MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE DESERT
SPEAKS HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY
ASARCO, INC., AN INTEGRATED
PRODUCER OF NONFERROUS
METALS AND OTHER INDUSTRIAL
MINERALS AND PRODUCTS.
ASARCO, INC., ADDING VALUE
TO NATURE'S RESOURCES.
[MUSIC/NATURE SOUNDS]
STANDING HERE AND AND LOOKING
WEST DOESN'T EXACTLY MAKE YOU
THINK OF THE DESERT. I WOULDN'T
KID YOU.
ANYTHING THAT FEELS THIS
WET AND LOOKS AND SMELLS
LIKE THE OCEAN,
PROBABLY IS.
THE GULF OF CALIFORNIA
HERE AT PUERTO PEÑASCO IS
GOOD FOR AT LEAST SIXTY MILES
OF OCEAN STRAIGHT OUT OR TO
THE NORTH AND THEN WE'RE BACK AT
THE EDGE OF THE DESERT AGAIN.
BUT IT'S NOT REALLY UNUSUAL FOR
DESERTS
TO HAVE WATER ON THEIR EDGES.
IT'S NOT
THAT WATER THAT MAKES THE
DESERTS, IT'S HOW MUCH
WATER'S IN THE AIR
AND ON THE LAND.
WATER ANYWHERE
MEANS LIFE,
AS WE KEEP SAYING
IN THIS DRY COUNTRY.
SO THESE WET EDGES ARE
PRETTY LIVELY PARTS OF THE
DESERT AND NOTHING MAKES
THAT POINT BETTER AROUND
HERE THAN THE CREATURES
THAT EASILY NAVIGATE BOTH
LAND AND WATER - THE SHORE
BIRDS.
[SPLASHING/SEAGULLS CAWING]
IT'S QUITE A CROWD AND THE SAME
AS WITH PEOPLE, YOU START TO
NOTICE INDIVIDUALS BETTER WHEN
YOU KNOW THEIR NAMES.
DUNLINS, AND DOWITCHERS,
WILLETS, MARBLED GODWITS.
ALL OF THEM AT WORK HERE
ON MAIN STREET WITH
SANDPIPERS, TERNS,
MORE THAN ONE TERN;
THERE'S CASPIAN TERNS
AND LEAST TERNS.
EVERYBODY KNOWS SEAGULLS
BUT THEY'RE NOT JUST GULLS
ONCE YOU HEAR THEM
CALLED RING BILLED OR
YELLOW-FOOTED OR
HEERMANN'S GULLS.
LONG TIME AGO, PEOPLE WERE
NAMED FOR WHAT THEY DID,
LIKE THE BUTCHER
AND THE BAKER.
WELL, HERE'S SOME OYSTER
CATCHERS, TURN-STONES, SKIMMERS,
ON THE OTHER HAND,
PROBABLY SHOULDN'T DRAW
ANY CONCLUSIONS ABOUT THE
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE.
LOTS OF NAMES,
LOTS OF FACES,
FOR HUNDREDS OF MILES ALONG
THIS EDGE OF THE DESERT.
THE LONG NARROW GULF ALSO,
CALLED THE SEA OF CORTEZ,
RUNS FROM THE MIDDLE
OF THE MEXICAN
COAST RIGHT UP ALMOST TO THE
U.S.
HERE ARE SOME AMERICAN
AVOCETS DOWN NEAR GUAYMAS
AND EVEN A BURROWING OWL
JUST YARDS FROM THE SURF.
MOST OF THE SHORE BIRDS
YOU SEE ARE MIGRATORY;
THEY NEST UP
IN THE ARCTIC,
BUT DURING THE WINTER
TIME AND IN THEIR,
DURING MIGRATION THEY USE
PLACES SUCH AS THE EDGE OF
THE SEA OF CORTEZ
FOR FEEDING.
AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS
AND THOUSANDS OR MILLIONS
OF BIRDS THAT USE
THIS RESOURCE.
THE BIRDS OF THE SHORE
LINE USE ALL KINDS OF
HABITATS ON
THE SHORT LINE.
THERE ARE THOSE THAT
FEED UP ON THE DRY SANDY
BEACHES, LIKE THE LITTLE
SNOWY PLOVERS THAT RUN
AROUND AND CATCH THE LITTLE
INSECTS ON THE BEACH.
