12-31-05
Phoenix Metro Area from Vector Control Job
Towards the end of 2005 I worked for a short time with the Maricopa County Vector Control department working on west nile virus prevention. During the course of this job I was assigned to visit and inspect a great deal of aquatic environments in the eastern part of the Phoenix valley both man made, and natural. This page shows urban wildlife ecology, and some of the wildlife that is still surviving in Phoenix, and also some rather unattractive areas where wildlife persistence is very unlikely.
Not the greatest picture but it is far away. This peregrine falcon flew up to this radio antenna in downtown Phoenix every morning with a meal for a month or 2.
And an absolutely gorgeous scene along one of Phoenix's many aquaduct channels. Fishing anyone?
Thats just plain nasty.
Various great blue herons along other cleaner aquaducts.
Male and female mallard ducks in the aquaduct.
Males have very attractive wing patches.
This nicer looking lake environment is actually unfortnately an evaporation pond for a quarry mine in town.
Quarry can be seen in the background of this picture behind the house finch.
A kildeer
The beautiful quarry operation.
Osprey on the Salt River.
Egrets on a concrete line in Tempe Town Lake.
Cormorants on a pillar in Tempe Town Lake.
