Photos: Rio Salado Audubon Center is an Arizona hidden gem

A flowering prickly pear cactus is part of the landscape at Rio Salado Audubon Center in Phoenix.

The Rio Salado Audubon Center in Phoenix sits on a parcel of land that is about 11 acres and is part of the Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area, a 600 acre park.

The Rio Salado Audubon Center in Phoenix sits on a parcel of land that is about 11 acres and is part of the Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area, a 600 acre park.

The Rio Salado Audubon Center in Phoenix sits on a parcel of land that is about 11 acres and is part of the Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area, a 600 acre park.

The Rio Salado Audubon Center in Phoenix celebrates it's 10 year anniversary this year.

The Rio Salado Audubon Center in Phoenix sits on a parcel of land that is about 11 acres and is part of the Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area, a 600 acre park. Center's mission is to connect urban people with nature.

The Rio Salado Audubon Center in Phoenix sits on a parcel of land that is about 11 acres and is part of the Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area, a 600 acre park. Center's mission is to connect urban people with nature.

The Rio Salado Audubon Center in Phoenix sits on a parcel of land that is about 11 acres and is part of the Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area, a 600 acre park. Center's mission is to connect urban people with nature.

The Rio Salado Audubon Center in Phoenix sits on a parcel of land that is about 11 acres and is part of the Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area, a 600 acre park.

The Rio Salado Audubon Center in Phoenix sits on a parcel of land that is about 11 acres and is part of the Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area, a 600 acre park.

The Rio Salado Audubon Center in Phoenix sits on a parcel of land that is about 11 acres and is part of the Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area, a 600 acre park.

Cathy Wise, Audubon Arizona education director, can see downtown Phoenix from a human sundial at the Rio Salado Audubon Center.

Cathy Wise, Audubon Arizona education director, stands near a green house at the Rio Salado Audubon Center in Phoenix. They use the green house to grow milkweed for butterflies.

Cathy Wise, Audubon Arizona education director, stands near a green house at the Rio Salado Audubon Center in Phoenix. They use the green house to grow milkweed for butterflies.

The Rio Salado Audubon Center in Phoenix sits on a parcel of land that is about 11 acres and is part of the Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area, a 600 acre park. Center's mission is to connect urban people with nature.

The Rio Salado Audubon Center in Phoenix sits on a parcel of land that is about 11 acres and is part of the Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area, a 600 acre park.

A caterpillar feeds in the garden at the Rio Salado Audubon Center

Cathy Wise, Audubon Arizona education director looks for caterpilars at the facility in Phoenix.

Emily Martell, a teacher/naturalist with the Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center, points to a bird while bird-watching with kids from the Tri-City West Thornwood Branch of Avondale of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Phoenix, on Dec. 6, 2018.

Yhitzelle Bernal (center), 8, and Johana Lugo (right), 10, from the Tri-City West Thornwood Branch of Avondale of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Phoenix, bird-watch at the Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center in Phoenix on Dec. 6, 2018.

Arjan Hyseni, 11, and other kids from the Tri-City West Thornwood Branch of Avondale of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Phoenix bird-watch at the Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center in Phoenix on Dec. 6, 2018. "Arizona's River Keepers" is an after-school program for third- through sixth-graders to expose them to the different plants and animals in the Salt River area just south of downtown Phoenix.

Kids from the Tri-City West Thornwood Branch of Avondale of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Phoenix bird-watch at the Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center in Phoenix on Dec. 6, 2018.

Kids from the Tri-City West Thornwood Branch of Avondale of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Phoenix bird-watch at the Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center in Phoenix on Dec. 6, 2018.

Emily Martell (back), a teacher/naturalist with the Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center, bird-watches with Zuri Rhooms (from left), 6, Johana Lugo, 10, Yhitzelle Bernal, 8, and other kids from the Tri-City West Thornwood Branch of Avondale of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Phoenix, at the Audubon Center in Phoenix on Dec. 6, 2018. "Arizona's River Keepers" is an after-school program for third- through sixth-graders to expose them to the different plants and animals in the Salt River area just south of downtown Phoenix. It is a Season for Sharing grant recipient.

Kids from the Tri-City West Thornwood Branch of Avondale of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Phoenix handle a Rosy boa snake at the Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center in Phoenix on Dec. 6, 2018. "Arizona's River Keepers" is an after-school program for third- through sixth-graders to expose them to the different plants and animals in the Salt River area just south of downtown Phoenix.

Angel Diaz (left), 10, Gumar Kueth (back right),12, and Andre Anderson, 9, all from the Tri-City West Thornwood Branch of Avondale of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Phoenix, bird-watch at the Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center in Phoenix on Dec. 6, 2018.

The Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center in Phoenix.

A burrowing owl at the Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center in Phoenix.

At the Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center, free admission includes interactive exhibits, access to 16 miles of hiking and riding trails and several hands-on nature programs.

Kids participate in "pond dipping" testing water quality exercise at the Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center in Phoenix on Wednesday, April 11, 2012.

Kenneth Jacobson, Bald Eagle Management Coordinator with the Arizona Game & Fish Department, speaks at the April 20, 2017 Birds and Beer event at the Rio Salado Audubon Center.