Many people come to Southern Arizona in January, February, and March to escape the cold of New England, Minnesota, Alberta etc. These people are affectionately called "Snow Birds" -- mainly because tourism is the number one industry in Tucson. However, April brings wildflowers and cactus blossoms such that the desert becomes more colorful than imaginable. April also announces the arrival of matting season when a pair of Mallard Ducks visit our swimming pool each day. May brings migratory birds; those coming for the summer and those passing through to head further north. July and August bring the monsoons and incredible lightning storms that are a photographers dream. July and August are also peak months for Hummingbirds. Really and truly hummingbirds by the thousands. September brings the migratory bats -- the nectar feeders, Mexican Long Nose and Mexican Long Tongue bats. September and October is the peak of the Butterfly season; hundreds of thousands. November and December is when the larger mammals all start to "herd up." Coatimundi, Coyotes, Javelinas all gather in groups.
But wait. What about June? What happens in June? Well, aside from being the hottest month of the year, the Mesquite Tree pods drop. The Mesquite pods must be like a filet or lobster for the rabbits -- especially the Jackrabbits. And there are thousands of them. For the past few days late in the afternoon there would be 5 or 6 Desert Cottontails AND three Black Tailed Jackrabbits munching away under the big Mesquite Tree next to my office.
While we have many Desert Cottontails every day of the year, the Jackrabbits are less frequent visitors.
So, today:
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| Black Tailed Jackrabbit headed for our Mesquite Tree |
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| Black Tailed Jackrabbit eating the Mesquite Pods that have fallen from the tree outside my office. |
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| Black Tailed Jackrabbit reaching for Mesquite pods still in the tree. |
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| Two Black Tailed Jackrabbits underneath a Mesquite Tree |
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