Idaho Department of Fish and Game MK Nature Center

Kindergarten students enjoying a morning field trip. This group is learning about chickadees and how their chick-a-dee-dee-dee calls alert other birds to potential danger. More than three dees in their call means danger! Other birds like red-breasted nuthatches and downy woodpeckers pay attention.

The MK Nature Center has FANTASTIC volunteers. Nearly everyday, dedicated nature enthusiasts come to help us do all sorts of tasks. These three women are regular educators with us. Thanks to Patrice Davies, Linda Jarsky, and Bronwyn Myers! And thanks to all our dedicated supporters who make things happen at MK Nature Center.

The MK Nature Center Evening Lecture Series schedule for September-December is out! Lectures are for adults and start at 6:30 pm at MKK Nature Center.

September 14th-Chronic Wasting Disease.
October 24th -Evening in the Owyhee.
November 16th– Wild Turkeys.
December 5th-Wild Horse Management in the West.

We are having some tree trimming done today throughout the nature center. Please be aware of this activity and avoid areas coned off to help the arborists as they do their work. Your patience is appreciated!

This little western screech owl spent some time in the bird-viewing area this morning. They are common small owls in many parts of Boise, living in wooded neighborhoods and parks as well as along the Boise River. Screech owls eat small
rodents and birds along with large insects. They have even been see hunting small fish and eating crayfish! The nature center hosts these owls all year and it’s a treat to get to see one.

This tiny toadlet found a cozy spot under an uprooted paver in the nature center path. Both western and Woodhouse’s toads are found in our area. They are efficient predators of many insects we consider pests. Toads cannot give you warts, but their skin has glands containing toxins that can irritate the skin. They also make toads taste awful and can make the animal that grabbed the toad in their mouth, sick. That’s usually all it takes for the predator to steer clear of toads in the future.

Chinook salmon in the smaller Alpine Lake viewing window. Several salmon, including a large adult have been hanging out in this area. Stop by an take a look at these amazing fish!

Read our summer newsletter to get all caught up on what happened this spring and what is going on this summer!
https://idfg.idaho.gov/sites/default/files/mk-nature-center-summer-newsletter-0723.pdf

It’s always an exciting day when fish arrive! A big shout out to our colleagues in Fisheries for bringing the nature center chinook salmon. Having these beautiful fish on display in the Alpine Lake makes for some excellent viewing opportunities for our visitors. Come by and check them out!

The orange structure on this bumblebee’s leg is a corbicula or pollen basket. This is a specialized structure for gathering pollen. The bee presses pollen collected by comb and brush structures on the inside of the legs into the corbicula. It is an efficient way to transport pollen back to the hive. Pollen is an important source of protein and minerals, especially for larvae, but adult bees will eat pollen as well. Honey bees, bumblebees, orchid bees and stingless bees have corbicula.

This young mule deer buck was noshing on dogwood leaves first thing this morning. He stopped to pose for a photo taken using a zoom setting so as not to get too close and disturb him.

The bees go marching. Maintaining the observation hive is an important task to keep the hive clean and healthy. Quite a few bees are left outside once the hive is closed and brought back inside. This run for the entrance might look haphazard, but the bees process inside in a reasonably orderly fashion. Less than an hour after this photo was taken, the bees were all back inside the hive, resuming their busy lives.

Pollinator Event tomorrow!
Great activity for the whole family! Saturday June 10th from 10 to 3 pm.
Cost is $5 per person ages 3 and up.

Lots of education stations, face painting, games, honey tasting and much more!
Tacos y Tortas El Paco will be on site for lunch 😁.

We only accept cash, check or debit cards, no credit cards.

Bumble Bees are amazing!
Bring your families down to the MK Nature Center Saturday June 10th from 10 am to 3 pm, to learn about Idaho's pollnators nators. We will have several education booths, craft activities, honey tasting and games. $5 per person ages 3 and up.

Do you like to EAT?

Come this Saturday June 10th from 10 to 3 pm, to the Nature Center to learn why Pollinators are so important in providing the food you eat.
Event fee is $5 per person ages 3 and up.

Mark your calendars for next Sat. June 10th, 10 am to 3 pm. The MK Nature Center is putting on a family friendly event, come learn all about pollnators.
Cost is $5 per person ages 3 and up. We accept debit, check or cash only.

The pollinator garden planting has begun! We are so excited to see this project come together and hope local pollinators and our visitors enjoy this space. Many thanks to all the donors to the Friends of MK Nature Center for making this project possible. Thanks also to the Ada County Soil and Water Conservation District for the grant funding the Friends received for the project.

