I love serendipity, like this unexpected encounter with Maggie, a great horned owl surveying the elegant lobby of the Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort in Scottsdale, Ariz. She is perched on the gloved hand of Joe Miller, her head swiveling back and forth, her saucer-eyes bright.
Maggie is one of a half-dozen birds that regularly visit the resort with Miller, each with an assignment to: entertain guests; educate visitors on the importance of wildlife preservation; or keep smaller, peskier birds from dive-bombing the buffet table on the hotel patio.
These featured feathered friends come by way of Liberty Wildlife, a nonprofit organization that rehabilitates wounded animals.
“If they heal, we can return them to the wild,” says Miller, also known as Eagle Joe for his skilled work with the majestic birds of prey. If the birds don’t heal, “they are non-releasable and Liberty Wildlife cares for them.”
Miller encourages us to stroke Maggie’s amazingly soft feathers; she is completely unfazed. Because she suffered severe head and ear canal wounds, she’ll never be reintroduced into the wild.
Miller is integral to the Grand Hyatt’s history. He worked as a pipe-fitter during its construction, then was hired as the water-features manager when the property opened in 1986. Throughout his employment for the next 28 years, he also volunteered with Liberty Wildlife (wife Jan is director of medical services) and brought in birds to entertain children at the hotel’s camp. Now, as Grand Hyatt’s wildlife director, Miller shares the birds with all guests daily and holds presentations on Fridays that feature owls, falcons, hawks and an eagle.
“(The birds) are now ambassadors for their kind,” Miller says. “For many guests, it’s the first time they’ve seen a bird like that up close. We’ve received thank-you letters from guests.”
Some of the current guests are second-generation.
“The children as adults are returning to the hotel,” he says. “In the spring, when the hotel is loaded up, there are more than 200 people in the courtyard (for the bird show). That’s what you want out of a vacation.”
Animals were a prominent theme during our first day in Scottsdale. We encountered thousands of multi-colored butterflies at Butterfly Wonderland, and some of the 30,000 marine animals at OdySea, the Southwest’s largest aquarium. The attractions are two of eight featured at Arizona Boardwalk, a complex developed by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.
A winter visit to Scottsdale also must include a hike in the 35,000-acre McDowell Sonoran Preserve with its many miles of maintained trails, ranging from accessible to difficult.
“The McDowell mountains represent the great beauty and diversity of the Sonoran Desert right in the backyard of Scottsdale,” guide Jim King told us. “I find myself feeling very small and humbled next to a giant saguaro that might be 200 years old.”
Guide-in-training Jacquelyn Jellies concurred.
“The preserve is a magical space. I love that we have a nearby protected space with an abundant ecosystem…that visitors and residents can be transported to a serene desert oasis with over 1,000 plants and animal species, wildly beautiful sunrises and a well-maintained area for accessibility.”
If desert flora fascinates, an eye-popping collection can be seen at nearby Desert Botanical Garden. Its 140 acres support 50,000 gloriously robust cactuses and succulents. Getting lost on the garden’s five thematic trails is worth it, and your photos will make you look like a pro.
To see how architecture coexists harmoniously with Sonoran Desert landscape, visit Taliesin West, the serene home, studio and school built by Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959). The renowned architect spent winters here creating and teaching. He and his students constructed much of the retreat, which affords a sweeping view of the valley, from desert materials.
When it’s time to eat in Scottsdale:
- Mesa Centrale — Newly opened at the Grand Hyatt Scottsdale. Contemporary, Southwest vibe. Best bets: wood-fired pizzas and chicken wings.
- The Vig McCormick Ranch — Popular family eatery, it has a dog-friendly patio too. Best bets: grilled shrimp tacos, poblano chicken enchiladas, pastrami Rueben and Vig salad.
- Zinc Bistro – Adorable French café with secluded garden patio. You’ll want to linger. Best bets: Dungeness crab salad, curry chicken salad and onion soup gratinee.
