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The Desert Speaks Story Lines
Season One - missing Season Two What Is a Desert? Everyone has an image of "the desert." It's usually a hot, dry place with not too much happening. But what is a desert, really? In this program, look for a broader definition of thee term "desert." The show may challenge your ideas about the way you look at Mother Nature's more arid regions. There are different seasons, different plants and animals, and even different types of deserts. The Origin of the Sonoran Desert: The Origin of the Sonoran Desert travels to the Sierra de Alamos, a small mountain range isolated from the Sierra Madre, filled with white rock spires - or "Los Frailes," (the friars). Compare the differences between the Sonoran Desert and the deciduous tropical forest. Learn about the geological formations which, over millions of years, have produced the Sonoran Desert. Desert Riparian Areas: Desert Riparian Areas focuses on the arduous journey of water from the upper reaches of the watershed, through narrow canyons, to wider canyons, and finally to a river in the sunbaked Sonoran Desert valley. These precious "ribbons of green" in the desert are scarce and valuable resources for desert flora and fauna. The Pinacate: The Pinacate is like another world. At first glance, barren and desolate, but full of surprises! Explore the hottest and driest region of North America. Just south of the Arizona/Sonora border, this land of lava, giant craters and sand dunes is remarkable dynamic, despite temperatures topping 150 degrees. Research in the Desert: Research in the Desert focuses on some amazing research projects which help the wild inhabitants of the desert. Explore how humans effect the desert environment and how desert animals are adapting to survive cohabitation with people. Spring in the Sonoran Desert: Spring in the Sonoran Desert is a time of beauty and abundant life. It seems like the desert tries to make up for its inhospitable reputation in one big splash of exuberance and color during this time of year. Take a peek at the wildlife spring brings to the Sonoran Desert as the birds and bees get their time in the sun. Environmental Education: There's always something new to learn about the Sonoran Desert. This program takes a look at some fascinating ways people can learn about the desert. The preservation of the desert depends essentially on the environmental education we provide today. Season Three The Colorado River: The Colorado River explores riparian areas surrounding the Colorado River as it meanders through the Sonoran Desert. Travel to the Grand Canyon and see how dams along the river continue to change the habitat, through flood control, water storage and the generation of electricity. The program examines re-vegetation of cottonwood and willow forests, and the reintroduction of native fish species to the area. The Gulf of California: As the Colorado River empties into the Gulf of California, also known as the Sea of Cortez, this program examines the shore birds and sea mammals inhabiting the gulf and how they use the resources of the sea. Take a close-up look at a tide pool and the microcosm of animal communities within these miniature "windows of the sea." Visit the Sierra Bacha, and see a unique plant community on the mainland side of Mexico. Desert Islands: Explore some real desert islands - dotting the Gulf of California - where birds, plants and animals struggle for survival in a harsh environment they call home. Take a look at endemic species of reptiles and plants found only on some of these islands, and see how these special islands serve as roosting and nesting area for sea birds. Biodiversity: Biodiversity is an interesting concept some say may lead to clues important for medical cures. From prickly pear cactus and cholesterol to the genetics of endangered wolves, this program examines how many mysteries are being solved and many benefits realized by the study of the desert - from creosote flats to pinon juniper. Also, follow the fate of the endangered lily. Discover that the desert's biodiversity has a value all its own. Research in the Southwest: Scientists come from all over the world to study at the Southwestern Research Station, nestled near southern Arizona's Chiricahua Mountain range. The station's unique location makes it accessible to an amazing group of wildlife and plant life. Travel to this unique section of the Sonoran Desert and discover the oddities of many desert inhabitants, and the vast variety of environments existing only miles apart. See hummingbirds, lizards and endangered plants, and examine the science of studying tree rings - dendrochronology. Restoring Desert Rivers: Restoring Desert Rivers focuses on a new science called "restoration ecology." See how biologists are trying to set things right by restoring the desert riparian area to their original condition by eliminating exotic plants and re-introducing native birds. How, what and where to restore are questions they grapple with. Investigate how some non-indigenous plants are causing great harm to the desert vegetation. Insects and Spiders: This tiny majority is often overlooked in the desert, yet they are everywhere - and, in vast quantities. Get the facts on desert insects and