Melanie Alvarez

A green heron, a stocky bird with a rusty red neck, white throat, black cap, yellow legs, and a long, sharply pointed bill, stands in the water surrounded by marshy grasses and bare branches.

A green heron takes a step forward, its reflection in the water slightly obscured by the gusty conditions.

A green heron stands in the water alongside green, marshy grasses. It stands in profile, looking to the right.

A green heron stands in the water, bill pointed down and to the right after attempting to catch something to eat. Its reflection is disturbed by ripples from its speedy movements.

Some green heron photos from this morning.

A few dozen attendees hold signs during a rally in front of the Tucson Federal Buliding on Saturday, May 3. Visible signs read "Hudbag gets rich, we get ruined," "No to toxic air. No to Hudbay." "People need Clean Water," "No Copper World."

Adelita Grijalva, former Pima County Supervisor, addresses the community at the Rally for the Santa Ritas on Saturday, May 3.

Regina Romero, City of Tucson Mayor, speaks at the Rally for the Santa Ritas on Saturday, May 3.

Kevin Dahl, City of Tucson Councilmember, provides remarks at the Rally for the Santa Ritas on Saturday, May 3.

A few photos from yesterday's Rally for the Santa Ritas to oppose the proposed Copper World mine. Learn more about what's at stake and how you can get involved: www.scenicsantaritas.org

A person in an inflatable dinosaur costume carries a sign with red, white, and blue writing that reads, "I may be extinct but democracy is not." In front of them, a person in a baseball cap carries a sign with gray, red, blue, and yellow writing that says, "This is not about right or left. This is about right and wrong (Senator Cory Booker)."

Indigenous dancers wearing traditional clothing and feathered headdresses perform to the beat of two drums, surrounded by a crowd of protesters carrying signs. They reminded the crowd that we are all visitors on this land and that we need to treat it and each other with respect and dignity.

Protesters line the street, while others walk along an adjacent mixed-use path, carrying signs and an LGBTQ+ flag. One sign reads, "Eggs are so expensive because the chickens are in Congress." Another says, "When Congress won't we the people will. Stop the insanity!" A third says, "All of my outrage can't fit on this sign." A fourth, partially obscured behind the back of another person, begins, "Hands off America."

Protesters line the street, others walk along an adjacent mixed-use path, carrying signs, and a few stand in the shade of a blooming palo verde tree. A person wearing a black shirt and floral skirt holds a sign that says, "Hate never made any nation great" with rainbow hearts below the text.

A few snapshots from the #HandsOff protest in Tucson today!

This is being systematically under-reported. Say it with us!

West Coast numbers are coming in, and estimates have now surpassed 5 million. People are still pouring into the streets—nearly 2% of the American population is rising up. America, we are so proud of you. You did it.

Protesters gather along 22nd Street in Tucson, AZ for the Hands Off protest on April 5, 2025.

A protester in an inflatable Pikachu costume waves a small U.S. flag amidst other protesters at the Hands Off protest in Tucson, AZ on April 5, 2025.

A couple photos on the ground at the Tucson protest. Even Pikachu came to show support! #HandsOff

This video only covers a small portion of the Tucson protest today. A huge crowd showed up with clever signs and messages, and many people drivng by honked in support. I'm so proud of Tucson! #HandsOff

Now to think up a protest sign crochet pattern!

The pattern is Otto the Octopus by KnotMoreYarnByLindzi on Etsy.

A pink crochet octopus peeks out of a mini toy dumpling steamer basket, while a light teal octopus stands guard outside.

A pink crochet octopus sits on the left of a mini toy dumpling steamer basket, while a light teal crochet octopus sits on the basket's right. A 3.5mm crochet hook with yellow silicone handle grip lays in front of the trio, just about matching the total length of the other three objects.

I found the perfect mini prop for my tiny crochet octopuses! 3.5mm hook for scale.

We will not be distracted.
We will not be discouraged.
We’ve got our eyes on the prize.

And we will build the prosperous, free nation for all that we deserve.

The time to organize is now.

OcasioCortez.com

No matter your station in life, there is astoundingly little separating you from those men in that cage behind Kristi Noem. No charges, no attorneys, no hearings, no trial. Just conjecture and brute force could be enough to justify completely dehumanizing you, too.

A gold-colored wasp flies into frame in front of Senator Bernie Sanders at the Fighting Oligarchy rally in Tucson, AZ.

And one more just for fun - Bernie getting photobombed by a wasp!

Senator Bernie Sanders addressing the crowd at the Fighting Oligarchy rally in Tucson, AZ.

