The Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch in Gilbert, Arizona, has a very different feel this time of year. Water levels in many of the recharge ponds are low, and most of the winter visitors have long since departed. Ducks, pelicans, and many other migratory birds have moved north in search of cooler temperatures, leaving the preserve much quieter than just a few months ago.
As I mentioned in my post on June 6, 2026, the coyotes are still making regular appearances. They continue to patrol the ponds and trails in search of an easy meal. There is certainly no shortage of potential prey – cottontail rabbits are everywhere, and many birds are now raising their young, making this a particularly busy time for both predators and parents.
So, you may wonder – is there still anything interesting to photograph during the Arizona summer?
Absolutely – this is one of my favorite times of the year because it is nesting season for many of the preserve’s resident birds. Killdeer, American avocets, and black-necked stilts are busy raising their young along the shorelines, while mallard ducklings can already be seen following their mothers across the ponds. Hidden among the cattails, green herons and least bitterns are also raising their chicks. The least bittern, the smallest heron in North America, is especially exciting to find, as these secretive birds spend most of their lives concealed in the marsh. From the open shorelines to the dense cattails, the preserve is filled with tiny, fuzzy youngsters exploring the world.
The adults, however, take parenting very seriously. They aggressively defend both their nesting territories and their chicks. Any potential predator – whether it is a coyote, a black-crowned night heron, a raven, or even an unsuspecting photographer who gets a little too close – is quickly met with loud alarm calls and determined defensive displays. Watching these relatively small birds chase away animals many times their size is always fascinating.
While summer may seem like the quiet season at the Riparian Preserve, nature never really slows down. The spectacle simply changes. Instead of large flocks of wintering waterfowl, the focus shifts to the next generation – tiny chicks taking their first steps under the watchful eyes of devoted parents.
The following photographs capture some of these youngsters during their first days of life – a reminder that even during the hottest months of the Arizona summer, the preserve remains full of life for those willing to slow down and look a little closer.