arthropods, their methods of locomotion, defense and their role in the Sonoran Desert habitat. This program takes a telescopic perspective on insects and arthropods. These tiny desert inhabitants can be fascinating and actually play an important role in our Sonoran ecology. Desert Grasslands: Desert Grasslands examines a seemingly placid grassland environment. This serene environment holds many secrets. Discover fascinating facts about what lives camouflaged by the gently blowing grasses and see what it takes to replicate this environment for our study and enjoyment, and follow the construction of a grasslands habitat at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. There's a lot more going on here than you might think! Season Four The Natural History of the Baja: Explore the natural history of the Peninsula of Baja California through its geography, vegetation variances and endemic species. The program looks at the isolation and ecology of the region, and examines the many species of plants and animals adapted to the Baja. The People of the Baja: Take a look at ecotourism, examine the survival of coastal sea birds, go along on a whale watching expedition, try sea kayaking, visit some of the Catholic missions in the Baja, and explore the myths of volcanoes in the area. Also, this program looks at the prehistoric indigenous peoples of the Baja Peninsula. Saguaro: King of the Cactus: Did you know the mighty saguaro cactus came to the Sonoran Desert region after the last Ice Age, thousands of years ago? That's just one of the fascinating facts in this program, which looks at the large, straight, tall and striking cactus. The program looks at the history of the saguaro, its life cycle and how the great cactus uses - and is used by - various plants, insects and animals. Also, find out what is being done to preserve and protect the fragile Saguaro ecosystem. Desert Sand Dunes: The typical desert is devoid of life, rugged and full of endless sand dunes, right? Not necessarily. This program focuses on the many plants, reptiles and insects who make their homes among the seemingly barren dunes. Examine the geography and dynamics of the shifting desert sands. Adventures in the Desert: Visit the fabulous Topcock Gorge, travel along the Rio Yaqui, and take in the sights at the Muleshoe Ranch. This program focuses on some of the many recreational uses of the desert, such as rock climbing and mountain biking. Tiny, but Tenacious: Sometimes it pays to look at things on a small scale. In the Sonoran Desert, abundant life may be found in the most interesting places. This program examines butterflies, hummingbirds, and other tiny denizens of the desert who need large, protected habitats to continue their life cycle. Take a close-up look at an aquatic insect in the Santa Cruz River used to determine water quality. Lions and Lizards and Ants, Oh My! Learn more about the habits and lifestyles of desert animals, including mountain lions and lizards. Take a special look at ant behavior and the diet of the desert tortoise. Science and the Sonoran Desert: Travel to the San Esteban Islands to search for chuckwallas, take a close look at the Aravaipa Canyon native fish, learn how scientists use radio tracking to follow and find the desert tortoise, and explore the value of research on desert insects in a program devoted to desert research. Stingers, Fangs and Needles: Take a fascinating look at the different types of plants, animals and insects in the Sonoran Desert which use poisons and other toxic substances for offensive weapons, protection and survival. Learn the medicinal benefits of certain venoms and find out what measures to take in the event of an unfortunate encounter with one of these desert creatures. Birds in the Sonoran Desert: This program checks on a research project at Ramsey Canyon for banding hummingbirds, examines the effect of the different desert seasons on birds, offers tips on what to look for when trying to identify different species of birds, and offers techniques for bird watching. Season Five Bats: Bats -- the night-time counterpart to birds -- are the only mammals that truly take wing. These furry flyers take care of business at night, eating insects, pollinating flowers, and generally playing a vital role in the desert ecosystem. This program highlights the natural history of these mammals, offering recent research which puts bats in a better light than belfries and bad Bela Lugosi movies. Take a look at mommy bats and their cuddly offspring, and learn how bats adapt to different environments, and find their way around in the dark. The Mayo Tribe: Literally, ethnobotany is the scientific study of how people use plants. We commonly use plants for food and medicines, but most of the time, we are far removed from the plant itself. Some people - such as the Mayo Indians of southern Sonora, Mexico - have closer, traditional relationships with their flora. The Mayo turn to plants for a variety of uses - from medicines to making furniture. The Verde River: In the desert, a river is a celebrity. Plants, animals, fish -- and people, are drawn to the life-giving water. Travel on the Verde River to learn its natural history and see the impact humans are having in the use and preservation of this singular habitat. See efforts to reintroduce native fish to the river, and see some sensitive species that call the river their home, including the rare, neo-tropical songbird, the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher. You'll also get a glimpse of two desert inhabitants that might not normally come to mind when you think of cactus and sand and desert rivers -- beaver and otter! The Question Makers: One universal thing about kids -- they always want to know "why?" This inquisitiveness is the focus of this episode. The program looks at bees (there are more than 30 native Sonoran Desert species) and their critical role in pollination of desert plants. Also, you're in the operating gallery as scientists perform a surgery on a black tail rattlesnake in order to implant a radio-tracking device under its skin. Learn how the Mexican Jay has a highly sophisticated and social fashion of rearing its young -- part of new research on monogamy and polygamy and the study of social structure among desert animals. Frogs: You'll be "ribetted" to your screen in this all-frog program! "Frogs," as one philosopher/ecologist puts it, "are to the planet what canaries were to miners." In other words, as go frogs, so go people. And amphibians are in global decline. The good news is new species of frogs are still being discovered. The program looks at bull frogs, the most common frog in North America, yet an "exotic" species to the desert southwest, which is eating up other amphibians' habitat, and causing the decline of amphibians worldwide. Also, take a trip with "The Frog Squad," a group of 5gh graders who are helping survey a riparian area in their community. Research Notes on Survival Strategies: Did you know that the horned lizard (often mistakenly labeled a "horny toad") offers different responses depending upon which type of attacker it meets? What color is a frog? If you - like most people - thought "green" you were mistaken. There is no green in a frog's skin. The blue and yellow pigment in their skin just looks green to our eyes. These are just a few interesting facts learned through research or our desert dwellers. Learn about frogs, toads, snakes, spiders and moths in this episode. Sensitive Species: Take a rare, literally "inside" look at Kartchner Cavern, an immense cave that probably has only been visited by a couple hundred people in modern times. Discovered more than 20 years ago, Kartchner Cavern has only recently been openly publicized. The keepers of the cave are attempting to protect and preserve the many sensitive environments and formations within by protecting the habitat itself. Formed millions of years ago by the San Pedro River, the cave has more than 100 different kinds of formations. In addition, the program visits the San Pedro River, also a "sensitive" habitat and riparian area. Mountain Building in the Desert: The basin and range geological formation of the mountains in the Sonoran Desert region is unique to the planet. This program tells the geological story of these mountain ranges, and explains why the Sonoran Desert landscape we see today was formed during the reign of the dinosaur, 65 million years ago. Also, visit an archaeological site that shows Imperial Mammoths ranged into this region. Tending the Wild: If you've ever been to a zoo, you may have wondered about how the animals are cared for. This program looks at the care given to captive animals at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. How do the curators keep the animals happy, active, healthy and acting naturally. When an animal is in the wild, every waking moment is spent in survival. In captivity, where food, shelter, mates and an enemy-free environment are provided, animals have more free time than nature intended and sometimes they get bored. The program looks at the physical and philosophical aspects of keeping animals captive, how to "enrich" their lives, display them to the public, and, in some cases, relocate them back into the wild. The Sex Life of Desert Animals: Learn how desert animals court, mate, reproduce and rear their young in this fascinating look at procreation amongst the cacti. Considering that these desert animals' main focus in life is either searching for and eating food, or reproduction of themselves, fully one-half of their life is spent looking for love in all the wrong - or right places! The program looks at creatures (mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, and frogs) with varying degrees of interest in their opposite sex - from species who "couple" without courtship to committed relationships which include extensive parenting. Animal Point of View: What does it feel like to be a non-human resident of the Sonoran Desert? What do these creatures see? What do they hear - or, in the case of some animals - not hear? Become a desert dweller for a half-hour during this eye-opening program filled with insects, birds, mammals, reptiles, fish and amphibians. Find out how birds learn their varied and melodic language. Learn how bats use echolocation to survive. And learn about some fo the special senses some animals have, including infrared sensing. From the Plant's Point of View: No, it's not the next "Donahue" program. It's a fascinating look at how plants reproduce. Did you know a cactus has the same sexual "body" parts as a