McDowell Sonoran Conservancy

Wildflowers and Flora of the Desert - Educational Hike
2026-03-11 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Phoenix) | Granite Mountain Trailhead, 31402 N. 136th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Wildflower Educational Hike from Granite Mountain Trailhead.
Come celebrate spring in the desert and experience the Preserve dressed in its most beautiful colors. Join our knowledgeable stewards on this Moderate hike to discover the incredible variety of flowers in this area of the Preserve. 3 miles over about 3 hours.
Restrooms are available at the trailhead but no water. Please bring water and snacks for the trail. No dogs please. Plan to arrive 15 minutes before start of walk.
Space is limited! Please save your spot with the RSVP below.

Matriarchy in the McDowells - Educational Walk
2026-03-12 09:00 - 11:00 | Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Matriarchy in the McDowells at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead.
In honor of International Women’s Day, we are celebrating women–both those who are human and those in the animal kingdom–with a leisurely walk on the Jane Rau trail.
There are restrooms and water at the trailhead. Bring water and snacks for the trail. No dogs please. Plan to arrive 15 minutes before start of walk.
Space is limited! Please save your spot with the RSVP below.

Tom's Thumb Lookouts Hike
2026-03-14 08:00 - 11:30 | Tom’s Thumb Trailhead, 23015 N 128th St., Scottsdale, AZ, 85255, United States
Tom’s Thumb Lookouts Hike at Tom’s Thumb Trailhead.
This Very Difficult hike starts at the Tom Thumb Trailhead and travels 6.6 miles with a net elevation gain of around 1,600 feet over 3 to 3½ hours. We will initially head up the Tom’s Thumb Trail to the TT9 location and have a great view of the west and south valley. We will head back up the trail and take the Lookout trail ½ mile to the Lookout at 3,858 feet elevation and view the east valley. From there we will head up to Tom’s Thumb with its views in many directions. Due to the elevation gains, this hike is suggested for Experienced hikers.
Restrooms are available at the trailhead but no water. Bring plenty of water and snacks for the trail. Arrive at least 15 minutes before the start of the hike.
Space is limited! Please save your spot with the RSVP below.

Introduction To Mountain Biking: Session 2
2026-03-14 08:30 - 12:00 | Pima Dynamite Trailhead, 28777 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Introduction to Mountain Biking: Session 2 at Pima Dynamite Trailhead.
This program is aimed at helping riders build confidence and control across beginner-level terrain, reinforcing foundational skills while introducing essential techniques for handling small obstacles, climbs, descents, and corners. By the end, riders are expected to demonstrate improved balance, control, and maneuverability, effectively apply braking, shifting, and body positioning across varied terrain, and show increased confidence when tackling obstacles and technical features. Emphasizing trail etiquette and safe group riding, the program aspires to boost participants’ sense of accomplishment and encourage their continued enthusiasm for riding.
A bike with wide knobby tires is required. Please, no road bikes, hybrids, or folding bikes. Please check the working order of your bike before you leave home. Helmets required. Bring water and snacks for the trail. Restrooms available at the trailhead. Arrive 15 minutes before start of ride.
No electric assist bikes. To inquire about an accommodation from the City of Scottsdale, please call 480-312-4444.
Space is limited! Please save your spot with the RSVP below.

Wildflowers and Flora of the Desert - Educational Walk
2026-03-14 09:00 - 11:00 | Tom’s Thumb Trailhead, 23015 N 128th St., Scottsdale, AZ, 85255, United States
Flora in the Desert/Wildflowers Walk at Tom’s Thumb Trailhead.
Come celebrate spring in the desert and experience the Preserve dressed in its most beautiful colors. Join our knowledgeable stewards on this 2 hour walk to discover the incredible variety of flowers in this area of the preserve.
Restrooms are available at the trailhead but no water. Please bring water and snacks for the trail. No dogs please. Plan to arrive 15 minutes before start of walk.
Space is limited! Please save your spot with the RSVP below.

