Natural History Institute

Did you know that there are at least 20 species of fireflies here in Arizona?! Join us for a special SATURDAY talk with ecologist Rachel Laura to explore firefly ecology, learn about the variety of Arizona's fireflies, and discover the special behaviors and life history that help them survive in the Southwest. Learn about current research on an endemic Arizona firefly and discover simple actions you can take to help conserve these enchanting creatures and the habitats they depend on.

Doors open at 1:30 pm. This is a free event but registration is required. Link in bio.

Photo Credit: Bicellonycha wickershamorum/the Southwest spring firefly by Candace Fallon, The Xerces Society

Few tickets left for The Wild Rivers Film Tour! Join the Natural History Institute and the Upper Verde Wild and Scenic River Coalition to celebrate wild rivers and a call to action for protecting more of the rivers we all cherish.

When: Friday, May 29th, 2026
Time: 7 PM, Doors open at 6PM
Where: Elks Theatre and Performing Arts Center
Tickets: https://ci.ovationtix.com/36609/production/1268778?performanceId=11782024

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The Wild Rivers Film Tour returns for its 11th year in 2026 as a celebration of wild rivers and a call to action for protecting more of the rivers we all cherish. This grassroots-style film tour was born out of a partnership between American Rivers and Greater Yellowstone Coalition, two non-profit organizations committed to protecting and enhancing ecosystems that depend on clean and free-flowing rivers. Today, in the Southwest, the Wild Rivers Film Tour is organized by the Southwest River Protection Program at American Rivers in partnership with members of the Wild Verde River Coalition, including the Yavapai Group Sierra Club, Natural History Institute, The Wilderness Society, Friends of the Verde River, and others.

Our goal is to share awe-inspiring river stories and engage more people in the fight to protect them. Here in Arizona, we want to highlight the irreplaceable Upper Verde River and the effort to designate it as the state’s next Wild and Scenic River. The Verde River is an extraordinary ribbon of life through the heart of Arizona. The Upper Verde – extending from east of Paulden to the town of Clarkdale – is one of the most clean, healthy, economically important, and culturally significant free flowing rivers remaining in Arizona.

Join the movement here at www.wildverderiver.org and join us at the Elks Theatre in Prescott on May 29th, 2026 for a fun, uplifting, and river-filled evening. Doors open at 6 pm, and the show starts at 7 pm. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door.

Join us for Prescott's 4th Friday Art Walk tonight from 5PM to 7PM to experience "The Rights of Nature: Expressions of Animacy, Interconnection, and Wholeness" by Edie Dillon!

Natural History Institute Gallery
126 N. Marina St., Prescott, AZ 86301
Friday, May 22nd, 5-7PM

Edie Dillon’s recent mixed media sculpture offers thought provoking visual interpretations of the ideas that lead us away from the limiting frame of human exceptionalism: interdependence, reciprocity, and connection between humans and the more than human world.

The growing Rights of Nature movement – which advances nature itself as a body deserving legal rights – has the potential to significantly increase our chances of sustaining all life on the planet. The movement puts into practice our increasingly inclusive and multidimensional understandings of the more than human world – understandings that encompass both deep spiritual traditions and sophisticated scientific discoveries.

Thank you to everyone who joined us on Saturday for birding with Eric Moore. We saw 26 different birds just on a short walk at Granite Creek Park, including some of our summer favorites like the Vermillion Flycatcher and the Summer Tanager. We are incredibly lucky to have so many accessible spaces to practice Natural History in Prescott and we're so grateful to have a community who appreciates nature as much as we do! Remember to stop by the Lookout for all your birding needs. They have amazing resources for all types and levels of bird enthusiasts.

Tom's new book has arrived and we are so excited to hear his talk tomorrow evening! Thank you to everyone who has registered! The event is now full but don't fret - you can still join us on the Livestream on our YouTube Channel and you can purchase his book from

https://youtube.com/?si=xg92KzVjSNRg_YwY

Tom will also be at on July 15th!

This week's trivia question might be too easy for some of you bird nerds, but let's see how you do!

What bird of prey nests in high cliffs and is commonly seen soaring above the Mogollon Rim?

A) Golden Eagle
B) Peregrine Falcon
C) Red-tailed Hawk
D) Turkey Vulture

You have one week to leave your guess in the comments! Remember to keep this game fair and only use your brain to make an educated guess.



Kevin Dooley from Chander, AZ, USA, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Two more spots available for this Saturday's bird walk with Eric Moore! Join a local expert and NHI staff for an early morning walk along Granite Creek, a great location to spot both migratory and local birds. The link to register is in the comments.