Penstemon is a favorite flower of hummingbirds and insect pollinators. The nature center still has these lovely flowers as well as other native plants for sale. Stop by and add some beautiful pollinator favorites to your yard.

The nature center path near the kiosk will be blocked for the next few days. Work is being done to regrade the path and extend the pavers to provide a better area for visitors. It is recommended that visitors access the grounds via the Greenbelt or Municipal Park entrances. We apologize for the inconvenience.

They’re BACK!!! Honeybees are once again in-residence. A colony was placed in the observation hive this afternoon, and the bees are settling into their new home. The queen can be seen in the middle of the first photo. She’s much longer than the workers and has a amber-colored, unstriped abdomen. Come by and check out the bees!

Save the date for Nature Center's Pollinator Event, Saturday June 10th, 10 to 3 pm. $5/person ages 3 and up. Various education stations will be available for visitors to learn about the importance of pollnators. Questions: contact [email protected]

Idaho Gives is today-Thursday. Consider donating to our AWESOME friends group, "Friends of MK Morrison Knudsen Nature Center!" https://www.idahogives.org/organizations/friends-of-mk-nature-center

Last year, they raised funds for a pollinator garden, which is being installed this month. This year, they are fundraising for an outdoor classroom for the nature center! We are so excited and thankful for all their work and contributions that make the Nature Center so amazing. We hope you help support them....and us!

Friends of Morrison Knudsen Nature Center We are dedicated to the mission and success of the Morrison Knudsen Nature Center in Boise, Idaho.

The railing project is coming along and visitors can once again access the west end of the bridge to view the fish. The rest of the bridge is still blocked off, but we anticipate the railing being finished mid-week next week. Once again, we appreciate your patience as this project progresses.

The beaver taxidermy waits for a large group of second graders this morning. Sunlight on the new bridge railing.

Your donations at work at the MK Nature Center. Local artist Nels Jensen and owner of Picture This Gallery and Frame Shop downtown Boise putting the final touches on the recently added Arrowleaf Balsamroot sculpture in the new pollinator garden.

This young mule deer is demonstrating that habitat is indeed home.

Just a reminder to visitors that the nature center’s main bridge remains closed as the new railing is installed. For your safety, the grounds also remain closed between 5pm-8am. Your patience is appreciated.

Visitors please note that the nature center’s main bridge will be closed this week due to a new railing installation. In addition, the grounds will be closed from 5pm-8am for public safety. We appreciate your understanding and apologize for the inconvenience.

We are excited to announce that the artwork in the new pollinator garden has been installed! This lovely arrowleaf balsamroot sculpture was created by Boise artist Nels Jensen. Many thanks to the Friends of MK Nature Center and their many donors for making this possible. We are looking forward to the completion of the garden in May.

In spite of the lack of springtime temperatures, plants and critters have faith that longer days mean eventual warmth and sunshine. Come by the nature center to check out the signs of spring!

Canada geese are a familiar presence in our community. It’s easy to get frustrated with their less-appealing behaviors, but something about fuzzy yellow goslings makes everyone smile. Two pairs of geese are nesting at the nature center this spring. Maybe you will be lucky enough to see their goslings leave the nest by jumping out about 24 hours after hatching.

Our spring newsletter is here, even though spring is not here....yet:)
https://idfg.idaho.gov/d7/sites/default/files/mknc_stream_spring2023.pdf

Snowy scenes this morning along the nature center path. While spring continues to be very coy, the mama Canada goose remains on her nest, convinced that winter will eventually fade.

An early spring snowfall decorates the nature center.

Spring is in the air and the wood ducks are checking out the nest boxes. This interesting object is the egg case of a preying mantis. The hard foamy case protects the developing eggs as they overwinter. With some warmer temperatures, the infant mantids will hatch out, looking like miniature versions of their parents. And like their parents, they are voracious predators of many insect pests. Help protect pollinators and other beneficial insects this spring by delaying your yard clean-up until daytime temperatures have been over 50 degrees for at least a week. This will give these insects time to leave their winter shelters.

Last night’s snow provides some lovely scenes at the nature this morning. A great blue heron took a stroll across a bridge, leaving its tracks behind. Come over and enjoy the snow before it melts away

Monday, March 13th at 6:30 pm, Bret Van Paepeghem will teach us about Firewise Landscaping. Make your yard beautiful, safe, and productive for native wildlife! Free and open to the adult public. MK Nature Center 600 S. Walnut Street, Boise, ID 83712.

We love wildlife! Happy Valentine's Day from MK Nature Center!