human? Learn this, and other fantastic facts in this pollen-packed program, including how plants are "designed" to get pollinated by the right thing (some plants have built-in platforms to make it easier for bees to land, some plants have certain shapes and colors attractive to hummingbirds). And how do plants know when to let go of their leaves or adapt to arid climates? You'll find the answers to these and other "sexy" questions on "The Desert Speaks." Adventurers & Explorers: What kind of adventure does a desert river offer? Try canoeing and kayaking down the Verde River. See how Forest Service Rangers use canoes to patrol the river, protecting the fragile environment, while aiding in responsible recreation activities. Whether on the water, or under the earth, there are many adventures in store for visitors to the Sonoran Desert region. Season Six The Power of Fire: A fire in the desert has a major effect on the habitat and its inhabitants. This program looks at restoring the natural role of fire in the desert grasslands, and explorers future fire management techniques and philosophies. The Colorado, A Desert River: Take a trip down the Colorado River for an in-depth look at its natural history. Although the river exposes faces of rock billions of years old, this program examines relatively recent changes along its path. The program also shows how even this river environment has elements of several deserts, and looks at a 100 year photo study of vegetation changes along the river's course. (First of two parts). The Colorado, Changes: The focus of this program is the Glen Canyon Environmental Studies along the Colorado River. Researchers use computers and other high-tech methods to measure changes in the river environment and some of its native inhabitants. Find out about his scientific study focusing on the future of this mighty river. (Second of two parts). Desert Architecture: Learn how birds, bees and animals cope with the extremes of a harsh desert landscape - heat, aridity and a relentless sun. See how humans are creating comfortable desert edifices by adapting various animal desert survival strategies. The Desert Night: Explore the desert at night. It's a different world when the sun goes down. As night falls and temperatures drop, plants pollinate, insects migrate toward light, and reptiles cavort in the desert. Nocturnal creatures abound in this moonlit environment. Also, learn why a desert sunset is unique. Climate Detectives: How do scientists discover the secrets of climate change? This program investigates how researchers learn about past climates through tree-ring analysis, fossil dung, dinosaur bones and other clues. Desert Water Holes: This vision of an oasis in the desert is plain - a clean pool of water, surrounded by palm trees in a barren stretch of sand. learn the facts about different types of real Sonoran desert water holes and the life that abounds around them. Plant and Animal Partners: Animals and plants play an important role in each other's existence. Birds disperse seeds by eating berries, flowers change color to attract the right kind of pollinators, wasps have oak trees create homes for them, and, by building their homes in the earth, ants aerate the soil. It's a delicate dance of survival and growth. Exploring Animal Behavior: The Desert Speaks crew visits the Southwestern Research Station in Arizona's Chiricahua Mountains to explore research as it effects us. Also take a look at how hummingbirds compete for limited resources, how other birds forage, the meaning of lizard push-ups, and how tarantulas find their mates. Guardians of the Land: Nestled in the mountains along the Arizona-Mexico border, a U.S. Army post, Fort Huachuca, is doing its part as steward of the land. While civilian researchers survey vegetation, gauge stream flow, and keep close watch over a variety of desert creatures, from local birds to mountain lions, this "army of caretakers" help to facilitate preservation of the area. Death, the Beginning of Life: As plants and animals die, other organisms rise to take their place, continuing the natural cycle of life in the desert. And while life cycles vary, some trees live for centuries, others only a fraction of that, the ebb and flow of life and death in the Sonoran desert region is a constant. Baja's Pacific Islands, Part 1: Often depicted as desolate and lifeless, the island off the Baja have a thriving community of elephant seals, nesting osprey and plants. This, the first of two programs on the area, also explores "eco-tourism," a way of visiting these rare and fragile places while trying to preserve them. Baja's Pacific Islands, Part 2: The last program of season six continues exploring the lagoons and waterways along the Pacific Baja islands and takes a close-up look at gray whales and sea lions. Also, visit a volcanic fog desert island where plants count on moisture from fog for survival rather than rainfall. Season Seven Forgotten Pollinators: Pollinators that help produce the food we eat are disappearing - especially bees, hummingbirds, bats, moths and butterflies. About every third bite off your plate is the result of wild pollinators. Commercial agriculture operations (including tomato and apple growers) depend on help from these creatures in their fields and orchards. But