Part 2: Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (Part 1)

20131129

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The Trip

We checked our photo logs and found that the last time we had been to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum was 1999.  So, assuming that plenty had changed since then, we headed out to the park on the west side of the Tucson Mountains.  The day was clear and bright and the temperatures were perfect.

The Photos

The photos below are what we saw.

Our initial goal at the museum was to see the "Raptor Free Flight" demonstration.  On the path to the avian area, we got a great view of Baboquivari Peak to the south of the museum.

The north end of the Baboquivari Mountains hosts the Kitt Peak National Observatory.  Above, the 4 meter Mayall telescope is visible on the skyline.

To the extent possible, the terrain in the museum was left in its natural state.

The raptor show demonstrated the intelligence of hunting birds and showcased ravens, hawks, falcons and owls.  Above a raven is circling in hopes of getting a treat from the trainer.

The raven comes to the fist of the trainer.

Next, a large owl was brought out and allowed to fly from station to station getting treats along the way.  Note the claws on this bird.

This was a big owl and a very nice specimen.

Above, the owl departs from another one of the trainers after getting a treat.  Note the wingspan of the bird relative to the trainers arm.

Next a prairie falcon came out for a show.

The falcon was a beautiful bird.

Next up was a red tailed hawk.  This hawk has an altimeter on its body that can transmit the bird's altitude.  For the show, the bird was allowed to get 1500 feet high before being called back "to the fist" for a treat.  The antenna of the transmitter is visible between the wings.

The hawk looks like a robo-bird with the antenna sticking out.  The hawk took off from the perch and headed up to the sky.

The photo above was a crop-of-a-zoom and the bird was perhaps 1,000 feet up when this photo was taken.  When the announcer stated the bird was at 1500 feet, he was called back for the treat.

I could not get the bird's dive as I was blocked by other tourists, but the smile on the face of the handler says he was happy with the bird's performance.

There were a number of javalina in the javalina exhibit. 

The desert museum attempts to keep the habitat as close to natural as possible.  The area to the west of the Tucson mountains is heavily covered with local flora.

We spotted this deer in one of the enclosures.

The bear was dozing and did not wake up for us.

The mountain lion was dozing as well.  It was sad that that small branch blocked the view of the lion's face.

Not all the beasts were in cages.  Indeed, some were roaming the grounds.

The view across the Avra Valley was expansive.  In the distance, the Baboquivari Mountains were visible.

To the east, the crest of the Tucson Mountains was visible.  Most of the local TV stations have broadcast towers on the mountain.

There were some nice specimens of Totem Pole cactus.


Organ Pipe cactus.

Creeping Devil cactus have a neuro-toxin that the natives in Baja used to stun fish.

Some of the cactus were heavily spined.


These are a type of pin-cushion cactus.

These spines are dense and brutal.

Yet another kind of cholla; this is likely a staghorn or pencil variety.


This was Part 1 of the Desert Museum.  See the "Next Adventure" link for Part 2.



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Photos and Text Copyright Bill Caid 2013, all rights reserved.
For your enjoyment only, not for commercial use.