Over the past two months, we've been working on a #FotoFauna dashboard update, so y’all can click all the things and learn more about wildlife in our region: ow.ly/h4tm50SLp4E. Have a look today, and big thanks to our 290 partners in this #communityscience effort.

Today, Aug. 1, marks #EarthOvershootDay for 2024 — the day when we’ve used up the resources our Earth can sustainably provide and replenish in a year. Learn more about how scientists track the threshold and budget, and help #MoveTheDate: ow.ly/gmJ950SMLFO

Did you know that the #SonoranDesert is a hotspot of #bee diversity, home to more than 1,000 species!? Join us on Aug. 22 at 9:30 a.m. for our next virtual Coffee Break to learn more from the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum's Kim Franklin: ow.ly/ShmX50SPFi3

Today, we’re sharing the second in a series of blogs on “Wellness and Nature Connections” — this one from Sabine Harrington. Check it out to learn more about “physiological conservationism” — how our own health and that of the desert are intertwined: ow.ly/TtjF50SPsg7

Did you know there’s a cave in Sonora that has stalactites and stalagmites? And that it’s the only known one of its kind in the whole state? Take a tour of Cueva La Mora, near Naco and the Sierra San José, in this blog from our comms intern, Omar Calva: ow.ly/teUb50SRy9y

It’s a bear … er, a badger. No. A coati! At Madera Canyon in Arizona’s Santa Rita Mountains. Not too far from the trailhead for our next featured Sky Island hike. Stay tuned. #SkyIslands

ICYMI: Arizona Daily Star recently reported on a developing story about groundwater pumping for the Cananea copper mine and its effects on ranchers’ water wells, which have been going dry: ow.ly/e6XG50SW99I. Communities affected include those along the Rio Sonora & San Pedro.

Yet another mining project that needs all our eyes on it: the proposed Copper Creek Mine, featured recently in AZLuminaria: ow.ly/JPl250SY0xE. The company has its sights set on an area near Mammoth, where Copper Creek meets the San Pedro River in the Galiuros.

We’ve got another #SkyIsland hike to share — this one from Sofía Vargas, a clinical psychologist in Hermosillo and Caminantes del Desierto A.C. cofounder. Last January, she and friends hiked the Santa Ritas' Mt. Wrightson in the snow. Check out her blog for the full story: ow.ly/5OUg50SXes7

July #FotoFauna highlights are in — and this month it's all about water. Laying in it, jumping for joy because of it, and even catching prey unaware as they drink from it. Check out this video and learn more about how to join our community science project: ow.ly/41IC50SJnYF

For the past 16 years, Carmina Gutiérrez has been working at the Northern Jaguar Project in #Sonora. And today she shared with us some of her story, from the first #jaguar she observed on camera to her role identifying high-profile cats such as El Jefe: ow.ly/LQqE50SWnpu

Join SIA staff on Sept. 12 at 9:30am for a virtual Coffee Break as we host Dr. Sybil Francis and Ian Dowdy from Center for the Future of Arizona: ow.ly/G0Ah50SYKUM. Our guest speakers will review the results of their Gallup Arizona Project and share more on what Arizonans agree on.

Cool podcast from Lost Women of Science on women’s roles in ecological restoration, plus lots of other episodes exploring other fields: ow.ly/kInr50SUVbE. Produced in partnership with PRX and Scientific American.

This Oct. 11-12 is the 3rd Festival of the Sky Islands in Moctezuma, Sonora. Come join us and help celebrate our region’s biodiversity and culture! There will be conservation talks/tables, drawing contests, workshops, music, dance, camping, local food: ow.ly/gbIp50T73ac

We recently caught up with our Springs Fellow Ángel Garcia now that he’s back at school studying dance in Mexicali. From Sonora, Ángel says it felt good to be back in the Sky Islands this summer, collaborating. Check out his blog for more details/pics: ow.ly/i2XL50TaZIx

Excellent report here on “Fire in the Sonoran Desert" from the Southwest Fire Consortium if you haven’t seen: ow.ly/N62f50ThJLp. Lots of cool maps/visualizations to help folks understand how invasive plants, grassification, and a changing climate are upending fire regimes.

Quick update from our Tucson spring cleaning crew and our campaign to remove invasive plants at nine of these wildlife oases. We’re making headway at our first site, Rock Ledge Spring, and have been removing invasive Arundo and restoring habitat. Join us! ow.ly/W7ya50S4JQg

Every year the #monsoon captivates all of us here in the #SkyIslands. So this year our staff decided to do something to commemorate the season. We pulled together some of our favorite moments so far, as you can see in this story map: ow.ly/i5uv50Tn9HF. Enjoy!

Ready to add some fall to your life? We’ve got a #volunteer camping trip this Oct. 4-6 on Mt. Lemmon, where cooler temps await. Join us: ow.ly/w6WV50Tovhg. We’ll be building erosion-control structures to help restore areas that were burned during 2020’s #BighornFire.

We’re back with another episode of “Mujeres Fronterizas” — this time with our first episode all in Spanish and featuring our very own Environmental Outreach Coordinator Mónica Montaño. Listen here: ow.ly/hth450SHLsb. And follow the show on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.