Mike in the Wild

Many birds have eluded me in my pursuit of photographing them, especially the Montezuma quail in southern Arizona.  But there is a species that resides much closer to my Phoenix home and that is just as elusive, at least when it comes to capturing a good shot of it.  That bird is the kingfisher.  The belted kingfisher is the only kingfisher that commonly calls the waterways of Arizona home, and only in the winter non-breeding season.  The bird has a number of distinguishing characteristics starting with its unique vocalization.  You'll know that you're in one's vicinity when you hear a burst of mechanical clicks that sound more like a Vespa than a bird's call.  It's a noise that's supposed to indicate they're disturbed. Well, I for one am convinced that this bird must always be disturbed because not only is it clamorous but it's difficult to approach.  As a result most of my shots are quite grainy due to the very far distance that the kingfisher'...

Just a mile east of the gigantic football stadium that the Arizona Cardinals call home lies part of the New River - Agua Fria Underground Water Storage Project (NAUSP).   Within a grid of six basins, water is collected for seepage and storage into a natural underground aquifer.  This precious resource arrives via canals from the Salt and Verde Rivers, and also the Colorado River via the Central Arizona Project, with additional reclaimed water (your clean-as-new sewer water!) coming from the cities of Glendale and Peoria,  The Salt River Project utility manages this vast engineering endeavor. The water in these basins creates 125 acres of temporary ponds that attract a variety of water dwelling fowl and plant life, including birds of prey.   The teeming life in this habitat is a paradox in this busy urban corridor which, in addition to the football stadium, is surrounded by freeways, power lines, an airport, a landfill, and all forms of human encroachment....