Jack Rabbit Ears

Black Tailed Jack Rabbit

This morning was cool and windy.  I took off before sunrise to see if I could spot any interesting creatures starting their day or finishing their night hunts.  As the sun began to spread its light and warmth across the landscape, all was still except for the early morning bird calls. As I turned to start for home, a Black Tailed Jack Rabbit burst from behind a boulder and bounded off through the brush.

In our area, we see oodles of cotton tailed rabbits, but spotting the large muscular hare known as a Jack Rabbit is a little more unusual. Jack rabbits are actually not rabbits, but hares, and the two are completely different species. Jack Rabbits are fun to observe.   Jacks can jump up to 10 feet and run at 40 miles per hour! It is comical to see them bouncing over the landscape like a Loony Tunes character.

Jack rabbits do tend to hang out in large open areas.  I have noticed that if I see one in an area, there are probably more and the abundance of rabbit droppings seems to confirm my theory. There are five species of jack rabbit found in the desert. Two of the most common are the Black Tailed and the Antelope.  Antelope Jacks are slightly larger and have ears edged in white, whereas the Black Tailed Jack has ears tipped in black as well as black on the tail, hence the name.

Jacks are known for their huge ears, which not only give them excellent hearing, but serve to help cool the jack by releasing heat from the large surface. The skin on their ears is very thin and full of blood vessels. During the hot part of the day, a jack rabbit will retreat to the shade where the slightly cooler air will cause blood vessels in their ears to widen, allowing more blood to flow to their ears. Some of the resulting heat in the ears will move into the cooler air, ultimately cooling the hot rabbit too.  Interestingly, rabbits don't pant and sweat as much as some other animals do, which helps to preserve precious internal fluid. The jack rabbit's cooling system design is perfect for a desert dweller.

This week, watch for small mammals in open areas and washes. Let their hippity, hoppity, scrambling ways cause you to wonder.

References and Resources

Desert USA
Animalia
animals.mom.me - What Adaptations Help Jackrabbits Stay Cool?
Wonderopolis - What is the Difference Between and Rabbit and a Hare?
Biomimicry Institute asknature.com - Large Ears Used to Cool Off

Images: Sharon Pegany

Fox Sighting

The Sonoran Desert is enjoying a cool spell, providing gorgeous weather for an afternoon trek in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve.  Three of us met up to trek out to Balanced Rock and marvel at the towering saguaros on the way.  On our return, we stopped to enjoy the noisy chatter of two ground squirrels, when a sharp-eyed trekker spotted large mammal movement below the trail.

At first, we thought it was a juvenile coyote, but there was something different about it... more delicate and angular, with enormous ears. Turns out it was a beautiful little gray fox.

Foxes are nocturnal, so it is not easy to see them. However, the gray fox also can be seen out and about during the morning and early evening hours searching for a wide variety of things to eat from small mammals and reptiles to berries, beans and cactus fruit.

Gray foxes are known for their unique ability to climb trees using their sharp, thick and slightly curved claws.  Their tree climbing ability enables them to escape many predators such as coyotes and dogs trailing them.

The untouched boulder-strewn terrain found of the area is the perfect place for a gray fox pair to create a den for their young, usually born in the spring. On this particular day, this gray fox seemed to be enjoying the cool, sunny afternoon as he ignored the scolding squirrels. After a couple of minutes, he turned on his paws and trotted off, quickly camouflaged against the backdrop of granite and creosote. Wonder in the desert is often fleeting, so enjoy the moment.

Points to Ponder for Young Trackers

• When you trek in wild places, pay attention to the birds and animals.  Sometimes a flitting bird or chattering squirrel is a warning. Stop and survey the terrain to see if you can spot a potential predator.
• Learn about animal tracks.  It is sometimes hard to see tracks in the dry dusty soil of the desert. Check areas where water collects. 
• Scat, fur and other animal remains can give us clues about what animals frequent the area. 
• Look for areas with steady food and water sources.  Berries, nuts, seeds and lush foliage attract insects, birds and smaller animals, and where there is an abundance of prey, larger predators are sure to appear.
• Always, track with caution.  Wild animals are fun to see, but need to be enjoyed at a safe distance. Animals who are sick, accompanying young or and/feel threatened can be dangerous.

