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To
Cave Creek
Canyon Friends
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Spring Influx of Migrant Birds
Many of our migrating birds and butterflies are now arriving and there are few people here to enjoy them.
Here is your opportunity to enjoy
them through these photos.
[Broad-billed Hummingbird by Tony Donaldson]
Elegant Trogon by Debra Davison
Photos by Steve Wolfe
Pyrrhuloxia Northern Cardinal
Green-tailed Towhee
Barn Swallow Immature Male Scott's Oriole
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Butterflies on South Fork Cave Creek
By Lori Conrad
A pair of Fatal Metalmarks
Fatal Metalmark
 
Mylitta Crescent Dainty Sulphurs
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Hummingbird Quiz!
[The following quiz is from Bird Watcher's Digest:]
Hummingbird Question #1
What is the colorful, iridescent neck plumage of a male
hummingbird called?
a) Speculum
b) Gorget
c) Snood
d) Cowl
Rivoli's Hummingbird by Steve Wolfe
Answer: b) Gorget (pronounced with the same G sounds as in gorgeous). The word comes from the Old French word for throat, and in Middle English referred to throat-protecting armor.
Hummingbird Question #2
In addition to nectar, what do hummingbirds eat?
a) Spiders
b) Wasps
c) Beetles
d) All of the above
e) Nothing-nectar is their only food.
Costa's Hummingbird - by Tony Donaldson
Answer: d) All of the above. In addition to nectar (natural or human-made), hummingbirds eat flies, gnats, wasps, aphids, beetles, leafhoppers, spiders, and many other small invertebrates. They also drink tree sap from woodpecker-made holes, and sip juice from over-ripe fruit.
Hummingbird Question #3
How many hummingbird species are
there in the world?
a) 27
b) 84
c) About 350
d) About 600
Black-chinned Hummingbird by Tony Donaldson
Answer: c) There are about 350 species of hummingbirds in the world, and they're only in the Western Hemisphere: North, Central, and South America.
Hummingbird Question #4
Which country claims the most hummingbird species?
a) Brazil
b) Ecuador
c) Colombia
d) The United States of America
Calliope Hummingbird by Lori Conrad
Answer: c) Colombia claims 160 species of hummingbirds; Ecuador 130; and Brazil around 80. Only about a dozen species of hummingbird breed regularly in the United States.
Hummingbird Question #5
Which U.S. state has no hummingbirds?
a) Alaska
b) Hawaii
c) Montana
d) Maine
Lucifer Hummingbird by Steve Wolfe
Answer: b) Hawaii has Nenes, Elepaios, Omaos, Apapanes, and Iiwis, but no hummingbirds. Rufous Hummingbirds nest in southern Alaska, where Anna's Hummingbirds sometimes overwinter!
For more quiz questions and information on hummingbirds
go here to the Bird Watcher's Digest website.
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Visitor Information Center Is Still Closed
In Response to COVID-19
It may reopen in May
Forest Service established campgrounds were closed on 3/23/20.
We do not know when they will re-open.
Dispersed camping is allowed.
The forest remains open.
Call (520) 558-2221 or (520) 388-8436 for Information
Certain visitors keep coming - they aren't worried about the virus!
Painted Redstart Chiricahua Fox Squirrel
[Photo by Steve Wolfe] [Photo by Mike Jacobi]
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The Incredible Poppy Year!
[Even white poppies]
In the dessert are millions of poppies around barrel cactus and agave plants
Cane Cholla Desert Chickory
[By Steve Wolfe]
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SOUTH FORK CAVE CREEK PROJECT
In the last two months many comments and suggestions have been received by the Forest Service and FOCCC regarding the proposed South Fork Project. These will all be taken into account for the draft proposal the Forest Service will produce.
Different components and placement include handicapped accessible trail, vault toilet, picnic tables, benches, educational kiosk and trail, staging area, signage and other trails.
This project must go through the approval process with the Forest Service and US Fish and Wildlife Service. Because of delays in the review process due to coronavirus, it may not be completed before the end of December 2020.
Friends of Cave Creek Canyon will be reviewing and commenting on the project during these final review phases.
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Waterfall near John Hands Picnic Area 
[By Cecil Williams]
High Country Barfoot Park
By Peg Abbott
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Solpugids Wind Scorpion - Our Lovely Neighbor
by Ray Mendez
Fun local critter for today. When my wife Joy moved here from Cody, WY, I knew it would be a tough day for the spiders. I had spiders living around the lights by the bed so when I was reading at night any small gnats or plant hoppers that might fly into the room, through the screens, would be captured and eaten. When she arrived, the vacuum cleaner removed all my little helpers from the house. One evening Joy spied a wind-scorpion, or Solpugid, running across the living room floor, and I knew its moments were on count down. I jumped in and told her they are not true spiders, don't sting, nor are they poisonous. Plus they kill and eat anything they can overcome or run down, and they are super fast. The next morning we found the remains of a cone-nosed bug (like a giant bed bug) on the floor. Only the legs and a bit of the wings were left. Solpugids are now honored guests in our house. The unlucky ones also provide swatting fun for the cat.
Solpugids have interesting jaws that move up and down and act more like a set of scissors with a mouth at the rear end. Last night our son Wyatt and I were discussing how wonderful they are, and he told me the method of feeding is called a "cheliceral mill" - perfect! Chelicerae are the appendages in front of the mouth in arachnids and some other arthropods. Enjoy the day and our lovely neighbors...
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FOCCC 2020 Officers and Board
Reed Peters President
Other Board Members
Sheri Ashley Vice President
Bob Ashley
Mike Williams Vice President
Alan Craig
Rene Donaldson
Rick Beno
Treasurer
Cecil Williams
FOCCC Board of Directors meets on the first Wednesday morning each month at the Chiricahua Desert Museum on Highway 80. If you have interest in attending or putting something on the agenda, please contact President Reed Peters at 520-558-2334. All members are welcome to attend.
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Friends Of Cave Creek Canyon
PO Box 16126
Portal, Arizona 85632 Visit Our Website |
Thanks to our "Sustainer's Circle" and Lifetime Members
for their generous support:
Kirby Alguire, Tom Arny, Bob and Bettina Arrigoni, Susan Dalby & Eskild Peterson, Stephen Durkovich, L. Syrene Forsman, Mary George, Bill and Sally Hague, Paul Hirt and Linda Jakse, Fritz and Gayle Jandry, Don Hollister, Claudia Kirscher, Mike Leuthold, Barbara Lounsbery, Patrick McNamara, John and Karin McQuillan, Barbara and Pete Miller, Patricia Parran, Cecilia Raak, Tom Roseman and Paula Baldwin, Delia Scholes and Ed Newbold, John and Linda Sumner, Jeff and Alice Wakefield, and Bob and Sherry Zoellick.
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Please support our Business Members who have given generously to Friends Of Cave Creek Canyon. Without their assistance, we would be hard pressed to accomplish our goals. Click on their names to check out their websites.
Business Memberships start at just $50.00!
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