SaddleBrooke Nature Club President Ron Andrea, Jim Thompson (door prize winner); photo by Ed Skaff
Pam Boedeker
May’s SaddleBrooke Nature Club meeting was filled to capacity!
The title of the night’s presentation was Animal Mating Game.
Our speaker, Sandy Reith, began her talk by assuring members that there was no X or R rated material in her presentation.
Sandy has a long history of interest in desert animals. Prior to working for Pima County Nature Resources Parks and Recreation she was at the Phoenix Zoo and Arizona Fish and Game. Most of her experience has been in the education departments.
With a slide show, recorded animal calls and stories, Sandy discussed the various strategies animals use to attract a mate. The first was visual cues. Male birds were just one example of using color to attract a mate.
Their most colorful plumage comes just in time for spring. After mating season the more colorful plumage frequently molts away.
The lizards do an exceptional job of physical displays during mating season. We are all familiar with their push-ups, and head lifts show off the brilliant colors on their chin and abdomen. Jumping spiders do a comical dance to make themselves more attractive to females.
The roadrunner struts and flaps his wings to show off.
Scent plays a vital role in attracting mates among many species.
Insects and arachnids in particular release pheromones, a chemical substance that sends a message out about where the female is, what her species is and that she is ready to mate. The praying mantis, queen butterfly and tarantula are just a few examples of these phenomena.
The black widow and other females will eat the male after mating if he doesn’t make a quick exit!
The common night hawks can put on an aerial display that is remarkable to watch. One bird is right side up, the other upside down until they grasp talons!
Sounds are also used to attract a mate. The persistent bird calls are one of the obvious mating sounds. The elk’s bugle is an ear-piercer.
Toads make a noise that sounds like bleating sheep.
Sandy’s presentation covered many more species. Rattlesnakes, gila monsters, american coots and others all have unique ways to locate females and reproduce.
SaddleBrooke Nature Club has just one more meeting before summer hiatus. On June 13 at 4:00 p.m. in the Coyote Room downstairs at HOA 1 Sandy will be back to talk about The Wonderful World of Bats. On June 16 at dusk we will be making a field trip to the Campbell Bridge to watch the bats nightly coming out ritual.
The program board of SaddleBrooke Nature Club is already busy planning for next season starting the second Monday of October.
Watch for future articles about upcoming topics.
Our website has been updated and contains much information about our club, future plans and past events. www.SaddleBrookeNatureClub.com