Gateway Trailhead

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]