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Field Institute

by marianne skov jensen on September 27, 2013

mjensen-chuckwalla-browns-ranch-survey-3912As a Steward of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve and also a Citizen Scientist, I take part in several surveys being conducted by the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy through their Field Institute. (Flora, Flying and Ground Insects, Mammal and Reptile). I try to attend most of the organized surveys and take photos for the Conservancy but I am always on the lookout for any creatures when I’m hiking in the Preserve and document what I see.This first image was taken during one of my hikes to Browns Mountain (see previous post). Desert Tortoise are such a treat to see! An interesting tidbit about them is they collect water in their bladder and save it for their body to use when no other water is available. If a hiker picks up a wild tortoise, it can get scared and will often loose its saved water. This can cause the tortoise to die of dehydration.

Desert Tortoise

Desert Tortoise capture with Canon N

The following images were taken during our most recent reptile survey led by Dave Weber. Be sure to Click his name for a video in which he describes what he does. This particular day, we were looking for the illusive Desert Iguana which was said to have been spotted in our Preserve. We didn’t find any but we did end up finding Eleven Chuckwallas! That’s the most I’ve seen in the entire 20 years I’ve lived here so it was very exciting.

Chuckwallas live in crevices. They have the ability to inflate their bodies so they become wedged in tight between rocks.

Herp Expert and our leader, Dave Weber spots a Chuckwalla. They live in crevices and have the ability to inflate their bodies so they become wedged in tight between rocks. (Canon SX50)

Chuckwallas inflate themselves to become wedged in tight between the rocks. (galaxy nexus)

Chuckwallas inflate themselves to become wedged in tight between the rocks. (galaxy nexus)

Two Chuckwallas tail to tail and wedged in tight. (galaxy nexus)

Two Chuckwallas tail to tail and wedged in tight. (galaxy nexus)

A better view of how tight this space is. A perfect protection for the Chuckwalla. (galaxy nexus)

A better view of how tight this space is. A perfect protection for the Chuckwalla. (galaxy nexus)

Our Herpetology expert and leader, Dave Weber, was able to catch a Chuckwalla before it scurried into the rocks. Notice the loose skin on the sides. This is the area it will inflate once when it's in a crevice. (galaxy nexus)

Our Herpetology expert and leader, Dave Weber, was able to catch a Chuckwalla before it scurried into the rocks. Notice the loose skin on the sides. This is the area it will inflate once inside a crevice. (galaxy nexus)

Herp expert, Dave Weber, takes photos for documentation. He also takes the Chuckwalla's temperature and notes several things about the area. (Canon SX50)

Herp expert, Dave Weber, takes photos for documentation. He also takes the Chuckwalla’s temperature and other statistics and then notes several things about the area. (Canon SX50)

From: Arizona, Camera Phone, Fauna, Field Institute, Macro, McDowell Sonoran Conservancy, McDowell Sonoran Preserve, Reptiles, Sonoran Desert
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One Comment
  1. Millymollymandy #

    You don’t blog for ages then do them all at once! lol

    Love the Chuckwallas – another really interesting creature with a fun name and great images.

    Like your desert tortoise, but what a shame that people would pick them up in the first place. I would think if you were going to hike in a place like that you should have read up about the wildlife, dangerous or otherwise, before you go, and know a little something about the creatures that you might encounter. But then, I’ve got a bit of common sense. 🙁

    I’ll comment on the others later as I want to look at them properly first. 🙂

    September 28, 2013

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