Limber bush and monsoon myths

Photo by Ned Harris 6/21/2014

Limber bush in bloom, two weeks 'til monsoon. Okay, I made up the bad poem, but I did hear of this limber bush lore. Ned and I heard something similar about cicadas. When cicadas you first hear, 2 weeks 'til the rains are here. Okay, I made that one up, too. But at least it rhymes : -)
Both of these were presented as '2 weeks until the rains begin.' We might be able to fudge with the limber bush promise; it did rain (briefly) in some parts of Tucson approximately 2 weeks after some limber bush or another started blooming. But I recall hearing cicadas in May...
Any other predictors of monsoon rains involving the natural world? Send 'em in! Next year, we'll investigate them scientifically.

Words of the day

Dudley Dewlap - Photo by Ned Harris  6/21/2014

Dewlap - flap of skin under throat of many lizard species, including the Greater Earless lizard, above. Possibly a power display, but herpetologists don't know for sure.

Glenda's Gravid - Photo by Ned Harris 6/27/2014

Gravid - pregnant, carrying eggs (in this case) or young. Gravid Greater Earless lizards have more orange on their sides and under their throats. Compare the 'groin bars' in the female to the male above. The bars are much lighter, and she's not nearly as blue. As always, click on the photos for larger views. 

Be sure to check out the Tucson Herpetological Society's (relatively) new website, especially the 100-Mile Circle. Consider becoming a member. They've got some great t-shirts! (And more : -)

Empress of the Rock

Photo by Ned Harris  6/21/2014

Empress Leilia butterflies are common in Sabino Canyon. Desert Hackberry (Celtis pallida) - now in the Hemp family - is the host plant for the caterpillars. But don't smoke 'em!

Predator

Photo by Bill Kaufman 6/24/2014

Don't let that friendly face fool you! Sonoran Whipsnakes slither up trees and snatch young birds from the nest, as these photos from Bob Wenrick show - one, two, yum. Sonoran Whipsnakes won't cause you harm, though, unless you're as small as a bird...

Sabino Chick Report

Photos by Ned Harris 6/21/2014

What you lookin' at? 

It would appear that only two Cooper's Hawk chicks remain in the nest above the dam. Ned and I saw only two on Saturday, 6/21, and the KIDCO Lizard Walk team saw two on Tuesday, 6/24.

Photo by Bill Kaufman 6/24/2014

What happened to the other two? There are, of course, a number of predators of small birds (owls, for one; snakes, for two). It's also possible that the bigger/stronger/more aggressive of the chicks pushed their sibling(s) out of the nest. Then there are those predators...

Chick visit

Photos by Matt Ball 6/23/2014

We knew of the well-hidden nest in the big tree beyond our back wall (because we've heard numerous warning calls and been swooped by the parents several times), but hadn't been able to see any chicks until they were big enough to really stick out. We confirmed two.
On Monday, 6/23, I noticed (was startled, actually) this one had become a fledgling. She stayed on this little table for quite a while, then flew onto another table, a chair, to the wall, to the other wall (and missed); she walked around a bit (to regain her dignity), then succeeded in flying to the wall, to the tree, to the nest. (We cheered her on from inside, of course.)

And speaking of cheering, 1000 cheers for your generous support of this blog! I am truly grateful for your contributions, your encouragement, and your kindness. I'm ready for four more years : -) (First post was 4 July 2010)

Portrait

Photo by Alan Kearney 5/16/2014

Can't get enough of these little guys! Round-tailed Ground Squirrel in the shadows.