News Archives 2020
In 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 lockdowns, the More Mesa Preservation Coalition launched the “Living with the Lockdown” Treasure Hunt series, using the enforced pause in everyday life as an opportunity to deepen our awareness of the natural world. Across the year, a wide range of flora and fauna were highlighted—each installment offering insights into the complexity and beauty of More Mesa’s ecosystem. Early entries explored the mysterious and often misunderstood world of owls, focusing on their silent flight, unique anatomy, and exceptional hunting adaptations. Later, bobcats took the spotlight—rarely seen but clearly present, these elusive predators symbolized the wildness still thriving at the edge of urban life. A two-part dive into spiders coincided with Halloween, moving beyond fear and myth to reveal their ecological importance, evolutionary history, and incredible diversity on the Mesa. Other highlights included deep looks at ground squirrels and their intricate social lives, the vital roles of bats in pest control and pollination, and the presence of kites, hawks, and other raptors in More Mesa’s skies. The series also featured snakes and lizards, both vital reptilian players in the food web, and even the underappreciated turkey vulture—nature’s efficient cleanup crew.
Living with the Lockdown – Treasure Hunt #20
IT’S ALL ABOUT CATS … Today’s Treasure Hunt is about…
Living With the Lockdown – Treasure Hunt #19
THE BEST LAID PLANS … The plan was to have…
Living with the Lockdown – Treasure Hunt #18
IN KEEPING WITH HALLOWEEN … HOW ABOUT SPIDERS? A New…
Living with the Lockdown – Treasure Hunt #17
WHOOOOO? IT’S OWLS – PART II We hope you enjoyed…
Living with the Lockdown – Treasure Hunt #16
WHOOOOO? … IT’S OWLS Many members of this treasure’s family…
Living with the Lockdown – Treasure Hunt #15
ELDERBERRY … A TINY BERRY THAT BRINGS THE GOOD THINGS…
Living With the Lockdown – Treasure Hunt #14
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN HISTORY FALLS INTO THE SEA? It All…
Living with the Lockdown – Treasure Hunt #13
Lizard … Bad Guy or Superhero? When I started this…
Living With the Lockdown – Treasure Hunt #12
In the beginning there were reeds and sedges This Treasure…
Living with the Lockdown – Treasure Hunt #11
Prologue Today’s Treasure Hunt is about snakes. Unhappily, snakes have…
Living with the Lockdown – Treasure Hunt #10
Prologue Our Treasure Hunts usually end with some suggestions on…
Living with the Lockdown – Treasure Hunt #9
There are Trees…and Then There are “Trees” If trees had…
Living with the Lockdown – Treasure Hunt #8
Then a Treasure, Now Trouble…BIG Trouble…The Invasives Some invasive plants…
Living with the Lockdown – Treasure Hunt #7
First the Birds, then the Bees and now … the…
Living with the Lockdown – Treasure Hunt #6
A Tiny, but Powerful Member of the Animal Kingdom Prologue:…
Living with the Lockdown – Treasure Hunt #5
Today’s Treasure May Be Flying, Wading or Standing Still –…
Living With the Lockdown – Treasure Hunt #4
A Flower That Blooms for a Single Day … oops…
Living with the Lockdown – Treasure Hunt #3
Willow and Water Go Together Meet the Family The Willow…
Living with the Lockdown Treasure Hunt #2
Welcome to the second of our treasure hunts. The plant…
Living with the Lockdown – A More Mesa Treasure Hunt #1
No one would dispute we are in very troubled times.…