Skip to main content

Common Sights in the Desert of Arizona

Several months ago, I mentioned that I have a greater appreciation for nature in my own backyard when I return from a trip.  Not seeing all the common sights around my home during a trip makes me more aware that what might be common for me, isn't common everywhere.  Since I have not been traveling much or really at all right now, it might be simple to slip back into a mindset of taking wildlife for granted if it were not for my Twitter account.  I know that many have a poor experience on social media in general but I have to say that I have experienced no issues with Twitter.  My followers and those I follow are mostly those into nature and my feed is filled with plants, animals, and landscapes from around the world.  Someone recently tweeted a photo of a bird very common to his area yet I had never seen anything like it before.  So for anyone who is not familiar with the common wildlife in Arizona, I am going to reveal the most common desert sightings.


Sparrows

Small Sparrow with Seed

I start with the beautiful little sparrows.  Next to doves, they are the most common bird that I see year-round whether in my yard or out on a hike.  These little guys flock to my feeder and playfully flap from branch to branch waiting for a turn for some seed.  They will hop on the ground pecking away hoping to catch some seed that has fallen.  In the open desert, these little guys will quickly fly from bush to bush not remaining in the open for very long.  I will occasionally see them flying a greater distance to get to a taller tree branch or another place they deem safer but usually, they are fast flyers for short distances.



Bunnies

Desert hares and jackrabbits are extremely common in the desert.  The desert hare with their very long ears can be seen hopping their way across the desert floor and tend to freeze if they are near cover or I suppose assume that I can not see them.  They will occasionally take off at a fast hop but my chances are greater of snapping a photo of a desert hare than a jackrabbit.  I see jackrabbits on my hikes but it is very rare for me to grab a photo of one.  They have exceptionally long legs and take off at a rapid hop at the first sign of danger.  Most of the time, I don't even know they are present until a jet of brown fur takes off from under a bush along the path.  They are adorable, they are fast, and they are everywhere in the deserts of Arizona.




Cacti


You might have assumed that this one was coming but cacti (plural of cactus) are everywhere in the deserts of Arizona.  So many different types, sizes, and shapes of cacti can be found in the desert, in the city, and in neighborhoods.  Many of my neighbors have towering saguaros in their front yards, and cacti are commonly used in a variety of desert home landscaping.  


A cactus plant is such a common sight for me every day that I will often overlook them completely until they burst into bloom in the spring or fall. You might not think that there is much variety from one cactus plant to another but you will be surprised to hear that cacti are actually quite varied.  Most cacti are green with large spikes but some have no spikes at all while others are purple in color.  


As I was reminded this past week, what is common for me isn't common for everyone.  I hope that you enjoyed some of the animals and plants that I tend to take for granted every day.  Beautiful plants and animals can be found everywhere we look but at times we need to remind ourselves to look at our surroundings with fresh eyes to truly understand the beauty right in front of us.  If you would enjoy seeing plants, animals, and landscapes from Arizona, consider following me on Twitter for nature photos and positivity posted daily.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

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.  ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Cacti Flowers in Arizona

The rather spiky cactus is closely associated with Arizona and our desert landscape.   Late April and early May are blessed with cacti flowers that dot the desert with color.  From small landscaping cacti to the towering saguaro , blooms in many colors adorn the desert and residential landscapes around Phoenix. Many homeowners use slow-growing cacti as landscaping around the home.  A single cactus plant needs very little water, can easily handle our 100 degree days, and in general, needs almost zero care.  Each spring, they will burst into bloom and brighten a front or back yard.  The size of the cactus plant doesn't determine whether or not they will bloom.  Some cacti stay very tiny for their entire lives while others tower many feet tall.  This tiny cactus easily grows in a pot and displays a ring of beautiful pink flowers each spring.  This cactus is really only the size of a grapefruit yet blooms year after year never really getting not...
Post a Comment
Read more

Winter Birds and the Peace of Nature

  Most people who love nature have their favorite haunts around their home.  A place to escape for an hour or two close to home perhaps for a relaxing walk or to regain a few moments of peace.  Recent events have strengthened the pull of nature for me so I carved out a few hours one morning last week for a little time with some friends.  I have a few favorite locations around my home.  I tried my local riparian preserve but so many people had the same idea as I did that it was rather full and the paths were packed with people.  Not exactly my idea of gaining peace in nature so I quickly moved on.  There is a man-made lake not far from the preserve and I decided to head there.  To my delight, it was almost deserted and for most of my visit, I found myself alone with the birds. As I talked about in another post, about the winter birds returning and I was pleased to see a few birds that I have not seen all summer.  The egrets were back in force...
2 comments
Read more