The Super-Sized Saguaro and Its Greedy Guests
Published by The Saguaro cactus, found in Mexico, Arizona and some parts of California is a giant among its type, growing to the size of a tree. It also gets a number of house guests during its life time.
The desert isn’t a place that you might normally associate with teeming life, but our planet is full of surprises. The saguaro manages to survive in extremely harsh climates and, wherever it lives animals are to be found. Some even manage to make the enormous cactus their home. This Gila Woodpecker, for example, seems completely at ease among the spines.
Although the saguaro is the state flower of Arizona it can be found in Mexico as well as parts of California. The name comes from a combination of Spanish and the local American Nation language of the Tohono O’odham. They traditionally harvested the red fruit of the saguaro (pronounced sah-wah-roh) – and it was an important source of food for them. So it is too with the visitors to the cactus such as this gorgeous Red-shafted Flicker – a type of woodpecker who will not find much wood in this part of the world but will, nevertheless, make itself quite at home here.
The amount of life that the saguaro attracts is quite amazing. As well as the discovery of the unexpected – such as a woodpecker variety, you will even get to see hummingbirds in action as they hover over the enormous, candelabra-shaped cacti. It was many generations ago of hummingbird that this example first started its slow reach for the sky. Although they will sometimes reach fifteen meters in height, the saguaro does not bloom until it is around fifty years ago. The hummingbird here can be weighed in grams while the saguaro itself might weigh up to nine thousand kilograms. That’s some difference.
There will be a difference in life span too. A saguaro may well live to two hundred years old. When the oldest saguaro first took root the Napoleonic Wars were happening and Abraham Lincoln was just about to be born. Even though this is a great age, their demise is only usually brought about either by being uprooted by the wind or by washouts. Even after their death, however, they still have a use – as the House Wren below has discovered. If you look carefully at the ‘trunk’ below it, you will notice another visitor – a lizard – well camouflaged against the dead saguaro.
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17 Responses to “The Super-Sized Saguaro and Its Greedy Guests”
On September 28, 2009 at 11:52 am
Great article! However, Cactus wrens are more common than House wrens in the Sonoran desert, especially around saguaros. They have a speckled breast with a hint of an eyebrow. The local House Wren group, the Brown-throated Wren, is usually smoother and greyer. Cactus wren are big bold birds (for wrens,) always ready to tease cats or dive bomb humans that get too close to their territory.
On October 19, 2009 at 9:18 pm
Interesting article, lovely pictures. Thanks for posting.
On November 6, 2009 at 9:07 am
Great photos…
I enjoy your photography
On March 15, 2010 at 6:15 am
haven’t gone to a dessert nor to encounter these saguaros..hmm. my mind only thinks of a simple cactus..:) nice read!
On March 15, 2010 at 6:15 am
Oh, I just love that picture with the bird nesting inside the cactus. Marvellous.
On March 15, 2010 at 6:16 am
its funny that they have spines to keep animals out but the animals still find a way in.
On March 15, 2010 at 6:16 am
Very interesting! That last picture just made me get goose bumps…. Ok im good now lol. Great article and gorgeous pictures. Keep it up
On March 15, 2010 at 6:16 am
Interesting read and great pics!
On March 15, 2010 at 6:16 am
very informative and the pictures are awesome
On March 15, 2010 at 6:17 am
This is a fascinating piece. Loved the pictures..Thank you:)
On March 15, 2010 at 6:17 am
Excellent article that is very educational . Plus great pictures as well.
On March 15, 2010 at 6:18 am
I love cactus. Of course, it is the only thing I can grow. These are amazing.
On March 15, 2010 at 6:18 am
Amazing shots R J. I find cacti quite intriguing.
RJ
On March 15, 2010 at 6:18 am
Your photos are spectacular!
On March 15, 2010 at 6:18 am
Wonderful article and images and very educational read. Thank you for sharing.
On March 15, 2010 at 6:19 am
Loved the article and the pictures.
On March 15, 2010 at 6:42 am
Cool photos
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