Big on Bighorn
Catching a glimpse of bighorn sheep in the wild takes some skill, some knowledge and a bit of luck.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department offers to make watching the stately animals a bit easier with it’s annual Bighorn Sheep Workshops. There are two, two-day workshops: July 31-Aug. 1 and Aug. 7-8.
Visit the agency’s site for the details, but don’t wait too long. Each session is limited to 40 people.
The program includes classroom sessions and a boat trip leaving from Willow Beach for ship viewing.
Cash donations are accepted to offset the cost of the programs.
Keeping an Eye on Mother Nature
I’ve hiked with a friend who is an avid amateur naturalist. He will point out, name and provide useful tidbits about every plant, blossom and critter along the trail. It’s not a way to cover a lot of ground, but paying attention to the fine details of the land makes for an enjoyable walk. Now, if I could just remember it all …
Folks like my friend, or those who aspire to better understand the environment, now have an outlet — the USA-National Phenology Network. Sure, the name seems daunting, but in this case big words can translate to actions most people who love the outdoors already do: watch the animals and pay attention to the plants.
Based at The University of Arizona, the network describes itself as a consortium of government, academic and citizen-scientists. They study the seasonal cycles of nature, or phenology. When do plants flower or fruit? When do animals reproduce, migrate or hibernate?
Whether caused by climate changes or other occurrences, shifts in these patterns can signal trouble in the natural world. Now, the organization wants help.
Volunteers can join a program that teaches simple ways to track the life cycles of nearly 200 species of plants. Next year, the program will expand to include the monitoring of animals.
So if you spend your spare time outdoors, put it to good use. Afterwards maybe you’ll be the amateur naturalists who can amaze friends by knowing every plant on the trail.