"I'm gonna do something very radical. You ready? I'm gonna tell you the truth. And the truth is that right now in America, the people on top have never, ever in the history of our country had it so good." - Senator Bernie Sanders today in Tucson

Representative Greg Casar, Senator Bernie Sanders, and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez standing at a podium surrounded by a crowd of cheering supporters in Tucson, AZ.

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez delivers a speech to a cheering crowd in Tucson, AZ.

"The same billionaires who are taking a wrecking ball to our country derived their power from dividing working people apart... they want to divide us along lines of left or right, race and gender, creed and culture..." - AOC in Tucson today

Representative Greg Casar speaking to a large crowd at the Fight the Oligarchy rally in Tucson, AZ.

"Your power is what they are afraid of!" Such an inspiring speech by Representative Greg Casar today in Tucson!

Representative Greg Casar, Senator Bernie Sanders, and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez standing together at a podium at the Fight the Oligarchy rally in Tucson, AZ.

Thank you so much for coming to Tucson today! It was energizing and inspiring to hear the three of you speak while surrounded by so many members of this amazing community!

Bernie Sanders, AOC, and Greg Casar on stage in Tucson in front a crowd of 23,000 people.

Tucson, Arizona today.

Original projected attendance was 3,000 people.

23,000 showed up.

I wish I could have spent more time out there, but I got home just in time. I am now enjoying the sound of rain pattering against my windows and splashing against the rocks and gravel in my yard. Finally, some much-needed precipitation to help ease our drought.

Verdin, a small gray bird with a yellow head and dark bill, peeks its head out of a nest constructed of fine, tawny twigs. The nest is nestled in the thin, green branches of a palo verde tree.

A verdin visits its nest.

Great egret, a large white bird with a long yellow bill and long, dark legs. It walks crouched behind green and gold reeds against a background of agitated water.

A great egret stalking along the bank.

The face of a coyote, partially hidden by tall, dry grass.

A coyote ran across the trail as I walked, and I managed to snap one decent photo.

A small lake with bare tree branches reaching out of the water toward the cloudy sky.

Quick nature walk as the storm rolls in.

Note: The pumpkin cookie recipe doesn't use eggs, which is especially handy these days. You can make them dairy free by using non-dairy chocolate chips or substituting the chocolate chips for cranberries or raisins.

A bowl with a blue and white scale pattern along the edges, filled with mixed greens, sliced chicken breast, goat cheese, crispy jalapeños, a drizzle of Greek salad dressing, hummus with Mediterranean spices and pine nuts, assorted green olives, cornichons, and pita chips.

Two parchment-lined cookie sheets, each with 15 freshly baked pumpkin cookies with chocolate chips, cranberries, and walnuts.

Continuing economic blackout day with lunch at home and freshly baked pumpkin cookies with chocolate chips, cranberries, and walnuts.

Song Sparrow, a sparrow with dark eyes and rufous stripes over a whitish gray body. The bird's dark gray bill is open, and its body looks puffed up like a ball. It is surrounded by dry brush.

A male Green-winged Teal in beeding plumage. His head is rufous with an iridescent green stripe that extends from just in front of his eye to the back of his head. His back is brownish gray and he has gray sides with very fine stripes. His black bill is partially dipped in the water. Thin branches and green reeds extend behind him, reflected in the water. Water droplets sparkle along the back of his head and neck.

A female Green-winged Teal swimming through the water. Her head is golden brown with a darker brown, thin stripe across her eyes and a darker brown cap. Her bill is black. The feathers on her back and sides are lighter brown on the inside and darker brown on the inside, making a beautiful, scale-like pattern across her body. A small patch of iridescent green feathers can be seen on the edges of her tucked wings, closer to her tail. Water droplets cling to the sides of her cheeks.

More photos: Song Sparrow, male Green-winged Teal, and female Green-winged Teal

Common moorhen, a bird with a bright red bill tipped in yellow, with a black head, brown back, white along the edges of its wings, and yellow-green legs. The moorhen is standing at the edge of the water next to woody branches and green reeds.

Northern shoveler, a duck with an iridescent green head, bright yellow eye, rufous sides, and gorgeous white and black plumage on its back. The duck is preening itself while floating on the water, and its distinctive, large bill is not visible.

Verdin, a diminutive songbird with a yellow face, a tiny red spot on the shoulder, and a gray body. The bird is peering toward the camera from behind the crisscrossing green foliage of a palo verde tree.

I spent the morning photographing birds in one of my favorite places. I am lucky to live so close to beautiful green spaces that provide refuge for so many species. Pictured: Common Moorhen, Northern Shoveler, and Verdin.

Help me celebrate my nonexistent birthday by participating in the blackout tomorrow!

A rice bowl with chicken, shrimp, lap cheong, and steamed gai lan.

Today's little joy is a bowl of rice, chicken, shrimp, lap cheong, and steamed gai lan.