A Tale of a Resilient Santa Cruz River and its Tiny Topminnow By Claire Zugmeyer and Luke Cole, PhD | Sonoran Institute Fall is a festive time of year, temperatures start cooling off and we celebrate many events and holidays with family and friends. Sonoran Institute’s annual fish survey provides yet another reason to celebrate. This is an opportunity to see firsthand what may sound obvious—clean reliable water is…
Category: Education
Monarch Vs. Queen Butterflies and Tracking Migration
When visiting the Museum’s pollinator garden between September and November, you’ll likely notice a fluttering cloud of orange around the violet blooms of Conoclinium dissectum, commonly known as palm-leaf mistflower. Look a little closer, and you’ll see that among those orange wings are not only queen butterflies (Danaus gilippus), but occasionally well-traveled monarch butterflies (Danaus Plexpus) on their migratory journey….
Exploring Sahuaripa, Mexico: Our Botany Department Beyond the Museum
When visiting the Desert Museum, one of the most spectacular elements of our grounds is the incredible variety of Sonoran Desert flora. From brightly blooming passion flowers and resilient guayacán trees to iconic favorites like blue palo verde and saguaros, each plant requires expert care to not only thrive in their beauty but help sustain…
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.
Earth Camp in Review
By Kyleigh Sacco, Education Specialist “Just seeing (my students) actually giving back to the community as well as learning about the area which they’ve been born and raised in has been great […] because they live in this very small bubble and to be able to pop that bubble and show them the world that…
Finding Paths in the Mountains
An Earth Camp Experience By Alana Huffmon, Educator and Earth Camp staff Earth Camp is a unique experience that connects high-school students in Tucson with hands-on stewardship and restoration experiences in the Coronado National Forest. Earth Camp brings STEAM skills to life as students experience three days in the Santa Catalina Mountains working, learning, and laughing…
Enriching Environments
What is animal enrichment and why do we do it? We’re not talking vitamin supplements (though they might be included!) but ways to engage and entertain the animals in our care. Read on to learn from our amazing young collaborator Sarah Green, who earned the Girl Scout Gold Award for her project researching and creating…
Clues from the Past: Geologic Origins of the Sonoran Desert
How did the Sonoran Desert form? And why should we care about the geologic origins of our region? Geology creates topography, which influences climate, watersheds, temperatures, and migratory pathways. Understanding the geology of a place is like unfolding the story of the land itself, which sets the stage for understanding our local ecology. But it also reminds…
Monsoon Magic: Your Next Hike
On your walk, you’ll find every color of the rainbow. Don’t forget to bring a camera or sketchbook, and if you have one, a magnifying glass.
Wildlife Cams: It’s a Snap to Get Started!
By Catherine Bartlett, Education Program Manager At the Desert Museum, we use wildlife cameras (also known as trail cams or camera traps) in exhibits (to track health and activity of animals), in student research projects, and in partnership with the Sky Island Alliance’s FotoFauna Project. You too can capture backyard biodiversity with these devices. Give…
Desert Diaries 