Mileposts/Calendar

A Picture Book of Wildlife

Spotting wildlife is one of the joys of exploring Arizona's desert country, but too often a brief glimpse inspires only a puzzled, “What WAS that?” The trick is to be familiar with what you might see before it sprints behind a rock, flies into the sunset, or slithers into a stream.

And that's where an oversize (10-1/2 by 9-1/2 inches) book titled Natives: Animals of the Sonoran Desert can help. Produced in cooperation with Tucson's prestigious Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, the book features photographs by Herb Stratford that provide close-up looks at desert creatures ranging from the bold bobcat and shy desert tortoise to the comical-looking javelina and the earth-moving spadefoot toad. The photos are accompanied by Tucson-based Nature writer Fred Knipe's text offering some fascinating tidbits: he settles once and for all the difference between frogs and toads and explains why bighorn sheep become stranded on rocky perches.

The book costs $14.95 and is available from your favorite bookstore, or you can contact Stratford Publishing, Inc., 3661 N. Campbell Ave., Suite 587, Tucson, AZ 85719; (602) 8817411.

Horsing Around the Canyon

Riding your own horse down into the Grand Canyon is an adventure at any time of year, even during cooler months before the snows arrive or after they melt. Trails now are even more accessible in the winter, thanks to the cooperation of the National Park Service and the Arizona State Horsemen's Association, whose volunteers have helped construct horse camps on both the North and South Rims and in the bottom of the Canyon.

For information about the amenities or to plan a trail ride, contact the Grand Canyon Backcountry Office, P.O. Box 129, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023; (602) 638-7888.

For additional guidance or to volunteer to work on horse-use related projects in the Grand Canyon, write or telephone Eldon Bowman, Route 4, Box 739, Flagstaff, AZ 86001; (602) 774-1676.

EVENTS Old-time Fiddlers Contest January 7-9; Casa Grande

The town best known to some for the nearby Casa Grande Ruins National Monument (a possible astronomical site for the ancient Hohokam) calls this year's tuneful event the 8th Annual Arizona Old-time Fiddlers Jam & Country Store Bazaar. And, as the moniker implies, nonstop music is the event's hallmark, but there are plenty of other diversions, including a crafts show with more than 75 vendors and an antique and classic-car show. Activities are held at the Pinal County Fairgrounds, seven miles east of town, and admission is free. Call to ask about RV camping. Information: 723-5242.

Bull Riders' Main Event January 8; Phoenix

In this championship contest at downtown's America West Arena, 45 of the toughest and meanest bulls in the world will attempt to prevent the top riders in the world from staying on their backs any longer than it takes to rattle their bones and send them flying to the ground. Competition will begin at 7:30 P.M. and be followed at 10 P.M. by a countrywestern concert that will keep toes tapping till midnight. Telephone to ask about an optional dinner. Admission is $10 to $35. Information: 8369200.

Desert Foothills Music Fest January 19-23; Carefree-Cave Creek

The neighboring communities of Carefree and Cave Creek in the scenic desert north of Scottsdale host a five-day classical music festival that attracts artists from throughout the country. Music director and conductor Paul Perry will present selections from baroque to modern, and the event will feature chamber ensembles, solos, and a vocalist. Performances take place Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday at Cactus Shadows Fine Arts Center and Thursday and Sunday at Desert Hills Presbyterian Church. Admission is $15 per concert ($5 for students) or $60 for the series. Information: 488-0806.

Dance Festival January 20-22; Tucson

More than 3,000 dancers from throughout the U.S., Canada, and Mexico will gather at the Tucson Convention Center to participate in the 46th Annual Southern Arizona Square & Round Dance & Clogging Festival. For those who just want to watch, admission is $1. Information: 299-4068.

Parada del Sol / Parade January 29; Scottsdale

At 9:15 A.M. the “longest horse-drawn parade in the world” will head south down Scottsdale Road from Indian School Road to Los Arcos Mall, where there'll be post-parade activities, including live music performances, to entertain crowds. The parada's rodeo will take place February 3-6 at Rawhide (call for a schedule and admission prices). Information: 990-3179.

An estimated 46 percent of American households feed wild birds. Here are some tips for feeding birds in winter.