Lecture - Bird Migrations: Nature’s Intricately Timed Dance
2026-03-14 14:30 - 16:00 | Scottsdale Public Library – Mustang Library, 10101 N. 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85260, United States
Bird Migrations – Nature’s Intricately Timed Dance
Saturday, March 14, 2026, 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Location: Mustang Library, 10101 N 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85258
While we enjoy the cheerful presence of local birds at our feeders, each season brings surprise visitors—migratory birds that seem to arrive out of thin air. But their journeys are anything but
random. Discover how these incredible travelers time their arrivals and the places they call home.
Arizona is a birdwatcher’s paradise, with over 300 species recorded statewide, and nearly 190 documented in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve alone. Learn about our local and migratory birds, their unique habitats, and what they eat—straight from an expert in the field.
Join Rick Pearce, McDowell Sonoran Conservancy Steward, for an immersive exploration of our local birds. Rick is an avid birder with years of experience leading bird walks for the Conservancy, along with scientific surveys and bird counts in partnership with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Audubon. His passion and knowledge will bring the fascinating world of local birds to life.
RSVP below to let us know you are coming!

Ride Hawknest and Axle Grease Trails
2026-03-15 08:00 - 11:00 | Pima Dynamite Trailhead, 28777 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Ride Hawknest and Axle Grease (Int.) from Pima Dynamite Trailhead.
Join us on this ride up Axle Grease to West Express, Hawknest, and Basalt Ridge, ending with an exciting flowy downhill on Hawknest back to the trailhead for about a 15-mile ride of moderate cardio and some intermediate technical skills.
Make sure your bike is in good operational order. Helmets and a bike with wide knobby tires are required. Please no road bikes, hybrids, or folding bikes. Bathrooms and water are available at the trailhead. Bring water and snacks for the trail. Please arrive 15 minutes before the start of the ride.
No electric assist bikes. To inquire about an accommodation from the City of Scottsdale, please call 480-312-4444.
Space is limited! Please save your spot with the RSVP below.

All About Plant Phenology - Educational Walk
2026-03-15 09:00 - 11:00 | Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
All About Plant Phenology at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead.
This leisurely walk along the Brown’s Ranch Jane Rau trail will introduce you to the Conservancy’s ongoing phenology project in the Preserve.
WHAT is Phenology? Phenology is the science of studying life cycle events in plants and animals. When does it grow, when is it dormant, when does it reproduce?
WHY Phenology? The data we collect on each year’s new leaves, flowers and fruit is vital information to help scientists better understand how changing climate conditions are affecting all living organisms worldwide.
Phenology data helps us to make adaptive management decisions as to how we might be able to help mitigate adverse effects.
There are restrooms and water at the trailhead. Bring water and snacks for the trail. No dogs please. Plan to arrive 15 minutes before start of walk.
Space is limited! Please save your spot with the RSVP below.

Brown's Mountain Lookout to Interpretive Trail Hike
2026-03-15 09:00 - 11:30 | Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Brown’s Mountain Lookout to Interpretive Trail at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead.
This “combo” hike/education event will take us up the Brown’s Ranch Trail to the Lookout and then head over to the Brown’s Ranch Interpretive Trail to be introduced to the history of the Brown’s Ranch. For this 4.3-mile Moderate hike with about 450 feet of elevation gain up to the Lookout, we will plan on taking 2 to 2.5 hours.
Bathrooms and water are available at the trailhead. Bring water and snacks for the trail. No dogs please. Arrive 15 minutes before the start of hike.
Space is limited! Please save your spot with the RSVP below.

Women's Bike Ride
2026-03-15 09:00 - 12:00 | Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Women’s Bike Ride (Beg.) from Brown’s Ranch Trailhead.
This women’s bike ride is a beginner skill level ride and moderate cardio. This ride is perfect for women or those who identify as women. It is a “No Drop” ride, meaning no one will be left behind. Plan on about 3.5 hours to cover approximately 8-10 miles.
A bike with wide knobby tires is required. Please, no road bikes, hybrids, or folding bikes. Please check the working order of your bike before you leave home. Helmets required. Bring water and snacks for the trail. There are water and restrooms at the trailhead. Arrive 15 minutes before start of ride.
No electric assist bikes. To inquire about an accommodation from the City of Scottsdale, please call 480-312-4444.
Space is limited! Please save your spot with the RSVP below.