References and Resources

Fox World - Kit Fox
Tucson.com - How to Read the Footprints of Desert Critters
Nature Tracking 
McDowell Mountain Preserve Flora and Fauna
Desert Wildlife Services


Cultivate Wonder... Discover Design

Land of Giants

During a recent Desert Wonder Tracker Meetup, we had the pleasure of walking in the midst of giants... giant boulders that is.  Geological processes have graced our area with an abundance of enormous boulders and precariously balanced rocks (PBRs), creating the illusion of being on another planet or an episode of the Flintstones. When trekking through such an area, the puzzled expression associated with wonder always begins to ripple across faces and one burning question invariably comes up.. how did these boulders get here? 

To begin to understand the how, first study the composition of the boulders.  They are all granite, which is igneous rock crystallized from molten magma below the surface of the earth.  Granite has both large and small crystals made of light colored elements and minerals, mostly quartz and feldspar, with some mica and other minerals tucked here and there. The design of earth's rock cycle is quite elaborate as we scratch it's dusty crust to see the wonders below.

Granite boulders such as we see in north Scottsdale are the result of a two stage process. These giants once rested underground in a subsurface that trickled with chemically active water that seeped into joints and fractures, causing weathering and breakdown of rock along those weaker surfaces.  Over time, the remaining stronger rocks became sphere-shaped core stones beneath the land's surface.  Spheres are the only shape that has no single weakest point and no single strongest point, and in the case of these boulders, the more vulnerable edges and points have eroded away.

The second stage began when water, wind and gravity stripped the loose rock material away, leaving the spherical core stones in place.  Some of those core stones happened to be resting on stones beneath them, and because our area experiences very little seismic activity, remain standing today. Scientists are still working to understand how factors such as slope, bedrock properties, spacing of joints, as well as weather, impact these amazing natural sculptures. 

Across Arizona, there are several sites with terrain similar to north Scottsdale. Granite Dells in Prescott, Chiricahua National Monument in southeast Arizona are two excellent examples. Rock fields seen along state route 87 between Phoenix and Payson or along Interstate 10 between Benson and Wilcox also offer good views of precariously balanced rocks. 

When you go, be sure to take a magnifying glass to study the composition of granite. Take time to imagine huge boulders buried underground before they gradually made their appearance as you see them today.  Look for fractures and weak places on the boulders where erosion will continue to shape each one. See how many different sizes of granite boulders, rocks and stones you can find. Most importantly, let wonder take you away.

Geology Terms

Felsic - Descriptive term for igneous rock having light colored elements and minerals, such as Quartz and Feldspar

Igneous - One of three main rock types, the others being sedimentary and metamorphic. Igneous rock is formed through the cooling and solidification of magma or lava.

Intrusive - Body of igneous rock that has crystallized from molten magma below the surface of the Earth.

Porphyritic - Contains both large and small crystals.

References and Resources
Science Kids - Igneous Rocks
Arizona Geological Survey - Nature's Balanced Seismometers
Quora - Why are Spheres so Strong?

Cultivate Wonder... Discover Design

Desert Tracker Meet Up!

Calling all Curious Desert Wonder Trackers!

What: Trek to Balanced Rock through a beautiful area of huge boulders and healthy saguaro cactus stands over a well-maintained trail. This trail makes a gentle elevation climb of 200-300 feet. We will stop as needed along the way with Sharon leading and Paul following to allow each trekker to set his/her own pace. The trail is 4.5 miles round trip.

