It’s chilly at dawn in the desert, even though blazing heat will arrive before midday. To the east, stark outlines of cactus and thorny trees stand against the growing light. And on all sides, the air ...

It was early January, and the toyon sapling I’d planted the week before wasn’t nearly old enough to produce fruit. So I asked a friend if I could collect a handful of berries from a plant on their ...

For 500 miles, I’d driven south, air conditioner blasting, radio on. When I arrived at the desert field station and stepped out onto the gravel, I was hit all at once by the heat, the quiet, and a ...

Breeding males are a rich orange-cinnamon with a black head and black and white wings. Females and immatures are brown above with warm orange or buff on the breast. In flight, look for the beautiful ...

The verdin is a brightly colored desert bird. Driving through the arid desert and canyon lands, the verdin is a reminder that all places are unique and beautiful in their own way. These striking birds ...

Five-year-old Youie Khzouz held a stick with a feasting yellow budgie perched atop, eagerly trying to entice another bird to join them Monday morning in the new exhibit at The Living Desert. Standing ...

You could call them jet setters, or maybe farmer birds, but for sure, the active little phainopepla is one of San Diego’s more interesting bird species. Also known as the black cardinal, this busy ...