Photos: Kestrel Afternoon Delight
March 26, 2017 By Tom Mangelsdorf I recently found these Kestrels enjoying each other’s company on a sunny day. Kestrels are small falcons about the size of a large pigeon or quail. They are fast fliers and very accurate hunters. Their behavior on this afternoon brought to mind a song from the ‘70s titled “Afternoon Delight.” For those of you old enough to remember the Starland Vocal Band, here are a few lyrics from that popular song...
Scottsdale Photos: Yard Birds & A Bonus
By Tom Mangelsdorf Unlike some of the more elusive Greater Pinnacle Peak area’s wildlife like javelina or bobcats, birds can be found in nearly any back yard. They’re abundant. They’re colorful. They sing. And, most wonderful of all, they can fly. Spring is quickly coming, and the birds are pairing up to build nests and lay their eggs. It’s a magnificent time of year. I would encourage everyone to turn off their televisions, cell...
Photos: Hummingbirds – Colorful Desert Wonders
By Tom Mangelsdorf Hummingbirds, in various varieties, can be found throughout the greater Pinnacle Peak area, and they are truly wondrous to watch and photograph. Whether you have a hummingbird feeder on your patio or flowering plants in you landscaping, you’re likely to attract hummingbirds. They are a very territorial bird that will chase away any intruders into their established space. Speed, agility and their ability to hover are...
Gambel Quail Chicks – The Next Generation
Article and Photographs by Tom Mangelsdorf For those of you who live in the Greater Pinnacle Peak area of Scottsdale, Arizona, seeing a Gambel’s Quail is not a particularly unusual sighting. If you see one, you’re also likely to see another one close by. They tend to travel around the desert in male/female pairs. If you’re really fortunate, you may sometimes see the male and female...
Photos: Wild Peach-Faced Love Birds
Article and Photographs Courtesy of Tom Mangelsdorf A couple of years ago I was surprised to see two brightly colored birds feeding on a sock full of thistle seeds I have hanging in the yard. I took a few pictures at the time and then they disappeared. Well, they’re back two years later. I discovered these are wild Peach-Faced Lovebirds, and they’re native to southwest Africa. Apparently years ago, a local aviary released a...
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