Summer 2015 Mountain Lines
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magazine of the mcdowell sonoran conservancy Summer 2015 Mountain Lines Four important tips Nourishing and renewing our desert life Listen to the songs of Squash = PMS 116 = 0/16/100/0 our Preserve birds Sage Green = PMS 5767 = 15/0/68/39 Blue = PMS 294 = 100/58/0/21 Enjoy a Summer Spectacular Sonoran A Song for Desert Hike Summer Storms Every Season FROM THE DIRECTOR The McDowell Sonoran Conservancy champions the sustainability of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve for the benefit of this and future generations. As stewards, we connect the community to the Preserve through education, research,About advocacy, partnerships Us and safe, respectful access. Many of us are In many ways the desert comes alive in enjoying summer the summer, but much of it at night, when BOARD OF DIRECTORS in Scottsdale, while the air and ground turns cooler. As a result Jack McEnroe, Chair some reading this we don’t see and appreciate all that’s hap- Gregory Kruzel, Vice Chair Richard Cochran, Secretary have already decamped to more northerly pening. Tools such as automated wildlife John Simpson, Treasurer latitudes where the weather (read tempera- cameras, and researchers permitted to work Tom Headley, Past Chair ture) is at least somewhat more moderate. at night, are adding to our understanding of Stephen Brown Bob Kammerle Leslie Dashew Teri Twarkins Kelley Those staying learn to rise early and enjoy the the Preserve in summer. Rebecca Eickley Jane Rau Preserve before the heat of day is upon us. This issue is about thriving and surviv- Dana Garmany Peter Rusin Tom Hartley Paul Staker Some scientists consider the Sonoran ing in the Sonoran desert summer. Summer David Hay Wendy Warus desert to have five seasons, splitting the helps define the Sonoran desert. Because of Robbie Hendrickson traditional summer season into two: fore- its heat and because of the potential of mon- summer in May and June, with high tempera- soon rains, a critical second rainy season in MCDOWELL SONORAN tures, low humidity, and no rain most years; some years is essential to the long-term suc- CONSERVANCY STAFF and the monsoon season from early-July to cess of some plants. Mike Nolan mid-September, when the humidity rises and You’ll read about safety, a critical Executive Director thunderstorms can occur. consideration for anyone going outside in Kathy Dwyer Either way, one season or two, summer this season. You’ll also learn more about Director of Steward Operations in the desert is long, more than a third of the summer weather, and how plants and Nancy Heck Office Administrator (PT) the year. We use words like harsh, brutal, animals have adapted to it, and in many Michelle Kass and scorching to describe our summer instances learned to thrive in it. Annual Giving Manager weather, but native plants and animals have Celebrate summer in the desert! Ed Phillips adapted to summer conditions to survive Director of Development and Communications and often thrive. Melanie Tluczek McDowell Sonoran Field Institute Manager McDowell Sonoran Conservancy 16435 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 110 Scottsdale, AZ 85254 480-998-7971 www.mcdowellsonoran.org Conservancy Up Close: SNOOZE ..............................................................................................3 [email protected] Sonoran Storms ..............................................................................................................................4 The Mountain Lines is published Fit by Nature: 4 Components of a Successful Desert Hike. .................................................8 quarterly by the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy, a 501(c)3 A Song for Every Season........ ......................................................................................................12 nonprofit organization and sent Building a Bridge to Beauty ..................................... ...................................................................14 to members and donors. Watchable Wildlife: Toadally Awesome! ................................. ..............................................16 Creative design donated by Kovach Family Trail Opens ..................................... ....................................................................18 McDowell Sonoran Conservancy steward, Taffy Corbett, TablePreservation Partner:of Contents APS ..................................... .....................................................................19 Taffy Corbett Design. Tour de Scottsdale .......................................................................................................................20 Storm clouds and the sun combine to create a beautiful sky over the Northern Preserve. Cover photo by: Lynne Russell MCDOWELL SONORAN