Nature and Raptor Center of Pueblo is a nature preserve, formerly known as "Greenway and Nature Center of Pueblo," which is located in Pueblo, Colorado

Pueblo, Colorado

Pueblo is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Pueblo County, Colorado, United States. The population was 106,595 in 2010 census, making it the 246th most populous city in the United States....

, United States. It is a 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt corporation and includes a raptor rehabilitation facility.

The Nature and Raptor Center of Pueblo is located in Rock Canyon on the banks of the Arkansas River

Arkansas River

The Arkansas River is a major tributary of the Mississippi River. The Arkansas generally flows to the east and southeast as it traverses the U.S. states of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. The river's initial basin starts in the Western United States in Colorado, specifically the Arkansas...

, and includes a blend of aquatic, riparian, transition, and semi-arid grassland habitats. The stated goal of the center is "To increase Pueblo County community members’ awareness, appreciation, and support for our natural environment through these programs."

History

The Arkansas Valley Audubon Society founded the Audubon River Trails Nature Center in 1979 to preserve an area where people from Pueblo and the surrounding areas could observe, explore, and enjoy nature. In 1981, the Raptor Center was added. In 1983 the nature center incorporated as a 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt organization as "The Greenway and Nature Center of Pueblo." In 2008 the name was again changed to "Nature and Raptor Center of Pueblo."

Facilities

The Nature and Raptor Center of Pueblo includes a blend of aquatic, riparian, transition, and semi-arid grassland habitats, and offers picnicking, wildlife viewing, fishing, kayaking, and nature walks, as well as access to the Pueblo River Trail System.

The Raptor Center, which was founded in 1981, specializes in rehabliltation of birds of prey. Injured and orphaned birds of prey from throughout southeastern Colorado are admitted to the facility and cared for with the hope that they can be returned to the wild. Some 8000 children participate in educational field trips to the facility each year.

Events

Annual events at the nature center include the National River Clean-Up in May and the Bluegrass on the River festival in June.

Education

The Nature and Raptor Center of Pueblo includes many educational activities, such as "Weekend Raptor Talks" (1:00 pm on Saturdays and Sundays), a monthly "4th Saturday Birdwalk" (led by members of the Arkansas Valley Audubon Society) and "Free Range Children Camps" in the summer where "Your child will be encouraged to become active and at ease outdoors while learning that the natural world provides endless adventures."

Conservation

In 2009, the Raptor Center admitted 178 raptors and 30 "Other Wildlife" (mostly birds, but including one box turtle as well). Although many of the animals die (there were 113 deaths at the center in 2009), the center also released 69 animals back to the wild in 2009.