Life Among the Saguaro Cactus

Last week, I shared my enthusiasm for the mighty saguaro cactus that towers over the Arizona desert. As I was organizing photos I came across several that reminded me of the varied life that not only survives but thrives among the cactus needles.

During the early spring and well into the hot summer, a wide variety of birds can be seen making their nest in the many holes of the cactus. The Gila woodpecker will peck away at the flesh and carve out an ample opening for their nest and then year after year a variety of birds claim these cavities as their temporary home. These entrances are typically high in the air and are well guarded by the parent. As you can see in the photo above, as the birds come in and out the needles can be worn away and the area directly around the entrance may be void of those prickly needles.

At times, a rather large area of a saguaro has been carved away and doves tend to prefer these areas for their home. They are protected by the cactus needles but have an ample area to more or less raise their babies in plain sight. The interior ribs of the saguaro cactus can be seen behind the mother dove and her babies in this photo. The cactus still grows and flourishes seemingly unaffected by such a large "wound".

Early May is typically the time of year when the very tops of the saguaro cactus burst into bloom. Large white flowers grow together at the ends of the cactus arms and are a favorite spot for bees and hummingbirds. The long green stalks of the flowers give the beautiful flowers a boost into the air and put on a brilliant show across the Arizona desert.

In a few weeks, the blooms disappear and large red fruit appears in their place making the cactus a favorite among the birds. Doves and woodpeckers are the most common birds that I see feasting on the ripe fruit but plenty of other birds will also enjoy the seasonal treat.

Arizona Saguaro Cactus Blue Skies Desert Southwest Keychain

Arizona Saguaro Cactus Keychain Contains an Affiliate Link
by southwestcreations

Life in the Arizona desert is far more varied and thriving than I thought possible before I moved here 16 years ago. I hope to continue giving you peaks into the beauty of nature as I continue my adventures. Thanks for coming along.

Comments

Uses For Jujubes - Red Dates

Uses For Jujubes - Red Dates Last week, I talked about the hungry sparrows feasting among my jujube trees. Apparently many have not heard of a jujube or red date before and are curious what to do with them besides just eating them from the tree. Just to recap in case you have not read my previous post, when mostly yellowish in color they taste a little like a dry apple. They get sweeter as they turn a reddish color and as they turn completely red and start to wrinkle slightly, they are closer to a raisin or a date. No matter how you eat them, don't forget that there is a pit in the center. I find that cutting them close to the pit around each side is the easiest way to rid the fruit of the pit. The Varied Uses of Jujubes The light green to yellow jujubes are easily shredded and used any time apples are called for. I have used them in breads, muffins, and mixed with pear or apples for a fruit crisp when shredded right from the tree. I have mixed them in pancake batter in

Saguaro Cactus Towering Desert Giant

Saguaro Cactus Towering Desert Giant Did you know that the saguaro cactus grows only in certain parts of Arizona, Mexico, and California? I became instantly enthused with the saguaro cactus when I moved to Arizona 16 years ago. In fact, my enthusiasm has become something of a household joke as my family is so accustomed to seeing saguaro cacti in our daily lives. Neighbors have the towering saguaro standing like sentinels in the front yards though in reality, the cactus was likely there long before the home was built. Protected Desert Plant Saguaro cacti can live a very long time. Over 150 years old is not at all uncommon and the arms you see growing out from the cactus usually don't start to appear until the cactus is 75-100 years old. Like all cactus plants, they grow very slowly and are not easily replaced when one is lost. They are actually a protected plant species in Arizona. When a new road is being put in or a housing development starts wandering into what once was

Thorns, Needles, and Spikes Thrive in Arizona

When most people think of Arizona they tend to think of desert and cactus. Southwestern cactus bring to mind long needles and plants that can be admired but steered clear of. While we do have a huge variety of cacti in our state, cacti are not the only plants to use needles, thorns, or spikes to protect themselves. Barrel Cactus Pillow Available in Our Store by southwestcreations So why does a cactus plant have needles? The obvious answer is to protect themselves but why do they need so much protection. Cacti are made up of a huge amount of water. The mighty saguaro for example can be caused to topple from too much water. A cactus will soak up water and store it allowing it to get through our long periods of drought. Animals seek out water and so a quick meal on a cactus pad can provide needed water for animals. While the needles keep away some animals, there are others that are very adapted to life in the desert. Javelina for example will munch on a cactus plant

AZ Nature In Focus

Search This Blog