Thursday, May 21, 2009

Baby Cactus Wren

Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicappillus)
 
Up in North Phoenix, my friend and fellow birder Jesse Cuilty, scored big-time with these great shots of a baby Cactus Wren nested in her front yard. She claims she's not a good photographer, hah, someone get this gal her own digital camera! Its a crime against humanity for this avid outdoorswoman to not go digital.


Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Baby Rock Squirrels!


Since when do we have squirrels in Phoenix? I grew up here in the 70's and I don't think I ever saw a squirrel. Now that I'm living in Mesa, we have Rock Squirrels, just hanging out in the backyard like they own the place. But they are awfully cute, where ever they came from. So we put out raw in-shell peanuts and have fun watching them at the feeders.

This spring we have been blessed with 2 adorable baby squirrels.




Friday, May 1, 2009

Peach-faced Lovebirds!?


When I first saw one of these in my neighborhood, I thought someone lost their pet bird. Only later I learned that there are feral flocks of Peach-faced Lovebirds scattered around the Valley, especially here in Mesa. Their colors are just amazing, and they're so darn cute.
Peach faced Lovebirds are actually small parrots from an arid region of South Africa, so they have adapted to our sonoran desert quite well. So how in the heck did they end up here in Arizona? Well, they didn't migrate, thats for sure. It is assumed that a few mating pairs of pet Lovebirds escaped from their homes somewhere here in the Valley, and unlike other escaped pet birds, they survived and continued breeding.

They seem to be picky about which feeders they will go to, and only stay for short periods, and at certain times of the day. I have only seen them in my neighbors backyard, and at Gilbert Water Ranch. See the Map of Lovebird sightings in the Phoenix Metro area.



Do you have an event, bird walk, meeting, or nature walk that belongs on this calendar? Please send info to birdbloglady@gmail.com


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