A rough-legged hawk perches on a fence post on a rainy, windy day in Sonoita. Photo by Claudia Pinto In an area renowned for its rare birds and unique biodiversity, one species stood out to me recently: the rough-legged hawk. The name rough-legged hawk derives from the well-feathered legs that aid in keeping the cold […]
Vince Pinto
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Nature Journeys: Snow!
Older residents have confirmed that our region – up until the last few decades – received more snow than it currently does. In southern Arizona, we can use all the precipitation that nature can muster.
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Nature Journeys: Winter’s Great and Ghostly Owls
The Solstice has come and gone, officially ushering in of winter and its many attendant flora and fauna. Winter’s shorter days and longer nights are perfect for those desiring intimate glimpses of our mostly nocturnal hunters: the owls. But “hoooo” are they?
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Nature Journeys: Northern Harriers
November has passed and we’ve received our first frosts, albeit light ones. Things have dried out and turned dull. Enter December – when we turn our collective gaze to our first serious chances for winter precipitation and truly cold temperatures, and the return of many migratory birds. December is prime time for viewing a wide […]
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The San Rafael Grasslands
Among our countless iconic and stunning natural landscapes in the Sky Islands, the otherworldly San Rafael Grasslands occupy a special ecological and scenic niche. If you are seeking adventure, stunning vistas, or the opportunity to meet unique flora and fauna, then venture out into the flowing San Rafael. When you go, bring plenty of water, […]
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Summer’s Secretive Snakes
June is upon us – a time of withdrawal in the Sky Islands. Soaring temperatures and single digit humidity levels proffer desiccation and death to unlucky flora and fauna. Entire species retreat to their Plutonian underworld where they await cooler and wetter times. Yet amidst this mass vanishing act many local snake species have evolved […]
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Coati…Co-what-i??
One of the most iconic animals inhabiting our Sky Islands is the white-nosed coati – Nasua narica. If you are a local resident or longtime visitor, then perhaps you’ve managed a glance of these seemingly strange beasts. Coatis can be a bit of a mystery to those unschooled in its biology or to individuals colorfully […]
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Our Rainy Respite!
Last month I focused this Nature column on our exceptionally dry, La Niña-driven winter. Hold the presses, however, for as you likely know, we received a substantial soaking in mid-February. At long last, the vast, stingy Pacific proffered precipitation. What are the implications of this long-overdue gift for our overall biodiversity and for select species […]
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La Nina — Embracing the Big Dry
OK, the rain is officially taunting us. If you haven’t yet caught wind of it, this is a La Niña (“the little girl” in Spanish) year. Unlike “normal” years of winter precipitation and abundant years proffered by El Niño, you can expect very little in the way of wetness until July…maybe. Personally, it has taken […]
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Nature Journeys: Nature’s Cleanup Crew
February is the heart of winter in the Sky Islands. Cold temperatures, overcast and rainy days, as well as howling winds can all combine to make life challenging for local wildlife. Herbivores and omnivores have less to eat in the way of plant-based food – spring’s ephemeral wildflowers not withstanding in some years. If the […]