Our first stop was the Hummingbird Aviary. This screened in building houses five different types of hummingbirds. We were able to see them flitting around, feeding on flowers and feeders, sitting on twigs and even nesting.
The hummingbird makes a small nest were she lays one or two eggs, each the size of a TicTac mint. She incubates these for about 24 days until the baby bird hatches. The nest's primary building material is spiders web allowing it to stretch as the baby birds develop. Each nest is only used once, but the building materials from one nest may be recycled into another nest.
The Life Underground exhibit displayed critters who nest underground. I enjoyed seeing a Spotted Skunk sleeping in one of the window sided burrows.
A tour through the Ironwood Art Gallery showed some wonderful animal art work. I also spied some wonderful classroom spaces where various art classes are taught. I would live to take a class in one of the rooms that have window walls, so the classroom can open up to a view of the Sonoran Desert. Spectacular!!
Three young women introduced us to a Fur Feathers and Fangs presentation in the Warden Oasis Theatre. They showed us a gopher snake, skunk,porcupine and quail. Interesting to see these critters up close and learn interesting facts about them.
As 2 pm approached we made our way the the Raptor Free Flight station. We were able to watch native birds of prey fly so close to us we could actually feel the rush of air as they whined past!! This afternoon the presentation featured a barn owl, Peregrine Falcon and four Harris Hawks. The raptor handlers were able to entice these birds out of there cages and to do some spectacular aerobatics for us. Beautiful.
During the last section of our visit we checked out the Riparian Corridor with Bighorn sheep, otter and beaver; the desert grasslands with a mountain lion, white tailed deer, wolf, prairie dogs and blue Herron; and Cat Canyon with an Ocelot, fox and bobcats. On the way out we stopped in the aquarium to see lots of interesting fish and then had an ice cream from the gift shop. A wonderful days adventure!!
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