This morning the desert felt a bit like Minnesota with the temperature dropping to near freezing. Molly and I decided to go over to the Tucson Sonora Desert Museum. A bit south of town, our in the desert (where else?!) is this unique museam where one may learn about the desert plants. After taking a 90 minute tour, I decided to go birding. Apparently, if you are able to find a large number of flower blossoms in the desert, hummingbirds will be a plenty. Better yet, I got lucky in that a rare Allen’s Hummingbird had been seen starting two days ago. Please understand all hummingbirds except Ruby-Throats are rare for me up in Minnesota!
Just like at Sax-Zim Bog and owls, if you find the birders with long glass, you will find the rate birds. I present you a photograph of the Allen’s Hummingbird! (took me 60 minutes to get two pictures). I was not able to capture an image where its neck showed fiery red / copper in the sunlight. Oh well … another day!
… and the much more common to the locals, Costa’s Hummingbird
Airborne jewels! Were they in a botanical park or something similar?
The answer to your question is “sort of”. The Sonoran Desert Museum does have outdoor exhibits / areas which focus upon climates not found in the desert, but at least found in the Southwestern part of America. However, where I found the hummingbirds was in an area that was at the start of a desert walk / hike. Several staff members were present and were excited as local birders. The flowering plant was a very large shrub native to the area which had grown up on its own and not part of any display. Apparently the Tucson received its first rain in months this past week. The rain has resulted in some desert plants starting to leaf out and flower.
I am enjoying the Arizona pictures. If you get up to Phoenix, Zanjero Park in Gilbert is a great place to see Burrowing Owls.
I just adore humming birds. Have two who come to my feeder every year Illinois. Thanks for these wonderful pics.