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!