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Message: <blockquote data-quote="BruceH" data-source="post: 3236608" data-attributes="member: 106398">John ..... We do have Road Runners here in the lower desert part of AZ.  I had one in the back yard last week.  They are not a daily show so that is why they were not on the list.  They show up out back about four or so times a year.  Once I saw one drop out of a tree on a House Sparrow that was  looking for seeds under the tree and there was no Beep Beep before the strike.  That was new to me seeing a Road Runner dining on more than bugs and lizards.  Actually, I think they will take on a rattle snake.  The White Winged Dove is considered a southwest desert bird, but I was surprised to read that they have been spotted on the east coast and Alaska.  There must be a few that are not into the heat thing.  We have Mallards all over the state ranging from the low deserts to 9,000 plus feet swimming in mountain lakes.  I wonder if there are any mainland states that does not have them.  According to the Windows 8.1 Bing Weather app, the humidity right now is 04%.  The NWS at Sky Harbor Airport is showing a damp 05%.   The humidity will start increasing in about two weeks as the moisture from Mexico starts to  move north.  Some of the first monsoon rains will hit the high country around the second week of July and will show up in the Phoenix valley a couple of weeks later.   Then it will not only be hot, but hot and humid.  The monsoon will end around the second week of September.  The last storm tells the White Wings it is time to head back to Mexico.August is a good test for binoculars.  There is heat, humidity, sweat, and grime.  August is when Tucson has a bird festival which gives the reps from the showing optical companies an oportunity to do some warm weather testing if desired.  Last summer the Zeiss folks were doing demos out at the local riparian just north of downtown Tucson.  That is dedication!</blockquote>

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