wild pollinators are in decline due to habitat destruction, pesticides and shrinking migratory corridors. This program helps explain the interdependence between species. Also, learn how to attract wild pollinators to your own backyard. Jumping Cactus & Other Myths: Did you know the javelina is not a pig? Rattlesnakes always rattle before, right? Wrong! This program examines - and dispels - many of the myths and stereotypes created by the media surrounding the Sonoran Desert region. The show focuses on such myths as "the jumping cholla," (a type of cactus that seems to leap onto unsuspecting bystanders; whether owls can rotate their heads 360 degrees; whether hummingbirds ever rest, and do they really hitchhike on the backs of wild geese to migrate? There are some who believe snakes don't have bones and that bats are blind and rapid. Above Sonora's Rio Yaqui: Farming with a mule and a plow. Gathering seed by hand. Antiquated? Not along the Rio Yaqui in Sonora, Mexico. This program focuses on age-old agricultural techniques as they have been traditionally practiced and visits a spot near the eastern edge of the Sonoran Desert where traditional practices are still in use. Learn the importance of river systems on the agriculture - and ultimately, the people - on the state of Sonora, the "breadbasket" of Mexico. The program looks at how farmers control water with simple dams for use in irrigation, and the impact of their actions. By using these agricultural techniques these farmers co-exist with migratory birds and animals of the region in a simple, yet productive lifestyle. A Desert Museum: Get behind-the-scenes glimpse of a living museum as you've never seen it before. The program covers a day in the life of the world-renowned Arizona - Sonora Desert Museum. What happens after the visitors leave for the day? Take a gander at minerals that glow in the dark, scorpions, snakes and other desert wonders. There's also a look at the Museum's nighttime programs, where education is the goal. Also learn about some of the problems curators face, including dealing with over-friendly wild coyotes and creating invisible fences to make it easier to see the desert creatures in a natural-looking habitat. Birds of Passage: Image traveling across mountain ranges, tropical forests and bleak desert wastelands. Now imagine such travel with no means of transportation, no luggage or money, and no hotel reservations when you get there - if you get there. And, of course, there's the return trip. That's basically what millions of birds do each year as they follow their instincts and migrate from Colorado's Rocky Mountains to Guadalajara, Mexico, dealing with a wide range of geographical extremes along the way. The program looks at recent studies on migratory birds, and examines the resources of these winged frequent flyers in both their winter and summer home ranges. Desert Home Construction: This almost sounds like a new version of the classic children's story, "The Three Little Pigs." Houses made of straw and sticks and bricks. Actually, this episode examines alternatives to traditional building methods, and explains how to build a home in an arid environment. Three different types of construction are profiled: adobe brick, straw bales, and rammed earth. The program shows how builders use local materials and resources to create comfortable living environments, taking into account energy efficiencies, building techniques, materials and design considerations. Insect Investigations: This program focuses on four different insect species and looks at some unique characteristics. The Horse Lubber Grasshopper is one of the few insects that is truly a "picky" eater. It decides what to eat based on how things taste. The Boxing Fly staunchly defends its territory and egg masses, and deposits its eggs in a special host organism - a walnut. The Water Beetle is a voracious predator, eating other insects, fish and even birds. The males act as hosts for egg-laying (on their backs), and they carry the eggs until hatched. The Agave Moth is part of an intricate, balanced and mutually beneficial relationship, acting as a pollinator for a flower. In turn, the flower acts as a "nursery" for the moth's offspring. The caterpillars eat the flower's seeds. Santa Catalina Mountains: This program visits one mountain range in the Sonoran Desert, the Santa Catalinas. The mountains feature such a variety of different life zones from top to bottom, it's like traveling from Canada - with its fir trees - to the cactus-filled desert of Mexico, all within a 30 mile range. Interestingly, different animals inhabit the different life zones. These eco-zones actually define the species living there. This episode also looks at some management issues including the role of fire, urban encroachment, and managing wilderness areas for recreation. Unwelcome Guests: For a variety of reasons, exotic species exist in just about every habitat on earth. This episode focuses on the impact "exotics" have on their non-native environments. Species examined include the Green Sunfish, Crayfish, and some exotic grasses. The program looks at how decisions are made regarding what to do about non-native species. Agave: Thorn of Plenty: Though probably one of the least friendly looking inhabitants of the Sonoran