Call of the Wild

Female Boat-Tailed Grackle

It's been 88 days since we've had measurable rain, and the desert is parched.  The Abrams fire in the Organ Mountains is into its 12th day, and it's burned over 20,000 acres.  At least the wind has subsided somewhat.  But it brought in a real cold front--surprising for the month of May.  When we started out this morning it was 37 degrees F.  Today was a good day for spotting wildlife:  a Boat-Tailed Grackle (so-named because its tail turns upright during flight, much like the rudder of a ship.  A couple of curious Coyotes were checking out Becca and me. No, not for dates.  And the Roadrunner was just around the corner from the wild canids.

Fire still burns in the Organ Mountains



Dry Arroyo west of Tortugas (Tortoise) Mountain



K-9 respite

Somebody's watching

In fact, two somebodies are watching

Wile E. Coyote?

Why the long face?



Beep Beep



Roadrunners are members of the Cuckoo family