Photo ABCs

Phoenix Zoo Birding: European Starling

Here is a non-captive bird at the Phoenix Zoo, the European Starling.

As the non-native starlings do, this one has taken over a cavity nest, this one in a Saguaro Cactus.

Photographed in February of this year.

Phoenix Zoo: California Condor (Captive): Awexa

I rarely photograph captive birds.

While visiting the Phoenix Zoo in February I made an exception.

Awexa is a California Condor, hatched at the San Diego Zoo in 2008 as part of the California Condor captive breeding program.

Awexa and another male, Appan, were released into the wild, but suffered lead poisoning from ingested lead shot (the primary reason for condor deaths). They were treated and released again. By this time they were too accustomed to humans and spent too much time around campsites and people for their own safety. They were re-captured and given to the Phoenix Zoo where they serve an educational purpose.

In the 1980s the population of California Condors was down to 22. In a very controversial move, the entire population was captured and a captive breeding program was begun.

The program has been a success.

As of December 31, 2023, there were 561 living California Condors, 344 in the wild, the rest in captivity.

There are three main wild populations, California (mostly north of Ojai and in Big Sur), Arizona/Utah (mostly near the Grand Canyon) and Baja California (around the San Pedro Mártir National Park).

I have seen condors in the wild in California and Baja California. Each time was a thrill. My week-long trip to the Grand Canyon a few years ago did not yield any sightings!

Here is a portrait I made of Awexa, now fifteen years old.  I positioned myself so there was a dark background and so that the enclosure netting would not be evident.

The story of Awexa and Appan can be found in this Phoenix Zoo blog post from April, 2020.

If you would like to see a condor in the wild, learn more about condors, take a tour of a condor re-introduction center, or make a donation to help their survival, visit the Friends of the California Condor webpage for more information.

Desert Botanical Garden Birding: Cactus Wren, Curve-billed Thrasher

More birds photographed at the Desert Botanical Garden in February of this year.

A Cactus Wren explored the trash can at a snack bar, but came out empty-handed:

A Curve-billed Thrasher sings in the late afternoon light:

Desert Botanical Garden Birding: Verdin, Mourning Dove

Desert Botanical Garden, in Phoenix, Arizona, is one of my favorite botanical gardens. The grounds are beautiful, there is a wonderful restaurant, and many typical desert birds enjoy the garden.

Here is a Verdin, backlit in the afternoon sun:

Mourning Dove:

Lost Dutchman State Park Birding: Cactus Wren

Cactus Wrens, photographed at Lost Dutchman State Park in February of this year:

 

Lost Dutchman State Park Birding: Curve-billed Thrasher

Curve-billed Thrashers, photographed at Lost Dutchman State Park in February of this year:

 

Lost Dutchman State Park Birding: Black-throated Sparrow, Greater Roadrunner

In February I spent a late afternoon birding at Lost Dutchman State Park, east of Phoenix, Arizona.

There were the usual desert birds, many of which cooperated for photos.

Black-throated Sparrow:

Greater Roadrunner:

Cibola National Wildlife Refuge: Yellow-headed Blackbirds

I visited Cibola National Wildlife Refuge one morning in February of this year.

There were still some Sandhill Cranes left, a few geese, but most impressively, there were many thousands of Yellow-headed Blackbirds!

Driving the 3-mile auto loop, the road at one point was completely blocked by a portion of the huge flock:

In flight. There are some Red-winged Blackbirds in the flock. The Yellow-headed Blackbirds have white patches on the upper side of their wings. How do they avoid colliding with each other?

Another view. What's fascinating in this picture is that almost all of the Yellow-headed Blackbirds appear to have their wings closed at the moment the photo was taken, as though flying in unison, and many or most of the Red-winged Blackbirds have their wings open.

And here most of the Yellow-headed Blackbirds have their wings open:

Allen's Hummingbird, Snowy Egret

An Allen's Hummingbird, photographed at Lindo Lake (Lakeside, California) in February of this year:

A Snowy Egret preens. Also photographed at Lindo Lake, a few minutes later:

Allen's Hummingbird

An Allen's Hummingbird, photographed in La Jolla, California, in January of this year: