Arizona Sonora Desert Museum - we went for the birds!

Ginny volunteers every Monday at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, west and south of where we are. We went today to see her and the museum.

It was a great museum!  She participates in the Raptor Free Flight which has shows at 10am and 2pm (they star different birds at each one).

We were to meet her or the narrator of the show near the Bighorn Sheep exhibit, so we got to see the sheep first.

According to the docent, this one was born last May. He said that she immediately tried to climb rocks in the enclosure, and was up on the cliffs in short order!

They are looking toward their nighttime stabling area - I think the keeper was in there cleaning and they were checking to see if any food was forthcoming.

Jan, the narrator for the free flight show, met us and took us to the show area early so we could stand in the best spots.

Dwayne snapped a quick picture of Ginny and me before the show started.

Ginny in her hiding place before the show - you can see her water bottle and hand, but that's about it!

This is a picture with my phone - Horned Owl taking off

Dwayne's pictures are better -- wow - magnificent!

Another of Dwayne's shots!

I think this was the Grey Hawk

Grey Hawk (?) taking off

The two trainers showing one of the bird-types that would be in the afternoon show

After the morning show, we got a backstage tour of the mews, and Ginny showed us "Ty" - the retired Barn Owl

Ginny and Ty

After lunch, we visited the Hummingbird Aviary - they were so neat to see -- Dwayne's camera work allowed him to get some great pictures!

The beaver was active when we went back by the Riparian exhibit on our way to get our early "standing room" for the 2pm show.

I was happy to be in the sunshine for the afternoon show!

This is the "other" Barn Owl (Boujon?) who now participates in the demonstration.

These hawks (I think, hawks) hunt and live in groupings instead of singles.

Here is one taking off towards us!

After the second show, we headed up to "Cat canyon" where we saw two Bobcats (this is one of them) and an Ocelot.

Wrapping up our day at the Desert Museum seeing a "Crested Saguaro" outside the gates.