Remembering the life and work of Joel Pearson

Joel Pearson’s works have brought the North Mountain Visitor Center alive with the captured moments of the wildlife in the Phoenix Mountains Preserve.

The mountain’s ridge line can be seen below the brightening blue sky in each eye. The first sliver of bright sunlight can also be seen as it starts to clear the mountain’s peak. It’s a great way to see the day’s beginning through the eyes of Nature!

Western Screech Owl by Joel Pearson — The mountain’s ridge line can be seen below the brightening blue sky in each eye. The first sliver of bright sunlight can also be seen as it starts to clear the mountain’s peak. It’s a great way to see the day’s beginning through the eyes of Nature!

The flora and fauna of the Phoenix Mountain Preserves are beautiful and hold many stories of life. The relationships between plants and animals and the relationships among plants to plants and animals to other animals is not always visible. For the inquisitive these relationships become marvels to appreciate.

Photography is one way to immerse yourself into this amazing world. The photographs at the North Mountain Visitor Center have been limited to only one of the mountain preserves. The purpose is to show the life that touches a single preserve. The objective is not to photograph all Sonoran Desert flora and fauna. The goal is to see what happens to the ecosystem in a single piece of desert land that is a closed system bordered by highways and homes.

The photographs that can be seen at the NMVC are brief snapshots of wildlife as they carry on with the pursuit of life. The photographs necessarily freeze the action and prevent the telling of the complete story. In addition, it is impractical to display every animal on the limited wall space that is available.

There are 95 animals, not counting insects and arachnids, that have been photographed over the past six years. Birds represent the greatest number at 73. Of course many of those birds are migrating through on their way to summer or winter homes. The number of birds that live year-round in the preserve are far fewer. Migratory birds make their presence felt and are as important as the home grown variety, however. After all, if the Mountain Preserves were not vibrant and healthy the migratory birds would not stop to eat and rest!

Of those 95 animals that have been photographed there are also 14 reptiles including Desert Tortoise, Gila Monsters, Chuckwallas, Diamondbacks, and King snakes just to name a few. There are eight mammals including Coyote, Jack Rabbits, Cottontail, Rock Squirrels, Antelope Squirrels, Ground Squirrels, Pack Rats, and mice. There are other mammals such as the Ring-tailed Cat and Gray Fox that emerge at night and avoid the pesky photographer. Among the insects the industrious bees and beautiful butterflies have been photographed and are represented.

It is frustrating to try and decide which photographs to mount on the walls. There are so many animals that deserve a showing. Tough decisions have to be made. Hopefully the choices made will pique your curiosity. Maybe you’ll pause more frequently when hiking the preserve’s trails. There is considerable pleasure in watching the invisible life that rarely reaches our consciousness. If you see something that piques your interest there is also the reading room in the NMVC that contains a myriad of books on every subject.

The photography is simply there to start the mental process. Successful wildlife photography catches your eye and gets you to pause. Start your exploration, today!

Kim the desert tortoise by Joel Pearson — This is “Kim” inside the burrow where “Chippie” had been photographed on March 20th. It is now May 11th. “Chippie” is presumably out eating or in another shelter. Desert Tortoises prefer the company of the opposite sex.

Chippie the Desert Tortoise by Joel Pearson — This is “Kim” inside the burrow where “Chippie” had been photographed on March 20th. It is now May 11th. “Chippie” is presumably out eating or in another shelter. Desert Tortoises prefer the company of the opposite sex.

Joel Pearson photographer & naturalist

The only North Mountain Preserve Visitor Center Volunteer photographer whose works have become part of a permanent display, Joel passed away on Monday, April 22, 2019.

Joel was a fabulous self-taught photographer and naturalist who loved the beautiful Phoenix Mountains Preserve flora and fauna and the stories they tell. His photographs are on display throughout the Center providing brief snapshots of wildlife as they carry on with their pursuit of life.

Joel photographed 95 animals, many insects and arachnids at the Preserve as he immersed himself in their world. His goal was to show the relationship between plants and animals, the relationship among plants to plants and animals to other animals.

His photographic story of water in the desert is on permanent display in the Education Room. His passion for the wildlife of the Preserve is evident in every photo. Many Sundays Joel was at the Center sharing his stories and talents with NMVC volunteers and visitors. We were so fortunate to have had a resident photographer and chronicler of the natural events in the Preserve. We hope his photos will pique your curiosity into the worlds he brings to us.