Sunday, June 27, 2021

Desert Wildlife



My photos today are from the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum just west of Tucson in southern Arizona.  The museum is a 98-acre combination zoo, aquarium, botanical garden and natural history museum.  It has two miles of walking paths through natural desert environments and contains 242 animal species.

Above is a lookout point.  A place to look over the desert below.  To the left a canyon area.











Walking through the canyon area, you will find all sorts of animals such as this section with bighorn sheep.  They blend in so well with the rocks, I almost missed them.

A little further on, I spent some time watching the antics of a large Prairie Dog population.  They were popping in and out of their underground homes and chasing each other.  This fellow looks like it might be time to go on a diet.


There are two very large aviaries.  The first one is filled with a variety of birds native to the desert southwest.  I captured these cardinals watching from a high perch.  The male cardinal was playing hide-and-seek behind the tree.



The other aviary is filled with several different species of humming birds.  This one is simply a magical place to visit.  I spent quite a lot of time watching these busy creatures spending time between the flowering plants inside the aviary and the variety of feeders.  There are benches in this aviary and I enjoyed just sitting and watching them.  Every now and then, one would fly right up to my face and look me in the eye.  The Arizona Sonora Desert Museum is a place where everyone can find something to enjoy.


 

4 comments:

Travel said...

Pretty birds, lots of exploring to do

Catalyst said...

It's been many, many years since I visited their. It appears it is much changed since those memories of mine.,

Gemel said...

Fabulous post Sharon.

William Kendall said...

Prairie dogs are fun critters to watch.