Just as October and November bring the arrival of snowbirds to Southern Arizona, they also offer us the pleasure of observing other particularly special visitors passing through on their long journey south – or west. As you enjoy mistflowers and desert broom blooming in your gardens, keep an eye out because you may be lucky…
Category: Animals/Wildlife
Birds, Saguaros and the Art of Pollination
Most of us know that insects like bees and butterflies perform the important task of pollination, but did you know that there are at least 1,200 species of pollinating birds worldwide—some of which are native to our Sonoran Desert region? Just like our favorite cactus bees and queen butterflies, these birds seek energy-rich nectar, which can result…
The Mexican Gray Wolf is Still Endangered and Needs Your Voice (or Howl!)
For six decades, visitors to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and Phoenix Zoo have been inspired by encounters with the Mexican gray wolf, by locking eyes (even for a moment), by hearing them howl, and by learning their story. The Museum, and our partner institutions, like the Phoenix Zoo, have been involved with recovery efforts from the very beginning. The Desert Museum was home to some of the ancestors of all living…
Border Wall Expansion Endangers Species
Plans for additional primary and secondary border wall and related construction are accelerating rapidly in southern Arizona. While we appreciate the need for border security, wildlife conservation organizations including the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and the Phoenix Zoo are concerned about the environmental and cultural impacts of these projects. Physical impediments to wildlife movement alter connectivity in critical habitat…
2025 in Review
As we wrap up another year and look forward to 2026, we are happy to reflect on some of the Desert Museum’s major milestones and exciting projects. This past year has been filled with collaborative conservation initiatives, community partnerships, and innovative research projects, in addition to breaking ground on our new Spadefoot Splash exhibit and…
Rehoming Sabino Canyon’s Native Fish
Sabino Canyon, one of Tucson’s most cherished natural areas, is renowned for its rugged beauty and diverse wildlife. Among its inhabitants is the Gila Chub (Gila intermedia), a rare native fish species found primarily in this region and one that has faced significant challenges in recent years. In June 2020, a lightning strike ignited the…
An Ecological Checkup for the Gulf of California
How does one do a checkup on a whole ecosystem? It takes a lot of doctors! Thirty-two, in the case of the latest Assessment of the Ecological Health of the Gulf of California, which finds that parts of the system are doing well, while others are hurting.
The Many Colors of Desert Museum Conservation
As our visitors quickly realize after spending a day at the Desert Museum, we are much more than a museum, or a zoo, or any one thing! Our diverse approach to education and conservation allows for a variety of ways for our community to engage in the work we do and deepen their understanding and…
Creating passage for wildlife across the U.S.-Mexico border
by Emily Burns, Ph.D | Sky Island Alliance Thanks to our community partners, Sky Island Alliance, for providing this guest blog for Desert Diaries. Support their border conservation work by following them on social media, volunteering, and donating! Standing at the foot of the border wall in southeast Arizona is intimidating. The wall rises 30…
Bees, Barcodes, and Biodiversity
Desert Museum Volunteers Build Barcode Reference Library of Native Bees By Kim Franklin Eight years ago I launched a small study of the native bee diversity in Las Mipiltas de Cottonwood, a small urban farm in Tucson, Arizona. With the help of a few intrepid volunteers, we began sampling bees every two weeks with pan…