By Jacob Croft, El Paso Zoo Volunteer Golden Eagle Aguila chrysaetos Status: Least Concerned Size: 27.6-33.1 inches, Wingspan: 72.8-86.6 inches Habitat: Wide range of habitat types, including high-altitude regions, deserts, forests and open areas. At the Zoo: Education Animal in Training. Not on exhibit. The Golden Eagle is a fascinating bird to watch fly with its massiveContinueContinue reading “Chihuahuan Desert Wildlife: The Golden Eagle”
Monthly Archives: May 2023
Only In the Chihuahuan Desert: Candelilla
By Rick LoBello, Board Member There are a number of animals and plants that are found only in the Chihuahuan Desert. We call these species endemic species, those that are found in a particular geographical region and nowhere else in the world. Candelilla or wax euphorbia is one of them, but here in El Paso itContinueContinue reading “Only In the Chihuahuan Desert: Candelilla”
Chihuahuan Desert Wildlife: Skunks
By Rick LoBello, Board Member In 2020 I received a phone call from an old friend here in El Paso who wanted my help in keeping a skunk out of his garage. When I talked to him about his options I discovered that the problem was pretty easy to solve. As it turns out thereContinueContinue reading “Chihuahuan Desert Wildlife: Skunks”
Chihuahuan Desert Plants: Trumpet flower
One of the most colorful small shrubs in the Chihuahuan Desert, the trumpet flower (Tecoma stans), is rarely seen in El Paso probably because it has a very limited range where it is found mainly in Big Bend National Park and parts of the Davis Mountains. The three-foot shrub is commonly called yellow bells. IfContinueContinue reading “Chihuahuan Desert Plants: Trumpet flower”
Zoom Presentation on May 31 – Restoring Jaguars to the American Southwest by Michael J. Robinson
Jaguar conservation efforts in the Southwest are important to helping to protect the complex ecosystem so important to humanity. The Chihuahuan Desert Education Coalition will sponsor a special virtual presentation by Michael J. Robinson of the Center for Biological Diversity on regional efforts to help bring back jaguars on Wednesday evening, May 31, 6:30pm MountainContinueContinue reading “Zoom Presentation on May 31 – Restoring Jaguars to the American Southwest by Michael J. Robinson”
Biodiversity of the Castner Range, a delicate balance
By Rick LoBello, Board Member Now that the Castner Range has been designated a National Monument it is important for our community to understand the fascinating biodiversity of the Franklin Mountains. The Castner Range National Monument section of the Franklin Mountains is connected to the lands that surround it including private and public lands likeContinueContinue reading “Biodiversity of the Castner Range, a delicate balance”
How wildlife is impacted by climate change – the plight of the Grey-headed Albatross
Helping people connect the dots between climate change and their quality of life is a big challenge, mainly because many have not been able to see how climate change is impacting their daily lives. Here at the Chihuahuan Desert Education Coalition we plan to report to you on how our quality of life is impactedContinueContinue reading “How wildlife is impacted by climate change – the plight of the Grey-headed Albatross”
Meet your neighbors: the Pyrrhuloxia
Pyhruloxia courtesy of Mark Cunningham By Rick LoBello, Board Member Spring is in the air and now is a great time to watch for local birds getting ready to nest and sing away all across our city and the surrounding desert. One of our most beautiful resident birds is the Pyrrhuloxia, a very close relativeContinueContinue reading “Meet your neighbors: the Pyrrhuloxia”
Governments addressing climate change
The off shore wind farm was established on a natural reef 3.5 kms outside Copenhagen Harbor, in the autumn of 2000 and consists of 20 turbines, each with 2 megawatt capacity. by Robert D. Vines PE, C.P.M., Board Member The most important, but most difficult action required to save our planet, is that every countryContinueContinue reading “Governments addressing climate change”
Chihuahuan Desert Wildlife: Gould’s Turkey
Gould’s Turkey Meleagris gallopavo Mexicana Status: Least Concern. Size: On average males weigh 8 to 30 pounds with females weighing 8 to 12 pounds. Habitat: Arid desert and mountain regions. The Gould’s Turkey is the largest of the five subspecies of turkey. It is known only to the US Mexico border area of the southwestern corner of NewContinueContinue reading “Chihuahuan Desert Wildlife: Gould’s Turkey”