THERE ARE THOSE THAT USE
THE EXPOSED MUD FLATS AND
PROBE FOR INVERTEBRATES
IN THE MUD. . . .
OR THOSE THAT USE THE TOPS
OF THE MUD FLAT AND LOOK
FOR LITTLE INSECT LARVAE OR
INSECTS RESTING ON THE SURFACE.
OTHER SPECIES MAY USE THE
WATER EDGE, FOR INSTANCE,
A LITTLE SANDERLING CHASES
THE WATER AS IT COMES IN
AND OUT, AS IT
WASHES IN AND OUT.
AND THERE ARE OTHER SPECIES
THAT PRETTY MUCH USE VERY
SHALLOW WATER, WALK AROUND AND
PROBE IN THE WATER ITSELF.
THEN AS YOU GET FURTHER
AWAY FROM THE SHORE LINE,
YOU'LL SEE OTHER
TYPES OF BIRDS.
TERNS DIVING FOR FISHES
THAT ARE VERY CLOSE TO THE
SURFACE, PELICANS DIVING
FOR SCHOOLING FISH A
LITTLE BIT FURTHER
BENEATH THE SURFACE,
[LOUD SPLASHING]
THEN BOOBIES THAT'LL DIVE DEEP
FOR EVEN DEEPER FISHES.
DIFFERENT BIRDS ON THE SHORELINE
THAT WILL FLY IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
THE FRIGATEBIRDS, FOR INSTANCE,
CAN FLY ON
THE LIGHTEST OF
BREEZES AND, IN FACT,
THEY NEVER ALIGHT
ON THE WATER.
FOR MANY SPECIES IT'S,
THEY FLOCK TOGETHER WITH
THEIR OWN KIND AND WHEN
YOU'LL SEE A GROUP OF
BIRDS TAKE OFF, YOU'LL
SEE ONE SPECIES IN ONE
LITTLE TIGHT LITTLE BUNCH,
ANOTHER
SPECIES IN ANOTHER TIGHT LITTLE
BUNCH.
BECAUSE BIRDS ARE SO
VISUAL AND HAVE SUCH
QUICK, QUICK REFLEXES AND
VERY GOOD COORDINATION,
THEY CAN MAINTAIN
VERY TIGHT FLOCKS,
SOMETHING THAT LOOKS
ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DO.
SEVERAL HUNDRED BIRDS CAN
FLY TOGETHER IN VERY TIGHT
FORMATION, MAKE QUICK
TURNS ALMOST IN UNISON
JUST BECAUSE OF THESE FEATURES
OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM IN BIRDS.
EACH OF THESE SPECIES OF
SHORE BIRD IS DIFFERENT.
TO THE GENERAL, THE PERSON WHO
GENERALLY WOULD LOOK AT THEM,
LOOKS LIKE JUST A BUNCH OF SMALL
BIRDS WORKING THE SHORE LINE.
WHEN YOU LOOK UP CLOSE,
THEY HAVE BEAKS OF
DIFFERENT SIZES AND
DIFFERENT SHAPES.
THE FEET OF MANY
OF THE SHORE BIRDS,
TYPICALLY THEY HAVE LONG
TOES AND THEY'RE VERY
LIGHT-BODIED BIRDS AND
SOME OF THEM EVEN HAVE A
LITTLE BIT OF
WEBBING IN THE TOES.
THERE IS SOMEWHAT OF
A PECKING ORDER AND,
BUT THE WAY THINGS ARE
REALLY ORDERED IN THOSE
SORTS OF HABITATS HAS TO DO WITH
THE DIFFERENT WAYS OF FEEDING.
AND THEN THEY ALSO DIVIDE
UP THE LAND BY WHAT THEY EAT.
A CERTAIN HERON
MAY EAT A CRAB.
FOR INSTANCE, THE YELLOW
CROWN NIGHT HERON MAY EAT
A CRAB AND A LITTLE BLUE
HERON MAY RUN ABOUT IN THE
WATER TRYING TO STAB
LITTLE INVERTEBRATES THAT
ARE RUNNING ABOUT
OR LITTLE FISHES.