When: Thursday, February 22 -1:30 p.m. to Sunset?
 AND/OR Thursday, March 1 -1:30 p.m. to Sunset

Where: Balanced Rock via Granite Mountain Trailhead
Directions: East on Dynamite to 136th Street. Turn left onto 136th and travel north to the parking lot for Granite Mountain Trailhead.  The lot aligns with Lone Mountain Rd, is marked by a brown sign and is located right under the power lines seen from 136th Street. Turn left into the parking lot.

What to Bring: We will be traveling over some rocks and loose soil, so good shoes with good tread are a must. Most of the trail is fairly level, but if having a walking stick or poles helps you, bring them. Bring plenty of water and snacks. I encourage trekkers to carry a backpack or fanny pack so that hands are free. I have an extra backpack and we can also pack for each other as needed. Hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, camera, etc.

What to Expect: We will hike out to balanced rock and talk a little about the incredible boulder formations in our area. Since there are so many saguaros along the way, we can talk about them as well.  Hopefully, the recent rain may have encouraged some of the wildflowers to pop. Plan to rest awhile at balanced rock, eat, photos, etc. then we'll start back in the golden light of late afternoon. Gorgeous!

So that we know to wait for you, please let me know if you plan to join us for either trek. See you on the trail!  speganydesign@gmail.com

Resources 

McDowell Mountain Preserve - North Area Map
Arizona Sonora Desert Museum - Saguaro Cactus Fact Sheet
Arizona Geology - Nature's Balanced Seizmometers

Poop Tales

It all began with an afternoon walk in the desert.  For some reason, I kept noticing animal poop. Rabbit poop, coyote poop, bird poop and even insect poop. All different in shape, size, color and even content. As much as I tried to resist it, I could feel the unmistakable stream of wonder begin to trickle through my mind. Sometimes, controlling wonder is a tricky proposition.

As I trekked through an area with lots of wild rabbits, I noticed two kinds of droppings, one light and one dark. It seems that rabbits do indeed excrete two varieties of droppings. The lighter colored one is simply waste, but the darker dropping is actually a nutrition-packed pellet that rabbits eat to remain healthy.  In fact, both wild and domesticated rabbits deprived of them will suffer from malnutrition.

Many of the granite boulders in the area  have the white-stained streaks of bird droppings, triggering another wonder response... why is bird poop typically white and not dark like most animals?  Birds do not urinate.  Instead, their bodies go through a similar process of gathering waste, but when it comes time to get rid of it, the waste is released from just one place instead of two.  This all-purpose passageway is also where eggs exit the bird's body. Like mammals, bird's kidneys filter blood to extract waste. Since birds do not urinate, the extracted uric acid waste combines with solid waste, dissolving much of the solid mass and turning it white. The final "product" is one white blob with specks of darker solids here and there. This no frills design may help birds retain water, as well as keep their bodies lighter for flight.

The orb web spider, Cyclosa Ginnaga actually builds a spot in their web that resembles a splat of bird poop.  The spider itself sits in the center to add to the illusion. This ingenious trick helps protect the spider from would-be predators, such as wasps, who are not much interested in a bird poop lunch.

Animal scat or droppings are not fun to look at, but if you can get passed the gross-out factor, scat can tell us a story about who is in the area, how healthy they are and what they are eating, among other things. Trackers look for bird droppings on rocks and cliffs to find perches and nesting sites. Small mammal scat can tell us about predator/prey relationships. Large mammal scat from bear and cougar can serve as a warning.

When you are trekking and tracking wonder, be aware of animal scat and see if you can "read" the tales it tells. Help children develop a healthy curiosity about all aspects of nature. Learning to understand every process, no matter how unpleasant it may be, is just part of cultivating wonder and discovering design.

Questions for Young Trackers:

• Who does this scat belong to? Bird, Mammal, Retile, Insect? How can you tell?
• Did the scat come from an herbivore, carnivore or omnivore? How do you know?
• Do you see evidence of bird perches in the area?
• How many different kinds of scat can you find?
• What can you learn about an animal by studying its droppings?

