This projects aims to collect information about the plants and animals along the middle Rio Grande and its associated riparian forest, known locally by its Spanish name the 'Bosque'. For this initiative, the Middle Rio Grande is defined as the 180-mile Rio Grande corridor within central New Mexico extending from Cochiti Dam to the headwaters of Elephant Butte Reservoir. We are interested in engaging citizen scientists to help gather data on the seasonal changes take place throughout the Bosque Ecosystem. In terms of cottonwood trees, for example, when do the male's red-flowering catkins first appear? When does the female first release its seed-bearing 'cotton'? When do leaves first appear, change color, drop off the tree? These events, known collectively as phenology, involve the study of natural phenomena that occur periodically: migration and blossoming and their relation to climate and changes in seasons. These first and last-of-the-season events in nature not only enable us to know the natural world better, but they enable us to study global warming and climate change, a vital area of modern science.

When do sandhill cranes first appear in the fall? When do the last ones leave in spring? When does the great horned owl nest, fledge its young? When do cicadas emerge? The purpose of collecting phenologic data on floral (plant) and faunal animal) communities along the Middle Rio Grande Bosque Ecosystem will help scientists to gain a better understanding of how these communities are influenced by seasonal and inter-annual variations in climate. The natural events help mark the seasons, excite the amateur naturalist, and provide valuable information to the scientific community. The data will be made available to the wider public through the development of a phenological calendar for the Middle Rio Grande Valley. less ↑