AND THEN OTHERS,
SUCH AS A GULL,
MAY FIND OLD CARRION, JUST
A DEAD FISH LYING ON THE
SHORE THAT IT WOULD
PICK APART AND EAT.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF ORDER
ON THE SHORELINE AND SOME
OF IT'S BEHAVIORAL AND
ECOLOGICAL AND THEY DIVIDE
UP THAT SHORELINE IN A
LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS.
THE CONTRAST HERE ON THE
LINE BETWEEN THE WET AND THE
DRY IS EVEN MORE DRAMATIC
THAN YOU MIGHT THINK.
TURN YOUR BACK ON THE GULF FOR
VERY LONG AND IT CAN DISAPPEAR
ON YOU. THAT'S BECAUSE THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE
TIDAL HIGHS AND THE TIDAL
LOWS UP IN THIS END OF THE
GULF IS ONE OF THE
WIDEST IN THE WORLD.
AND ON THESE EXTRA
SHALLOW BEACHES,
EVEN A LITTLE DIFFERENCE
GOES A LONG WAY.
TIDES ARE CAUSED BY AT
LEAST A DOZEN FACTORS,
BUT THE TWO MAIN ONES ARE
THE SUN AND THE MOON,
MOSTLY THE MOON'S
GRAVITATIONAL PULL.
EVERY DAY UP HERE IN
THE NORTHERN GULF,
THERE ARE TWO TIDES AND
THEY REACH THEIR EXTREMES
WHEN THE SUN, EARTH
AND MOON ARE LINED UP,
DURING THE FULL MOON
AND THE NEW MOON.
THE REASON FOR ALL THIS TALK
ABOUT TIDES IS TIDEPOOLS.
THAT'S WHAT'S LEFT WHEN
THE TIDE GOES OUT.
HERE WHERE THE DESERT SLIPS
INTO THE WATER SO GRADUALLY IS
A WHOLE WORLD OF TIDEPOOLS
AND SHALLOW WATER ANIMALS,
JUST AS ALIVE AND DIFFERENT AS
THE BIRDS A FEW INCHES ABOVE.
THE NAMES HERE HELP TOO,
IF YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH
FIDDLER CRABS AND PISTOL
SHRIMP AND SULFUR-BELLIED
SEA CUCUMBERS AND A
RELATIVE OF THE JELLYFISH
CALLED HYDROIDS WHO
DELIVER A POISON
LIKE THE COBRAS, BUT
IN SMALLER DOSES.
HERE WE ARE IN IN PUERTO
PEÑASCO ON ONE OF
THE MOST AMAZING INNER TIDAL
ZONES IN THE WORLD.
THE TIDES GO OUT; THEY DROP
VERTICALLY
APPROXIMATELY TWENTY-FOUR FEET.
HORIZONTAL DISTANCE
IT GOES OUT DEPENDS UPON
THE SLOPE OF THE BEACH.
THERE ARE PLACES HERE IN
PUERTO PEÑASCO AGAIN THAT
THE TIDE GOES OUT
UP TO THREE MILES
BECAUSE IT'S A VERY GENTLY
SLOPING BEACH.
THAT EXTREME RANGE IN
TIDES IS SOMETHING THAT'S
FAIRLY UNIQUE
IN THE WORLD.
IN PART IT'S CAUSED BY THE SHAPE
OF THE GULF OF CALIFORNIA.
WE'RE IN A LONG, NARROW
BASIN AND WE'RE AT THE
VERY TOP OF THAT BASIN SO
THE TIDE FUNCTIONS SORT OF
LIKE A WAVE AND BECAUSE
IT'S NARROW AND ENCLOSED,
WHEN THE WATER SLOSHES
UP HERE IN THE NORTH,
IT SLOSHES UP REALLY HIGH
AND THEN WHEN IT SLOSHES
DOWN, IT SLOSHES DOWN
REALLY LOW SO WE GET THESE
EXTREME TIDES
HERE IN THE NORTH.
OKAY, THE INNER TIDAL ZONE
IS ACTUALLY A GRADIENT
BETWEEN THE DESERT
AND THE OCEAN,
AND THE ANIMALS IN THE
HIGHEST ZONES OF THE INNER
TIDAL ZONE ARE THOSE THAT
ARE BETTER ADAPTED TO
DESERT CONDITION AND THOSE
LIVING DOWN IN THE LOWER
ZONES ARE BETTER ADAPTED
TO OCEAN CONDITIONS.
