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NOTES ON TRANSPLANTING MEXICAN ELBERBERRY by Charles Bowden  (Note from Jon- Charles Bowden is a well-known southwestern nature writer who has published many books about the Sonoran Desert. He is also known for his investigative journalism and books about the Mexican/American border country. We asked him to write a small piece for our newsletter and this article is what he submitted. He was then writing a new book at a retreat in Arivaca. We consequently received much good feedback (he has a lot of fans among Tucson's nature lovers). This article originally appeared in the May/June, 1994 issue of The...

When a birdie helps a birdie… By Shani Friedman Observing bird behavior is an always intriguing activity. While sitting out on the deck early in the day with a cup of coffee, watching the thistle, millet and hummingbird feeders, I witnessed an instance of a bird helping other birds. The Lesser goldfinches were at the thistle feeders in force. Verdin photo by Doris Evans A plucky Verdin fed at the Holland Hill window feeder. House Finches dominated the millet feeder. A male Broad billed Hummingbird perched and preened on a branch above his favorite feeder. Gambel’s Quail pairs drifted freely under the...

AVIAN COPING MECHANISMS FOR HEAT AND DROUGHT By Jon Friedman July is a particularly challenging month here in Southern Arizona. We've been in a long, sustained drought for over a decade. It's going to take an amazingly wet monsoon season (or two or three) before scientists declare a temporary end to this drought. Historical records and ever advancing climate change indicate the possibility of many more years of drought to come. And, dry as it has been, we've seen soaring heat as well. We've experienced record setting or near record heat this year and the past several years. The snowbirds,...

BIRDS, WATER AND SUMMER HEAT By Shani Friedman In our desert heat, we are stating the obvious - birds need clean reliable water sources all year round, but no more than when the temperature soars. As we write this, the projected heat for this afternoon is 113°F, and likely to remain in the triple digits for the rest of the week. As the drought deepens in southern Arizona, natural water sources continue to dry up. Our record setting fire season has taken its toll on the wildlife. Birds pant and hold their wings out from their bodies in an attempt...

INCREASING BACKYARD DIVERSITY Southeastern Arizona's great biodiversity©May 2011, Jon Friedman Pyrrhuloxia by Richard of SearchNet Media With more species of birds than almost any other region in the country, Southeastern Arizona's biodiversity offers backyard birders one of the best opportunities to attract a wide variety of birds. The combined number of year-round resident and migrating birds that one can see in the cycle of a year's time is greater than most other regions throughout the continent. However, if you don't devote some time on a regular basis to observing, you may miss some of the migrants which only pass through...