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Products            Destinations            Flora & Fauna     Articles & Poems by Ed Keenan

Product Reviews
Jon Sherman – Eco Musician & Flute Maker: Dedicating heart and breath in celebration and defense of California's endangered natural community and vanishing wilderness, eco-musician Jon Sherman expresses intent towards the balance and communion with the web of life.  We recently interviewed Jon about his music and albums, being a flute maker and his thoughts in regards to the environment. To read more about Jon and hear his interview – Click Here.
All about Henna
Hiking in Anza-Borrego Desert by Robin Halford

Destinations

733 Trees Reign as Nation’s Biggest - Sequoia National Park’s “General Sherman” Giant Sequoia tops American Forests’ National Register of Big Trees list again, and a Geyer Willow from Fort Apache, Arizona, makes the list as the smallest big tree. Read More.
Sequoia Riverlands Trust – Visalia, CA: This non-profit, community-based land trust is committed to conserving the natural and agricultural legacy of the southern Sierra Nevada and San Joaquin Valley in California. We recently interviewed Erica Tootle about this beautiful region, the organization, and its conservation efforts. To read more or listen to the interview – Click Here.
Project Survival’s Cat Haven – Dunlap, CA: Located just west of King's Canyon National Park, Cat Haven is an innovative park dedicated to the preservation of wild cats. The park also offers guided tours of some of the rarest cats in the world. We recently interviewed Dale Anderson, Founder & Director of Project Survival’s Cat Haven. Read more and listen to his interview – Click Here.   
Nature Cruise to the Islas Los Coronados - Pirates & Rum Runners, Whales & Dolphins, Elephants Seals, Sea Birds, and More! Read about our incredible Nature Cruise experience with San Diego Harbor Excursion and listen to our interview with Captain Ben Griffith.  Read more..
International Wildlife Museum – Tucson, AZ: The International Wildlife Museum is dedicated to increasing knowledge and appreciation of the diverse wildlife of the world as well as explaining the role of wildlife management in conservation. To find out more and listen to our interview with Kristine Massey, Museum Education Curator – Click Here.

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Celebrates 75^th Anniversary: Located in San Diego County, in Southern California; the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park covers over 600,000 acres, and is the largest desert state park in the continental US. This year, the park is celebrating its 75^th Anniversary. To find out more about the area, we interviewed Fred Jee, who is a Park Ranger, Film Liaison and Board Member of the Borrego Springs Performing Arts Center, on our online radio show ‘Champagne Sundays’. Read more & listen to the interview – Click Here.
Adventures Begin in Silver
City, New Mexico - Hiking in the Gila National Forest – Jackie Blurton takes us on a Hiking Adventure that starts in Silver City, a beautiful outdoor and nature destination in Southeast New Mexico.
Arizona Guided Walks, Hikes & Tours -  This summer, experience and explore Arizona’s natural, historical and geological wonders by taking a guided walk or hike in a national, state, or county park. Click here for Guided Walks & Hikes Schedule
Water Trail. a poem by Ed Keenan
Birding in the Gila National Forest – Jackie Blurton takes us on a Birding Adventure that starts in Silver City, a year-round birding destination in Southeast New Mexico.
Butterfly Gardens throughout the Southwest USA
Bear River National Wildlife Refuge—Utah by Ed Keenan- Hither 'n Yon series
Ventura Eco-Tourism Strong in the Fall and Beyond
Bear River National Wildlife Refuge—Utah  by Ed Keenan- Hither 'n Yon series
Ash Meadows National Wildlife Preserve  by Ed Keenan- Hither 'n Yon series
The Morongo Canyon Preserve
Laguna Coast Wilderness Park
Great Garden Getaways & Flower Powered Adventures.....
Whale, Dolphin and Marine Mammal Watching on the California Coastline--all year round AND Wildlife and Birding Festivals
Morteros Canyon Hike in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California
Palomar Observatory, Palomar Mountain
The Best Western Coronado Motel - First in the Nation


Flora & Fauna
A love story with wings, The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill by Mark Bittner is a fascinating look at a man's relationship with the birds he decides to study and protect. To read the review, click here.

Digital Turkeys—You Only Get One Photograph! Ed Keenan shares the story of his spring turkey safari with his digital camera - a pure form of birding—for the pure pleasure of photographing a wild turkey. Read more about Ed’s Turkey Photo Safari.

In Search of The Uncommon —Finding a Rarity: Spring birding is always special—a special season, special places and special birds. Southeast Arizona fits all of those specials in a special way. Ed Keenan shares his birding experiences in Santa Cruz Valley. Read more.

Nevada Horse Wars – America’s Largest Herd of Wild Horses in Danger! Wild horses are a part of our western heritage and the largest herd of wild horses, are in danger of being slaughtered by the Nevada Department of Agriculture. Wild horse advocates Willis Lamm, Lacy J Dalton, and Craig Downer joined us on SouthwestBlend.com’s online radio show ‘Champagne Sundays’ to talk about the wild horses that roam the Virginia Range, near Virginia City, Nevada. To listen to their interview and to find out more about the Wild Horse Wars – Click Here.