THIS LOW INNER TIDAL SAND BAR IS
LIKE THE
RECYCLING CENTER OF THE INNER
TIDAL.
ALL THE FINE PARTICLES OF
ORGANIC
MATTER COLLECT HERE IN THE SAND
AND THE WORMS
AND THE RECYCLERS LIVE HERE IN
THIS ZONE.
THIS IS A CEPHALOCHORDATE WHICH
IS A LINK OR A
STEPPING STONE TO THE
CHORDATES AND THE VERTEBRATES,
THE HUMANS, THE MAMMALS ARE
ALL IN THE CHORDATE PHYLUM.
OH, HERE'S SOME NEAT
STUFF RIGHT HERE.
YOU ONLY SEE SMALL PATCHES
OF THIS CORAL HERE AND
THIS CORAL IS TYPICAL OF
THE LOW INNER TIDAL ZONE.
THIS IS ANOTHER
NUDIBRANCH.
WE'VE GOT THESE EXTREME
TIDES IN ANEXTREMELY DRY,
WARM DESERT,
EXTREME SALINITIES,
THOSE PHYSICAL
CHARACTERISTICS SEEM TO BE
FAIRLY IMPORTANT
IN DETERMINING THE
DISTRIBUTION OF A LOT OF
THE ANIMALS ON THE SHORE.
OKAY. LET'S GO UP TO THIS
RICH ZONE IN THE MIDDLE INNER
TIDAL, LOWER MIDDLE INNER TIDAL,
AND SEE LOTS OF CREEPY, CRAWLY.
WHAT'S THIS RIGHT HERE?
OH, THIS IS A FLAT WORM
AND THEY GET THEIR NAME
BECAUSE THEY'RE VERY FLAT,
ONLY THREE LAYERS THICK.
THEY'RE SO THIN THAT THEY DON'T
EVEN NEED A CIRCULATORY SYSTEM.
THEY CAN GET ALL THEIR OXYGEN
DIRECTLY FROM THE WATER.
OH, THERE'S A SHRIMP, A
TIDEPOOL SHRIMP RIGHT THERE.
THEY'RE VERY HARD TO SEE.
TIDEPOOL IS ONE OF THE
MICROHABITATS THAT
YOU FIND IN THE
INNER TIDAL ZONE.
IT'S AN IMPORTANT
MICROHABITAT BECAUSE IT HOLDS
WATER AND A LOT OF THE
THINGS REQUIRE WATER. SO IT
KIND OF BRINGS THE SUB-TIDAL
INTO THE INNER TIDAL ZONE.
THE SWIMMING CLAM, ITS
SCIENTIFIC NAME IS KIND OF
PRETTY, LIMA PACIFICA, IS
ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL
ANIMALS OUT HERE
AND GRACEFUL.
IT HAS THE ABILITY TO SWIM
BY CLOSING ITS TWO VALVES
REALLY FAST AND PRODUCING
A JET PROPULSION.
USUALLY LIVE UNDER THE
BOULDERS AND OFTEN IN
ASSOCIATION WITH BRIGHT
ORANGE COLORED FIREWORM.
PROBABLY GET SOME PROTECTION
FROM THE FIREWORM.
THIS GOLF BALL SPONGE,
THIS ORANGE GOLF BALL
SPONGE, IS REAL COMMON
UNDER THE LEDGES OF ROCKS
HERE AND IF WE OPEN IT UP,
WE CAN SEE ON THE INSIDE
THE SPICULES, THE
GLASS-LIKE SPICULES THAT
ARE CHARACTERISTIC OF ALL
SPONGES ALTHOUGH DIFFERENT
SHAPES AND SIZES CHARACTERIZE
INDIVIDUAL SPONGES.
VERY SIMPLE ANIMAL THAT
HAS TINY HOLES THAT TAKE
IN WATER AND LARGER HOLES OR
PORES THAT EXCRETE THE WATER.
SPONGES ARE ANIMALS THAT
HAVE TO LIVE IN THE LOW
INNER TIDAL ZONES OR IN
MID ZONES IN TIDEPOOLS
WHERE THEY'RE COVERED
WITH WATER UNDER ROCKS.
THEY CAN'T TOLERATE
THAT EXPOSURE.