Balanced Rock Hike
2026-03-18 08:00 - 10:00 | Granite Mountain Trailhead, 31402 N. 136th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Balanced Rock Hike from Granite Mountain Trailhead.
This moderate hike to Balanced Rock and back is one of the most popular from this trailhead and is a gradual uphill on rolling terrain. Plan on 2 hours for 4.5 miles with 300 ft. of elevation gain.
Restrooms are available at the trailhead but no water. Please bring water and snacks for the trail. No dogs, please. Plan to arrive 15 minutes before start of hike.
Space is limited! Please save your spot with the RSVP below.

Wildflowers and Flora of the Desert - Educational Walk
2026-03-19 09:00 - 11:00, 2026-03-21 09:00 - 11:00, 2026-03-26 09:00 - 11:00 | Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Flora in the Desert/Wildflowers Walk at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead.
The Preserve is located in one of the most biodiverse areas of the Sonoran Desert. Learn about the plant life that thrives in this area. Note: If you have the i-Naturalist application on your phone, it would be a helpful tool to identify different flora.
There are restrooms and water at the trailhead. Bring water and snacks for the trail. No dogs please. Plan to arrive 15 minutes before start of walk.
Space is limited! Please save your spot with the RSVP below.

Bootlegger, Coyote Canyon, Renegade Trails Hike
2026-03-20 08:00 - 11:30 | Granite Mountain Trailhead, 31402 N. 136th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Bootlegger, Coyote Canyon, Renegade Trails at Granite Mountain Trailhead.
This Difficult hike explores the more remote part of the Preserve via Bootlegger, Granite Mountain Loop, Coyote Canyon, Renegade and 136th St. Express trails. Experienced hikers suggested. 6.8 miles in about 3.5 hours with 255 ft. elevation gain and rolling ups and downs.
Restrooms are available at the trailhead but no water. Please bring water and snacks for the trail. No dogs, please. Plan to arrive 15 minutes before start of hike.
Space is limited! Please save your spot with the RSVP below.

Introduction to Mountain Biking: Session 3 - Graduation Ride
2026-03-21 08:30 - 12:00 | Pima Dynamite Trailhead, 28777 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Introduction to Mountain Biking: Session 3 – Graduation Ride at Pima Dynamite Trailhead.
This 10 to 12-mile ride from Pima Dynamite is for people who have completed the Introduction to Mountain Biking Sessions 1 & 2. This is an instructional ride to practice the skills taught with instruction at various points on the ride.
A bike with wide knobby tires is required. Please, no road bikes, hybrids, or folding bikes. Please check the working order of your bike before you leave home. Helmets required. Bring water and snacks for the trail. Restrooms available at the trailhead. Arrive 15 minutes before start of ride.
No electric assist bikes. To inquire about an accommodation from the City of Scottsdale, please call 480-312-4444.
Space is limited! Please save your spot with the RSVP below.

Return to Azatlan - Educational Hike
2026-03-21 09:00 - 13:00 | AZ
Return to Azatlan – Educational Hike.
Azatlan is the contemporary archaeological name given to a large Hohokam community that existed north of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Reservation and east of Rio Verde. Join our archeological experts for a hike through one of the largest archeological sites in central Arizona, which lies right next door to the Preserve along the Verde River. The hike will include visits to the ancient ‘ball courts’ used by the native peoples, traces of their canals and other evidence of their civilization. This is a slow paced Moderate hike of 4 miles over about 4 hours with no shade.
Attendance is limited and reservations are absolutely required. Please save your spot with the RSVP below. Meeting location will be emailed to registered participants a week before the hike.
Bathrooms available at the start. Bring water and snacks for the trail. No dogs please. Arrive 15 minutes before start of hike.

