Signs of Life

If you've ever seen the Arizona desert, you'd likely be of a mind that nothing can live here. They say that a person spending time out here in the peak of the heat should consume at least a gallon of water an hour just to stay hydrated. Now, we all know that there isn't likely that kind of a naturally occurring water source in the desert in too many places, so it seems quite obvious that life cannot be found in this desert.

The obvious, however, is quite wrong. A simple walk in the desert will prove that the place is full of life. Beyond the obvious plant life, the desert is full of remarkable insects and animals that are especially designed for life in this harsh environment.

The bugs are likely the easiest thing to find. Ants and beetles abound. Indeed, some of these ants are the biggest I've ever seen, and some of these beetles are longer than 4 inches. Scorpions will be here, too. There are more than 20 kinds of scorpions in North America, most of whom are not dangerous. There is only one, the bark scorpion, who is so dangerous that he can kill a human child with his sting. This one, of course, resides in only one place ... here in the Sonoran Desert. So maybe you'd better steer clear of them. Now, something must keep the bugs in check, so the next thing you'll notice is the birds.

Birds in the desert are not always what you'd expect. Sure, there is the gila woodpecker and gilded flicker, two birds that will put holes in the saguaro cactus to make a nest. They look nearly identical, but are easily distinguished by their sound. The woodpecker sounds like it is laughing, while the flicker sounds just like the eagle sound you hear in the movies. And, of course, the cactus wren is plentiful. These are bold birds, wary of humans, but not terrified by them. They are "desert looking" birds, mostly brown and speckled, with carefully applied eyeliner over each eye. Sparrows and finches are also plentiful, like they are just about anywhere else. But somewhat of a surprise is the numbers of hummingbirds here in the desert. Hummingbirds have to eat every 2 hours or they die. Where do they find the food here in the desert to sustain that metabolism? They do.

Be sure to look up. There are a whole variety of raptors. The Harris hawk is uncommonly seen. They are one of the few that hunt in groups, working together to catch their prey. Sharp-shinned hawks and coopers hawks and red-tail hawks abound. There are even rare golden eagles here. And, of course, the legendary vultures will be seen making large, graceful circles as they search for prey.

Keep quiet, and you might get to see a roadrunner, a bird you'd expect in the desert. If you're near a desert wash, you might get the rare treat of seeing a phainopepla. This bird is all black with a plume on its head, reminiscent of the cardinal. They are in the flycatcher family and are very quick ... and very shy. And if you're very lucky, you might see the cardinal himself. Cardinals are native to the desert here. Their bright red coloration in this apparently drab landscape seems completely out of place, but they not only survive here; they thrive. And then there is the "clown" bird, the quail. I think of them as clowns because of that funny tassle that hangs over their heads, but they aren't really that funny. They hang out in groups called a covey. They spend most of their lives on the ground, flying only to escape danger. Another interesting bird is the nighthawk. They are bug catching birds with wings designed for agility. They will cruise around at sunset as the bugs come out from the waning heat of the day and scoop large beetles and moths up without any apparent effort.

There is an abundance of birds out here, but there is more. Lizards are obvious. The whiptail is everywhere, and the collared lizard can be seen. You'll be very fortunate if you get a glimpse of the rare gila monster, but avoid them because they are one of the few venemous lizards in the world. And, of course, there are rattlesnakes. You must always keep an eye out for them here. It's difficult to balance the need for stealth out here required to find the animal life and the need for noise required to notify the rattlesnake that you're coming. If they know you're coming, they'll likely get out of your way. But if they know you're coming, likely most other animals will get out of your way as well.

Other, larger animals inhabit this "lifeless" terrain.
Jack rabbits and cotton tail rabbits are just about everywhere. Coyotes are one of the top predators. They hunt alone or in packs, and not much will bother them. Bobcats are very timid and you'll be very lucky to see one. Mountain lions are here as well, but not very common. And the only native, pig-like animal found in the United States is found out here. The collared peccary is known here as the javelina. It is so named because its teeth are long and sharp like a spear. They primarily travel at night and primarily in groups of up to a dozen. They're not typically aggressive, preferring flight to fight, but if one is injured, the pack might attack to defend it. Here's a very brief video for your enjoyment.

Patience, my friend, patience. That's what gets you the chance to see the many signs of life out here in the desert. It's as if God designed the desert as a patience-teaching place. If you want to see the vast amount of life in the desert, it takes patience. But by now you've likely consumed your gallon of water and are hotter than you thought possible and it would be a good idea if you head for a cool spot, like the pool or the air-conditioned mall, so let's get back to civilization. Let's not forget, however, the marvel of God's creation that can be seen out here in a place where it seems as if life shouldn't exist.