Melissa Crytzer Fry

@crytzerfry

Writer, citizen scientist, conservationist, naturalist. Sharing a love of nature & the Sonoran Desert thru photos, camera traps. Married to an awesome man. Board Chair, Lower San Pedro Watershed Alliance. Fighting to save the Galiuros from copper mining.

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Melissa Crytzer Fry@crytzerfry· 20d

Going to try this again and see if the video will upload... Happy #Caturday from Squeezy. "I'm done being in the swampy courtyard, mom! Let me in!"

Melissa Crytzer Fry@crytzerfry· 21d

Javelina fun at the pond. Caught on #cameratrap. #TeamJavelina

Three javelina at the pond; one in foreground approaching the water bowl.

This javelina is in ecstasy, rolling around in the mud - snout to the air, lips wide open.

Methinks there may be more baby javelinas in the future. Black-and-white photo of mating javelina with eye-glow reflection.

Melissa Crytzer Fry@crytzerfry· 23d

A camping visit to Arizona's northern country. So nice to be among the pines. So many #birds! And look at this funky 10-lined june #beetle's 'eyelash' antennae.

View of blue skies, forming monsoonal clouds, and the tops of lovely pines.

Lavender-pink, tiny tubular flowers in mountain country.

Merlin app is teaching me bird calls. This image shows who I heard: Western bluebirds, mountain chickadees, brown creepers, pygmy nuthatches.

The antennae on this 10-lined June beetle look like luscious, fanned-out eyelashes! The ten-lined beetle is black, with white vertical stripes.

Melissa Crytzer Fry@crytzerfry· 24d

Watch this crazy interaction between a western diamondback #rattlesnake and a one-eyed Sonoran Desert #toad. Along the way, this (rattle-less!) snake learned that these toads are deadly if eaten. Best viewed full screen.

Melissa Crytzer Fry@crytzerfry· 27d

Desert #tortoises continue to emerge. This one = size of a large grapefruit & doing something I've never before witnessed: eating javelina poo, which looks like "Desert Granola"! Smart: all those seeds and nutrients in a single snack. 😂 Note how his head/front legs are muddy from his reemergence.

Melissa Crytzer Fry@crytzerfry· 27d

Happy #Caturday Squeezy went camping again, and as you can see, he was TOTALLY stressed. 😂

My kitty is on his indoor RV window perch, on his back, belly to the world, just lounging in the pines.

Melissa Crytzer Fry@crytzerfry· Jul 14

Hello there, cutie. #Roadrunner outside my window.

A roadrunner crouches on the lip of a watering bowl, in between some desert tobacco plants under our palo verde tree.

Melissa Crytzer Fry@crytzerfry· Jul 13

We have gotten so many fantastic American #kestrel shots on #cameratrap!

An American kestrel perches on the side of a water bowl, toes tipping forward, getting read to take a drink.

Melissa Crytzer Fry@crytzerfry· Jul 12

First desert #tortoise of #monsoon season on July 8. Two days in a row of a little rain brings them down our rock wall. Video speed increased because... well... you know ...

Melissa Crytzer Fry@crytzerfry· Jul 11

Squeezy says, "Just showing off my ear tufts!" It's #Caturday!

My rescue kitty is doing a stare-down with my husband. Every night for at least an hour, Squeezy sasy, "I know it's treat time! Gimme my Squeezables!" Yes, apropos ... the treats really are called Squeezables, and his name is Squeezy.

Melissa Crytzer Fry@crytzerfry· Jul 10

#Coyote on #cameratrap. #SkyIslands #GaliuroMountains.

A thin mama coyote passes by the camera, traversing through desert rocks.

Melissa Crytzer Fry@crytzerfry· Jul 9

"Don't mind me! Just dunking a #lizard!" #Roadrunners rock. This is a common behavior. Think this is a zebra-tailed lizard.

Melissa Crytzer Fry@crytzerfry· Jul 8

Got some of the best #ringtail shots we've ever gotten in this series (It was hard to pick a favorite ... about 5 other great ones. Let me know if you want to see them!) #cameratrap #SkyIslands #GaliuroMountains

Arizona's state mammal, the ringtail, is also known as a miner's cat. In this pic, the LONG tail (cute and black-white stripes), flows over its back. Small head, large, ears tiny paws viewable as it sits on a rock.

Melissa Crytzer Fry@crytzerfry· Jul 7

"Made you flinch!" Proof that #rattlesnakes aren't aggressive. There have been LOTS of these #snake interactions with mule #deer and Sonoran Desert toads lately.

Melissa Crytzer Fry@crytzerfry· Jul 7

The little mountain girl #bobcat continues to do well! #cameratrap

A young female bobcat walks toward the camera, looking straight into it with golden eyes and adorable ear tufts, spotted legs and back.

Melissa Crytzer Fry@crytzerfry· Jul 5

Forgot to post in the spring... But this is a #coatimundi bounding through the mountain foliage of the Galiuro Mountains in Arizona - a Sky Island.

This coati is mid-air, jumping through thick, emerald-green foliage covering the mountainous slope.

