Staying Close to Home

Male Gambel's Quail keeping sentry on our backyard fence

Since it's not nesting season the Cactus Wren and the nest pictured here got me to wondering how far from their birthplace animals wander.  Cactus wrens seem to love nesting in Torrey Yuccas, and they spend a lot of time in them.  Often you can walk right past a Cactus Wren in a Yucca and it won't fly away because there are so many good hiding places inside.  I'm just guessing here, but I'll bet that many small animals don't roam far from home.

Cactus Wren and nest

Cactus Wren

Accusatory look?

Something to crow about

Black-tailed Jackrabbit

On the foothills trail

Nude Ocotillos

The rugged Organ Mountains

Southwest side of the Tortoise

Becca hears people on the mountaintop

Here they are:  two workers and the ATV they drove to the top