Tucson Birding: Chapter One

Overland Park, KS:  Last Sunday Marci and I left for Tucson for a few days.  For those of you new to birding, Southeast Arizona is one of the top birding locations in the country.  Marci was interviewing for a medical fellowship in Tucson which left me free for a little desert birding.  Arriving early in the day on Sunday meant we had a full day to just play and bird.  As soon as we got our rental car we headed to the west side of Tucson to the Saguaro (sa-wa-row) National Forest.  They have a very nice visitor center with interpretive trails to walk and introduce people to the desert ecosystem, which is as amazing as it is resourceful.  After we got some trail maps we headed up the King Canyon Trail which is about 6 miles round trip.

Immediately my excitment was starting to be satisfied as there were Curve-billed Thrashers calling from their perches, hoping to find mates.  I snapped a few pictures and was thankful once again for the new camera, which I didn't have on our last trip to Arizona.  This was a very nice hike with plentiful evidence of the desert benefiting from a wet winter this year.  Butterflies were fluttering between flowers painting the desert in reds, yellows, and purples.

Weather in Kansas this winter can be described in one word- gray!  For me this is not good so it did my mind some good to absorb the sunshine and as much nature as possible.  After our hike we checked into the hotel and I made plans for a full day of birding on Monday while Marci was at her interview.  My excitement lead to a restless night, reminding me of my childhood and trying to sleep on Christmas Eve.  Stay tuned this week for two more days of Tucson birding!  To all my Kansas friends- I promise the 80 degree days will be here soon.

Pictures from top down - Curve-billed Thrasher, Butterfly (unknown for now), Canyon Towhee, Lush Desert Flowers.

For all the Tucson pictures go to:  https://www.photoshop.com/user/kcbirder