I hate many things about living in Phoenix...but one thing I truly love is our feral rosy-faced

[Coventina]

lovebirds!


They are so beautiful and so much fun to watch!!

[Tanuki]

1. They are lovely! Are they thought to be escaped captives (or their descendents)

who naturalized? I once saw a green parakeet who had fallen in with a flock of pigeons in Cambridge, MA. I hoped he made it to a warmer clime for the winter, but those lovebirds seem like they have found a sweet spot indeed in Phoenix!

[Coventina]

2. Yes, apparently Phoenix is perfect for them to survive and thrive.

We now have an estimated population of 2500 or so.
They live in colonies scattered throughout the greater Phoenix area.

And, better still, ornithologists believe that they are not a threat to native birds!

[Freedomofspeech]

3. Wow...

They are so beautiful!

[asiliveandbreathe]

4. OMG - what a great picture - our love birds have burrowed into the cacti

near us in the East Valley..early morning and as the sunsets they seem to get active..we throw th e seed under the tree..they are among the quail and mockingbirds (beautiful as well, but so noisy - LOL) who gather 'round.

.this time of year in AZ is beautiful - it is the politics that put a cloud over this state...be well, enjoy this beautiful day in AZ - and thank you for sharing..

[Coventina]

5. Yes, we have quail and mockers as well. And of course the usual assortment of desert doves.

So far, I haven't found any nests on our property, but they all really love our feeders and our prickly pear cacti!!


We also get a lot of hummingbirds this time of year while our aloe vera is blooming.

Besides the politics, I really don't like the heat. I've lived here since childhood and it never gets easier.....

[asiliveandbreathe]

6. OMG - hummingbirds and doves - how could I have forgotten..we have two HB's -

they will get up close - and just seem to be suspended in air..with the flutter of their teeny tiny wings you can hardly see...I wish I knew how to share my pics..prickly pear out front when in bloom are beautiful..we are open to a golf course and wild life all around - we face east towards the Superstition mountains..just this side of Recker Road -

Heat you say, what heat LOL- we have been here 20 years from Mass. the heat is unbearable - totally..

[Coventina]

8. I'm in Old Town Scottsdale - just west of the Salt River Pima Reservation

Which is why we get the wildlife we do.

Including coyotes, of course.

And, the bald eagles that nest on the reservation fly by now and then.

[asiliveandbreathe]

10. eagles high in sky - not sure if Bald Eagles - turkey vultures and owls though..

I only know they were turkey vultures, for when I saw them, I used my binoculars, looked up AZ birds, and yep, they were scratching out at the grass cuttings..

As I look out to my North, we have huge pine trees and the owls nest, one year we had two owlets - only came out at near dark but very distinctive sound..

I know the area you speak of - like to watch the Parada Del Sol, and the Indian Pow Wow on McDowell...and the Fort, of course, - missed this year - but the Tempe Art Fez is coming up...end of March..be well..

[Coventina]

12. Ah! Jealous of your owls!! Only saw an owl once in our yard. Startled my husband as s/he flew by

his head!!

(Probably was after a bat).

Yes, this time of year our area is packed to the gills with Spring Training fans and the various festivals.

Of course, it's good for the economy, and the events are fun, but it can be hell if you need to go somewhere in "downtown" Scottsdale during March.

Be well as well!

[stevenleser]

7. Really? I love the Phoenix area. I get there every few weeks or so.

The people there seem particularly nice.

[Coventina]

9. I can't stand the heat. The air quality sucks. There is a LOT of racism behind the polite faces.

Our education system is one of the worst in the nation.

I could go on and on, but thanks for the kind words!

[JDC]

11. I grew up on the mean streets of Scottsdale

This pic makes me realize how much I miss bougainvillea.

[Coventina]

13. Bougainvillea is beautiful, and hard to kill.

But man, oh, man is it a pain (literally) to prune!!

[JDC]

14. I plant a lot. I never plant anything with thorns.

Because of that: Palo Verde, Sweet Acacia, Cholla/Cacti, etc. I miss them, and especially the Sweet Acacia but don't miss thorns

[Coventina]

15. There are some species of Palo Verde without thorns. We have one.

Can't remember what it's called though.

We bought our house with desert landscaping in the front, so it already had several prickly pear and some other cacti. They are basically on their own, but we haven't bothered to remove them. I actually like the prickly pear, because the birds love it so much.

[Angry Dragon]

16. VERY NEAT

[Laffy Kat]

17. Awwww. Had no idea! nt