I apologize for my prolonged blogging absence, but the weather here has been unbearable all summer and we are still roasting under triple digit temperatures. The birds seem reluctant to show themselves and I am reluctant to subject myself to these searing temperatures to search for them. However, we just got back from a trip to the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam. And to my delight, I was able to get pictures of two new bird species to add to my personal list.
The first new species I shot was at a roadside overlook on our way to Hoover Dam. This beautiful covey of Gambel's Quail (Callipepla gambelii) took me by surprise; the last thing I expected in this lifeless, barren landscape was a population of birds. Also surprising was just how beautiful and resilient these birds really are considering their harsh environment. They live off of the seeds and fruit of what few plants there are in the desert and can obtain nearly all the water they need from the food they eat. Their range is limited to the hot deserts of the SW and Mexico. [P.S. don't forget to click on images to enlarge]
The first new species I shot was at a roadside overlook on our way to Hoover Dam. This beautiful covey of Gambel's Quail (Callipepla gambelii) took me by surprise; the last thing I expected in this lifeless, barren landscape was a population of birds. Also surprising was just how beautiful and resilient these birds really are considering their harsh environment. They live off of the seeds and fruit of what few plants there are in the desert and can obtain nearly all the water they need from the food they eat. Their range is limited to the hot deserts of the SW and Mexico. [P.S. don't forget to click on images to enlarge]