THIS SEA ANEMONE HERE IS
BRIGHT ORANGE IN COLOR AND
IT'S TYPICAL OF THESE
TIDEPOOL HABITATS HERE IN
THE MIDDLE INNER
TIDAL ZONES.
SEA ANEMONES CAN'T,
THEY'RE SOFT BODIED AND
THEY CAN'T LIVE IN
THE HIGHER ZONES.
TIDEPOOLS ARE SOMETIMES CALLED
THE WINDOW OF THE SEA BECAUSE
THEY GIVE ONE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
SEE WHAT'S IN, UNDER THE SEA.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE A SUBSET OF
THAT UNDERSEA HABITAT BROUGHT
INTO THE INNER TIDAL WHERE ONE
CAN LOOK AT IT MUCH EASIER.
THIS IS THE BIGGEST OF THE
SPECIES OF OCTOPUS FOUND
HERE AND THAT'S
A SMALL ANIMAL.
THEY GET TO BE THREE
TIMES THAT SIZE.
OCTOPUS HAVE THE ABILITY
TO SHOOT OUT A SPRAY OF
INK THAT, A CLOUD OF
INK THAT HIDES IT.
OCTOPUS ALSO HAVE A REALLY
FAST ABILITY TO CHANGE
COLOR AND BLEND WITH
THE ENVIRONMENT.
YOU CAN SEE IT TAKING SHAPE AND
LOOKING JUST LIKE THAT ROCK.
YOU CAN HARDLY
SEE WHERE IT IS.
THEY CAN CHANGE TO WHERE THEY
LOOK JUST THE COLOR OF THE SAND.
THEY'RE PRETTY FAST, SO
THEY'RE NOT THAT EASY TO GET.
THE INNER TIDAL ZONE IS
THE RICHEST PART OF THE
WHOLE MARINE ENVIRONMENT,
OR THE SHORE ZONE,
BECAUSE ONE OF THE MOST
LIMITING RESOURCES IN THE
MARINE ENVIRONMENT
IS LIGHT.
THE WHOLE FOOD CHAIN IS
BASED ON ALGAE AND ALGAE
PLANTS REQUIRE LIGHT AND
AS YOU GET INTO THE DEEP
LAYERS OF THE OCEAN, YOU
GET LESS AND LESS LIGHT
AVAILABLE FOR
PHOTOSYNTHESIS.
SO IT'S ONLY ON THE
SURFACE LAYERS OF THE
OCEAN WHERE THERE'S ENOUGH
LIGHT TO FEED THE FOOD
CHAIN AND ALONG
THE SHORES,
BECAUSE OF THE PHYSICAL
SUBSTRATE THAT PLANTS HAVE
TO ATTACH TO, THERE'S A LOT
OF PRODUCTION OF ALGAE.
THIS IS A TURBAN SNAIL,
TURBO FLUCTUOSA,
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT
OF THE HERBIVORES THAT
FEED THE ALGAE ON THE ROCKS
HERE IN THE INNER TIDAL ZONE.
SERGEANT MAJORS FEED ON
TINY ISOPODS AND AMPHIPODS
THAT LIVE IN AND AROUND
DIFFERENT SPECIES OF SEAWEEDS.
SEAWEEDS ARE IMPORTANT FOR
MICROHABITATS FOR A LOT OF
FOOD SPECIES FOR FISH. AND
HERE'SSOME GOBIES.
GOBIES ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR
ABILITY TO TOLERATE THE EXPOSURE
AND THE HIGHER TEMPERATURES
FOUND IN THE INNER TIDAL ZONES.
THERE'S ALSO A CLINGFISH. IT
ACTUALLY LIVES
ATTACHED TO THE
BOTTOMS OF THE ROCKS IN
THE INNER TIDAL ZONE
WHERE THEY'RE QUITE
ABLE TO WITHSTAND
DRY CONDITIONS.
ALTHOUGH THEY
PREFER IT MOIST,
THEY CAN TOLERATE
SOME EXPOSURE.
THEY LIVE UNDER THE ROCKS
AND THEY'RE BARNACLE EATERS.
THE THATCHED
BARNACLE IS TYPICAL,
AN INDICATOR SPECIES FOR
THE HIGH INNER TIDAL ZONE.
