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.