Walking Through the Bosque

We are spending several days in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on our way to Colorado.  Yesterday, we drove to the Rio Grande Nature Center State Park in town.  The forest along the banks of the river are a bosque.  Wikipedia descibes a bosque: "A bosque is a type of gallery forest habitat found along the riparian flood plains of stream and river banks in the southwestern United States. It derives its name from the Spanish word for woodlands."

This massive cottonwood is an example of the trees growing along the river.

The trail winds through the trees and open areas along the river.

This is the Rio Grande in central Albuquerque.  The river always looks sort of green--even in aerial photos taken of the river as it forms the border between the United States and Mexico in Texas. I believe the color comes from the runoff from agricultural fields in New Mexico and Texas.

These metal structures near the river are called jetty jacks.  They were installed in the 1950s and 60s to prevent erosion from seasonal flooding.  The following link to a National Fish and Wildlife document describing the jetty jacks is informative.  https://www.fws.gov/bhg/Literature/Jetty Jacks pub version.pdf 

I, personally, am just impressed I could remember the term jetty jacks and their general purpose.  I hadn't realized they are somewhat controversial.

If you look closely you might be able to see red ear on this red eared slider turtle.  The are found in the  shallow river water at the Nature Center.

 

Here are humming birds and numerous turtles below.

As we walked along the river we thought we heard a dog barking somewhere.  Come to find out, it was the cormorants, quacking or squawking on the river.

 We enjoyed our walk yesterday but were surprised at how many others also like the bosque.  I wondered if schools were not in session.  A little research showed they are in session for virtual learning only.  The weather here is great so I guess families were out enjoying nature--and maybe completing some school assignments?  We don't know.