THIS LARGE BARNACLE HAS A
RELATIVELY SMALL SURFACE
AREA RELATIVE TO ITS BODY
VOLUME ENABLING IT TO
WITHSTAND THE EXPOSURE AND
POTENTIAL DESICCATION IT
ENCOUNTERS IN
THESE HIGH ZONES.
BECAUSE THERE'S A LIMITED
AMOUNT OF SHORE ALONG THE WORLD,
THERE'S A LIMITED AMOUNT
OF SPACE TO ATTACH TO,
AND ROCKY INNER TIDAL
ZONES ARE ESPECIALLY
IMPORTANT BECAUSE
THEY'RE MUCH,
MUCH MORE DURABLE OR, IT'S
MUCH EASIER TO ATTACH TO A
ROCKY SUBSTRATE THAN TO
TRY TO ATTACH TO SAND,
MOVING, CONSTANTLY
MOVING SAND GRAINS.
THE SUN STAR'S
PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT AND
A SYMBOL TO US HERE AT
PUERTO PEÑASCO BECAUSE BY
EATING A LOT OF DIFFERENT
THINGS IN THAT COMMUNITY,
THE SUN STAR WAS ABLE TO
KEEP THE NUMBERS DOWN SO
THAT A LOT OF SPECIES
COULD CO-EXIST
TOGETHER ENHANCING THE
DIVERSITY.
COMPLEXITY IN AN ECOSYSTEM
IS EQUAL TO STABILITY,
SO THERE ARE LOTS OF
CHECKS AND BALANCES AND SO
WHEN WE GO TO EXPLOIT ANY
RESOURCE IN THE MARINE
ENVIRONMENT AND WE
GO FOR ONE RESOURCE,
WE'RE RAKING HAVOC ON THE
SYSTEM AND ESPECIALLY IF
THE SYSTEM DOES NOT HAVE A
LOT OF CHECKS AND BALANCES.
[NATURE SOUNDS]
GETTING A HANDLE ON JUST HOW
WOUND TOGETHER RELATIONS ARE
BETWEEN ALL THESE CREATURES
IS THE WORK OF NATURALISTS.
THEY PROBABLY COME THE
CLOSEST TO SPEAKING ALL
THE NAMES AND
RECOGNIZING THE FACES.
LIKE THE FULL MOON
PULLS THE TIDE,
THE DESERT SHORE'S GOT SOME
DEEP-DOWN PULL ON A NATURALIST.
HERONS THAT YOU CAN
SEE FEEDING ALONG THE
COAST OF THE SEA OF CORTEZ
ARE KIND OF INTERESTING.
THE YELLOW CROWN NIGHT HERON
WADES
IN SHALLOW WATER AND CATCHES
CRABS.
THE GREAT BLUE HERON STALKS VERY
SLOWLY, VERY SLOWLY
MOVING ITS FEET
IN SEARCH OF PREY
WHICH COULD BE A WHOLE VARIETY
OF THINGS, BUT FREQUENTLY
IS FISH WHICH IT'LL STAB
OR GRAB OUT OF THE WATER.
THE LITTLE BLUE HERON IS
A LITTLE BIT MORE ACTIVE
HERON THAT YOU SOMETIMES
SEE RUNNING AROUND IN
SHALLOW WATER TRYING
TO CATCH THINGS.
ANOTHER ONE, ANOTHER HERON
IS THE SNOWY EGRET THAT
USES A PARTICULAR
BEHAVIOR,
A LITTLE FOOT SHAKING
BEHAVIOR WHERE IT WILL
WALK VERY CAREFULLY
THROUGH THE WATER AND
SHAKE ITS ONE FOOT IT HAS
UP OFF THE GROUND AS IT
MOVES AND THIS IS A TACTIC
TO STARTLE PREY OR TO
BRING THEM TO THE SURFACE
WHERE THEY CAN SEE THEM.
BUT NOW ALL THE HERONS ALONG
THE COASTLINE ARE WATER LOVING.
IN FACT THE CATTLE EGRET IS
AN EGRET THAT IS KNOWN FOR
AND TAKES ITS NAME BECAUSE IT
FOLLOWS CATTLE AROUND IN GRASSY
PASTURES AND GATHERS THE INSECTS
THAT THE CATTLE SCARE UP.
KIND OF AN INTERESTING
BIRD BECAUSE IT'S,
IN JUST THIS CENTURY, HAS MOVED
INTO THE NEW WORLD FROM AFRICA.
