Saguaro National Park - Raptors + Desert life + Tucson Gem and Mineral Show

                    Saguaro National Park - West 

Saguaro National Park-West

is actually a zoo of the animals in the area in their natural habitat.

There are many wonderful exhibits, but the most fun is the Raptors Free Flight.

Sometimes the birds fly so low that they ruffle your hair!

The Great Horned Owls

We were told that the birds would fly if they did not feel threatened.

So, we were told to act like a bush.

The birds did fly often to each side of the observation crowd.

( to get treats from the handlers)

I felt lucky to get these photos!

Yes, it's pretty exciting to see these guys in action. 

( I think they enjoy putting on a show)

These are Harris hawks

A wonderful show!

They got their ducks in a row.

The Bobcat - just takin a little snooze

Coyote surveying his territory

Grey Wolf

"just lookin at ya"

A familiar sight!

BIG CAT

Big Nap

We say this unusual cactus on the Mexico Baja trip

it is called Boojum

(Weird cactus, weird name)

 

This is a Crescent Saguaro,

can eventually grow to 6 feet wide at the crest.

They are not sure why they do this occasionally.

Tucson Gem and Mineral Show

There are so many booths, products and unusual items.

I had to ask about this vendor.

It apparently started out by the parents and boy digging around dumps and outhouses, looking for any relics, fossils and oddities.

They have many 'reconnected' fossilized dinosaur bones.

Just in case you are looking for a Russian doll

( the ones that have several nested inside the large one)

Perhaps you'd like a dinosaur skeleton.

or a whole tray of Trilobites.

It has been a pretty exhausting day at the museum and Gem Show.

(but pretty fabulous!)