Reflections in the Desert

As I mentioned in my last post, I have been volunteering with the Arizona Wildlife Federation , a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to educating, inspiring, and assisting individuals and organizations to value, conserve, enhance, manage, and protect wildlife and wildlife habitat.  Through this volunteer work, I am able to reach more people with my writing and make a larger impact in the world of conservation. I recently wrote a piece spotlighting my favorite native insect, the tarantula hawk wasp!  I've written about these wasps before on this blog, and I will always jump at any chance to educate more people about these beautiful misunderstood creatures.  Click the link below to read: Tarantula Hawk Wasps: Startling or Stunning? Photo by Alex Bickers

Hello, readers!  I know I haven't been great at updating this blog, but that's because what I really want to do is make a difference in local conservation-  and frankly, a personal blog just wasn't cutting it.  That's why I've spent the last year volunteering with the Arizona Wildlife Federation , trying to do my part to conserve native wildlife here in Arizona.   But I haven't forgotten about you, readers!  That's why I'm posting several of my AWF blog entries here as well.  Here is my first one: The Land and Water Conservation Fund - Essential, and Now In Danger Photo by Alex Bickers

2024 was a very busy year for me. I started this blog, got a piece published in AZA's "Connect" publication, and went on countless hikes and excursions into the beautiful Arizona wilderness, among other things.  Amongst the chaos that was the second half of 2024, nestled in between responsibilities and life changes was something very special: my wedding.  I got married in late October, and it should surprise no one that our small ceremony was held outdoors beneath the desert sun.  But the sun, alone, would not have made for a perfect day.  We all stayed outside as the moon rose high and the constellations found their place in the night sky.  And, for one of the last nights of the season, I pulled out my ultraviolet flashlight and took our guests searching for scorpions.  My wedding day wouldn't have been the same without them. Photo by Alex Bickers This region of the world is known widely for the bright, sunny days that occur year-round.  When most pe...

The Association of Zoos & Aquariums  is an organization that represents hundreds of animal facilities around the world. They ensure high standards of animal care in all accredited facilities and are a major global funder of scientific research, conservation, and education programs. I recently had the honor of writing a personal piece to be published in AZA's Connect  publication for their "Voices in the Community" series during Pride Month. Rather than saying more, I will let my article speak for itself. Click on the link below to check it out! The Diversity of Nature

I once heard someone describe Arizona as "the Australia of the United States."  What they meant by this, of course, is that Arizona has an above-average number of wild animals that are dangerous, intimidating, or just make your skin crawl. To be honest, this is yet another thing about Arizona that I love.  That's not to say that I wholly agree with the statement- after all, I go hiking all the time and don't feel particularly unsafe in the wilderness (but as always, I take precautions like any smart hiker should).  I'm personally on higher alert when I visit parts of the country that have grizzly bears, for instance.  But I can understand what that person meant anyway.  What people seem to find worse than animals that are dangerous is animals that are  creepy .  I think it is a human instinct to have some type of fear reaction to animals that slither, crawl, have more than 4 legs, and/or have prominent jaws and stingers. But that doesn't mean we should...

Growing up in Pennsylvania, water was never something I had to give much thought.  It was everywhere: rivers, lakes, creeks... Rainfall was plentiful, and the phrase "don't waste water" usually had less to do with the water itself, and more to do with the water bill . Still, it was always a pleasant surprise to stumble upon a stream trickling through the woods.  As a young naturalist, these streams were my personal getaways where I would spend hours turning over rocks to find crayfish and salamanders, getting lost in the beauty of the ecosystem.   Photo by Alex Bickers Moving to the American Southwest has been a very different experience.  We go months at a time without rainfall, and the plant and animal life has all evolved to survive extended periods of drought.  Everyone here is painfully aware of the impending water crisis that threatens the region, and you can't (responsibly) buy a house here without asking yourself "What water supply does this house u...