Journal archives for January 2021

January 23, 2021

Neotropic Cormorant ( Phalacrocorax brasilianus)

The species I am observing is a bird. I notice this bird has an odd shape, different from most other birds. I notice the shape of the birds stomach is more flat then rounded-almost like a chicken. The birds neck has a lump in the middle and the head itself is like a snakes head, flat and opal. The birds feathers are mostly black but there are some white feathers on the wings, end tail and one little stripe of white feathers on the head by the beak and eye. I notice the birds feet are black too. The bird eyes are blue and the beak is flat and white and yellow. The bird is standing on a rock looking out on the water, I wonder if this bird eats fish. I wonder what the bird is waiting for. It's blue eye reminds me of the blue butterfly painting in my room. I wonder if this bird can only be found in Tucson. The bird was observed on Jan 18, 2021 at 5:22 PM, it was clear skies at Reid Park, Tucson, AZ, USA. The scientific classification is this bird is Phalacrocorax brasilianus.

Posted on January 23, 2021 05:19 AM by dshosie11 dshosie11 | 0 comments | Leave a comment

January 30, 2021

Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens)

The species I am observing is a plant. There are a lot to this plant. I notice the petals never really come together, they are like dozens of separate flowers growing on one branch. In fact it looks exactly like there are separate flowers blooming on one branch. The color of the petals are orange. I notice the anthers are yellow, the bottom of each individual blooming flower you could see there is also yellow there. I notice the branch is in a striped pattern with the colors dark green/back and white. I notice there is about 36 little blooming flowers on the branch. Each blooming flower is about the same size. I wonder if this plant only blooms in certain weather, do they only bloom in the cold rainy weather? I wonder if you can fine these plants anywhere else in the world. The plant that the flowers are on is almost cactus like, it is vase-shaped. These plants capture rain and begin growing leaves within 24 hours. When they are dying they used the stored water to flower and produce seeds so that way a new generation of ocotillo will have the chance to germinate and produce new plants. I wonder what type of animals this plant pollinates. This plant was found in Tucson Mountain Park on January 24, 2021 at 4:35pm. This plant reminds me of hummingbirds because of the unique color.

Posted on January 30, 2021 05:28 AM by dshosie11 dshosie11 | 0 comments | Leave a comment