A nice day to head over to the Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum, my former workplace and favorite place in Tucson. We take Gates Pass to get over to the West side. It passes over the crest of Tucson Mountains at 3,172 feet.
An overlook constructed by the CCC around 1934 still stands, Donna and Dave hike up to check it out
We arrive at the Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum. It's crowded for a Monday but it is the week between Christmas and New Years. Good thing we got here early, after I got the tickets, the line went to the parking lot.
We head straight the Raptor Free Free Flight area. Everyday Oct-April (except Wednesdays) they have some of the Museum's raptors fly above the crowds.
Early as we are we dont' make it to the take-off/landing area - just as well with Covid
Only raptors native to the Sonoran are flown. First the Chihuahuan Ravens. Known for being extremely intelligent birds; they are also very playful. Ravens have been recorded stealing windshield wipers off parked cars to play around with them. There are even videos of ravens using jar lids for sleds, etc.
They are followed by a group of 3 Harris Hawks
Harris's are one of only two truly cooperative hunters in the raptor world. They are native to the Sonoran desert where prey has a lot of good cover, they have been documented hunting in groups as large as 9 birds. They will act like an areal wolf pack taking turns harassing a rabbit or squirrel, chasing it out of cover towards other family members.
Next up is the Great Horned Owl. A great horned owl can close its feet with 500 psi (pounds per square inch). The average human exerts- squeezing as hard as we can- 80-150 psi. An owl can only lift around its own body weight (2-3 lbs). Owls do not build their own nests; because they lay eggs earlier in the year than most other species, they use old raven and hawk nests to raise their young
After the free flight we mosey about the rest of the museum
There's Cat Canyon - with a Bobcat
and a Gray Fox taking a warm nap
Life on the Rocks - has frogs
and a Jack rabbit
and the Mountain Woodland. With my favorite the Mountain Lion - Cruz - a five and a half-month-old male cub found in San Jose, CA and brought here in 2013. I used to visit him every day on my lunch hour. Hey buddy long time no see! You are still as handsome as ever.
He looks mad at me
and Mexican Grey Wolves
It is easy to spend a whole day here. It is lunch time and the cafe is packed so we hastily check out a couple more exhibits on our way out
The Hummingbird Aviary
The Art Gallery
an Artificial Cave
A NASA exhibit and Mineral Collection
and an Aquarium - why an aquarium in a desert museum? The Sonoran Desert extends all the way down into Mexico. The Sonoran Desert region isn't possible without recognizing the importance of the freshwater rivers that flow through it and the Sea of Cortez which are critical to this desert's status as the lushest desert on earth.
We leave to grab lunch. We have been here 4 hours but have somehow missed the Big Horn Sheep, Otters, Prairie Dogs and Heron! Glad I purchased a Membership - I will be back!
Another great day in Tucson!
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