Comment »

Pollinator Palooza!

Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011

Date: June 25, 2011
Time: 10 AM to 3 PM
Location: Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center
Cost: FREE! (Thanks to a grant from Texas Parks and Wildlife’s Community Outdoor Outreach Program.)

Come join us for Pollinator Palooza—a family field day in celebration of National Pollinator Week. Children and adults will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of naturalist-led activities designed to increase awareness of the diversity of pollinators.

Posted in Butterflies, Events, Life-long Learning Workshops, Nature Camps & Fun for Families | No Comments »

Spring Flowers

Monday, April 5th, 2010


It seemed like spring was never going to come. Then, the weather warmed up and the plants rejoiced with a burst of bloom. On the Upper Loop Trail the claret cup cacti are in full flower. You can’t miss them with their burst of red blossoms. And, if you wait patiently, you might be rewarded with a hummingbird coming in to nectar.
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Posted in Butterflies, Plants | No Comments »