Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum News

The annual fundraising gala has been cancelled due to Coronavirus. Instead they are having the gala auction online, from today through Sunday (March 20-26, 2020). People can register online to bid for auction items (instead of bidding in person like a regular gala). I think this is a great idea as it gives everyone a chance to participate, not just gala attendees.
 
The museum will reopen to members on June 15 and to the general public on June 16. Both members and visitors will be required to reserve tickets in advance. Some indoor areas are closed. Full details here: Reopening the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

(On a side note, the state of Arizona as a whole was reopened mid May and due to people largely ignoring CDC guidelines has seen a 300% increase in Covid-19 cases. Several Phoenix area hospitals have their intensive care units at or near capacity.)
 
The popular summer Saturday night openings will return for the month of July. (Normally they run June-July-August). Tickets must be reserved in advance. Grounds will be open until 9pm (in previous years it has been 10pm).
 
In an effort to raise money during this pandemic, the Museum is now offering private Zoom sessions with a keeper and one of the following: military macaw, north american porcupine, chuckwalla, snake (species unnamed), owl (species unnamed), cactus (species unnamed). These twenty minute sessions range in price from $100 to $300 dollars.
 
Arizona Docent said:
In an effort to raise money during this pandemic, the Museum is now offering private Zoom sessions with a keeper and one of the following: military macaw, north american porcupine, chuckwalla, snake (species unnamed), owl (species unnamed), cactus (species unnamed). These twenty minute sessions range in price from $100 to $300 dollars.
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Military Macaw? So they keep non-native species as animal ambassadors? Interesting.
 
A rescued antelope jackrabbit has gone on display in Life On The Rocks. This is the first time I recall this species being displayed at the museum.

The art gallery just opened a new exhibition from The International Society of Scratchboard Artists. I saw their exhibition a year or two ago and the work is amazing.
 
Arizona Docent said:
A rescued antelope jackrabbit has gone on display in Life On The Rocks. This is the first time I recall this species being displayed at the museum.

The art gallery just opened a new exhibition from The International Society of Scratchboard Artists. I saw their exhibition a year or two ago and the work is amazing.
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I think this makes ASDM the only facility to display this species.
 
Arizona Docent said:
A rescued antelope jackrabbit has gone on display in Life On The Rocks. This is the first time I recall this species being displayed at the museum.
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birdsandbats said:
I think this makes ASDM the only facility to display this species.
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I was at the museum this morning and posted a photo here: https://www.zoochat.com/community/media/antelope-jackrabbit.509848/
The jackrabbit is in the former roadrunner exhibit (which before that was a fantastic gila monster exhibit). It seems the slope was flattened to accommodate the rabbit.
 
The extremely popular Raptor Free Flight demonstration that normally runs in the winter months could not start this season due to the tight crowds and Covid-19. The museum has just announced an alternate program where individual visitors can pay a fee to meet one-on-one with the trainers and some of the birds. Program also includes one bird flying to visitor's gloved arm and staff will take your photo with the bird.
Avian Adventures at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
 
Notes from my visit this morning, March 13, 2021 (with a rare snowfall in the surrounding Tucson Mountains).

All three aviaries in Mountain Woodlands remain empty.

The gray fox in Small Cat Canyon has been moved from its exhibit on the far right to the recently renovated (and for a while empty) exhibit on the far left.
new fox exhibit (formerly empty) - ZooChat

The former gray fox exhibit on the far right is now undergoing renovation. The mesh across the top has been removed and ladders are placed inside. I don't know what it will be used for when complete.
exhibit renovation (former fox) - ZooChat

For the remainder of Covid restrictions, the stingray touch tank is open for all visitors but touching/feeding is discontinued. Normally you have to pay extra for the feeding just to access the exhibit.
 
New summer hours, effective July through September (2021), are 7:30am-2pm. (Formerly it was 7:30am-5pm).

Saturday summer nights ended in June (I forgot to put Saturday in previous post), but according to a staff person will return in August.

The antelope jackrabbit exhibit now houses a greater roadrunner as well. One of the more interesting mixes I have seen.

The museum press will release a new book in October called Treasured Legacies. Details are ambiguous but it will reportedly include a history of the museum and scratchboard art reproductions (with the cover being a mountain lion - a plus for me).

Renovation work continues on the gray fox exhibit. A new raised mesh cover has been installed to accomadate the living tree in the exhibit.
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renovation of gray fox exhibit - ZooChat
 
Notes from today's visit (October 6, 2021):

Renovated exhibit in Cat Canyon is complete. It houses a second gray fox, in addition to the one that was moved to the exhibit on the opposite end of the complex.

Gallery features an exhibition from the Society of Animal Artists (through November 7, 2021). Gallery has several art books for sale, including the new one from the Museum's own press called Treasured Legacies: Treasured Legacies book | DesertMuseumArts.com. Of interest to ZooChatters the book has brief (very brief) histories of their ambassador animal outreach program and their raptor free flight program.

Speaking of raptor free flight, which was cancelled last season due to Covid-19, this winter's season will go forward. Face masks are required (even though it's outdoors) and first public flight will be October 30, 2021.

Tempe Camera and Canon Cameras are teaming up to offer a free Canon rental day at the Museum on Sunday, October 24, 2021. Visitors can try any Canon setup that is at the show for free for one hour (with a valid id and credit card).
 
2022 News:

On January 25th, the zoo announced that a (1.0) desert bighorn sheep passed away at 16 years old due to age-related illnesses.

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On March 12th, the zoo announced that their horn sharks have laid their eggs, a first for the facility.

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On April 14th, the zoo announced that an anonymous foundation gifted a $1.6 million dollar grant along with another $1 million as a "challenge", where they would pledge an amount equal to $1 million.

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On May 9th, the zoo announced that the (0.0.2) cownose rays are now at the Stingray Touch exhibit.*

Stingray babies at the Desert Museum! | Did you hear our two baby stingrays that were born last year have joined the fever at Stingray Touch!? They are smol, they are cute, and they are... | By Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum | Facebook

* Just to mention since I'm not going to annoy other members with old "news", two cownose rays were born in May 2021.
 
Arizona Docent said:
news202204.pdf (desertmuseum.org)
If you look at page 3 of the newsletter above, it lists their newest future exhibit. It will be a riparian area which will include a renovation of the existing otter exhibit. The adjacent snack bar is closed and will be repurposed as a riparian education center with live reptile and amphibian exhibits.
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I saw the renovations for that project taking place and that looks like a good use of the building. Was that snack bar not bringing in enough revenue? Also, I'll say, the otters could use a bit more land space.
 
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