Maricopa County Master Naturalists

06/01/2026

🕊️ ECO-BLITZ FUN FACT 🕊️

Did you know the oldest recorded White-winged Dove lived to be more than 21 years old? This remarkable bird was banded in Arizona in 1958 and later recovered in Mexico in 1980!

These desert birds are an important part of the Sonoran Desert ecosystem and can often be spotted throughout Maricopa County’s regional parks.

📍 Have you seen a White-winged Dove in one of our parks lately? Share your favorite bird sightings in the comments!

- Eco-Blitz program: https://www.maricopacountyparks.net/about-us/eco-blitz/
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/maricopa-county-parks-eco-blitz
- June park programs: https://www.maricopacountyparks.net/events/?F_m=6

05/22/2026

New on the blog! 🌵 Did you know male bees use desert flowers like Mexican poppies as "air bee-n'-bees" to sleep in at night? 🌼

Read "Sweet Dreams BeeBee" by Tim Schoenfelder and Becky Collman to learn all about the surprisingly relatable sleeping habits of these bees—including how they sleep on their backs and sides before the flowers close! 🐝✨

Read it here:
https://azmnmcp.org/blog/f/sweet-dreams-beebee

05/20/2026

Have you ever heard the distinctive "scream" of a Brown-crested Flycatcher? 🐦🌵

We are so excited to share the latest article on our chapter blog! Written by Jeff Babson, this piece dives into everything you need to know about these fascinating birds and their life in the Sonoran Desert.

Read the full article and learn more about our local wildlife here:
https://azmnmcp.org/blog/f/brown-crested-flycatcher

📸 Photo by Brian Sullivan

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By Jeff Babson

05/15/2026

05/06/2026

Calling all K-12 Educators! We recently received funding to build out new phenology-focused curriculum resources. We want to hear from YOU about your experiences teaching about phenology.🌱

Scan the QR code or click the link below to share your input and find out about a paid working group opportunity!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeJoTz9kT2NTLG_mD6VZhehS3J7IlAtVPXp2H37gUkVw6s36A/viewform

05/05/2026

When you upload something to iNaturalist, you'll more often than not get an identification (and sometimes a comment) from an identifier!

We've had the privilege of spotlighting a few of these amazing folks over the years on our blog. Meet some of the people behind the IDs: https://tr.ee/EU3MJVO99V

Identifiers — which can include everyone from experts to curious and enthusiastic learners — show up day after day to help verify iNaturalist data and teach fellow nature-lovers about what they're documenting. They spend countless hours identifying observations across taxa they love and know well, often in regions all around the world.

And if you've ever wanted to become an identifier, now is a great time to start! The identification period is underway, and it's one of the best opportunities to practice your skills, learn from others, and make a real difference for thousands of observations waiting for a second look: https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/citynaturechallenge/