>Unfortunately (?), the infos on tweeters was only about birds (with the exception
>of Don's culinary suggestions :-).

>How about some tips about Arizonian:
> - plants,
> - mammals,
> - reptiles,
> - insects,
> - spiders,
> - landscapes?

You might want to check out the Grand Canyon if you're into landscapes :)
It is a typical American National Park, like Disneyland until you hike
about a mile or two then not very crowded. The surrounding plateau is
all pond pine forest (or clearcut :) so would give you a chance to pick
up bird stuff, too.

I suggest you go to Saguaro Nat'l Monument, just outside Tucson. The
west portion abuts Tucson Mountain Park, and Gilbert Ray State Campground
is a fine place to stay. You'll see reptiles therabouts, and I've even
seen Arizona spadefoot toads doing ... ummm ... "it" near the visitor's
center (it was a wet year, the volunteers at the center didn't even know
they had frog-type critters there).

Organ Pipe also has a very diverse array of cacti species, and the organ
pipe cactus itself pretty much reaches its northernmost bit of range
there. If you're going April-ish many flowering plants will be done,
already, but smaller cacti will be blooming - early April/late March is when
I took the cacti flower photos in my web pages (remember that cacti are
just fancy members of the rose family!). Big cacti don't bloom until
later, May-ish.

People talk a bunch about birding the Chiricahuas, which are excellent for
this, but often forget to mention the marvelous scenery in the National
Monument portion of the range. The rocks are beautiful, and the monument
hosts Mexican spotted owl, as well (hoot or tape about a half mile or
so up from the campground).

And, of course, Arizona is famous for its cliff dwellings. I highly
recommend you visit at least one such site.

- Don Baccus, Portland OR <donb at rational.com>
Nature photos, on-line guides, more at http://www.xxxpdx.com/~dhogaza