Big Morongo Canyon Preserve is a green oasis where desert scrub meets cottonwoods, willows, and mesquite. Hummingbirds gather near the entrance, tanagers move through the canopy, and Ash-throated Flycatchers call from the drier edges.

The Salton Sea is one of the West's most remarkable birding destinations, where desert landscapes, enormous flocks, and ongoing conservation efforts make every visit memorable.

A summer visit to Saguaro National Park during the monsoon season brought Roadrunners, a rare Gila Monster, a young Great Horned Owl, and surprising wildlife despite the desert heat.

A summer monsoon interrupted our visit to Patagonia, Arizona, but once the storm passed, the Paton Center came alive with hummingbirds and one of the Southwest's most welcoming birding destinations.

A visit to Madera Canyon during Arizona's monsoon season brought eight hummingbird species, a surprise Botteri's Sparrow, and one unforgettable morning in the Santa Rita Mountains.

A spring camping trip to Joshua Tree National Park turned into one of my favorite days of desert birding, with Gambel's Quail, Verdins, Phainopeplas, Black-tailed Gnatcatchers, Costa's Hummingbirds, and plenty of other memorable wildlife encounters.

On our way to camp in Joshua Tree, we stopped at Big Morongo Canyon Preserve for a shady walk among fall migrants, desert birds, and one startled California striped racer.