Monday, April 27, 2015

Breath and Life

Cactus Wren nesting in Tree Cholla
People always ask me when they should come and visit Arizona.  Well, it's a complicated answer depending on what the individual wants to see or experience.  If you are a lover of color, warmth and amazing garden tours, then I'd suggest Tucson during the month of April. 

My attempt at impressionism(via a computer program) on a blooming cactus
This past weekend, I focused on nesting Cactus Wrens around Saguaro National Park and our very own Desert Museum. This museum is situated on a pristine track of Sonoran desert land which makes it a great area for nesting desert birds. The Desert Museum is a MUST SEE for all people who come to visit Tucson.  You won't regret it!  A museum??? Yeah I guess it's a museum of sorts, but it's not the kind of museum you'd expect.  It's a living representation of our incredibly diverse Sonoran desert.  

Coachline Lake in Marana from last week Thursday
I've been into gardening this month and enjoying my work around El Presidio.  I've also kept up with some birding, but I've been into the artistic side of it. In fact, I'm beginning to research art courses beginning next year.  I want to paint my work.  I think at some point some birders enter this chapter of their lives. For me, it's a way to reconnect to the experience and also just create. One of my friends has expressed an interest as well. So it'll be fun to have a partner in crime. I have included several of my photos above using a computer program to capture the moment. A blogger who has inspired me now for several years is Gillian Olson.  She does amazing work with her own photography and I love it. 


Northern Cardinal
I start my Saturday morning with coffee and look out my window for inspiration. Where will I visit today? Many times, I just leave my birding up in the air with several places in mind.  My first visitors are the hummingbirds and Northern Cardinals....


White-winged Dove doing a bow at my feeders:)
But on this Saturday morning, I hear the unmistakable "Who cooks for June?!" outside.  PS.  That's not the expression birders use to memorize their call.  I just made it my own:)  June is my good friend's mother and I like to think of her when I hear this call.  It's actually, "Who cooks for you?!"  Anyhow, enough of my gibber gabber.  My point is that they were all over my feeders!!!!  It's that time of year when they arrive in great numbers!  And unlike other doves, they are not shy at all!

Hybrid Torch Cactus
Their arrival means one thing.  Desert blooms!  They will feed from our blooming Saguaro cactus soon.  When the blooms are gone, many will move on to other places. Well, that's how it is here in Tucson.  Some do remain. 


Birds are nesting and life is happening everywhere.  Little hummingbirds are hatching out of their tiny little eggs. 

Female Costa's Hummingbird
As for curiosities this week.  There was one.  Below is an iguana I keep seeing at the Desert Museum.  It is not caged nor does it belong in this part of the Sonoran Desert.  Many times I will walk around the grounds and have one staring back at me closely.  So I did some research.  It is a spinytail iguana that isn't found in Tucson.  These lizards were released on the museum grounds in the 70's where they have established a colony. Apparently they are a genetic cross between the San Esteban Island Spiny-tailed Iguana and the Sonoran Spiny-tailed Iguana.  They are found in the Sonoran desert just not in this part of our desert. 


Hopefully, this guy stays out of the way of this Greater Roadrunner below!

Greater Roadrunner catches a lizard for lunch
  Next week, we will sweep Southern Arizona by storm as the Wrenegades once again reunite! Together we join forces to find the most birds in one day for this Tucson Audubon fundraising event!  Will we outdo our list from last year?  Stay tuned for more!


32 comments:

  1. The desert blooms are really magnificent and for me this would be the best time of year! Add in all the birds that come in for the blooms and it must be close to perfect!

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  2. Fabulous. . . .


    ALOHA from Honolulu,
    ComfortSpiral
    =^..^=

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  3. Beautiful blooms but the iguana is the star of the show.

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  4. Those desert blooms are truly beautiful with their shapes and vibrant colours. When I saw the Cactus Wren nest I instantly thought how obvious and easily located it must be for potential predators, especially the snakes and lizards of Arizona? Maybe that's not the case and the spines of the plant give lots of protection?

    Boy, I'd like to see a real live Road Runner in action. I'll bet they are entertaining to watch but very difficult to photograph.

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    1. The spiky nature of the plant protects these birds from some predators, but they sure are noisy protectors. Smart birds! As for the Road Runners, it's interesting. Sometimes they will be really skittish. Then there are other times, they will walk right up to you! These guys were more concerned about food at this time. They are comical at times, but they can also be ruthless. Well they are ruthless. Dinosaurs indeed! Yet when they place hide and go seek around a Prickly Pear cactus, you have to burst out laughing. Coolest cuckoos!

