[yellowsnow]

Why do we have no squirrels? I'm not talking about those rodent-looking ground squirrels. I know we have those. Is it the heat or the food supply? Water?

Same thing with birds. There are no Cardinals west of the rockies. Anyone know why? And Blue Jays are such scavengers they should be able to survive anywhere and yet they aren't here. I believe we do have Stellar Jays in the mountains, but I haven't seen one in person yet.

In the odd animal department, I found a PINK lizard the other day in my back yard.

[happyhunting]

I know what you are saying......I see a lot of desert squirrles and bunnies in the Pitman wash area when we are walking trails.......but squirrels, bunnies and birds are all very brown and bland.....probably so they can blend into their environment (dirt, sagebrush, plain mountains) as a colorful pretty bird would stand out here and be begging to be captured.

[justthe2ofus]

we have a family ? of hummingbirds in our condo complex. the neighbor has a sugar water feeder and the birds love it.

[Exaday]

There used to be lot's of different birds in the Valley. Some say the pigeons ran them off.


There are some squirrels but not a lot of them. I imagine the squirrels have been brought here from somewhere else.

You might check out the wetlands park if birds are your thing.

reviewjournal.com -- Recreation: Wetlands Park Nature Preserve (http://www.reviewjournal.com/recreation/parks/wetlands.html - broken link)

[dynimagelv]

Pidgeons RATS with wings

[momofcrawler]

My 2 year old has been asking where the squirrels are since we got here a month ago. That, and the "big trees!" I can explain the big trees (and we got to see some at Red Rock) but not the squirrels. In our neighborhood we rarely see a bird other than a pigeon. I'm from New York and so I barely consider pigeons real birds.

[garth]

Pigeons are just flying rats. As for other birds, the darn invasive starlings might be a big factor. Those things are insidious and out-compete native species for nesting areas. When you have limited native nesting areas, like found in desert areas as compared to forested regions, the starling influence might have a very significant impact.

[yellowsnow]

Maybe I'm off base but I don't think we used to have as many pigeons as we have now?

I don't remember seeing this many say, back in the 70's.

After traveling in the Middle East, I think we should do what they do. Eat them.

[jfkIII]

Plenty of love birds...hitting the wedding chapels.

[jfkIII]

Plenty of jail birds, too, I imagine.