Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Check Out the New Fall Color Page


Its the first day of Autumn though at 97 degrees it hardly feels like it here in the Valley.  For a taste of true fall weather, head north and take in the views of Arizona's beautiful fall foliage.  Check out our new FALL COLOR page!  You'll find:

  • Links to Arizona Fall Foliage Updates
  • Wheelchair Accessible Fall Hikes
  • Fall Color Railroad Tours
  • Fun Fall Events
  • Fall Native Plants Sales (The best way to attract wildlife to your yard is to landscape with native plants!)

Don't forget, its Bye Bye Buzzards Day this Saturday at Boyce Thompson Arboretum in Superior, and Verde River Days this Saturday and Sunday at Dead Horse Ranch State Park in Cottonwood.  Both parks have great wheelchair accessible trails.

For more details on the accessibility of these 2 beautiful state parks, see AccessingArizona.com :

Dead Horse Ranch

Boyce Thompson Arboretum

Monday, September 20, 2010

Desert Tortoise Habitat Grand Opening

Desert Tortoise poster above is available from AZ Game and Fish in limited quantities.

So maybe they don't fly, but you just can't help but love this great denizen of the desert.  On October 1st at McDowell Mountain Regional Park it is the Grand Opening of the Tortoise Habitat along with a Tortoise Adoption Awareness Event. Join other tortoise lovers in celebrating the opening of this beautiful, huge tortoise exhibit and meet Scarlett, Lady, and Lily who will move into their brand new ‘digs’ at McDowell Mountain Park. Due to the many foreclosures and people moving in Phoenix, there are many tortoises in the care of the Phoenix Herpetological Society that need new homes. Find out how you could adopt a tortoise into your family—a lifelong commitment.  10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, Friday, October 1st at the McDowell Mountain Regional Park Visitor Center. No registration required, park entry fee is $6 per car.  For more info Contact: amyford@mail.maricopa.gov 480-471-0173 x201.

Friday, September 3, 2010

Oak Leaf Owl

Oak leaves form an eerie cock-eyed owl.

Hairy Woodpecker
On a recent trip to Show Low, Arizona, I was hard pressed to get a good long look at any birds. Most were high overhead flitting from tree top to tree top, steering clear of the big gnarly Ravens.that seem to have taken over the area.  I had expected to sit back on my parents porch and blissfully watch Woodpeckers, Blue Jays, Chickadees, Nuthatches and Hummingbirds whizzing by.  Instead, I watched huge black Ravens walking around the neighborhood like free-range chickens!  It took days to accumulate just a few far-off photos of my wish-list of birds. 
Pygmy Nuthatch

Rufous Hummingbird
Steller's Jay

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Free Access Pass


Save money on National Park entry fees by getting a free lifetime access pass for citizens with permanent disabilities.  The pass covers recreation opportunities on public lands managed by four Department of the Interior agencies – the National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, and the Bureau of Reclamation, and by the Department of Agriculture’s U.S. Forest Service.

The interagency pass is good at vehicle-based entry sites for all occupants in a single, non-commercial vehicle. At walk-up sites, the pass is good for the pass holder and three adults (total of four adults). There is no charge for children under 16.

Documentation is required to obtain the pass. Acceptable documentation includes: statement by a licensed physician; document issued by a Federal agency such as the Veteran’s Administration, Social Security Disability Income or Supplemental Security Income; or document issued by a State agency such as a vocational rehabilitation agency.
 
Unfortunately, the Access Pass is not valid at State Parks or local city/county recreation sites.
 
An Access Pass can be obtained in person from a participating Federal recreation site or office.
For more information about the America the Beautiful Access Pass go to http://store.usgs.gov/pass/access.html .
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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