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  5. Gorgeous photos! I love both the critters and the cactus blooms.

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  6. A very interesting and entertaining post, Chris. Thank you. I love the image of the Cactus Wren at its nest, and the desert blooms are wonderful, but my favourite is the Iguana.

    Best wishes from England - - - - Richard

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  7. Hello Chris, the cactus blooms are so pretty. And I love the cute wren and the cool roadrunner..I have seen Gillian's art work on her blog she is a talented artist.. Great post, happy birding..

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  8. you've got a bevy of beauty around! love the cactus blooms and the cute hummer and sweet wren! adorable lizard, too.

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  9. I agree, April is the best month in Arizona. Otherwise October.

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  10. I love Arizona and the desert. We visited there last year about this time of year...and it rained. We were in the Scottsdale area. There were lots of Curve-billed Thrashers. What fun.

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  11. Beautiful and interesting Arizona wildlife.

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  12. Hi there,
    First time on your blog and I loved all the photos.
    I would love to come see Tucson someday.
    I particularly liked the Roadrunner and the Cardinal.
    The dove pose was quite something too.
    Have a Beautiful Day!
    Peace :)

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    1. Thanks Chandra for stopping by! You do the same!

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  13. Wonderful variety of birds in this post. Marvellous to have found that nest and I love the shot of the WW Dove and Road Runner. The blooms are beautiful.

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  14. Hi Chris, lovely post. I love your photos that look like paintings, and I think it's wonderful that you're planning to do an art course. It's exciting how one passion evolves into another. I hope to come to Arizona some time, but it won't be in the near future ... so I'll just rely on your blog to see it in the meantime.

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  15. I'd say that nest is safe where it is situated. Not much is going to try and get past that cactus.

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  16. Beautiful photos Chris - so colourful. The cactus blooms are gorgeous and I rather like the Roadrunner too :) Good Luck if you go ahead with the painting courses. So wish I could draw and paint. I bought a book once showing you how to paint wildflowers - one of these days I'll find time to have a go!

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  17. You seem to have more than one talent Chris. Go for it! Have fun with painting.

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  18. I love the flowers of cactus, a bird with a crooked beak, and of iguana. Regards.

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  19. Just love your cactus pictures and your gibber grabber too, thanks.

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  20. I was going to visit a gal pal in AZ this spring to see the desert bloom. Unfortunately something came up but I do want to see that happen. You pictures are wonderful!,

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  21. What fun, doing the artistic impressions of your photos! I loved the Coachline Lake one! The dove is magnificent, and I was so happy to see the cactus wren nest, since I have yet to see one in the wild. Need to get out again! :-) What an interesting iguana...so much fun to see. Another great post!

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  22. Nice post - I missed out on seeing Roadrunner when I was in that part of the world. Maybe I should come back!

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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  23. Hi Chris, I am so stunned, I just realized you paid me a great compliment, thank you so much. I have visited the Desert Museum and it is wonderful, definitely a must see, unfortunately I was a bit too early for the cactus blooms.
    Love your blog, thanks again, Gillian

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  24. It occured to me because you commented on birders having an interest in art that you might find my bird tiles of interest. If you have never gone over to one of my alternate blogs, called bluelotustile, check it out when you have some time. Years ago I made my own tiles, glazed and fired them with bird images, mostly, but I also did some other designs. I sold most of the individual tiles, but also had a woman buy some to imbed in her tilework in her bathroom and there are pictures of those as well. I don't do it anymore...cost me more money than I made! :-) Let me know what you think.

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    1. Thanks Marie! I know it costs money to do that stuff but what a way to personalize the home which is what I want to do. I have several pieces that I'm thinking about placing on the empty wall spaces. It has taken me time to place the appropriate color scheme......:)

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  25. wow...LOVE ALL your pictures today chris! the desert blooms are gorgeous, the iguana, roadrunner...the dove!!
    and i love the 'paintings' of your pic's!! beautiful art!!

    have a happy weekend!

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  26. ohhh, I love that tiny hummer clutching his little twig....

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  27. What vibrant colors in your world!

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  28. Chris, I had no idea you were interested in painting! What a hoot! I love the impressionist stuff you did with your photography. How wonderful to see the desert all in bloom!

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Thanks for stopping by!