Maricopa County March EcoBlitz Challenge

Event Description

Are you interested in helping Maricopa County’s regional parks document the different species found in the parks? If so, join the Maricopa County Parks Eco-Blitz Program on iNaturalist. Each month, they will focus on a particular species, as we try and observe the biodiversity that thrives there!

Throughout March, they will be focusing on the Costa’s Hummingbird and Wolfberry (Lycium exsertum). Have you ever noticed the hummingbirds with the purple chests buzzing around in your yard? The small hummingbirds with a hunched posture and short tail are often found in dry and open habitats and are fond of the nectar found in Wolfberry blooms.

The Sonoran desert has several different species of Wolfberry that typically bloom in February. Wolfberry, also known as the Arizona Desert-thorn, is a silvery-gray shrub with white or purple flowers and berries that are a distinctive red or orange. Join the hunt for these two species!