Lecture - Master Planned Developments in Scottsdale
2026-03-24 17:00 - 18:30 | Scottsdale Public Library – Mustang Library, 10101 N. 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85260, United States
Master Planned Developments in Scottsdale
Tuesday, March 24, 2026, 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Location: Mustang Library, 10101 N 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85258
A large portion of Scottsdale residents live in master planned developments. Most of the later development in Scottsdale was contained in such developments, but few know that some of the earliest pioneers who helped create Scottsdale had similar visions to create grand developments but never achieved their dreams. This presentation by Don Hadder profiles over 30 such developments in Scottsdale and reviews their evolution over 40 years of time.
RSVP below to let us know you are coming!

Lecture - From Rocks to Humans: Ecological Foundations
2026-04-11 14:30 - 16:00 | Scottsdale Public Library – Mustang Library, 10101 N. 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85260, United States
From Rocks to Humans: Ecological Foundations
Saturday, April 11, 2026, 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM
Location: Mustang Library, 10101 N 90 th St., Scottsdale, AZ 85258
We live in a stunning part of the Sonoran Desert, a unique and vibrant ecosystem. Despite high temperatures and limited rainfall, myriad species of plants and animals call this place home.
People, too, have lived here for thousands of years. Have you ever wondered how this ecosystem came to be, and how all the flora and fauna have adapted to live and thrive here?
And why organizations like the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy are working to protect vast portions from human impacts?
We’ll dive into the processes that shaped this desert landscape—how ecosystems are formed, how living things adapt to environmental challenges, and how humans have left such a deep
mark on the land in a short amount of time. We’ll introduce you to the core principles of ecology, from the rocks beneath our feet to the humans who now inhabit this landscape
RSVP below to let us know you are coming!

Bird Walk
2026-04-12 07:30 - 09:30 | Tom’s Thumb Trailhead, 23015 N 128th St., Scottsdale, AZ, 85255, United States
Bird Walk at Tom’s Thumb Trailhead.
Join our bird experts on this 2-hour walk for a good chance to see some of our year-round bird residents such as: cactus wren, Gila woodpecker, ladder-backed woodpecker, Harris’s hawk, verdin or Say’s phoebe – as well as some seasonal arrivals.
Restrooms available at the trailhead, but no water. Bring water and snacks for the trail. No dogs please. Bring your binoculars. Arrive 15 minutes before start of walk.
Space is limited! Please save your spot with the RSVP below.

Lecture - The Desert is a Dotted Line: Connecting Taliesin West and Early Scottsdale
2026-04-28 17:00 - 18:30 | Scottsdale Public Library – Mustang Library, 10101 N. 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85260, United States
The Desert is a Dotted Line: Connecting Taliesin West and Early Scottsdale
Tuesday, April 28, 2026, 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Location: Mustang Library, 10101 N 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85258
Beginning in 1938, the architect Frank Lloyd Wright and his apprentices built a winter camp (a home and professional studio) at the foot of the McDowell Mountains. In this presentation, we’ll explore how vital the surrounding area, especially the young City of Scottsdale, was to the development and subsistence of Taliesin West. Untold stories will be shared through primary source material.
Please join Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation Archivist Nicole Richard on April 28th for this presentation at Scottsdale’s Mustang Library
RSVP below to let us know you are coming!
Photo Credit: Aerial view of Taliesin West, November 24, 1949. Photograph courtesy Herb and Dorothy McLaughlin Photograph Collection, Greater Arizona Collection, Arizona State University Library.

Lecture - Poisonous and Venomous Animals of Arizona
2026-05-09 14:30 - 16:00 | Scottsdale Public Library – Mustang Library, 10101 N. 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85260, United States
Poisonous and Venomous Animals of Arizona
Saturday, May 9, 2026, 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Location: Mustang Library, 10101 N 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85258
Arizona is home to a diverse array of poisonous and venomous creatures. More species of venomous reptiles are found here than in any other U.S. state. Many of these are little more than a painful inconvenience while the bite or sting of others can be a life-threatening event. Learn about these misunderstood animals and the actual threat they present.
Randy Babb is a biologist and an Arizona native. Randy started with the U.S. Forest Service as a biological field technician before joining AZGFD in 1986 as the Aquatic Education Program
Manager. He worked on numerous studies and projects in Arizona, New Mexico, southeastern U.S., Mexico, Central America, Vietnam, and southern Africa on small mammals, fish, reptiles
and amphibians. He was installed in the Arizona Wildlife Hall of Fame in 2021. Has over 31 publications including “Reptiles and Amphibians of the Sonoran Desert” and “Snakes of
Southeast Arizona.” Since retiring from Game and Fish, Randy hasn’t slowed down. Throughout his career, he served as a biological consultant for National Geographic Television, Discovery
Channel, and BBC programs on desert wildlife.
RSVP below to let us know you are coming!

