New Year's Babies: Spotted Owl

Spotted Owls have nested in Miller Canyon for many years. It is the most reliable place in Southern Arizona to find them. Here are a couple of photos of a young Owlet:

Spotted Owl Baby

With a loving Mom

New Year's Babies: Pronghorn

Another of Mother Nature's beautiful animals, the Pronghorn:

New Year's Babies: Roadrunner

Every once in a while, a Roadrunner comes into our oasis to show off (teach) her young one:

Roadrunner

New Year's Babies: Mule Deer

Continuing with our series on Wildlife Babies, we come to Mule Deer:

Coconino Mountains, Northern Arizona

Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

New Year's Babies: Mourning Dove

We probably have 100 or more Mourning Doves around our property at any given point -- well, probably a little less in the winter due to the coyotes and bobcats feeding habits.

The Mourning Doves nest from April through August. Not the best nest builders, though. Yet, they seem to manage just about anywhere.

Here then are some photos:

In a Chain Fruit Cholla cactus

In a Saguaro

In a Pine tree

In a Palo Verde tree

On my tool cabinet

On a wall in the carport

On the Cable panel

New Year's Babies: Mountain Goat

I think Mountain Goats are one of Nature's most beautiful and fascinating animals. They can climb cliffs that are 80 degrees or more.

And it doesn't take long for the little ones to learn how.

Here are some of my favorite Mountain Goat babies:

New Year's Babies: Moose

Obviously, you don't find Moose in Arizona except for zoos. Their range is northern US and  Canada.   In their range, it's not unusual to find a cow with a youngster. But they tend to hide their very young so you don't see them that often.

Here are a few of my favorites though:

New Year's Babies: Killdeer

Killdeer mom with chick:

New Year's Babies: Javelina

Continuing with wildlife babies we come to the Javelina.

With Javelinas coming around our property frequently, I've been able to get quite a few photos. Here are some of my favorite Javelina Babies:

Speaking of Owls

I'll get back to the New Year's Babies tomorrow, but for today, and since yesterday was about Owl Babies, I thought I'd mention that we have a Western Screech Owl that's been staying with us for two weeks now. He's a bit shy, and stays in a place that's difficult to get a photograph, but obviously a place where he is well protected. 

Here's the best photo I've gotten so far:

Western Screech Owl

New Year's Babies: Great Horned Owls

Having Great Horned Owls living and nesting across the street from us has provided us with a great many photos. Here are just a few of the Owlets:

New Year's Babies: Feral (Wild) Burro

Now we come to one of my favorite animals in the wild. I think Feral Burros are one of nature's most beautiful wild animals. Burros were brought to the US from the deserts of Africa in the 1830 -1850 time frame specifically for use in the Southwest by prospectors. Eventually, after mines played out or prospectors died, the Burros were released into the wild. So they have been "native" for 175 years or more.

Here a family of Feral Burros: 

One of my favorite photos of all time.

It's hard to pick my favorites, so here are several other photos: