At the Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch, water is carefully managed through a series of settling ponds - an engineered landscape that has become a refuge for wildlife over the years. Some ponds sit nearly…

Every year around this time, I start watching the ground a little more closely - and right on cue, they return. The “aliens” of the desert are back. Digger bees, often from the genus Anthophora, are…

At this time of year, a few miles from our home, several great horned owls are raising their young. It’s incredible to see how quickly these tiny, downy chicks grow – in what feels like…

After a morning shoot along the Salt River photographing otters and wild horses, I came home to a pretty unusual visitor in our backyard - a Gila monster. Gila monsters are one of the most…

I was out at the Lower Salt River early this morning, and it turned into one of those days where everything just came together. The highlight was definitely the otters. For about an hour I mostly just…

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been spending time at one of Tempe’s quiet urban oases, Evelyn Hallman Park, and I’ve been rewarded with something special: two pairs of American kestrels in active breeding activity.…

As 2025 soon comes to a close, we want to thank you all for visiting our site throughout the year. Your support - whether through a quick visit on our website or a kind message…

Early mornings at the Desert Botanical Garden have a special kind of quiet. The air is cool, the light is soft, and for a brief window, the garden offers a real treat—both for the birds…

It has been quite a while since I last saw a good number of bighorn sheep, so stumbling upon a group of at least eleven the other morning felt like an unexpected gift. When I…