Lecture - Scottsdale’s Lost and Saved Architecture
2026-05-26 17:00 - 18:30 | Scottsdale Public Library – Mustang Library, 10101 N. 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85260, United States
Lecture: Scottsdale’s Lost and Saved Architecture
Tuesday, May 26, 2026, 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Location: Mustang Library, 10101 N 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85258
Presenter: Doug Sydnor, FAIA, Architect
Since 1888 Scottsdale has been evolving from a small farming community into a 21st century city of 240,000 residents. Douglas Sydnor, FAIA will share some realities of what our community has been losing, balanced with success stories of saving significant architecture. The movement to save the best of the past includes historic preservation programs, adaptive reuse, ordinance incentives and committed property owners. Some properties have included up to six uses over the 130 years.
RSVP below to let us know you are coming!
Photo Credit – Lost: 1949 Louis C. Upton Residence by Paul Schweikler, FAIA; photo by Julius Shulman

Lecture - The First Farmers of the Desert
2026-06-23 17:00 - 18:30 | Scottsdale Public Library – Mustang Library, 10101 N. 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85260, United States
Lecture: The First Farmers of the Desert
Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Location: Mustang Library, 10101 N 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85258
Join our speaker from the S’edav Va’aki Museum (previously Pueblo Grande Museum) for a presentation, followed by an up-close look of artifacts. Learn about the Ancestral Sonoran Desert People, known to archaeologists as the Hohokam, who lived in Phoenix and the surrounding areas over a thousand years ago. Find out how they not only survived, but thrived in the desert by utilizing the landscape, building irrigation canals, and growing a variety of crops.
Please join Adriana Zavalza on June 23rd for this presentation at Scottsdale’s Mustang Library located at 10101 N 90th St, Scottsdale, AZ 85258
RSVP below to let us know you are coming!

Lecture - Keeping Arizona Wild: The People, Partnerships, and Purpose Behind Conservation
2026-07-28 17:00 - 18:30 | Scottsdale Public Library – Mustang Library, 10101 N. 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85260, United States
Lecture- Keeping Arizona Wild: The People, Partnerships, and Purpose Behind Conservation
Tuesday, July 28, 2026, 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Location: Mustang Library, 10101 N 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85258
Join Arizona Game and Fish Commission Chair Marsha Petrie Sue for an inside look at how Arizona conserves and protects more than 800 wildlife species across our state. Learn how the Arizona Game and Fish Department operates without state tax dollars—relying instead on conservation funding, partnerships, and dedicated citizens—to support its $152 million wildlife conservation mission. Marsha will also share how collaborative efforts with organizations like the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy help protect the habitats and wildlife that make Arizona
such an extraordinary place.
Please join us on July 28th for Marsha’s presentation at Scottsdale’s Mustang Library located at 10101 N 90th St, Scottsdale, AZ 85258
RSVP below to let us know you are coming!

Lecture - Gila River Indian Community: Innovation in Water Management
2026-08-25 17:00 - 18:30 | Scottsdale Public Library – Mustang Library, 10101 N. 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85260, United States
Lecture- Gila River Indian Community: Innovation in Water Management
Tuesday, August 25, 2026, 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Location: Mustang Library, 10101 N 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85258
The Gila River Indian Community (GRIC) was once the “bread basket” of Arizona. Then 19th century upstream diversions deprived the Akimel O’otham (Pima) and Pee Posh (Maricopa) of their water, ushering in forty years of famine. Despite a 1935 Federal court degree on Gila River water rights, the Community struggled to put river water to use. In the 1950s, it inaugurated its legal fight to restore water. Since the enforceable water settlement of 2004 the Community is rebuilding its agricultural economy. Hear about how the GRIC is using holistic, resilient, and innovative strategies to protect and conserve its water resources.
Please join us on Tuesday, August 25th for a presentation by David H DeJong, Ph.D. at Scottsdale’s Mustang Library, 10101 N 90th St, Scottsdale, AZ 85258.
RSVP below to let us know you are coming!

