Can you believe it is March already?! What an exciting time as spring emerges! March in the Sonoran Desert is a time of vibrant life and activity. Temperatures rise quickly, spring arrives and begins to take hold. Our beloved reptiles wake up and come back to greet us as our beautiful birds return home from a short winter's stretch. There are brighter days ahead and a buzz is in the air, not just from our local and visiting bees but many indigenous communities will host events celebrating their heritage and changing seasons. Southwestern towns host rodeos, craft fairs and farmers markets while the Desert Botanical Garden increases in popularity, showcasing blooming desert plants! Ladies and gentleman, we have entered the literal perfect time to explore the Sonoran desert with glorious hiking weather and emerging nature in full swing! Let's take a look!
What to look for in March
Wildflower Blooms: if winter rains were sufficient, the desert comes alive with colorful blooms of poppies, desert globemallow, desert bluebells, paper flowers, Indian blanket, lupines, penstemons, desert verbana and larkspur.
Cactus Flowering Begins: hedgehog cacti start showing bright pink and red flowers
Increased Animal Activity: lizards, snakes, javelinas , desert foxes, returning birds, white-winged doves, elf owls, burrowing owls
Bird Migration: Hawks, curved billed thrashers, Bell's Vireos, hummingbirds, warblers, Ortolan buntings, tanagers
Desert Night Sky in March
Blood moon returns!
TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE- Thursday, March 13 into Friday, March 14@ 00:24am MST
- The sun, earth and moon align so that the moon passes into earth's shadow
- Moon will appear red during totality
- Entire eclipse will last 366 minutes, totality is 65 minutes
- No special equipment is needed, but binoculars or telescope will enhance the view
March 13- Full moon in the night sky
March 14 : y-Normids Meteor Shower peaks
Festivals and Events
Starlight Date Night- March 13 @ Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium
Open Airplanes- SOFIA and Orbis Tours- March 14- March 29@ Pima Air & Space Museum
Tombstones Wild West Days- March 15- March 16 @Town of Tombstone
Tucson Festival of Books- March 15- March 16@ University of Arizona Mall
Birds of Prey- March 12, 9am - 12pm @ Education Annex Arizona Sonora Desert Museum
Spring Plants and Wildflower Walks- March 19 and March 20@ Front entrance for Arizona Sonora Desert Museum
Archeology Day- March 22@ Mission Garden
Taste of the Desert: Wild and Cultivated Food Plants of the Sonoran Desert Tasting and Workshop- March 20, 11am-1230pm @Presidio San Augustin del Tucson Museum
Tohono O-odham Utilitarian Vessel Pottery Workshop- March 22, 10am-12pm@ Presidio San Augustin Del Tucson Museum
Spanish Heritage Sourdough Bread Workshop- March 16, 10am-12pm @ Presidio San Augustin Del Tucson Museum
Spring Equinox Hike- March 20, 1pm-330pm@ Canyon Loop Trl in Catalina State Park