Desert region, the agave) pronounced: ah-gah' -vay) is really a useful plant with a surprising history. This program answers the question, "What is an agave?" This episode also looks at the historical and contemporary cultivation and uses of this spiny ancestor of the lily. The agave has been a source of food, clothing and rope, but one of the most popular uses is in the production of tequila. Four Research Stories: Lizards and tadpoles and fungi, oh my! This program focuses on four very different research subjects. Did you know there are more species of undiscovered fungi (plural for fungus, which means mold or mushrooms) than there are undiscovered insects. But what are fungi? The Spadefoot Toad's offspring looks like any other tadpole, but depending on environmental conditions, this gentle vegetarian can turn into a ravenous carnivore! The Whip-Tail Lizard might offer a link to the ongoing research into the evolutionary process. In a real-life "Jurassic Park," this unisex lizard can actually clone itself to reproduce! And learn about the hybridization of the Ponderosa Pine as it adapts to changing climates at different mountain elevations. Desert Mosaic: Set to original music, and enhanced by narration, this special program takes a picturesque look at seven different ecological zones or biomes throughout the Sonoran Desert region. Stunning visual landscapes abound as you travel from the bottom of the Grand Canyon, through riparian areas, and volcanic fields to the Sonoran Desert proper. Explore sand dunes and tropical forests, and visit the Baja and the Gulf of California. This program proves the Sonoran Desert is a patchwork of many different environments. Season Eight Rattler! The first program in the new series of The Desert Speaks explores the relationship between humans and rattlesnakes. A quick warning, this episode takes a close-up look at rattlesnakes, so viewers who quiver at the idea of seeing eye-to-eye with a rattler take heed! There are basically three ways to deal with rattlers: ignore, live with, or interact with them. The program examines how different people view rattlesnakes. The researcher studies snakes to learn and apply knowledge, learn about ourselves in the process, and protect and manage the species. But rattlesnakes are also a commodity, as evidenced by the Rattlesnake Roundup in Sweetwater, Texas. In this small Texas town residents claim rattlers are out of control, so every year they hold a fundraising event which includes such exhibits as milking, handling, skinning and sexing snakes, as well as the ever-popular "Miss Rattlesnake" contest. Pinacate the Mysterious: Exploring The Pinacate, as one of the driest and last explored regions of North America, has been the goal of explorers through the ages. In 1907, at the end of the "Age of Discovery," a group of men set out on the last grand adventure, to explore what they believed to be the final great unknown surface on the planet. This group of sportsmen, photographers, geographers, lawmen and writers intended to write a book about their experience in this harsh, unmapped environment. The program recreates the expedition and corrects some of their impressions. Unbeknownst to them, humans have lived in and around the Pinacate for ages - and live there still. Touched by the Face of the Earth: Examine geological land forms in the desert and learn how people are intensely affected by them. This episode offers a look at people connecting with the landscape. A pilot/photographer flies an ultra-light aircraft low and slow through Monument Valley. Another photographer walks through the surreal landscape of slot canyons. A man builds a house into the rocks of Sedona as a healing process, and becomes part of nature in the process. And a rock climber tenuously touches and hugs the side of a mountain as a way of closing in on nature. Islands in Time: In the first of two related programs, explore the desert islands in the Gulf of California from Espiritu Santos to Coronados. On these volcanic islands see rare, black jack-rabbits and rattle-less rattlesnakes, learn how pelicans feed, and frolic with sea lions. Travel with a group of eco-tourists as they walk the beaches and hike the interior along the southern part of the Sea of Cortez. The Mexican Galapagos: This is the second program exploring the desert islands in the Sea of Cortez. This program travels from Martir to Isla Raza. See the evolution of new species due to the isolation of the desert islands. Visit a Mexican research biologist who - for the past 19 years - has lived with and protected nesting birds. Learn about Storm Petrels, Blue-Footed Boobies and rock-nesting bats, and take a look at a place where hundred of thousands of migratory birds travel each year to winter at the same square foot of real estate. Hidden Museum: "The best work is never seen" Take a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of cutting edge high-tech exhibits at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Exhibitors become masters of disguise when trying to make enclosed habitats invisible to museum visitors. See how rocks are "made." The program also examines how birds-of-prey are trained and displayed so visitors get a better glimpse of their natural lifestyle. Even the tiny ant is exhibited in a temperature