Walking in Beauty: Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum

Posted By Glenn B. Jenks on Feb 22, 2015

By Glenn B. Jenks

The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (“ASDM”)is one of the most beautiful treasures that we have available to help us better experience and learn about the Sonoran desert. It is located in the west branch of Saguaro National Monument, west of Tucson. The ASDM displays every form of life that inhabits the Sonoran Desert, from the smallest insect to Mountain Lions and Mexican Wolves. There are even exhibits of the geology and the geological history of our desert.

ASDM is particularly a treasure for photographers. When I was just beginning to learn photography the animals and plants on displays at ASDM provided me with an exciting place to practice my skills and even get a good photograph, once in a while. Here are a few photos I took years ago during those early days of my photography education.

“Prairie Dogs”

“Shy Mountain Lion”

I return to ASDM often and always recommend it as a “must see” place to tourists and residents alike. I never tire of going there because it is fresh and exciting. For example, in recent years they have introduced a “Raptor Flight” program where they bring out certain trained raptors, such as, large hawks, great horned owls and even some falcons and let them fly around the area. The trainers place some pieces of food on the trees near the visitors so that they all get a chance to see these birds up close. Being close to these beautiful creatures you can feel their power as well as their beauty. I have tried capture and to share that experience in my photos.