ALONG THE SEA OF
CORTEZ, OF COURSE,
DESERT SCRUB VEGETATION
DOESN'T GET VERY HIGH AND THE
BIG TALL COLUMNAR CACTUS LIKE
THE CARDONS SERVE AS ROOSTS.
A LOT OF THE GULLS THAT
NORMALLY WOULD HAVE TO FLY
TO SOME ISOLATED ISLAND
OR SEA SHORE TO ROOST AT
NIGHT CAN USE THE TOPS OF
CARDON CACTUS TO ROOST IN.
AND VULTURES, BLACK
VULTURES AND TURKEY
VULTURES THAT HAVE TO FIND
TALL TREES TO STAY OUT OF
THE WAY OF POTENTIAL
PREDATORS,
WILL FREQUENTLY USE CARDON
CACTUSES TO ROOST ON.
AND IN FACT, THEY WILL
FREQUENT THE SAME PATCH OF
CARDONS WITH
GREAT REPETITION,
AND YOU CAN FIND
THESE PLACES PRETTY
EASILY BY JUST LOOKING
FOR WHITEWASHED
CARDONS FROM ALL THE VULTURE
DROPPINGS.
AND, OF COURSE, OTHER BIRDS
WILL USE THOSE CARDONS TOO.
RED TAIL HAWKS
WILL PERCH IN THEM.
RED TAIL HAWKS WILL BUILD NESTS
IN THEM. OSPREYS NEST IN THEM.
BUT THEY, THEY ARE ONE OF
THE DOMINANT STRUCTURES IN
THAT SHORE LINE, THE SHORE
SIDE OF THE SHORE LINE,
AND A LOT OF THE BIRDS USE THEM
FOR ROOSTING OR LOOKOUT PLACES.
[NATURE SOUNDS]
CARDONS WITH WITH
OSPREY HOMES ON TOP
ARE FAMILIAR IN THE SIERRA
BACHA.
ABOUT A THIRD OF THE WAY ALONG
THE SHORE FROM
PUERTO PEÑASCO SOUTH TO
GUAYMAS IS THIS ONE-OF-A-KIND
PATCH OF MOUNTAIN DESERT
RIGHT NEXT TO DEEP OCEAN.
HERE AMONG THE CARDONS IS
WHERE THE SARI INDIANS
BELIEVE SOME GIANT
ANCESTORS WERE SWALLOWED UP
BY A GREAT FLOOD AND THAT WASN'T
ENTIRELY THE END OF THE GIANTS.
THEY WERE TURNED
INTO BOOJUM TREES,
SO BOOJUMS ARE
POWERFUL TREES.
IF YOU CUT THEM, YOU
CAUSE THE WIND TO BLOW.
THE SIERRA BACHA TENDS TO
PUSH YOUR IMAGINATION, THOUGH.
IT'S GOT BOOJUMS AND
TEDDY BEARS AND FOG.
THAT'S RIGHT, AS IN LONDON FOG.
THE CARDON IS THE VERY LARGE,
COLUMNAR CACTUS WHICH IT FORMS A
FOREST ON THE SAND DUNES JUST
NORTH OF THE SIERRA BACHA.
IT'S ONE OF THE LARGEST
COLUMNAR CACTI,
AND EVEN THOUGH IT
SUPERFICIALLY LOOKS LIKE
THE SAGUARO, IT'S REALLY
NOT VERY CLOSELY RELATED.
THE CARDONS HAVE A LARGE
FLESHY FRUIT THAT TURNS
BRIGHT RED WHEN IT'S RIPE
AND THE FLESH INSIDE IS
VERY TASTY; IT TASTES KIND
OF LIKE FIGS AND IT'S
EATEN BY PEOPLE AND WHATEVER
ANIMALS CAN REACH IT.
THE SONORAN DESERT IS
REALLY MADE UP OF TWO
AREAS WHICH HAVE DIFFERENT
EVOLUTIONARY HISTORIES.
ABOUT TWELVE MILLION YEARS
AGO THE BAJA CALIFORNIA
PENINSULA SPLIT APART
FROM MAINLAND MEXICO AND,
LEAVING THE PLANTS ON
THE MAINLAND ITSELF.
THEN THE THINGS THAT WERE
ON THE PENINSULA UNDERWENT
A MAJOR EVOLUTIONARY
RADIATION.
