Sonoran Desert

	Interests: Sonoran Desert

	"Everything in the desert either sticks, stings, or stinks, but that's the way I like it—it keeps the riff-raff away." —DAK

Of all the North American deserts, by far the most lush, beautiful, and livable is the Sonoran Desert. As soon as I saw it in April 1987, I knew this was where I wanted to live the rest of my life. I've had no regrets about making the decision to move to Tucson, heart of the Sonoran Desert in the United States. I have been very fortunate to have seen, on several occasions, two of North America's most elusive wildlife in their natural habitat: the Desert Bighorn Sheep and the Gila Monster. Over the years, I've developed an almanac of natural attractions for this part of the country that has allowed me to get the most benefit from my natural surroundings. In addition to my little almanac (abridged on this page), I highly recommend two books that I've found to be the best reading about the Sonoran Desert: 1) A Natural History of the Sonoran Desert by the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (a worthwhile institution worthy of support and membership). 2) Counting Sheep, 20 Ways of Seeing Desert Bighorn edited by Gary Paul Nabhan, published by the University of Arizona Press. This is a great read! From the introduction: "It is more than a collection of essays about the bighorn sheep that live in the desert along the U.S.-Mexican border. It is an attempt to broaden what the natural history essay can be...."
		MAY Saguaro, ocotillo, and night-blooming cereus blooms Black bears can be seen in the high country Coyotes on the prowl and howl JUNE Gila monsters can be seen after mating Bats at dusk Desert bighorn sheep census at waterholes JULY Monsoon rains and lightening shows The smell of creosote after a rain Various Sonoran Desert toads sing at night AUGUST Tarantullas at dusk Best month for hummingbirds Peak month for flowers in the high country SEPTEMBER Best month for butterfly watching (Monarchs migrate through) Bird migrations are at their peak Aspen leaves turn in the high country OCTOBER Chiles arrive! Fall colors in the high country NOVEMBER Desert Broom releases clouds of snowy seeds White-tail deer are congregating DECEMBER Desert mistletoe and Christmas cactus Migratory birds arrive, Sandhill cranes and Canadian Geese Crisp winter days without the hassle of snow

SONORAN DESERT ALMANAC OF NATURAL ATTRACTIONS JANUARY Snow-capped Santa Catalina Mountains Wintertme flash flood Sandhill cranes and Canadian Geese at Willcox Playa FEBRUARY Desert wildflowers bloom! Seven Falls, Sabino Canyon snow melt Gila woodpeckers and hummingbirds Butterflies arrive MARCH Wildflowers and cacti blooming bonanza Bird migrations Desert tortoises emerge from hibernation APRIL Palo Verde and mesquite trees bloom Prickly pear, ocotillo,. fantail, teddy bear cholla, and hedgehog cacti blooms More hummingbirds and butterfly species arrive Snakes are out in force




	The rarely-seen Gila Monster (top) and Desert Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis mexicana), right.


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