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Protecting Your Arizona Nest

Protecting Your Arizona Nest 

The Cactus Wren is the Arizona state bird. Cholla and Saguaro cacti are the favorite places for the wren to nest.  Wren are very noisy, screeming as people get too close to their nest and are frequently seen perched on top of the Saguaro  cactus.Arizona Cactus Wren

A few days ago I stopped to visit a client in Sun City Grand in Surprise AZ and heard the familiar screeching of a Cactus Wren.  The wren was making people aware of its presence. This bird was perched on a Prickly Pear Cactus, an unusual cactus for the Cactus Wren. 

The Prickly Pear Cactus has a large leaf that is flat and fleshy.  Referred to as pad, the leaf stores water. Pads are frequently prepared as a vegetable dish.  The fruit is used in Prickly Pear jams and jelly.  This cactus has spines and very tiny glochids.  The glochids are somewhat difficult to see and are easily removed from the pads.  You don't want to get the glochid on your body, on your pet or on your clothing.  

Arizona Cactus WrenAfter moving here from Hawaii, I realized that Arizonans slow down to smell the roses and they slow down to watch the wren and cacti grow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Prickly Pear Cactus

Prickly Pear Cactus

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If you looking to buy a home or sell a home in Sun City Grand in Surprise AZ, please contact me or visit my website at www.LEOLINDA.com.

I am a year-round Sun City Grand resident and a full-time Associate Broker Realtor®.

Sun City Grand Real Estate Surprise AZLeolinda Bowers
Associate Broker
Ken Meade Realty
Cell (602) 403-6865
Business (623) 937-5701

 

 

 

About The Author
Leolinda Bowers is an Associate Broker with Ken Meade Realty. She specializes in Arizona West Valley Retirement (55+) Communities. Leolinda has Bachelor of Science Degrees and a Masters Degree in Business Administration with Project Management concentration. In an organization of approximately 350 agents, she is a leading sales person who has proven sales experience in the current real estate market. Leolinda can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate in the adult communities of Sun City Grand, Sun City West, Surprise or Sun City Arizona.

© 2010 Leolinda Bowers (Arizona Retirement Communities Sun City West & Sun City Grand Real Estate). Unless otherwise noted, the content, both pictures and written, is the property of Leolinda Bowers. Reproduction in part or whole without written permission from the publisher is prohibited.

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Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Looks familiar Leolinda! I've got several of these in my yard. Sometimes we have a family of quail nesting underneath the pricklly pear - ouch! I suppose they're safe as nobody else wants to nest there! My big tall cactus has more buds than I've ever seen - ever.  I'm going to take a picture of it now and when it blooms.

Living in Arizona sure is wonderful!

Mar 22, 2010 07:52 AM
Sun City Grand Homes Surprise AZ Real Estate Leolinda Bowers Designated Broker Leolinda Realty
Leolinda Realty - Surprise, AZ
Sun City Grand in Surprise Arizona

Anna, it sure is nice here.  I especially like the cactus in bloom.

Mar 22, 2010 02:09 PM
Christopher Watters
Watters International Realty - Austin, TX
Austin Realtor (512-829-8000)

Great looking photos LeoLinda! That's cool how many uses you guys have of the cactus there! I see the cactus pads for sale at the grocery store, but I've never tried it out. Your town seems like a great place to smell the roses or "cactus" :)

Mar 22, 2010 03:12 PM
Sun City Grand Homes Surprise AZ Real Estate Leolinda Bowers Designated Broker Leolinda Realty
Leolinda Realty - Surprise, AZ
Sun City Grand in Surprise Arizona

Christopher, use a pair of thongs to pick up the pads.  Please don't smell the pads, you don't want the glochids in your hair, nose, face or eyes.

Mar 22, 2010 04:00 PM
Mike Jones
SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) - Tucson, AZ
Mike Jones NMLS 223495

Leolinda,

I love Cactus Wrens, but this lovely bird isn't one of those.  It's a Curve Billed Thrasher, and you captured it perfectly!

Mike in Tucson

Mar 23, 2010 04:43 PM
Sun City Grand Homes Surprise AZ Real Estate Leolinda Bowers Designated Broker Leolinda Realty
Leolinda Realty - Surprise, AZ
Sun City Grand in Surprise Arizona

Mike, Curved Billed Thrasher, that's good information.  I've always thought it was a Cactus Wren.  Do you have any pictures of the wren?

Mar 24, 2010 01:52 AM