Albuquerque, NM—Families, ecology enthusiasts and arm-chair naturalists are invited to participate in BioBlitz 2011: Discover Your Bosque, a biological inventory where scientists, together with the public, explore the living plants and animals found at the Rio Grande Nature Center State Park. This free, public event will be held on Friday, June 10th, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. and Saturday, June 11th, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. No registration is necessary, just drop by and stay as long as you like. Parking at the Nature Center is $3.

The event, sponsored by the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, The Nature Conservancy, and the Rio Grande Nature Center, is citizen science in action, where adults and children of all ages work in small groups with biologists and other nature experts to inventory the numerous plants and animals found along the Rio Grande bosque. Participants should bring water, food, sturdy footwear, sunscreen, and a hat; and optional items are binoculars, field guides and cameras.

BioBlitzes have been held around the world since 1996 and provide the opportunity for scientists and the public to discover all living things in a given area including birds, mammals, fish, amphibians, reptiles, insects, other invertebrates, plants, and other living organisms. Each year, the annual BioBlitz engages the public in real science data collection that experts can analyze and interpret.

“The BioBlitz will be a great opportunity for all of us to realize how interesting the diversity of life is around us. It is like a giant scavenger hunt for nature. It will be so much fun!” says Beth Dillingham, Superintendent of the Rio Grande Nature Center State Park.

"The Rio Grande bosque is one of the crown jewels of New Mexico's natural heritage. The BioBlitz is a unique opportunity to have a hands-on experience with a fascinating variety of our native plants and animals and to learn more about nature and all that it gives us," says Terry Sullivan, The Nature Conservancy New Mexico director.

Elena Sweeney, Interim Executive Director of the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science said, “Each year our community comes together for this great event. A little curiosity is all you need, and the natural world will do the rest.”

The New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science, a division of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, is a regional center of excellence in scientific research, exhibits, and science education. It is the most visited museum in the state of New Mexico and it is one of the major tourist attractions in the Land of Enchantment. Visit us online at www.nmnaturalhistory.org.

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. To date, the Conservancy and its more than one million members have been responsible for the protection of more than 15 million acres in the United States and have helped preserve more than 102 million acres in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific. The New Mexico program has been active since 1973 and preserved more than 1.4 million acres throughout the state. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the web at www.nature.org/newmexico

The mission of the State Parks Division is to manage the State Park system to enrich the lives of New Mexicans and visitors to the state. At Rio Grande Nature Center State Park (RGNCSP), this mission is to preserve and protect the Rio Grande Bosque, to educate the public about the Rio Grande ecosystems and to foster positive human interactions with those systems. For more information on the Rio Grande Nature Center State Park and other New Mexico State Parks, please visit www.emnrd.state.nm.us.