Albuquerque Biological Park Calendar of Events
August 2009 |
Featured Events
- Porcupines & Beavers Brown Bag Lecture - August 1 and 6
- Shark Week - August 3-7
- Twilight Tour at the Zoo - August 4
- New Volunteer Orientation at Zoo - August 6
- Free Bass Fishing Clinic - August 8
- Muddy River String Band plays at Heritage Farm - August 8
- Botanic Garden Night Walk - August 11
- Bosque Moonlight Hike - August 18
- Horticulture Volunteer Orientation - August 19
- Aquarium Overnight - August 21-22
- Touchpool Volunteer Training - August 25
- African Violet Demonstration - August 29-30
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Notice to the public: |
The Mediterranean Conservatory will be closed on Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, for construction. The Mediterranean Conservatory will be closed September 14 - 24, 2009, for exhibit preparation. The Fantastic World of Insects exhibit preview will open to the public in the Mediterranean Conservatory on September 25 at 10:00am. |
Porcupines & Beavers - Brown Bag Lecture
Saturday, August 1 and Thursday, August 6, 12:45-1:30pm
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Image by J. Glover  |
Topic: Porcupines & Beavers of the Bosque
Speaker: Katie Elder, Wildlife and Environmental Education Specialist
Katie Elder is the Bosque Ecosystem Monitoring Program’s (BEMP) summer Wildlife and Environmental Education Specialist. A graduate of Bosque School, she is now a wildlife and marine biology major at Humboldt University.
Katie has been a central member of Bosque School’s porcupine and beaver research projects. Katie is the lead author of a technical paper being prepared on the sedation of porcupines. She will be presenting an overview of porcupine and beaver biology in the Middle Rio Grande Bosque. She will also provide the general findings of the Bosque School research effort and discuss how these two species use the Bosque as habitat.
This series of informal, lunchtime lectures presents the science of conservation. Topics include plant and animal themes relevant to the BioPark, and presenters may be BioPark staff or field experts.
Brown Bag lectures take place twice a month (on a Thursday and a Saturday), alternating between the Aquarium/Garden and the Zoo locations. Lectures at the Zoo are included with regular admission. There is no fee to attend the lectures at the Aquarium/Garden. Call (505) 848-7180 for more information.
Shark Week at the Aquarium
Monday, August 3 through Friday, August 7, 10:00am-2:00pm
What safer place is there to learn about sharks than an aquarium in land-locked New Mexico? All this week, there will be Discovery Stations throughout the aquarium, and the Discovery Channel and Comcast will be on hand with giveaways, workbooks and prizes.
How many teeth do sharks go through in a lifetime? Are some sharks vegetarians? Why don't the sharks in the aquarium eat all the other fish? Sink your teeth into the world of sharks and find out!
Twilight Tour at the Zoo
Tuesday, August 4, 6:30-8:30pm
Cost: $10 adults, $6 youth (ages 3-12) and seniors (65 and older). All ages welcome.
Experience the sights and sounds of the Zoo at twilight! After dinner at home, observe interesting animal behavior while taking a tour of the Zoo in a small group led by your personal guide. (Please note that not all animals are out at night.) Tours start promptly at 6:30pm and will occur rain or shine. Meet at the front of the zoo.
Limited space available. Pre-registration is required. Call (505) 764-6214 for more information or to register.
New Volunteer Orientation at Zoo's Colores Education Building
Thursday, August 6, 11:00am to 12:00pm
Become a volunteer at the Rio Grande Zoo, Albuquerque Aquarium, Rio Grande Botanic Garden or Tingley Beach. There are opportunities for a wide variety of volunteer jobs for ages 16 and up. Depending on the job you choose, trainings vary in length from 1/2 day orientations to 12 week intensive classes.
This orientation kicks off the semester-long fall docent training. Docents are volunteer teachers, who introduce visitors to amazing animals and plants. As a volunteer teacher, you’ll help protect endangered species and the diversity of life as you teach about conservation. No experience required. Training takes place on twelve Thursdays, August – January. Docents specialize in one facility (Zoo, Aquarium, or Garden). For more information, call (505) 764-6245.
