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Each year brings new experiences to Tucson Audubon's venerable event: the Institute of Desert Ecology. It's always amazing to realize that no matter how much you learn about an ecosystem like the Sonoran desert, it can always surprise you and teach you something new. For the last few years the Institute has been held in Catalina State Park, which provides a spectacular setting in which to learn about the desert and the ecology surrounding the interactions of its denizens.
In 2007 weather was very much a part of the event, with a forecast of high winds and possible rain. The high winds passed us by, but the rain did grace us with its presence. An early morning, hour-long shower forced everyone to be creative and modify plans. It went off without a hitch! Ronnie Sidner's mammalogy class spent a good 2 hours in the women's restroom in an effort to keep her animals dry. Carl Tomoff waxed poetic about desert-adapted plants from the shelter of a ramada rather than along the trails. Cecil Schwalbe had no trouble at all in handling his reptiles, all of whom were slow moving due to the chill. The day before the rain, Linwood Smith predicted the upcoming precipitation with these fortuitous words: "I've been saying it for years; between late April and early May, whenever there's a cold front coming through, the Gila monsters come outta the woodwork." He was responding to a participant's Gila monster sighting along one of the trails in the state park. The next morning, the chilly temperatures and rain came.
Overall though, the temperatures are usually exceedingly pleasant, which adds to the enjoyment of all who participate. An average temperature swing of over 50 degrees creates cool nights and pleasant days in which to learn about the myriad aspects of life in the Sonoran Desert.
The Institute attracts a high diversity of participants from all over the West, and has included professors, teachers, doctors, biologists, a paint salesman, a geophysicist, an astrophysicist, a writer, a retired librarian, a park ranger, an economist, yoga teacher, a lobbyist, a defense and aerospace consultant, a homemaker, and even an Everglades boat captain!
A favorite part of many participants' experience is witnessing the friendships among the faculty members. Their camaraderie creates a comfortable place in which to learn, and their cooperation instills a link between each of the main fields of study: herpetology, mammalogy, geology, ornithology, entomology, and botany. Optional workshops on such varied subjects as hummingbirds, jaguars, environmental education, archeology, tracking, Important Bird Areas, conservation ecology, and chemical defenses of plants and animals round out the topics and provide new material for every participant. One long-time resident of the Sonoran desert who participated summed it up nicely, "I had no idea that the Institute would provide me with so much new information and experiences. I thought everything was great."
The Institute of Desert Ecology seems likely to continue its tradition of academic excellence into a 4th decade. The fact that this program continues to fill up so many years after it started confirms just how valuable it is as a program and speaks to the quality of the teaching. And with the way each Institute brings new experiences to the table, who knows what kind of adventures are in store for next year?
Participant comments from past Institutes:
“A great experience. Integrated studies and friendships between the staff were truly special. The staff were very accommodating and always smiling.”
“Food was plentiful, good variety and flavorful. Thanks for the daily fruit basket!!”
“The Institute of Desert Ecology was truly an amazing experience! The instructors were awesome and exuberant about disseminating the knowledge they had acquired throughout the years. It was an opportunity of a lifetime- an experience that will not be forgotten anytime soon…the environment was almost that of a big family.”
“Excellent, excellent, excellent –in organization, structure, materials, etc.”
“Thanks for the experience. I loved the spirit, content, people, peace, time and opportunity.”
“I found the locale, food, ambiance, and organization excellent.”
“The instructors were an outstanding group!”
“Wow, wow, wow! High Quality. Truly worth every minute and every penny. Thank you!”
“This was a spectacular program. I’m a pretty serious amateur naturalist and often hear nothing new: not this time. The 6 core faculty were just fantastic.”
“I especially enjoyed the scientific camaraderie and the willingness of the instructors to mix so freely with us “students.” What a treat!”
