Arizonensis --> Sonoran Desert Naturalist --> Sonoran Desert Places --> McDowell Mountains

McDowell Mountains - Scottsdale, Arizona

Wildfires raged over a large portion of the mountain sides and hills within the McDowell Mountain Park in July of 1996. Although lightning sparked the blaze, human activity was responsible for much of the extent and severity of the burn. Before establishment of the park this area was rangeland heavily grazed by cattle which encouraged an extensive woody shrub layer ... shrubs such as catclaw acacia and foothill palo verde that cattle tend to exclude from their diet. When the park was established in the 80's the soil crust was disrupted almost everywhere and there was an abundance of invasive weed seeds built up in the soil: red brome grass, london rocket, buffel grass, filaree and mustards. A moist winter spring was followed by intense drought leaving conditions ripe for wildfire: plenty of standing dead wood from excessive shrubs and an abundance of dried weeds and grasses.

In human terms this tragedy will take several generations to overcome. Even now after twelve years, scorched saguaros stand as reminders. Other saguaros, still alive, are battling chronic infections that invaded through burn wounds. But on nature's time scale the succession is proceeding rapidly with brittle bush leading the way. On Lousley Hill in December 2002 entire hillsides were densely covered with 40 to 60 cm tall brittle bush shrubs - spring time in this area will, as a result, be brilliant yellow with all of the flowers. Many other shrubs and trees are also regenerating well, some having sprouted from fire-resistant root crowns. Jojoba, foothill palo verde, and ratany were all found with vigorous regrowth. This regrowth is aided in part by the fertilizer contained in the ashes left by the fire.

The main entrance to McDowell Mountain Regional Park, part of the Maricopa County park system, is off McDowell Mountain Road four miles north of Fountain Hills. It is a large park covering 8538 hectares. There are many trails, picnic areas and camping. A 24 km loop trail through the flat desert area is very popular with mountain bikers. Mountain bikes are not permitted on the Lousley and Scenic Trails. There is a $6 per vehicle entrance fee. Maricopa Parks Information Link.


View Larger Map. Directions: From Phoenix or Scottsdale drive east on Shea Blvd. to Fountain Hills. At Fountain Hills drive north on Fountain Hills Blvd. which turns to east and then becomes McDowell Mountain Rd. Park entrance is 7½ miles north of Shea. From the East Valley drive north on Bee Line Hwy. to Shea and turn west to Fountain Hills Blvd.

The summit of Lousley Hill provides a surprisingly good view of various mountain ranges at all compass directions:

  • Four Peaks @ 83°:       Mt. Ord @ 69°:
  • Weaver's Needle @ 130°:       Mazatzal Peak @ 57°:
  • Red Mountain @ 169°:       Pine Mountain @ 11°:
  • McDowell Mountain @ 83°:       on the horizon: Mt. Lemmon @ 172°:
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Photo © Mike Plagens

This saguaro was injured in the 1996 McDowell Mountain fire. It may have struggled to survive for several years before infection finally killed it. The skeleton may stand another decade or two before the support roots are sufficiently weakened by termites and soil fungi to permit toppling by the wind. In the mean time it offers refuge to beetles, spiders, scorpions, and bees. Photo taken December 1st., 2002.
Photo © Mike Plagens

The fire removed virtually all vegetation from the surface of Lousley Hill in 1996. But now an abundance of brittle bush covers the hill side. Photo taken December 1st., 2002.

Birds

In general order of abundance:

  1. Gambel's Quail -- Callipepla gambelii - S,F,W,Sp
    The after-burn habitat seems to be very favorable to these birds.
  2. White-crowned Sparrow -- Zonotrichia leucophrys F,W,Sp
    common to abundant winter birds with conspicuous white-striped head.
  3. Verdin -- Auriparus flaviceps - S,F,W,Sp
    Tiny birds, barely larger than a hummingbird. Drab gray brown with a majestic yellow head.
  4. Rock Wren -- Salpinctes obsoletus - S,F,W,Sp
    Very common little birds which frequently give spirited high pitched trills while perched atop prominants. Their drab gray and brown color blends perfectly with the desert colors.
  5. Mourning Dove -- Zenaida macroura - S,F,W,Sp
  6. House Finch -- Carpodacus mexicanus - S,F,W,Sp
  7. Gila Woodpecker -- Melanerpes uropygialis - S,F,W,Sp
  8. White-winged Dove -- Zenaida asiatica - S
  9. Black-tailed Gnatcatcher -- Polioptila melanura - S,F,W,Sp
  10. Phainopepla - S,F,W,Sp
  11. Gilded Flicker - S,F,W,Sp
  12. Canyon Towhee -- Pipilo fuscus - S,F,W,Sp
  13. Curve-billed Thrasher -- Toxostoma curvirostre - S,F,W,Sp
  14. Costa's Hummingbird -- Calypte costae - Sp,S
  15. Common Raven -- Corvus corax - W,Sp Conspicuous, large, jet black birds that soar above looking for food.
  16. House Sparrow -- Passer domesticus -- S,F,W,Sp
  17. Black-throated Sparrow - S,F,W,Sp
  18. Cactus Wren -- Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus - S,F,W,Sp
  19. Northern Cardinal -- Cardinalis cardinalis - S,F,W,Sp
  20. Say's Phoebe -- Sayornis saya- S,F,W,Sp
  21. Brewer's Sparrow - W,Sp
  22. Violet-green Swallow- Sp
  23. American Kestrel -- Falco sparverius S,F,W,Sp
  24. Cooper's Hawk -- Accipiter cooperii F,W,Sp
Say's Phoebe

Say's Phoebe
Black-throated Sparrow Photo © Mike Plagens

Black-throated Sparrows have distinctive facial markings.