Melissa Crytzer Fry@crytzerfry· Jul 4

Squeezy wishes you a #HappyFourthOfJuly during #Caturday! Can't tell if he loves or hates his new meerkat from IKEA? Its neck is the perfect size for "carrying around." He distracted me during legal meetings TWICE this week with his shenanigans (Yes, in this vid). 😂

Melissa Crytzer Fry@crytzerfry· Jul 3

With these distractions right outside my window, some days, it's hard to get work done.. Baby black-throated #sparrow, black-tailed #jackrabbit, western diamondback #rattlesnake.

Black-throated sparrows have white stripes coming from behind their eyes and black cheek patches -- and a little black bibs on their chests. This baby sits on an old tomato cage on my porch that I placed for hummingbirds to dry off during monsoon.

A western diamondback curled up tight in an excavation site made by rock squirrels. Gorgeous pewter-colored eye looking right back at me.

Melissa Crytzer Fry@crytzerfry· Jul 2

Coachwhip #snake taking a sip at the pond. Caught on #cameratrap.

Called coachwhip snakes because they look like a stagecoach whip, these lovelies (that come in black and HubbaBubba pink -- this one black) often take sips of water at the pond. This one slipped back into the desert afterward, also caught on cam.

Melissa Crytzer Fry@crytzerfry· Jul 1

#Biologists and #veterinarians... Any idea what is happening with this #muledeer buck's antler? I mean, this looks like a tumor, but is right where his other antler should be. He gets along fine, and I'm happy it's not obstructing his vision completely. @secondnaturemb.bsky.social

Shot of deer looking toward camera, with growth behind its left eye - fortunately not touching it!

Melissa Crytzer Fry@crytzerfry· Jun 30

Well hello my little - I mean, GIANT - friend. I wanted to clean and refill the watering system, and didn't know someone was in there. Got quite the startle (and still didn't get to clean it! These extreme temps = QUICK algae growth). #SonoranDesertToad

A serpent-looking head pops out of the lid that covers the water mechanism for our animal watering system. Bulging eyes, yellow in color peer back.

Front-on shot of a toad - face showing, legs showing, poised in a bulldog stance.

Melissa Crytzer Fry@crytzerfry· Jun 29

Had so much fun at our Desert Purple #Martin Perch Party! Counted about 300 birds. Such a magical place. Everyone enjoyed themselves so much. I did a little presentation on area threats, as well. Special thanks to #TucsonBirdAlliance. #SaveTheSanPedro

Three lighter-colored female purple martins gather on the power line, while three males vie for their attention. One male (right) is swooping onto the line.

Tucson Bird Alliance created a banner for their Purple Martin Project, which sways in the wind.

Birders use binoculars as they watch the desert purple martins prepare for an evening roost. Look at this WILD place! It is so awe-inspiring!

I did a little presentation about threats to the area and the uncertainty of this birds' future, as mining activity may start up again right in this very area. Jennie from Tucson Bird Alliance gave us so much information on the rarity of desert purple martins!

Melissa Crytzer Fry@crytzerfry· Jun 28

Nothing to see here... Just nine mule #deer outside the window. (We've been under intense heat advisories - hitting 107 daily, so they're looking for water... and they found it!) ... 4 preggy mamas in the bunch.

Melissa Crytzer Fry@crytzerfry· Jun 27

It's #Caturday! And this is what happens when you drape Squeezy's clean blankets over the dining room table chairs after washing them!

My kitty with his striped/spotted legs and markings that look like black necklaces, drapes a leg over the back of a dining room chair.

The 'behind' view of Squeezy's antics show him standing on two legs, tilted and stretchy - all sideways - as he leans his armpits over the chair. Silly boy!

Melissa Crytzer Fry@crytzerfry· Jun 26

Owl let you know when I stop loving great-horned #owls. [Hint: NEVER!] #Camertrap captures.

Owl at pond stares tot he right, eye aglow.

Owl with wings up, beginning to fly away - chest elongated.

Owl looking down at at potential snack -- all fluffed up.

Melissa Crytzer Fry@crytzerfry· Jun 25

The Gambel's #quail chicks keep on coming! These day-olds ... plus solo Papa who kept all TWELVE -- now teens -- alive! 🔊 up! Even tinier, brand-newbies showed up yesterday.

Melissa Crytzer Fry@crytzerfry· Jun 24

So much fun to have caught a little murder #bird at the watering hole on #cameratrap. Hello, American #kestrel in flight!

An American kestrel (left) takes off from the shallow pond, its tail spread wide to illustrate tawny/reddish hues and a black edge and white-tips. A wasp is out ahead, as if it is a race.

Melissa Crytzer Fry@crytzerfry· Jun 23

Double the #roadrunner fun as they eat mealworms ... and a surprise visitor at the end! (How I've missed these lovely birds).

Melissa Crytzer Fry@crytzerfry· Jun 23

Y'all. We made it on the front page of the Arizona Republic today -- ABOVE the fold -- fighting for the lower San Pedro River, Galiuro Mountains, and Sky Islands!

Melissa Crytzer Fry@crytzerfry· Jun 22

Friends caught on #cameratrap at the watering hole! Black-tailed #jackrabbit, #coyote, mule #deer giving us the raspberries, #TeamJavelina -- aka collared #peccaries.