Free Fishing Clinic
Saturday, August 8, 10:00am-12:00pm.
Visit the event tent at Tingley Beach to learn more about fly-fishing and fly-tying, fishing etiquette, catch & release practices, and how to “catch the big one”. Tingley Beach Fishing Guides will be on-hand to teach and share fishing tips. Equipment and supplies are available for use during the clinic free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis.
Participants are welcome to bring their own gear as well. In addition, Tingley Outfitters provides basic equipment for purchase inside the Tingley Train Station.
The August Fishing Clinic will be led by local bass anglers and focus on tips to catch bass in the Tingley ponds and beyond!
Muddy River String Band plays at Heritage Farm
Saturday, August 8, 11:00am-1:00pm
The Muddy River String Band 
is an Albuquerque-based band that plays an eclectic mix of Americana. They are the winners of the Southwest Traditional and Bluegrass Music Association’s 2008 Santa Fe Festival Bluegrass Band Competition.
"From folk to blues, bluegrass to old-time, we play what we like. Our unusual instrumentation includes the hammered dulcimer and the 'cello. Our music is bright and energetic, with the occasional moody tune. We have lots of fun playing, and we want you to have a fun time too!"
Botanic Garden Night Walk
Tuesday, August 11, 7:30-9:00 pm
Cost: $6 adults, $4 youth (ages 3-12) and seniors (65 and older). All ages welcome.
Explore the Garden under the light of the moon! Bring your family and explore the wonders of nightfall as you walk on a guided tour through the Garden in search of night-blooming plants, nocturnal animals and night pollinators.
Limited space available. Pre-registration is required. Call (505) 848-7180 for more information or to register.
Bosque Moonlight Hike at Tingley Beach
Tuesday, August 18, 7:00-8:30pm
Cost: $6 adults, $4 youth (ages 3-12) and seniors (65 and older).
All ages welcome.
Discover the active night life of the bosque on this guided tour. You’ll travel to the bosque wetlands to look for bats, hoot for owls and search for other nocturnal animals. Bring your flashlight and your sense of adventures as we hike through the woods. Tour begins at the Tingley Beach train station.
Limited space available. Pre-registration is required. Call (505) 848-7180 for more information or to register.
Horticulture Volunteer Training
Wednesday, August 19, 9:30am-12:00pm
Horticulture Volunteers assist the BioPark horticulture staff with routine garden maintenance and special plant projects. Open to volunteers ages 16 and up. For more information, please call (505) 764-6245.
Aquarium Overnight
Friday-Saturday, August 21-22, 7:00pm-8:00am
Sleep next to the sharks at this family-friendly event. Participants will learn about interesting facts about ocean species and their nighttime behavior during this special Aquarium sleepover. Includes games and crafts, Touchpool visit and ocean film fest in the theater. Children under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Cost: $25/person. Group size is limited. Pre-registration is required and and participation is reserved only after payment is received. Call (505) 848-7180 for more information and to register.
Touchpool Volunteer Training
Tuesday, August 25, 9:30am-3:30pm
Touchpool volunteers assist with the hands-on invertebrate Touchpool at the aquarium and introduce visitors to horseshoe crabs, horse conchs, sea urchins and other fascinating marine animals. For more information, please call (505) 764-6245
African Violet Demonstration
Saturday and Sunday, August 29 and 30, 9:00am-6:00pm
African violets bloom almost continuously with proper care. It's no wonder that they are one of the most common and popular houseplants around!
This event in the Rio Grande Botanic Garden's Mediterranean Conservatory will feature beautiful African violets grown by members of the Albuquerque African Violet Club. Club members will be showing successful techniques for growing, maintaining, and propagating these cheerful plants.
Schedule of Demonstrations on Saturday and Sunday
9:00 Repotting
10:00 Propagation
11:00 Watering Methods
12:00 Repotting
1:00 Propagation
2:00 Watering Methods
4:00 Propagation
There will also be an informal talk called “A World of Violets” in the Vitex Plaza, near the Mediterranean Conservatory on Saturday at 10:30 and 2:30 and on Sunday at 2:30pm.
Demonstrations and talks are included with regular admission.