McDowell Sonoran Conservancy

Trailside Naturalist - Mistletoe's Amazing Parasitic and Mutualistic Relationships - Brown's Ranch Trailhead
2024-12-14 08:30 - 11:00 UTC | Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
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 under this plant’s branches. We’ll also discuss the Parasitic Tarantula Hawk Wasp and the Mesquite Gall as examples of other parasitic relationships in our desert.
*Trailside Naturalist is a family-friendly educational offering on many Saturday mornings. The presentations feature hands-on materials and specimens and cover a variety of topics about the flora and fauna of the Preserve. The informal setting allows visitors to ask questions and learn interesting information about the amazing biodiversity of the Sonoran Desert. Sign up is not necessary, stop by anytime.

Trailside Naturalist - Mistletoe's Amazing Parasitic and Mutualistic Relationships - Gateway Trailhead
2024-12-21 08:30 - 11:00 | Gateway Trailhead, 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale, AZ, 85255, United States

Trailside Naturalist - What Bird Was That? - Gateway Trailhead
2025-01-11 08:30 - 11:00 | Gateway Trailhead, 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale, AZ, 85255, United States
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 will learn what crop milk is, when and where does the White-winged Dove come from and many more amazing things about the Preserve’s birds.
*Trailside Naturalist is a family-friendly educational offering on many Saturday mornings. The presentations feature hands-on materials and specimens and cover a variety of topics about the flora and fauna of the Preserve. The informal setting allows visitors to ask questions and learn interesting information about the amazing biodiversity of the Sonoran Desert. Sign up is not necessary, stop by anytime.

Trailside Naturalist - Big Cats in the Preserve - Gateway Trailhead
2025-01-18 08:30 - 11:00 | Gateway Trailhead, 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale, AZ, 85255, United States
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 Parsons Field Institute – Wildlife Camera Project has captured wonderful photos of these magnificent cats in the Preserve. Come learn about these elusive mammals that have been known to leap 23 feet in a single bound and their importance to a healthy desert ecology.
*Trailside Naturalist is a family-friendly educational offering on many Saturday mornings. The presentations feature hands-on materials and specimens and cover a variety of topics about the flora and fauna of the Preserve. The informal setting allows visitors to ask questions and learn interesting information about the amazing biodiversity of the Sonoran Desert. Sign up is not necessary, stop by anytime.

Trailside Naturalist - Wildflower Season - Gateway Trailhead
2025-02-08 08:30 - 11:00 | Gateway Trailhead, 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale, AZ, 85255, United States
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 seed. A more accurate version of the maxim for the Sonoran Desert would read, “October showers bring March flowers.” Stop by and we will show you common flowers in the desert and when and where to find them.
*Trailside Naturalist is a family-friendly educational offering on many Saturday mornings. The presentations feature hands-on materials and specimens and cover a variety of topics about the flora and fauna of the Preserve. The informal setting allows visitors to ask questions and learn interesting information about the amazing biodiversity of the Sonoran Desert. Sign up is not necessary, stop by anytime.

Trailside Naturalist Table - A Desert Time Machine - Gateway Trailhead
2025-02-22 08:30 - 11:00 | Gateway Trailhead, 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale, AZ, 85255, United States
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 us and see an actual 11,000-year-old piece of amberrat (nest material) from a packrat nest. This golden colored nugget tells us what our Sonoran Desert used to look like. We will explain how it was formed by the small but mighty pack rat.
*Trailside Naturalist Table is a family-friendly educational display on some Saturday mornings. The table features hands-on materials and specimens and covers a variety of topics about the flora and fauna of the Preserve. The informal setting allows visitors to ask questions and learn interesting information about the amazing biodiversity of the Sonoran Desert. Sign up is not necessary, stop by anytime.

Trailside Naturalist Table- Rattling on about Rattlers - Gateway Trailhead
2025-03-01 08:30 - 11:00 | Gateway Trailhead, 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale, AZ, 85255, United States
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 part of the Preserve ecosystem? The Sonoran Desert is home to more species of rattlesnakes than any other region in the world. Come learn about the snakes that utilize heat vision to hunt in the dark of night and do not lay eggs!
*Trailside Naturalist Table is a family-friendly educational display on some Saturday mornings. The presentations feature hands-on materials and specimens and cover a variety of topics about the flora and fauna of the Preserve. The informal setting allows visitors to ask questions and learn interesting information about the amazing biodiversity of the Sonoran Desert. Sign up is not necessary, stop by anytime.

Trailside Naturalist Table - Rattling on about Rattlers - Brown's Ranch Trailhead
2025-03-22 08:30 - 11:00 | Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States

Trailside Naturalist Table - Why are Lost Dog and Granite Mountain Trails So Different? - Gateway Trailhead
2025-04-26 08:30 - 11:00 | Gateway Trailhead, 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale, AZ, 85255, United States
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 Mountain? Stop by and you will see rock samples and learn the story of how they got here and what forces created the Preserve mountains. We will answer the question why Lost Dog Trail has so many loose rocks and why Granite Mountain trails are so much smoother. We guarantee you will see and appreciate these rocks differently after learning how far they traveled to get here.
*Trailside Naturalist Table is a family-friendly educational display on some Saturday mornings. The presentations feature hands-on materials and specimens and cover a variety of topics about the flora and fauna of the Preserve. The informal setting allows visitors to ask questions and learn interesting information about the amazing biodiversity of the Sonoran Desert. Sign up is not necessary, stop by anytime.