References and Resources
mentalfloss.com- Why is Bird Poop White?
The Mystery of Rabbit Poop
peta.com - Living in Harmony with Wild Rabbits
thedodo.com - 9 Quirky Animals with Very Special Ways of Pooping
nbcnews.com - Spiders Pose as Bird Poop to Evade Predators

Images: Sharon Pegany

Cultivate Wonder... Discover Design

Spot the Station Alert!!

Scottsdale, Arizona

Time: Tuesday, February 13 @ 7:03 p.m.
Visible: 6 minutes
Max Height: 64 degrees
Appears: 10 degrees above NW
Disappears: 10 degrees above SE

If you do not live in the Scottsdale area, go to Spot the Station to enter your location. You can also set up an auto alert that will send you an email when the station will be flying over your area.

Remember the International Space Station (ISS) circles the earth every 90 minutes.  It travels 17,500 miles per hour, which gives the crew 16 sunrises and sunsets every day. You can learn more about the ISS on the NASA International Space Station site.

e-Bird

Stop what you are doing and go outside.  Close your eyes and concentrate on listening to individual sounds. My guess is that you will hear at least one bird voice in the cacophony of sound. Birds are a part of our everyday auditory experience. The world would be a strangely quiet place without their calls, chirps, whistles and screeches.

Birds amaze us and delight us, but did you know that they play a significant role in understanding ecosystems and environmental health? Birds are critical to the process of pollination, as well as insect and rodent control. Scientists have learned about environmental dangers by observing the changes in bird populations.  For instance, declining populations of bald eagles and peregrine falcons revealed the problem of DDT and heavy metals in the environment.  Coal miners once carried small cages containing canaries to detect the presence of carbon monoxide and other gases.

If you or your child/grandchild have an interest in birds, you may consider starting a free account with ebird.org.  This amazing site/app enables bird trackers world-wide to create sighting lists as well as upload images and sound recordings into a personal account.  The information you provide becomes a part of an enormous database of information that helps scientists and other birders track birds and understand their impact. It is easy and fun to have a place to record your own experiences while also watching your data become a part of something so useful to others.

Using eBird also builds many important life skills. Information provided by bird trackers merges to create interesting charts and maps that can be studied and analyzed to answer your questions.  Challenge children to organize a bird tracking expedition by identifying species, where they are in each season and how to navigate to each location. Critical reading comprehension, data analysis, map and navigational aptitude are just a few of the skills used to plan a trip.  Observation, photography, data collection and report writing are skills used to gather and upload information to the site.

Bird tracking can become a life-long passion and enjoyed no matter where life takes us. Tracking birds often leads to other interests and connects us with a vast community of people all over the globe. If nothing else, it triggers a delicious sense of wonder on a daily basis and keeps us gazing heavenward.

Cultivate Wonder... Discover Design

Resources and References
ebird.org
The Institute for Bird Populations
Desert Birding in Arizona Lessons

Image- Pixabay

Valentine Birds

It's almost spring here in the southern deserts... earlier sunrises, later sunsets, and a slight warmth wafting through the air are all signs of a change.  Another unmistakable mark of spring is the boisterous sound that fill the mornings.  Birds, seen or unseen, become very chatty and seem to be trying out new songs for a new mating season.

Bird watching has long been associated with groups of senior citizens tip-toeing through marshes and woodlands, but the practice can be a natural skill builder for both adults and children, especially when they are exposed to it early.  Consider just some of the benefits of bird tracking.

Birds can be found everywhere, from open farmland to crowded inner cities.  Their ability to thrive in such diverse settings is in itself an incredible design feat.  From a messy nest high in a sprawling tree to a lone metal perch outside an urban high rise window, birds are present near all our homes. The natural world can sometimes seem stagnant and slow to change, but birds offer us a constantly shifting view of life in the animal world.

There are so many different kinds of birds. The American Museum of Natural History estimate there to be as many as 18,000 species of birds worldwide. Learning to identify size, shape, plumage designs, calls, movement, behavior, nest building habits and migration patterns offer endless ways to hone precise observation skills. Wild birds must be quickly analyzed from a distance before they vanish from sight and earshot. Children can be taught to pay attention to main features, as well as subtle details as they sharpen their observation skills.

