Tag: duckpond

Turtles Day in the Sun

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Story, Photos and Video by

Mark Graven

Wildlife Correspondent

Ducks usually get top billing when it comes to news from the UNM Duck Pond, after all the pond is named for them.

But it is midway through June, and the hot days of summer are upon us.  Most of the hundreds of ducks that occupy the pond at the center of UNM’s campus are gone for vacation in the northern climes.  

The turtles are going nowhere fast, but are happy together on the rocks of the pond, which serve as podiums where they can bask in the glory of the New Mexican sunlight.  

The turtles take advantage of a large grouping of rocks at the west end of the pond to put their sunbathing talents on display.  But they also use a small grouping of rocks near the fountain at the east end of the pond.   

Occasionally, the turtles will go for dip in the water.  With the fountain and a waterfall near the southwest corner of the pond, the turtles have a stunning aquatic environment.  The turtles seem to enjoy swimming to cool down:  sun bathing can be tough work!
Now, please kick back and enjoy our photo display of the turtles today.

DUCK POND BACK UP

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Photos by

Mark Graven

Staff Writer


The iconic UNM Duck Pond is back up and running after a 10-day cleaning project that involved draining down the pond.  On Thursday, July 16th, ducks were spreading their wings, splashing, and diving, in their refreshed water, as turtles sunned themselves on the pond rocks.  Fish were temporarily removed during the cleaning project, according to university officials. Now everything is proceeding swimmingly.

Duck Pond Down

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Photos and Story by Mark Graven

 Staff Reporter


The “iconic” University of New Mexico Duck Pond is down, but not out.  It it just having its every-other-year cleaning, according to Steve Howe, the public relations representative for the university’s Facilities Management.
The ducks seem understanding, as they observe their domain being drained, from the shade of the pond’s grassy banks.  

The 10-day cleaning project should be completed by July 17th, Howe said.  Fish have been removed from the pond by Aquatic Consultants, of Albuquerque, and will be restored to the cleaned water after they have been checked and inventoried, according to Howe.   

The pond is accessible to CNM students, via a three/quarter mile, or so, walk, along the Yale Boulevard corridor.  The pond experience is free;  the ducks won’t bill you.