From Our Place to Yours

Art by Jackie Blurton

Nature Note by Dr. Roland Shook

Alligator lizards can be found widely distributed throughout much of the Americas, North Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and China. In this family there is a tendency for the reduction of limbs, from dwarfing of the limbs in some species in South America to the complete loss of limbs in the glass lizards of both the Old and New Worlds.

Great Blue Heron

Art by Jackie Blurton

Nature Note by Dr. Roland Shook

Herons are long-legged wading birds with long necks and long, pointed bills. The Great Blue Heron is the largest heron in the United States. The adults and young are primarily bluish-gray. The crown of the lighter head is dark and often shows dark plume-like feathers. In flight, the wing beats are slow and steady. Herons characteristically pull their necks back in an "S" shaped fashion when they are flying as opposed to cranes which fly with their necks outstretched. A knowledgeable birder can identify herons at great distances using this field characteristic.

Great Blue Herons are a noisy lot, frequently calling in flight with a deep croaking call. In general, these are solitary birds except during the breeding season when they nest in colonies called rookeries. The numerous nests are often placed high up in the top of cottonwoods or other similar trees.

Art by Jackie Blurton

Nature Note by Dr. Roland Shook

The American Dipper is a bird of the fast-flowing mountain streams of the West. The name of this species is derived from its habit of perching near the water and constantly bobbing its whole body up and down. This bird is also known as the Water Ouzel, an English word for the European Blackbird.

Art by Jackie Blurton

Nature Note by Dr. Roland Shook

Ringtails are a mammal about which biologists know relatively little. They range from southeastern Oregon to southern Mexico.

The ringtail is also known as the Cacomistle, Miner's Cat, Civet Cat, Coon Cat or Band-tailed Cat. All these names refer to the prominent tail (as long as the head and body combined) of these large-eyed, shy animals. This species is pale brown in body color with a bushy tail ringed with alternating black-and-white rings.

Look for Ringtails along rocky cliffs where their weasel-like body allows them to explore ledges and crevices for prey, which primarily consists of rodents and insects.

Art by Jackie Blurton

Nature Note by Dr. Roland Shook

This species of woodpecker is characterized by a white back and undersides. It is very similar to the Downy Woodpecker but larger. Note especially the length of the bill compared to the length of the head. In this species, both are approximately the same, while in the Downy the bill is noticeably reduced.

Art by Jackie Blurton

Nature Note by Dr. Roland Shook

Javelina or Collared Peccary are truly wild pigs of the New World. Primarily tropical and subtropical, they occur south into South America. One of the two species is thought to have expanded its range north from the humid Mexican jungles and to some degree adapted to the arid Southwest.

Curve-billed Thrasher

Art by Jackie Blurton

Nature Note by Dr. Roland Shook

Thrashers belong to the family Mimidae which includes the other "mimics" such as mockingbirds and catbirds. Most species of thrashers are found primarily in the Southwest. All have curved bills except the Sage Thrasher, but the bill of Bendire's Thrasher is nearly straight. The Curve-billed Thrasher is the most common desert thrasher in the Southwest. This species can be told in the field by its strongly curved bill, mottled breast, and pale orange eye. The juveniles seen in late summer have a straighter bill, yellow eye, and a breast with more pronounced spotting. These young birds are often confused with Bendire's Thrashers.

Art by Jackie Blurton
Nature Note by Dr. Roland Shook

The American Wigeon belongs to the surface feeding or puddle duck group. These are relatively light bodied ducks when compared to the diving ducks. When puddle ducks take off, they can spring into the air, and upon landing, they can come in at a very steep angle and plop down on the water. In contrast to this, diving ducks need to run on the surface of the water to gain enough air speed to generate enough lift to get into the air. When they land, again their air speed is much higher than puddle ducks, so they skid across the water before coming to a rest. Owing to their weight, puddle ducks sit higher in the water when compared to diving ducks. In the field, it is helpful to be able to separate ducks into these two major categories.