and humidity-controlled environment. Jewels on the Wing: Explore the wonder of butterflies, moths and dragonflies. Southern Arizona contains come of the highest diversity of species of butterflies in North America. This episode offers a sampling of some of those species, offering a spectrum of colors, highlighting the richness and beauty of nature. Researchers examine behaviors of moths, which are sometimes referred to as "nighttime hummingbirds" because they hover and aid in natural pollination. Scientists study olfaction and what attracts moths. The section on dragon and damselflies focuses on these aquatic and terrestrial jewels with a brief examination of their life history. They are one of only a few species of insect that, throughout their lifecycle, require water, air and land. Emerald City: Visit what some say is the nation's largest gem and mineral show, held each February in Tucson, Arizona. People from around the world converge to show and sell everything from fine jewelry and precious stones to meteorites and dinosaur bones. The Life of a Rattlesnake: Definitely not for the squeamish, if you get a bit spooked at the sight of a rattlesnake close-up, you might want to watch this with a friend. The program takes a look at the natural history of rattlesnakes in the United States, from the Mexican border all the way North to Canada. This episode focuses on basic anatomy, feeding, denning, life history, social structure, interaction with others of its species and the rattler's role as both predator and prey - rattlesnakes are not as invincible as you might think! Plants Only a Mother Could Love: Some people collect coins and stamps, or breed dogs. These collectors are about to show you some of the weirdest plants you've ever seen. Visit a very special plant show in Los Angeles and see rare cacti and succulents that look like they could have come from a Martian landscape. Some of these bizarre plants are genetically mutated to make them even weirder. It's a competition for the strangest plants in the world. Eye of the Beholder: Learn to see nature with a new perspective. See the "real" desert by adjusting your pacing and viewpoint. Seek out evidence of the often unseen world around you. Different experts traipse the same pathway and see different things. This program offers clues and advice on what to look for and provides techniques which will allow you to pull back nature's curtain and get a closer look at the environment around you. The Beaten Path: Explore Mother Nature's reaction to desert roads. Learn about the origin and impact of paths and roads and how these pathways change the habitat around them. Game trails become human trails, which become roads. The program examines the border roads and trails along the Organ Pipe National Monument, and explores how some ancient roads and pathways are still used today - but for sometimes vastly different purposes. You Can Go Home Again: When native species are removed from their habitat, whole ecosystems change as a result. This program focuses on three types of animal: Beaver, antelope, and ferrets. All three have native species that have been exterminated in one way or another. The beaver were trapped, antelope were hunted, and ferrets poisoned incidentally in the process of wiping out prairie dog colonies. Now these three animals are coming home. they are being reintroduced into their native southern Arizona habitat and eco-system by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. This episode shows an antelope roundup using helicopters, and ferrets being taught to eat wild food. Season Nine Chiles: "Chiles" examines this icon of the desert Southwest. The program focuses on the culinary, medicinal and scientific uses of the plant. The program visits a chili pepper grower and asks what makes a chili pepper hot. How do you control/manage the heat of the pepper? Also, the show focuses on the different uses of chili peppers, such as regulating unwanted mammals from aviaries, and their use in analgesic rubs. There's also a light-hearted look at the cultural trappings of this spicy plant, and an explanation between a bowl of chili and a chili plant that can bowl you over! Across the Great Desert: Follow the 1909-1910 expedition of Norwegian scientist/explorer/writer Carl Lumholtz to the Gran Desierto (the Great Desert) in Sonora, Mexico. The adventurer explored the last undescribed, unexplored region of North America in the early part of the 20th century, spending months among the waterless sand dunes and salt mines of Northern Mexico from the Colorado River delta to the coast of the Sea of Cortez. The Lumholtz Expedition is an incredible story of survival for scientific purposes, featuring a recreation of the journey. The program features ethnobotanist/anthropologist/historian David Yetman and a preeminent modern-day explorer of this region, writer Bill Broyles. Baja's Loreto Bay: "Baja's Loreto Bay" focuses on the grassroots formation of a natural, protected area by the people who live there. This marine nature preserve, around Loreto on the shores of the Sea of Cortez, was the first in Mexico spearheaded by residents rather than the government. The people of this area rely on two different habitats for their survival. They have one foot in the mountains, and one foot