CONSERVANCY UP CLOSE SNOounded by brothersOZE Jon and Adam joins Schlegel, SnoozeConservancy was Snooze is focused on supporting local causes, like the born on April 2, 2006 in Denver, Colorado. It seeks to evolve Conservancy, and issues related to the neighborhoods where Communitythe A.M. dining experience through Partners culinary innovation, an they locate with organizations focused on education and eclectic and energetic atmosphere and comfortable and sustainability. Snooze believes that it only takes a moment to friendly service. make a difference. “At Snooze, we’re connected by a common desire to be One of those moments will come for the Conservancy part of something bigger than ourselves. We believe we’re when Snooze will host a complimentary breakfast, at a date all one, big family – Snoozers, partners, guests, neighbors, to be determined, for a Conservancy guest. Donations will be planet – and we strive to be a part of the communities where accepted at the breakfast to support the work of the Conser- we live,” say the brothers. vancy to protect and preserve the largest urban city preserve But more than just an A.M. dining experience, Snooze in the nation, Scottsdale’s McDowell Sonoran Preserve. donates one percent of its sales from each Snooze location Snooze believes in doing the responsible thing for people back into the local community. The latest Snooze location and the planet. From composting and recycling about 90% of Fis scheduled to open in August at the Kierland Commons in their waste to focusing on resource conservation and using Scottsdale and has selected the McDowell Sonoran Conser- responsible materials, Snooze works in concert with the Con- vancy as their local community partner. servancy to help create a better world for future generations. 3 Target word count 1200, actual count 1173 SONORAN STORMS Earl Fosdick, Consulting Meteorologist Monsoon season in Phoenix brings us spectacular storms with dust haboobs rolling across the valley followed by dark brooding clouds harboring lightning strikes that make the heart pound. Welcome rain to quench the dry Sonoran Desert follows the lightning aerial dis- play, nourishing our desert fauna and bringing rebirth to long dormant plants. This cyclical Monsoon pattern could be called the circle of life for arid desert dwellers. On many hot and humid monsoon days, thunderstorms are first spotted to the north along the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau, particularly along the Mogollon Rim north of Payson. Around noon, the frigid tops of isolated thunderstorms may come into view, some as far as 120 miles away. Later, thunderstorms may begin moving southward or eastward across the Central Highlands, looming larger as they creep closer to the Valley. As evening approaches, majestic storms may tower above the desert along the foothills north and east of Phoenix. As they move onto the desert floor, many vanish, exhaling one final gust of wind. But on a few summer nights each year they move over the Valley, providing Phoenicians a respite from the harsh realities of desert life. A nocturnal thunderstorm strikes north Phoenix. (Pinnacle Peak is on the left hand side). Photo by: Earl Fosdick onsoon season in Phoenix brings us spectacular storms By Earl Fosdick with dust haboobs rolling across the Valley followed by dark brood- Consulting Meterorologist ing clouds harboring lightning strikes that make the heart pound. Welcome rain to quench the dry Sonoran Desert follows the light- ning aerial display, nourishing our desert fauna and bringing rebirth to long dormant plants. This cyclical Monsoon pattern could be called the circle of life for arid desert dwellers. On many hot and humid monsoon days, thunderstorms are first Sonoran Storms spotted to the north along the southern edge of the Colorado Pla- teau, particularly along the Mogollon Rim north of Payson. Around noon, the frigid tops of isolated thunderstorms may come into view, Msome as far as 120 miles away. Later, thunderstorms may begin 4 Target word count 1200, actual count 1173 SONORAN STORMS Earl Fosdick, Consulting Meteorologist Monsoon season in Phoenix brings us spectacular storms with dust haboobs rolling across the valley followed by dark brooding clouds harboring lightning strikes that make the heart pound. Welcome rain to quench the dry Sonoran Desert follows the lightning aerial dis- play, nourishing our desert fauna and bringing rebirth to long dormant plants. This cyclical Monsoon pattern could be called the circle of life for arid desert dwellers. On many hot and humid monsoon days, thunderstorms are first spotted to the north along the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau, particularly along the Mogollon Rim north of Payson. Around noon, the frigid tops of isolated thunderstorms may come into view, some as far as 120 miles away. Later, thunderstorms