733 Trees Reign as Nation’s Biggest - Sequoia National Park’s “General Sherman” Giant Sequoia tops American Forests’ National Register of Big Trees list again, and a Geyer Willow from Fort Apache, Arizona, makes the list as the smallest big tree. Read More.

WiLDCOAST-COSTASALVAjE was founded in 2000 in order to protect some of the most ecologically important coastal wildlands, islands and marine areas that remain in California and Baja California. We recently interviewed Benjamin Winkler-McCue, Program Manager of Coastal Conservation for WildCoast, about their ‘Clean Water Program’ and more. To read moe about WildCoast and to listen to Ben’s interview – Click Here.

Sequoia Riverlands Trust – Visalia, CA: This non-profit, community-based land trust is committed to conserving the natural and agricultural legacy of the southern Sierra Nevada and San Joaquin Valley in California. We recently interviewed Erica Tootle about this beautiful region, the organization, and its conservation efforts. To read more or listen to the interview – Click Here.
Nature Cruise to the Islas Los Coronados - Pirates & Rum Runners, Whales & Dolphins, Elephants Seals, Sea Birds, and More! Read about our incredible Nature Cruise experience with San Diego Harbor Excursion and listen to our interview with Captain Ben Griffith.  Read more..

Evening Oasis:  A vibrant poem by Ed Keenan that paints the colors of a desert evening. Read on.
Whale Watching Cruise for Gray Whales: We recently had the pleasure of going on a naturalist-guided whale watching tour with Birch Aquarium and San Diego Harbor Excursion. To read more, find out about the cruises, play our ‘Whale Game’ and hear our radio interview with Birch Aquarium Executive Director, Dr. Nigella Hillgarth – Click Here.
A Feathered UFO – The Joy & Frustration: Ed Keenan shares the joy of finding a new bird at one of his local San Diego birding spots, and the frustration of not knowing what kind of bird it is. Read on.
Birding by the Fire – A lovely poem by Ed Keenan, sharing how he bird watches during the winter months. Read on.
Birding in the Gila National Forest – Jackie Blurton takes us on a Birding Adventure that starts in Silver City, a year-round birding destination in Southeast New Mexico.
Desert Savannah, a poem by Ed Keenan
Ten Things You Didn't Know About Snowflakes
Butterflies of the Southwest
The Roadrunner - find out about this curious bird that mates for life and eats snakes!Bear River National Wildlife Refuge—Utah by Ed Keenan- Hither 'n Yon series
Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Preserve  by Ed Keenan- Hither 'n Yon series
Ash Meadows National Wildlife Preserve  by Ed Keenan- Hither 'n Yon series
The Morongo Canyon Preserve
Laguna Coast Wilderness Park
Great Garden Getaways & Flower Powered Adventures.....
Stop and smell the wildflowers in the Grand Canyon State
Predicting the Wildflower Display in Borrego Springs, California
Butterfly Classifications, Orders, Families, and Names
Butterfly Species who feed on Rotten Fruit, Tree Sap or 'Puddle'
How to Create a Butterfly Garden
Food Plants that provide Larval Food (feed caterpillars) for Butterflies
Butterfly Migration and Population Surges
Southwest Nectar Plants That Attract Butterflies
Butterfly Species in the Southwest
Wildflower Guide 2005
Wildflower Alert, Twentynine Palms, CA
The Sonoran Desert; birding and wildlife
It Not Just All About Birds; Yuma's Birding Festival
Santa Cruz County -a Birding Paradise in Southern Arizona

Articles and Poems by Ed Keenan
Growing Up Without A Bird Book - Growing up as a child, in the 1940’s, in the remote backcountry of southern California, Ed Keenan always had an interest in the wild birds. But, a “bird book”, as we know today, was non-existent. Hi article shares how “absence makes the heart grow fonder” …and the fulfillment that much greater! Read more about Birding Without a Bird Book.

In Search of The Gray Vireo - Ed Keenan shares his joyous adventures in his quest for seeing a ‘life lister’ bird in his own backyard, in East San Diego. Read more.

Digital Turkeys—You Only Get One Photograph! Ed Keenan shares the story of his spring turkey safari with his digital camera - a pure form of birding—for the pure pleasure of photographing a wild turkey. Read more about Ed’s Turkey Photo Safari.

Evening Oasis:  A vibrant poem by Ed Keenan that paints the colors of a desert evening. Read on.
A Feathered UFO – The Joy & Frustration: Ed Keenan shares the joy of finding a new bird at one of his local San Diego birding spots, and the frustration of not knowing what kind of bird it is. Read on.
Birding by the Fire – A lovely poem by Ed Keenan, sharing how he bird watches during the winter months. Read on.
Big Morongo Canyon Preserve:
Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge  
The Woodpecker Log – Ed Keenan shares his tale of how an old hollow limb turned his backyard into a full-fledge bird habitat. Read on
Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge
Birding in the Gila National Forest
Bear River National Wildlife Refuge