Year In Review-Southern Arizona

 This year, I did a lot of travel around Southern Arizona. There are almost too many places to see, but here are some memorable experiences.  Whether it be from Ramsey Canyon above or along the San Pedro River below.....

 .....or in the magical world of Portal.........

.....near Buenos Aires wildlife preserve......

 ....or watching the thousands of Sandhill Cranes at the Whitewater Draw......

 .....driving and hiking around Picacho Peak.....

 .....or exploring the skies of Kitt's Peak.......

 ......or looking down onto Tucson from Wasson Peak......

.....in and around both sides of Saguaro National Park........

.......or trekking the arroyo in Tucson..........

......Southern Arizona is a treasure that must be seen.

A Dinosaur Link

Random thoughts to begin your day. Exploring the world of birds is quite exciting and there never seems to be a boring one in the batch.  On the way back from a trek in the mountains, we stopped at the Rooster Cogburn Ranch near Picacho Peak off of I-10. 

I've passed this place a billion times and have always wanted to stop.  What was different this time?  I had a friend with a camera who said, "Why not?" And so it was done.  Standing among these giants I found myself thinking about a recent discovery made in China about dinosaurs.  These birds reminded me so much of Jurassic park that it tripped me out a bit.  In fact, they have the nasty habit of pecking you if you're not watching.  My friend found out the hard way:)

So to make this post interesting here are some facts about this incredibly cool bird.  Are ostriches related to dinosaurs?  Although modern reptiles were once thought to be the closest relatives of Tyrannosaurus rex, more recent evidence indicates a closer relationship between T-rex and the ostrich.

Similarities Between Tyrannosaurus Rex and the Ostrich

Tyrannosaurus rex had large powerful hindlimbs, long in proportion to their bodies. The ostrich also has heavy long powerful legs, strong enough to kill a lion. The fossil skeleton of an early tyrannosaurid found in China appeared to be coated with filamentous structures identified as the precursors of feathers. It was suggested that, despite not having discovered any large tyrannosaural specimens with protofeathers, it is possible they existed.

Today scientists are making a lot of discoveries that strengthen their theory that dinosaurs and birds are linked tightly together.  The question is, "Which group evolved from the other?" Digs around the world, like in the Gobi Desert, are providing evidence that dinosaurs may fall into two groups....one with feathers and the other without. 

"The newly discovered fossil of Microraptor lived about 130 million years ago, during the early Cretaceous period, in what is now northeastern China. The latest depictions of the beast, whose feathery adornments may have extended to other Microraptor species, suggest it looked similar to a crow, even though non-avian dinosaurs had already separated from the ancestors of modern birds by that time." Source

I actually felt fear.  If I were thrown into a pen with these birds, I would actually be worried about my life.  They way they walked, their height, and their rapid beak attack made me think twice about approaching them.  Are they dangerous? Anyone who's seen Hitchcock's classic film The Birds may feel a little uneasy around pointy beaks and razor-sharp talons. An ostrich attack, however, is straight out of Jurassic Park. Like that movie's velociraptors, ostriches are fast--they can run at up to 45 mph--and they have a sharp nail on each of their feet that is capable of slicing a person open with one kick. Unlike velociraptors, however, an ostrich can reach more than nine feet tall and 350 pounds. Larger than most people:)

And here is one more tidbit you should know before visiting the ranch. Ostriches love man-made objects, especially shiny ones, so before you go out on safari or onto an ostrich farm leave all your jewelry behind and do not display shiny or dangling objects when near ostriches. Even the most mild mannered of ostriches practice investigative pecking, and a peck at an earring or your eyeglasses - or your eyes, for instance, could result in serious injury. Or your friends finger:)

My friend has only the short lense for her nice Nikon.  She got a little too close to the birds and had a peck at the head as well. I laughed, but had it been me, I don't think I would have been smiling very much.  The Ranch is a lot of fun.  Bring the kids as they will have a good time feeding the goats, donkeys, etc. It was a nice way to end the day after a hike. Here's the link if you are interested.  It's about 35-40 minutes north of Tucson.  Until tomorrow....

To The Pointy End

Barrel Cactus with red spines.

Taking a break from birds(kind of:), I thought I'd take you to Picacho Peak.  Today's focus?  Pointy ends:)   We paid the 5 bucks to enter the park hoping to film some wildflower action but after a cold rain storm, we discovered that most of the flowers were fried from the frost.  Change of plan. 

Dead Cholla Cactus

So instead I focused my energy on the shots from around the landscape.  These pictures, I believe, capture the pointy and edgy landscape that can do some damage if you're not watching where you walk.

