Just east of Tucson, a collection of small creeks come together to form Pantano Wash, which winds its way through Tucson before eventually joining the Gila River, which flows across the state to the Colorado River. Most of these little creeks only flow during summer floods or occasionally during a wet winter. However, one of […]
Where the water ends Read More »
An interesting article came across my desk recently. Entitled, “Ecological homogenization of urban USA,” it presented some recent research on landscape structure within some of the major US cities, compared to their surrounding ecosystems. In general, there is a great similarity among neighborhood landscapes, whether they are in Phoenix, Baltimore, Miami, or Boston. The “idealized”
Urbanizing the soundscape Read More »
I’ve been hearing about Bosque del Apache for years: this wondrous wildlife refuge in the center of New Mexico that hosts thousands of wintering snow geese, sandhill cranes, other waterfowl, and even a few dozen whooping cranes. The sight and sounds of tens of thousands of snow geese taking off at dawn as they leave
A couple of weeks ago, I took Shadow for a hike in the Huachuca Mountains, down near the Mexico border, see some fall color. It was a gorgeous fall day, warm and sunny with a light breeze. And the colors did not disappoint, with the maples and sycamores putting on a dazzling display of yellows,
Whispers of Autumn Read More »
The monsoon season in southeastern Arizona extends from early July to late September, and usually means hot and humid weather with frequent thunderstorms. The thunderstorms seem to be the definition of chaotic systems, so you never quite know where they will appear or how much rain they will produce. This rainy season, an extension of
Monsoon Rearrangements Read More »
On my return trip from northern Nevada this summer, I made a stop in Yankee Meadow, just north of Brian Head Ski Area in Utah. From Parowan, we headed east, winding up a lovely canyon and passing some beautiful and dramatic red cliffs, which were sitting on a thick layer of blue-gray rock that looked
Dawn at Yankee Meadow Read More »
I discovered another of Nevada’s hidden gems recently. In early July, I traveled from southern Arizona to northern Nevada, dodging wildfires and thunderstorms, and ended up in a lovely little canyon in the Toquima Range. Not far from the geographical center of Nevada, Pine Creek Campground is a gateway to the 11,000 foot crest of
I just finished reading Gordon Hempton and John Grossman’s book, One Square Inch of Silence, about Hemptons’ attempt to preserve the quiet of the Hoh rainforest in Olympic National Park, Washington. Hempton is an Emmy-winning nature recordist (yes, it’s possible!) who has traveled the world seeking not only natural sounds, but quiet landscapes. Three trips
The Search for Quiet Read More »
It seems as if every mountain range in the southwest has had a huge wildfire in the last decade or so. Millions of acres burned, forests charred, ecosystems altered. If the drought continues, it may be millennia before some of the dryer, south-facing slopes see a forest again. The Horseshoe 2 fire burned in the
After the fire, the flowers bloom Read More »
It whispers, gurgles, laughs and chortles, this sliver of a creek flowing north from Mexico toward the Gila River. On this lovely day in April, the San Pedro River still flows through the sandy banks, but within a month or so it will begin to dry up, except for isolated pools and stretches near the
San Pedro River Soliloquy Read More »
It’s a cute little bird – the Phainopepla. A member of the tropical Silky Flycatcher family, males are a shiny black and females a charcoal grey. Both have red eyes and a feathery crest. They are quite noticeable in the desert, as males like to perch at the very top of mesquite trees (like the
Phainopepla – the mistletoe bird Read More »
The birds around my house are really getting fired up. A week or two of seventy-degree weather (albeit interspersed with snow squalls) seems to have sent them into overdrive. They start chirping at first light, and by 6:30 am the dawn chorus is in full swing. Unfortunately, that is also when my little community on
Early Spring in the Sonoran Desert Read More »
