I think this is a burrowing owl. It was sitting on the ground, and flew away a short distance when I got near it, where it could check me out better. I never even saw it until it flew. Very fun little bird.

This saguaro, along with many of it's cohorts in the Tucson Mountains, is dying likely as a result of the extreme deep and prolonged freeze the region experienced exactly one year ago. It is sad to watch some of these dear old friends leave, but there is such beauty and grace as the decay.