April 9, 2007

April 9, 2007

When we visited Tucson five years ago, we stopped at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. It is supposed to be Arizona’s second most visited sight after the Grand Canyon. We remember it as being very nice so we go again today. It is a combination zoo, botanical garden and natural history museum. All designed to help people appreciate the desert.

We can vouch for the museum’s popularity, as the large parking lot is almost full when we get there. When are all these snowbirds and tourists going to go home? The Raptor Free Flight show starts shortly after we arrive. They have a trained owl, hawk, and raven that they let fly around the desert in front of us going from post to post for food.

After this short show we walk the mostly outdoor park checking out the desert animals and plants they have. In spite of all the desert hiking we have done, I have to come here to see a mountain lion, mountain goat, javelina, and rattlesnake. We listen to a very humorous lecture on diamondback rattlesnakes and dealing with a bite. The lecturer says the typical victim is young, male, intoxicated, with tattoos, whose last words were “Hold my beer” and “Watch this.”

Aimee likes the group of nesting hummingbirds flying around chasing flower nectar. I like this green parrot that says “hello” repeatedly to me when I enter the birdcage. This same parrot whistles at Aimee. Despite seeing this park already, we enjoy it again. It is very nicely done; no wonder it is so popular.