Category: mojave desert

Rabbit Tricks: Pulling the disappearing act

A desert cottontail at the Clark County Wetlands Park.

Spotted a desert cottontail recently trying to make itself invisible at the Clark County Wetlands Park. Not difficult for it to do, as this creature’s fur matches the landscape perfectly. But its onyx eyes were the giveaway — shiny and expectant.

This was typical behavior, considering my presence. “Sometimes they will freeze when danger lurks and scrunch down to blend into their surroundings,” states the Nevada Department of Wildlife website, “or they slowly try to sneak away to safety.” Which is exactly what this cottontail did: it took off into the brush after less than a minute. I know when I’m not wanted! Continue reading Rabbit Tricks: Pulling the disappearing act

My need to name things that I come across in the desert

Fourwing saltbush — a shrub found in sandy or gravely soils, or deposit soils (w/ high pH or salt levels, due to rapid evaporation), such as at the Desert National Wildlife Refuge or Clark County Wetlands Park.

I’ve become somewhat obsessed with learning about what I’m looking at when it comes to the desert outdoors. I think it’s the diversity and uniqueness that pique my interest. I mean, that’s the reason (I think) why I started observing and studying birds and their behaviors about six years ago and have since developed a level of expertise. And now there’s this relatively recent offshoot of wanting to delve into other aspects of the natural landscape.

Maybe I’m in a place in life where I have a need to discover more meaning and make more sense of things. Perhaps this is a spillover from trying to figure myself out, which I still haven’t done! Sure, I’m part of the human species. But among species, you have your hybrids, and those can be quite puzzling. But they also make life more interesting and magical.

Anyway, when I hike or go to nature preserves, I invariably carry a camera and zoom. Whereas previously, a pair of binoculars would do just fine. And like I said, my curiosity about what I’m seeing now extends beyond birds. Questions that pop up in my mind in whack-a-mole fashion as I walk through, say, somewhere in the Spring Mountains, include things like: What is that plant? That wildflower? What type of shrub is this? What about that sedimentary rock, or this dry soil? Continue reading My need to name things that I come across in the desert

I’m not the only one who stops to admire these plants

Photogenic little thing, with its festive, thread-like fibers. Apropos for this time of year. Looks a bit like yucca, but it’s a fledgling California fan palm (which I determined after perusing a few field guides). It caught my eye at my neighborhood park.

Less than a mile from my house, the park is a particularly nice place to stroll in November because it puts you in an autumn kinda mood. Many of the trees are deciduous, and parks personnel (intentionally or not) allow the fallen leaves to linger on the grass and paved paths and parking areas so that you can step on them and hear ’em crunch. Continue reading I’m not the only one who stops to admire these plants