Lecture - Owls of the McDowells
2026-09-12 14:30 - 16:00 | Scottsdale Public Library – Mustang Library, 10101 N. 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85260, United States
Lecture- Owls of the McDowells
Saturday, September 12, 2026, 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Location: Mustang Library, 10101 N 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85258
Description: Discover the incredible adaptations that make owls the ultimate nocturnal predators. In this presentation, we’ll explore the specific species that call the McDowell Sonoran Preserve home and learn about the research being done by the Conservancy’s Field Institute’s nocturnal bird survey. Lisa Miller is a Legacy Steward with the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, who has
dedicated 15 years to citizen science, education, and conservation. She has served as Chair, Assistant Chair, and Bird Survey Lead for the Conservancy’s Citizen Science
Program, frequently sharing her love for birding through classes, presentations, and guided walks.
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Photo by Lynne Russell

Lecture - Patriot Skies: The RAF in Arizona During World War II
2026-09-22 17:00 - 18:30 | Scottsdale Public Library – Mustang Library, 10101 N. 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85260, United States
Lecture- Patriot Skies: The RAF in Arizona During World War II
Tuesday, September 22, 2026, 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Location: Mustang Library, 10101 N 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85258
Did you know the Royal Air Force trained pilots in Arizona during World War II? Discover this little-known history as Emmy Award–winning filmmaker Kelly Sallaway presents the remarkable story of the RAF’s training operation at Falcon Field. Arizona skies became critical for training young pilots for combat at a time when Britain’s survival depended on air power. Kelly is currently developing her new documentary film, Patriot Skies and will share film excerpts and insights on the project.
Please join Kelly on Tuesday, September 22nd at Scottsdale’s Mustang Library, 10101 N 90th St, Scottsdale, AZ 85258.
RSVP below to let us know you are coming!

Lecture - Backyard Wildlife
2026-10-10 14:30 - 16:00 | Scottsdale Public Library – Mustang Library, 10101 N. 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85260, United States
Lecture- Backyard Wildlife
Saturday, October 10, 2026, 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Location: Mustang Library, 10101 N 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85258
Description: This will be a fun presentation on wildlife you may encounter in your Sonoran Desert backyard. You will learn about your neighborhood wildlife and how to create a wildlife friendly yard that is safe, ethical, and enjoyable.
Jessie Dwyer is the Senior Scientific Program Manager at the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy. In this capacity, they manage wildlife research projects on key species groups and collaborates with regional partners. Their research is focused on long-term monitoring, population health, and habitat connectivity.
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Lecture - Unsolved Mysteries of the McDowells!
2026-10-27 17:00 - 18:30 | Scottsdale Public Library – Mustang Library, 10101 N. 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85260, United States
Lecture- Unsolved Mysteries of the McDowells!
Tuesday, October 27, 2026, 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Location: Mustang Library, 10101 N 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85258
Presenter: Len Marcisz, McDowell Sonoran Conservancy
It’s no mystery that Halloween is for adults! Get in the Jack-O-Lantern spirit with this new offering from the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy. Unsolved mysteries and unanswered questions remain deep in the recesses of the McDowell Mountains. The unsolved murder of an aspiring model on the property of the Mayo Clinic? A military chaplain who wandered the desert and appeared to be insane? Did a tooth extraction cause the worst air disaster over the McDowells? Who was the first non-Native American to see the McDowells? Do petroglyphs near Taliesin West tell the story of a massive battle between ancient empires? These mysteries and more are yours to explore and perhaps solve!
Please join Len Marcisz, days before Halloween, on October 27th at Scottsdale’s Mustang Library located at 10101 N 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85258.
RSVP below to let us know you are coming!