American Kestrel  Brewer's Sparrow 

Mammals

  1. Coyote -- Canis latrans
  2. Audubon's Cottontail -- Sylvilagus audubonii
  3. Whitethroat Woodrat -- Neotoma albigula - a huge pile of teddy bear cholla joints at the east end of the Lousley Hill ridge top represents the nest makings of many generations.
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Audubon's Cottontail Photo by Mike Plagens

Audubon's Cottontail may be more abundant because of a shortage of predators such as rattlesnakes.

Cacti

In order of Abundance:
  1. Buckhorn Cholla (Opuntia acanthocarpa) --
  2. Saguaro Cactus (Cereus giganteus) --
  3. Teddy Bear Cholla (Opuntia bigelovii) --
  4. Compass Barrel Cactus (Ferocactus acanthodes) -- Spines tinged with red and yellow.
  5. Hedgehog Cactus (Echinocereus engelmannii) --
  6. Fishhook Pincushion (Mammillaria grahmii ) --
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Shrubs and Trees

Most common species listed first.

  1. Brittle Bush (Encelia farinosa) -- Leafless after drought or frost. Leaves are silvery green and flowers are bright yellow.
  2. Triangle-leaf Bursage -- Ambrosia deltoidea -- The most common plant especially on the flats and shallow slopes. Often leafless after periods of drought or hard frost.
  3. Creosote Bush (Larrea tridentata) -- dark evergreen shrub with shiny, resinous leaves and ashy or dark wirey twigs.
  4. Foothill Palo Verde (Cercidium microphyllum) --
  5. Jojoba -- Simmondsia chinensis -- large shrubs with leathery, dark olive green leaves
  6. Ironwood (Olneya tesota) -- common
  7. Wolfberry -- Lycium exsertum - the red berries are sweet and edible.
  8. Anderson Thornbush -- Lycium andersonii --
  9. Cat-Claw Acacia (Acacia greggiii) - mostly along the washes
  10. Desert Hackberry -- Celtis ehrenbergiana - along larger washes
  11. White Ratany -- Krameria grayi -- purplish cast to woody stems
  12. Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens) --
  13. Chuparosa (Justicia californica) --
  14. Fairy Duster -- Calliandra eriophylla) --
  15. Coulter's Brickell Bush -- Brickelia coulteri --
  16. Sweet Bush -- Bebbia juncea --
  17. Mormon Tea (Ephedra aspera) --
  18. Canyon Ragweed (Ambrosia artemesiafolia) - mostly along the washes
  19. Desert Mistletoe (Phoradendron californicum) - Parasitic shrub growing upon various desert trees including Palo Verde and Ironwood.
  20. Desert Tobacco -- Nicotiana obtusifolia --
  21. Goldeneye -- Viguiera deltoidea -- fairly common along the trail
  22. Desert Senna -- Senna covesii --
  23. Milkweed Vine (Sarcostemma cynanchoides) -- growing among wash bank shrubs
  24. Globe Mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua) - peach colored blooms after periods of rain otherwise it is difficult to find
  25. Desert Lavender (Hyptis emoryi) --
  26. White-thorn Acacia -- Acacia constricta --
  27. Graythorn -- Ziziphus obtusifolia --
  28. Trixis -- Trixis californica --
  29. Janusia Vine -- Janusia gracilis - a twisty, viney plant
  30. Flat-topped Buckwheat -- Eriogonum fasciculatum --
  31. Broom Snakeweed -- Gutierrezia sarothrae --
  32. Velvet Mesquite -- (Prosopis velutina) - mostly along the washes
 Globe Mallow Photo © Mike Plagens

Desert Globe Mallow flowers vary considerable in color.

Butterflies too!

Hackberry Butterfly, Painted Lady, Desert Orangetip, Sara Orangetip, Marine Blue, Checkered White Butterfly.

Wildflowers


March 8th, 1998 & Feb. 25, 2017.

A wildfire burned a large portion of the McDowells in 1996. Many beautiful saguaro cactus and desert trees were killed and the local media hyped the event as a total ruination of the environment. Nature, of course, takes quite a different view. The fire, set by lightning, has simply reset the stage for a magnificent renewal. This spring presents a fabulous wildflower show. And with the wildflowers comes an abundance of insects and seeds, which in turn has attracted flocks and flocks of birds. The habitat is quickly rejuvenating with a different mix of plants and animals.

Early Spring Wildflowers

Brittlebush

Brittlebush
Desert Marigold

Desert Marigold
Goldeneye

Goldeneye
Trixis

Trixis
Desert Bladderpod

Desert Bladderpod
London Rocket

London Rocket
Creosote Bush

Creosote Bush
Desert Mistletoe

Desert Mistletoe
California Poppy

California Poppy
Orange Fiddleneck

Orange Fiddleneck
Asian Mustard;Sahara Mustard

Sahara Mustard
Peppergrass

Peppergrass
Triangle-leaf Bursage

Triangle-leaf Bursage
Jojoba

Jojoba
Odora

Odora
Canyon Ragweed

Canyon Ragweed
Mojave Desert Star

Mojave Desert Star
Arch-nutted Comb Bur

Arch-nutted Comb Bur
California Mustard

California Mustard
Red-stemmed Fillaree

Red-stemmed Fillaree
Blue Dicks

Blue Dicks
Spotted Hideseed

Spotted Hideseed
Blue Phacelia

Blue Phacelia
Lupine

Lupine
Notch-leaved Phacelia

Notch-leaved Phacelia
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Copyright Michael J. Plagens, 1999-2017