![]() They played a small part of a famous speech by Martin Luther King. They had some kind of a New Year’s Eve show. On the way we continued to listen to NPR. We stopped for gas where I saw a green T-shirt with a John Deer Tractor emblazoned on it and the simple words: “ John Beer.” Can you get more profound than that? Sadly, we missed Cadillac Ranch as a result. It did not take long and Sarah led us right back to Interstate 40. Sarah sprung to life! There was as much rejoicing in our car as there was in heaven when the prodigal son returned. We made a radical decision. She pulled out a small disk from the GPS and warmed it up in her warm hands. We meander.Īt first Sarah (the GPS) was asleep again. Many of our friends travel with much more diligence. Our practice is to leave after first light (this is easy) and to stop before dark. We were both sceptical that we could do it, but we got up early and headed out. Today we wondered when we woke up, if we could make it all the way to our rented home in San Tan Valley. Chadwick, Enduring America, (1995) National Geographic Society, p. ![]() The House Finch was introduced in the eastern USA and over time has expanded its range from their to most of North America, including both Manitoba and Arizona.Ĭontrary to what I just said, the Cactus Wren is not shy and will stand still for a photograph, unlike my even more lovely grand daughters. It has mountains, it has plains, it has grasslands, and of course, it has deserts. Even Florida and Alaska which are both famous for their birds, have less varieties that can be found there.Īccording to, California has 664 species of birds, Texas 644, and Arizona 555. ![]() Only California and Texas beat it! And both Texas and California have long coasts with wonderful sea birds and shorebirds. Surprisingly many bird species.Despite the challenges I was surprised to learn from a veteran birder, that out of the 50 states in the United States Arizona had the third highest numbers of distinct species. Even Florida and Alaska which are both famous for their birds, have less varieties that can be found there. Despite the challenges I was surprised to learn from a veteran birder, that out of the 50 states in the United States Arizona had the third highest numbers of distinct species. The birds that are nocturnal like owls or crepuscular (dusk-to-dawn) have an advantage. Usually there are more animals active at night than during the day. Many do that by sleeping during they day. Like lazy boys who hate work do their best to avoid it, so animals of the desert try to avoid the heat. That applies to mammals, insects, and birds. The answer is that every creature that tries ot live here must have a survival strategy. I try to make sure I always have water along, and usually I need it.įinally, when it is hot it is difficult for organisms to maintain their correct body temeprature. Sometimes, on a hike, I have thought water was not required. As if that is not enough an animal’s need for water increases as the temperature increases. Added to that, it is often hot here and as it heats up so does evaporations, tending to elminate what little war was here in the first place. After all water, which is absolutely essentail for any animal to survvie is hard to find. Some even thrive.Īt first that sounds hard to believe. Surprisingly many creatures do survive here. Small ones, whose scales were modified into feathers, can be seen almost anywhere you look.” Īny creature that lives in the desert has a big challenge–how to survive. “In many experts’ view, dinosaurs never really went extinct. I love birds too, but unlike flowers, they don’t often stay in one place. Instead of wild flowers I have pursued birds. But this is the worst wild flower year in Arizona in at least 15 years and perhaps ever.
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