“The Early Bird Gets the Nectar” (White-winged Dove on Saguaro Cactus Buds) — Image by kenne
In April, the budding of saguaros is followed by the return of white-winged doves from Mexico who love the nectar in
the saguaro blossoms. This image captures a white-winged dove atop buds soon to blossom — another take on
“The early bird gets the worm.”
— kenne
White-winged Dove — Image by kenne
“I do not believe in the creed professed by the Jewish church,
by the Roman church, by the Greek church, by the Turkish church,
by the Protestant church, nor by any church that I know of.
My own mind is my own church.
All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian,
or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions
set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and
monopolize power and profit.”
― from The Age of Reason by
White Winged Dove and Ocotillo Blossoms — Images by kenne
Our summer friends have returned from winter in Mexico. These images were taken from just off our patio — welcome back!
— kenne
White-Winged Dove — Images by kenne
The white-winged doves spend their summers here in southern Arizona. There are signs they are beginning to migrate south for the remainder of the year.
Here’s a link to an early June posting when they were arriving in the area.
https://kenneturner.com/2017/06/07/feasting-on-saguaro-cactus-fruit/
— kenne
Each spring the white-winged doves return from wintering in Mexico and the air is filled with their mating calls. The hoots and coos are so common they sometimes drown out the sounds of other birds.
The return of the white-winged doves plays a very important role in the life cycle of the saguaro cactus. When saguaros flower, white-winged doves move from flower to flower, sipping nectar and pollinating the plant.
Once the flowers become fruit, the doves have a new food source. The sweet fruit is filled with thousands of tiny seeds, which pass unharmed through the digestive system of the dove. If seeds are passed while the dove is perched on a tree or bush, that tree or bush might become a nurse plant to the growing saguaro. Such a plant protects the young saguaro from extreme weather and animals and greatly increases its chances of survival.
For the Tohono O’odham, the saguaro cactus and its fruit (bahidaj) is a very important part of their heritage. The towering saguaro cactus provides both physical and spiritual sustenance for the people. With temperatures now over 100 degrees, the bahidaj is now ripening and being harvested by the Tohono O’odham. (Images by kenne)
— kenne
White-winged Dove Abstract Art by kenne
White-winged Dove after the rain — Images by kenne
— kenne
This time of year if you are going to spend time in Sabino Canyon, it needs to be early in the morning. It doesn’t take long before the temperature can be in the triple digits — yes, this is Tucson, Arizona.
For a lot of us who love spending time outdoors and hiking, this time of year most of our time is spent up on Mt. Lemmon. Couple that with my trying to spend more time with Joy, except for checking the mail and an occasional meeting, I haven’t been in the canyon lately.
So, this morning after a little jog in the neighborhood, I headed over to Sabino Canyon where I went on an hour and a half hike in and effort to relieve my guilt.
We are still early in the desert monsoon season, so signs of the heat and dry air are everywhere. (Barrel cactus)
Sabino creek is dry . . .
. . . and the area above the dam looks like a beach.
Down stream from the dam rocks minis water flowing over and around them have taken on different colors.
Even so, there is still plenty of live in the canyon, here two squirrels are cooling themselves in the shade at the creek dam.
Here a busy ground squirrel checking me out before retreating into his cool den.
A late-blooming Saguaro can occasionally be found.
Desert Marigolds . . .
. . . attracting butterflies.
A gall produced by flies that inhabit creosote bushes.
An ocotillo leafed out from an early July rain.
Another ocotillo surrounded by prickly pear cactus whose fruit is beginning to turn red.
Prickly pear fruit.
Still, often under austere conditions, life goes on. (White–winged Dove)
The harshness of this land causes many to see the Sonoran desert to be a wasteland.
Those who have experienced the beauty of this amazing desert know it is not, but if left unprotected, it can become a man-made wasteland.
— kenne
— Marshall Trimble, Arizona: A Panoramic History of a Frontier State, 1977
White-winged Dove Abstract Art by kenne
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
A White-Winged Dove Returns to Sabino Canyon — Image by kenne
— Albert Einstein
A Lonesome Dove — Image by kenne
— kenne
White Winged Dove — Image by kenne
— kenne
White winged doves plays an important role in the life-cycle of saguaro cactus, loving the nectar of the the saguaro flower.
Here, this white winged dove appears to be patiently waiting for the buds to open. — Image by kenne
“Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she’s singin’
Whoo-whoo-whoo
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she’s singin’
Whoo, baby, whoo
Said, whoo”
White-winged Dove On a Giant Saguaro Cactus — Images by kenne
A Pair of White-Winged Doves — Image by kenne
Missing
— kenne
Staying Cool In Tucson Under My Estes Park Cap — Image by kenne
— kenne
(108 degrees today)