THE SIERRA BACHA IS A
SPECIAL DESERT MOUNTAIN
RANGE SITUATED ON THE
EDGE OF THE COAST.
[WAVES RUSHING]
SIERRA BACHA IS A UNIQUE
PLACE BECAUSE IT HAS
MANY ELEMENTS THAT ARE TYPICAL
OF THE GULF COAST
PART OF THE SONORAN DESERT
BUT IT ALSO HAS A NUMBER
OF RELIC POPULATIONS
OF BAJA CALIFORNIA THINGS.
SO IT SUPPORTS A BIOTIC MIXTURE
THAT YOU CAN'T
REALLY FIND ANY
PLACE ELSE.
THE BOOJUM TREE WAS ONE OF
THE BAJA PLANTS THAT EVOLVED
AS THE PENINSULA WAS ISOLATED
AND BEGAN TO MOVE NORTH.
THE BOOJUM TREES ARE A
CLOSE RELATIVE OF THE
OCOTILLO WHICH IS
WIDESPREAD IN THE NORTH
AMERICAN DESERTS AND
THEY'RE IN THE SAME GENUS
AND THE SAME FAMILY BUT
IT'S A SERIES OF PERHAPS A
DOZEN SPECIES THAT ARE FOUND
WELL SOUTH INTO MEXICO. A
BOOJUM TREE IS A BIZARRE
PLANT THAT'S SHAPED LIKE AN
UPSIDE-DOWN CARROT. IN THE
WINTER TIME IT WILL PUT ON
LEAVES AND HAVE MOST OF ITS
GROWTH AND THEN LATER IN
THE SPRING WHEN IT GETS HOT,
THE LEAVES WILL FALL OFF
BUT IT MAINLY FLOWERS
IN THE SUMMER TIME.
THE SIERRA BACHA IS THE ONLY
MAINLAND LOCALITY FOR THE PLANT.
TEDDY BEAR CHOLLAS IN
THE SIERRA BACHA ARE
ESPECIALLY DENSE FOR SUCH
A DRY PLACE AND THE SIERRA
BACHA SITS NEXT TO THE
OCEAN THERE ON A COASTAL
SETTING AND IT HAS MUCH
HIGHER RELATIVE HUMIDITY
THAN DRYER, MORE INLAND
PARTS OF THE DESERT.
THE TEDDY BEAR CHOLLA
FOREST THERE IS AS DENSE
AS ANYWHERE THAT
YOU CAN FIND IT.
IT ALSO HAS A SPECIAL
LOCAL CLIMATIC FEATURE IN
THAT THE WATER OFF THE
COAST IS VERY DEEP AND
THERE'S AN UP WELLING OF COLD
WATER WHICH COOLS OFF THE SUMMER
TEMPERATURES AND GENERATES
FOGS IN THE WINTER TIME.
SO IT ENDS UP WITH A NARROW
STRIP OF A FOG BELT ALONG
THE COAST. AND IT'S DUE TO THIS
FOG BELT THAT MANY OF THE BAJA
CALIFORNIA PLANTS CAN
PERSIST ALONG THE COAST.
DRY LAND, THE POWER
IN THAT LITTLE PHRASE
PROBABLY COMES FROM PEOPLE
WHO LIVE WITH THE SEA,
MEANING SAFE AGAIN, BACK
IN YOUR OWN ELEMENT.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL THOUGHT TO
ANYBODY
WHO'S BEEN OUT OF THE WATER TOO
LONG.
OF COURSE, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING
ABOUT THE DESERT,
DRY LAND MIGHT SOUND
LIKE A DIFFERENT STORY.
TRUTH IS, THE SONORAN
DESERT IS FAMILIAR AND
WELCOMING AND SAFE FOR LOTS OF
LIVING THINGS FROM BOTH WORLDS,
JUST LIKE IT DOES TO LONESOME
SAILORS, DRY LAND MEANS HOME.
[MUSIC]
MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE DESERT
SPEAKS HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY
ASARCO, INC., AN INTEGRATED
PRODUCER OF NONFERROUS METALS
AND OTHER INDUSTRIAL MINERALS
AND PRODUCTS.
ASARCO, INC., ADDING VALUE
TO NATURE'S RESOURCES.