Arizona was fun. Going anyplace different is stimulating, but Arizona is really different. Saw some cool animals and sights. The only problem with vacations is that the rest of the world doesn’t stand still. We came back to a really full load. I’m only now getting a little time to collect thoughts about the trip. Jill and Leon Uris did a photo-essay book on Ireland. One picture had a line of guys standing around and the caption was , “In Ireland boredom is a carefully cultivated luxury.” I think I need to cultivate a little luxury.
Arizona hummers Tucson Desert Museum
Vermillion flycatcher – Aravoca
Finally got the opportunity to compile our Arizona species lists. Our lists are starting to diverge a bit. The post-Arizona counts stand at 171 for me and 169 for Lise. We got about 70 species on the trip but, slightly different ones. As the species lists now stand, I have Brewers sparrow, common yellowthroat, black vulture, and pheasant that Lise does not have. She has hepatic tanager and Anna’s hummingbird that I don’t have. Her’s will be tough for me to get with our current trip schedule. My Brewer’s sparrow may be tough for her to get. The other three I have, but she doesn’t have, are relatively common and not that difficult to get. The pheasant may take some work but is doable.
We now have an average of 170 species at Day Number 105 of the year. About two months ahead of schedule. With a little diligence we should get some migrants that pass through Lansing and the summer residents. Without traveling too far we should be able to get something on the order of 60 new species. Things in the Lansing area will die out a bit towards the end of summer though.
Anyway, my Arizona take away message is, it’s all about water. Arizona is dry. As in, The Sons of The Pioneers, crossing the burning sands looking for cool clear water dry. Our most productive birding centered around wet places. The cieniega at Arivoca, the stream at Patagonia, and the Madera Canyon area had the greatest avian concentrations. Plus a lot of other water dependent biota. The beautiful cottonwood trees at Arivoca and the sycamores in Madera canyon were there because of the water. It was green where there was water. For us in the Midwest it is difficult to understand the importance of water. We have it everywhere, including places we don’t want it. Like my basement. As our friend Jean said, “the first Civil War was about slavery. The next will be about water. We have it and they don’t.”
Water in Madera Canyon
Water in Patagonia
Lizard in Patagonia
Arivoca cottonwood
Madera sycamores
Not that I don’t like the dry places. They have their own beauty that quite frankly I like. I really liked the dark mesquite set against the light colored dry grasses. If I ever get time I may try to do some good black and white images. The dry areas have a biota evolved to take advantage of water scarcity. Really tough critters and plants. Things you don’t want to mess with, even on a good day.
Mesquite
Desert lizard – tough as they come
Pretty but don’t touch
Tough plants
Arizona’s sky islands are really intriguing. These are small mountains, popping up out of the desert floor. I’m not sure of the geology behind them. In the sky islands, water and elevation work together to compress a lot of biota into a relatively small area.
We visited Madera Canyon, A sky island just east of Green Valley. A stream starting out as snow pack cuts into the side of the mountain, over the eons forming the canyon. The fairly quick rise in elevation, coupled with both north and south exposures, produces a variety of niche habitats in a fairly small area. We just missed elegant trogans at Madera Canyon. After finishing a six mile hike someone informed us that trogans were seen on the trail we just completed. At least we did get Northern pygmy owl and yellow-eyed junco on the trail.
Madera Canyon lizard
Madera Canyon – Gray breasted jay (Transvolcanic jay)
Canyon treefrog – Madera Canyon
Canyon tree frogs getting frisky – Madera Canyon
Just don’t go to Madera Canyon on a weekend. During the week we had the place almost to ourselves. On Saturday people were circling the parking lots like vultures, looking for an open spot to swoop down on. It was worse than trying to find a parking spot on campus. At least we got there early, before things got ugly.
Speaking of vultures, we didn’t see any enforcement during the week. On Saturday the Forest Service was there in force, writing enough tickets to pay for a year of operations. And, the local police had speed traps set up along the only road to the canyon. What you call a target rich environment.
Vultures looking for tourists
Ed's and Lise's Biggish Years 