Trailside Naturalist - How to Survive in the Desert if you are a Plant - Gateway Trailhead Saturday, November 2, 2024 from 8:30am to 11:00 am Desert plants have adapted to our harsh desert environment. Learn how they do this by holding their breath during the day, reducing their surface areas and creating their own […]
Trailside Naturalist - Protecting the Desert Tortoise - Gateway Trailhead Saturday, November 16, 2024 from 8:30 am to 11:00 am Learn about the Preserve's desert tortoises who are long living but have a small chance to make it to adulthood. The Conservancy is tracking these animals with a radio backpack and we will share what […]
Mistletoe's Amazing Parasitic and Mutualistic Relationships The shiny red eyed black bird which has a crest looking a little cardinal is a Phainopepla. Learn how this bird spreads the parasitic Mistletoe around the Preserve. You will learn the Old English translation of Mistletoe and will have a laugh in December when you see people kissing […]
Mistletoe's Amazing Parasitic and Mutualistic Relationships The shiny red eyed black bird which has a crest looking a little cardinal is a Phainopepla. Learn how this bird spreads the parasitic Mistletoe around the Preserve. You will learn the Old English translation of Mistletoe and will have a laugh in December when you see people kissing […]
What Bird Was That? Learn to identify the common birds in the Preserve and some unique attributes of each including nesting, migration and parenting. We will demonstrate Merlin, a free phone app, which identifies birds by listening for their sounds so you can identify birds on your patio, in the Preserve and on trips. You […]
Big Cats in the Preserve Mountain Lions, also known in North America as the puma, cougar, catamount or panther live in the Preserve. They are almost never observed because they mainly roam from dusk to dawn. During the day these apex predators are masters of camouflage doing their very best to avoid humans. The Conservancy’s […]
Wildflower Season Find out about the many species of winter and spring wildflowers that grow in the Preserve. The old maxim “April showers bring May flowers” does not apply to the Sonoran Desert. In fact, April marks the beginning of our dry season, and by May, most of our wildflowers have already flowered and set […]
A Desert Time Machine Learn about the Pack Rats and their desert time machines. Ever wondered who lives in those piles of debris with cholla balls on top? The white-throated wood rat, aka the pack rat. This industrious little rodent has been collecting stuff and taking it home to nests for thousands of years. Join […]
Rattling on about Rattlers Learn about the species of rattlesnakes that live in the Sonoran Desert. Did you know? - That a rattlesnake can strike a distance of up to two-thirds of their body length? That they like to hide under bushes, rocks and debris that offer protection from predators? That they are an important […]
Rattling on about Rattlers Learn about the species of rattlesnakes that live in the Sonoran Desert. Did you know? - That a rattlesnake can strike a distance of up to two-thirds of their body length? That they like to hide under bushes, rocks and debris that offer protection from predators? That they are an important […]
Why are Lost Dog and Granite Mountain Trails So Different? Learn why Lost Dog Trails are so rocky and Granite Mountain trails are so much easier to walk on. Ever wonder how the rocks underfoot got there or why you see north to south mountain ranges in the Valley like Camelback, the McDowells, or South […]
