Arivaca Cienegas, Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge - Part IV

Continuing with recent photos from Arivaca Cienegas, Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge.

Black Vulture

Turkey Vulture

Continuing ""5" Star Photos: The Black Vulture

No matter how the word "vulture" is used, whether referring to the bird, or in some literary sense, it does not conjure up a "beautiful" feeling. That is a shame, because vultures are actually quite beautiful. Here, for example, is a Black Vulture sitting on a saguaro cactus that has just bloomed. And, while he is looking below for something to eat, he looks kind of regal. Vultures actually play a very important role in nature. As carrion eaters they "dispose" of dead animals that would otherwise be breeding grounds for disease.

The Black Vulture's range is more restricted than it's cousin the Turkey Vulture. The Black Vulture can be found from the Southwestern US to Chile. But like the Turkey Vulture, they migrate south from Arizona for the winter. I took this photo along highway 86 between Sells and Why (Arizona). I like the detail in the photo, especially in the face.

Black Vulture

National Wildlife Refuges

Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona, 1939

Established in 1939, Kofa National Wildlife Refuge encompasses 665,400 acres of pristine desert. The Refuge provides essential habitat for Desert Bighorn Sheep, the California Fan Palm, and other wildlife and plants.

Desert Bighorn Sheep are found chiefly in the two mountain ranges that dominate the refuge landscape - the Kofa and Castle Dome Mountains. Although these mountains are not especially high, they are extremely rugged and rise sharply from the surrounding desert plains, providing excellent bighorn sheep habitat.

80% of Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, 516,300 acres, is federally designated wilderness. Wilderness is protected to ensure that nature, not people is the primary influence on this quiet, scenic place. So much of Kofa is inaccessible.

Notable wildlife species found in the area include the desert tortoise, and desert kit fox. Approximately 800 to 1,000 bighorn sheep now live in the refuge and, in recent years, this herd has provided animals for transplanting throughout Arizona and neighboring states.

Birds that are likely to be seen at Kofa include American kestrel, white-winged dove, northern flicker, Say's phoebe, cactus wren, phainopepla, and orange-crowned warbler. Although with the exception of the warbler all are also found here at The Azure Gate.

The Kofa Mountain barberry (a rare plant found only in southwest Arizona) occurs on the refuge.

There are two roads into Kofa. One dead-ends around Castle Dome. The other crosses the mountain range and ends up on a dirt/gravel road that parallels the refuge. Both of these roads are extremely rugged and require 4x4 with high clearance. I have driven these roads a couple of times and hiked in Kofa as well. However, never a glimpse of those elusive Desert Bighorn Sheep.

Black Vulture

Castle Dome

Fire Barrel Cactus

Organ Pipe Cactus

Phainopepla

Turkey Vulture

Raptors: Part VI

Black Vultures are a little smaller than Turkey Vultures. Their range is the Southeastern United Staes cutting through Southern Texas, Mexico, and a far south as Chile, but with a sliver coming up from Mexico into the southernmost part of Arizona. Unlike the Turkey Vulture, the Black Vulture will eat eggs and kill small newborn animals.  They too, are usually silent, lacking a syrinx.  Here is one I photographed while looking for Crested Caracara:

Although their wingtips are white they lack the white on the lower underside. Their wings are shorter in comparison to their body than the Turkey Vulture. The result is a quicker, choppier wingbeat than the Turkey Vulture. Here is one I photographed in the Galiuro Mountains of Arizona while looking for Coatimundi: