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   The Southwest Enviromental Center's popular Back by Noon outings for the spring and summer is back. These guided Saturday morning trips are a great way to learn about the natural history of the Las Cruces-El Paso area. The schedule kicks off Saturday, May 10th, with Birds of the Bosque, led by Ken Stinnett.
- BIRDS OF THE BOSQUE---May 10, 7:00 a.m.
- Professional photographer and expert birder KEN STINNETT will show us some of the spring birds of the Mesilla Valley at the Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park, New Mexico’s newest state park. Bring binoculars and camera (if you like). Rating: Easy.
- PLANTS OF THE ORGAN MOUNTAINS---May 17, 7:30 a.m.
- Join native plant expert JOHN FREYERMUTH on a hike at Dripping Springs to view spring wildflowers and common trees and shrubs of the area. Learn what species are useful in landscaping for beauty and to attract birds. Rating: Easy walking. NOTE: This is a BLM fee area ($3 per vehicle).
- ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY OF THE MESILLA VALLEY---May 31, 8:00 a.m.
- Learn about how the Mesilla Valley looked in the mid-19th century and the changes in the river, fauna, and flora since then. Environmental historian NANCY STOTZ will take us to two locations in Las Cruces to point out where natural features were before being altered by human activity. Following these two stops, the ecotour will go to Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park where we will compare the wetlands community of today with those of 100-150 years ago. Rating: Easy. (Mostly driving; some easy walking.)
- THE COLUMBIAN EXCHANGE IN SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO--June 28, 7:00 a.m.
- Learn about the exchange of peoples, plants, food, diseases, architecture and more with environmental historian DAN SCURLOCK. He will lead us to the Fabian Garcia Landscape Garden, the Rio Grande-La Mancha wetland, and landscape vegetation scares of the Camino Real near Engle. Rating: Easy (mostly driving, with some easy walking).
- ANCIENT ROCK ART---July 5, 7:00 a.m.
- LEROY UNGLAUB will take us to see geometrics, prehistoric and historic images of masks, animals, etc. on rock faces at two sites west of Las Cruces. These petroglyphs were executed by Archaic, Jornada Mogollon and Apache peoples over thousands of years. Rating: Easy. (High clearance vehicles will be required to get to one of the sites, but both are within easy walking distance of the vehicles. SWEC will facilitate carpooling, so you don’t need a high clearance vehicle to go.)
More information:
If you want more information concerning these outings, please contact the Southwest Environmental Center either via snail mail, phone or email. Their web site is under construction..png)
The Southwest Environmental Center
275 North Downtown Mall, Las Cruces, NM 88001
(505) 522-5552
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