Juvenile Cooper’s Hawk On Patio Fountain — Image by kenne
This Cooper’s Hawk is probably not the guy that captured the Mourning Dove that I posted several days ago (Cooper’s Hawk and Prey). Since doves also frequent the fountain, it is not unusual to see hawks in the olive tree on the patio.
On the morning the dove became the hawk’s prey there were feathers near the patio door. This was not unusual since doves have been known to fly into the patio door leaving a print on the glass and a few scattered feathers. However, this time there were feathers, but no print leaving me to conclude the hawk probably cornered the dove.
— kenne
Adult Cooper’s Hawk in Mesquite Tree — Image by kenne
A couple of weeks ago some of us did our annual King Canyon trail hike to observe the wildflowers, which in the past was part of our hike on up to Wasson Peak. However, this year the plan was not to go all the way to the Peak. I hate to admit it, but time is beginning to catch up with us. So, the best I can do is to revisit a posting from six years ago. My days of cheating time might be running out.
— kenne
Kings Canyon Trail — Images by kenne
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Wildflower Slideshow by kenne
Panorama of Wasson Peak Near The Top
SCVN guided hike to Wasson Peak via Kings Canyon trail, which is about a seven mile (roundtrip) hike and elevation gain of 1,900 ft.
Some of our hikers made only the Kings Canyon trail to the first saddle since we were experiencing unusually warm record-setting temperatures (the mid-90’s).
kenne
“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out going to the mountains is going home; that wilderness is a necessity…”
― John Muir
Returning from a morning walk my eye caught a Cooper’s Hawk flying into a nearby Mesquite tree. After closer observation, I could see the hawk had captured a mourning dove. Since the tree was near my house, I quickly grabbed my camera and began shooting.
Predator and prey Each seeking to win the chase A daily event.
Hummingbird On Nest Near Sabino Canyon Creek — Images by kenne (Click on any of the images to see a larger view.)
Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalists (SCVN) have found several hummingbird nests in the canyon riparian area. This one is a real architectural work of art.
Nearby this nest is an active Cooper’s Hawk’s nest, which provides an exciting and educational bird-nest contrast for the students in our elementary nature program.
Using twigs and leaves Spider webs shaping her nest Swelling as needed.
Lichens on rocks along the Wasson Peak trail. — Image by kenne
“Lichen is a composite organism consisting of a fungus (the mycobiont) and a photosynthetic partner (the photobiont or phycobiont) growing together in a symbiotic relationship. The photobiont is usually either a green alga (commonly Trebouxia) or cyanobacterium (commonly Nostoc).”
When teaching children about lichen, Sabino Canyon Volunteer Nationalists (SCVN) share this short poem:
“Alice Algae took
a lichen
to Freddie Fungus, but now
their relationship
is on the rocks.”
View of Kitt Peak from Gould Hill Mine Trail In the Tucson Mountains. — Images by kenne
The Kitt Peak National Observatory is a United States astronomical observatory located on Kitt Peak of the Quinlan Mountains in the Arizona-Sonoran Desert on the Tohono O’odham Nation, 55 miles west-southwest of Tucson, Arizona.
Juvenile Cooper’s Hawk On Patio Fountain — Image by kenne
Adult Cooper’s Hawk in Mesquite Tree — Image by kenne
“Liftoff ” (Turkey Vulture in Dead Tree Along Tanque Verde Wash) — Image by kenne
Cooper’s Hawk and Prey — Image by kenne
Lichens on rocks along the Wasson Peak trail. — Image by kenne
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