Bird tracking builds vocabulary. Think of all the comparative adjectives even young children can learn in the process of describing their feathered friends. Is it large or small, slender or compact, spotted, striped, plain or mottled? What are their beaks and tails like? Is their flight smooth or choppy?

Tracking birds teaches us about design.  Books and online resources can help children understand the unique design of birds; light-weight bones, feather and beak design according to function, hunting and defensive behaviors.  There is no end to the weird and wonderful design features found in the world of birds.

People learn from birds. Why did it take people so long to figure out how to copy flight? What design features did people duplicate in order to create flying machines? We are still learning about the navigational skills of birds.  How can some fly for hours without stopping over thousands of miles to land at a specific destination?

Birds are generally harmless to humans.  We can enjoy these feathered wonders without fear of being attacked, gored, bit or sprayed. Some birds will warn us to back off with loud calls or gutsy swoops, but for the vast majority, birds would rather take to the air than interact with humans. Do practice caution when handling anything that belongs to a wild bird due to the parasites, bacteria and viruses that can be carried.

Can you think of more benefits to bird tracking? This week try to be aware of the birds around you. Turn off artificial sound makers and tune into the sounds of birds. Scan your surroundings for bird activity. This time of year, you will catch birds collecting nesting material or acting strangely as they carry out their mating rituals. Some will delight you with what looks like joy. The joy of riding the breeze as only a bird can.

Happy Valentine's Day!

References and Resources
American Museum of Natural History - Estimate of Bird Species
How Birds Makes Us Sick

Image: Public Domain Pictures

Marcus Landslide

The Valley of the Sun is home to many interesting rock formations forged long ago by heat, cold, water, pressure, wind and weathering.  One unique area is on the east side of the McDowell Mountains where you can climb into the middle of an ancient landslide known as the Marcus Landslide, which also happens to be the second largest landslide in Arizona.

Boulders the size of a small house dot the landscape, haphazardly situated in the path of the slide.  Tracing the jumble of boulders up the slope, it is easy to spot the concave basin where the rocks originally broke away from the mountain. The break away scar begins almost at the top of the mountain, where rocks and debris broke off and fell down a steep 300 foot fall zone.  The momentum, coupled with the finer matrix material beneath, allowed the boulders to slide an additional 4,000 feet to the east.

One of the most notable boulders in the area is "submarine rock," aptly named by those who originally studied the landslide. Erosion has hollowed out a little open grotto at the base of the rock, accessible by a short trail and a great place to stop for lunch or a snack. Many of the boulders in this particular area are cylindrical in shape and are lying in an east-west direction. Scientists still do not understand how the boulders lined up during the slide.

The Marcus Landslide trail starts at the Tom's Thumb Trailhead in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale. It is a relatively flat trail, sloping southeast past a magnificent stand of chain fruit cholla and many interpretive signs about the interesting geology of the area.  At about 1.5 miles, a .7 mile loop trail climbs into the heart of the landslide.  Be sure to take plenty of time to complete the 4 mile roundtrip trek and take lots of water as there is no water at the trailhead. As always, good shoes with good traction are a must.

Exploring this area will trigger a land slide of wonder and questions about geologic processes.

Questions for Young Trackers

• What are these rocks made of? Study the composition up close.
• What caused the strange formations? Why do some rocks look like mushrooms?
• Why do you think such a huge chunk of rock broke off the mountain?  What would cause that to happen?
• Why did the geology researchers name this rock "submarine rock?" Can you think of names for other rocks in the area?
• Why is there a crack in submarine rock?
• Why are some boulders so large? What kept them from breaking apart during the landslide?
• Can you make up a mythical story about the geological events that happened here?

References and Resources

Arizona Geological Survey - Marcus Landslide

McDowell Sonoran Conservancy - Marcus Landslide

Informational signs on the trail

Images: Sharon Pegany