The trail here is not really a birder hike as it is a hiker's hike.  You'll have some great views from around the area....and it is all very beautiful. But some may find this a boring trek.  It's all in the eye of the beholder.  However, I have a good eye and did spot some life in the brown landscape.

Antelope Ground Squirrel

I recommend doing this hike during the cooler months as summer is too hot.  However still remember to bring water all times of the year.

It's amazing how much effort it took to take pictures:)  It was a challenge.  Find something interesting within the theme and force yourself to find those shots. My friend loved all of it and she was going to town with lots of pictures.  She was learning how to use her new camera and was practicing the auto and manual features of the camera.  I searched for angles and the right sunlight conditions to capture a "moment".

So while the Ocotillo didn't have leaves on the stems, they did begin to flower.  Hummers love these blossoms.  Look at how long the tubular flowers are and you'll understand why:)

I also found a manmade art piece along the trail and thought it was interesting.

As for the pic below.....I couldn't decide how to edit it.  I cropped the shot 3 times!

Brown Crested Flycatcher

So I pulled the camera back to give you an overall view from the peak.  It's really quite beautiful but wear a hat and protect your skin with sunblock.  Skin cancer is huge in Arizona because we have so much harsh lighting here.

My favorite shot is below.  It is a dead Saguaro cactus, but the colors remind me of some island art I've seen on my travels.

And as with all things, like this ground squirrel below, it was time to bounce and so we did.  It was a fun hike playing around with cameras, telling jokes, and finding shots along the trail.  I would classify this hike as moderate and give yourself 3-4 hours to do the trail.  More tomorrow.....

Tucson To Phoenix

 They say the road between Tucson and Phoenix is one of the worst. People say there is no greater hell than driving north into this hot inferno of evil. They say the devil lives here and acts as our Governor!!!  Can you believe the stuff people say?  Well not all of it.  The part about the highway between Tucson and Phoenix is true:)  Or is it?  Judge for yourselves at the pics today from our Interstate 10 and make up your own minds.......

Picacho Peak.  Careful driving through this corridor.  Sometimes accidents happen here and will stop traffic for hours.  And there are cops with radar guns.  Be aware of your speed in the town Casa Grande.  Many speeders pulled over in this area as well.

 The differences between Tucson and Phoenix are vast.  Tucson is a democratic city while Phoenix carries the red of our state heavily.  At one point last year, Tucson had proposed seceding from the state of Arizona.  I'm not sure I liked the name of Baja Arizona.  It was all silly really.  But it is true.  Tucsonans aren't much for Phoenix and Phoenix isn't one to travel south and visit our city.  Yet there are many that do. Most people in Phoenix will head north to the mountains and areas that surround Sedona.

One of my favorite areas of the interstate are along the Pecan groves. Gorgeous bare or green.

 It is also hot in Phoenix. Very hot.  There is usually a ten degree difference between here and there. So on our mandatory road trip up to Phoenix, which occurs once or twice every year, we took the I 10 corridor to the concrete city in the desert.  While the drive is terribly long, the best time to go is when the sun is setting.  I brought my camera to keep me occupied on this trip.

 But don't listen to what people say.  Phoenix is a beautiful city.  The Convention Center is one of the best and the landscaping is gorgeous.  While Tucson can be a bit unkept, Phoenix is a stark contrast with it's clean downtown scapes.....and it's nice.  But while the sun is setting...or rising....you will see some of the most beautiful color in our skies. And I don't care what side of the political fence you're on, I think most people in Arizona would agree that our state is pretty incredible. 

 But we rush, rush, rush.  And it was very evident once we arrived in the city.  Traffic everywhere and people not seeing the incredible sunset displays.  We are so busy running around that we take things for granted.  There is beauty all around us.  I am having a hard time these days focusing on conversations while an incredible bird flies over my head or a citrus smell permeates the air. It's these moments that matter the most. But then again....

 You see something like this below and you snap back to reality and laugh your butt off.  We will be "trekking" to the north this May to take part of the 25th anniversary of Star Trek the Next Generation with Patrick Stewart and gang.  And that's pretty exciting.  I'll have coverage and so much more...including some spectacular landscaping from around the Convention Center.  I CAN'T wait to show you some of the things that they've done with Agaves and other structural plants.  Life is too short and I'm going to live it:) It's not better anywhere else because it's all the same.  Cold weather. Hot weather. Sun. Clouds.  After awhile it all blurs together into one reality and just IS.  And Interstate 10 isn't an exception to the rule.  The pictures today were taken during our drive up and proof that it's all in the eye of the beholder.  But if you still don't believe me and have some time on your hands between Tucson and Phoenix, you can always take the "in your face!" picturesque State Route Hwy 77:)  Live long and prosper.