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 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.