in the sea. When they noticed the effects of organized industrial fishing on their lives, they decided to protect their native waters, a breeding ground for many fish. By making the area off-limits to "corporate fishing," they are helping to preserve their rich, cultural heritage, and their way of life. Backyard Spiders: Did you know engineers study spider webs to learn what makes them so strong? They've been compared to steel cables! This program looks at the spiders in your own back yard - and some special species as well. Learn how to enjoy spiders, not persecute or fear them. See how spiders make their webs, and how webs are used as a sort of "spider interstate." This show looks at the many different kinds of spiders, including rare "social spiders," which stay together in nests, and hunt communally for the good of the colony. Viewers will get a close-up look at jumping spiders - only the size of a small pencil eraser, but creatures with incredible visual acuity who live up to their name as a high-jumping arachnid. Also, the program looks at how hummingbirds use spider webs as the "glue" in nest-building. Ancient Culture: Visit the Chaco Culture National Historical Park in northwest New Mexico. Follow along with a professional and amateur archeologist as they take a look at the culture of the ancient inhabitants of this beautiful area through their architecture, rock art and migratory patterns. The native culture of the Chacoan people of this region extended for more than 100 miles, yet how the society vanished is still a mystery to this day. The two archeologists explore various theories for the disappearance of an entire society of people. Desert Animals: Through the use of fluoroscopy, or moving, live-action x-rays, learn how insects, reptiles, birds and mammals eat, move and function. See how bones and joints work from the inside, and learn how some animals have special traits uniquely adapted to the desert. Also, take a close-up look at the outside of some desert animals. See how a rattlesnake's skin is designed and so tough that it is hard to penetrate, yet designed for a smooth glide across the desert floor. The program uses high-technology to learn more about desert creatures. I Want THAT Job!, Part 1: "I want THAT job!" (Part 1) looks at interesting southwest outdoor occupations. Visit an eco-wrangler, who takes visitors on trail rides to teach them about natural eco-systems in the nature preserve where she works. Acting as a curator of the lands and a natural interpreter, she helps visitors experience the rich wonders of being in a nature preserve. Also, learn about two river guides who help manage the riverian ecosystem of the Salt River Canyon. The program also looks at the work involved in being a hot-air balloon pilot/guide among the Red Rocks of Sedona, Arizona; a big game officer from the Arizona Game and Fish Department who helps to reintroduce antelope and big horn sheep into the wilderness; and a private archeologist who proves that Indiana Jones doesn't just work for universities anymore. I Want THAT Job!, Part 2: "I want THAT job!" (Part 2) continues looking at interesting outdoor vocations. The program features visits with a forest firefighter; a newspaper writer who specializes in the outdoors; and an artist; and a mammalogy/ornithology keeper at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Killer Bees? Africanized honey bees are here to stay. The program explorers how this aggressive species of honey bee arrived in this country and why it's important that we learn more about them. This show tracks where these "killer bees" came from how long it took them to establish their colonies, and highlights the differences between Africanized and European honey bees. This newcomer to the southwestern United States has a well-deserved reputation for ferocity, and they are not going away. The program examines how far north these ferocious bees may migrate and looks at what you can do to prepare and protect yourself. An Inside Look at Beekeeping: "An Inside Look at Beekeeping" examines the beekeeping industry, from collecting the nectar in flowers to our own dining room table. Bees are an essential element in nature's work, both as pollinators and honey producers. Beekeepers take apart a bee hive to look at the various stages of honey production, and the social caste system of the inhabitants. The program visits a honey-processing factory and explores the issues of pollination, the distribution of honey, problems with hives, parasites, and how to manage the aggressiveness of the hive by replacing Africanized queen bees with the more docile European queens. Season Ten The Desert Speaks 10th Anniversary: Celebrate 10 years of extraordinary and award-winning programs on public television. This special program looks at where the series has been, how the show evolved both technically and in terms of content, and looks at what's on the horizon. Featuring clips from all ten seasons, the program focuses on how The Desert Speaks series has grown from a simple interpretation program to a broad, all-encompassing series exploring the plants, animals, geography, geology, and people and cultures of the Sonoran Desert region. River of Iron, Dreams of a Grand Canyon Railroad: Follow a group of modern-day adventurers on a raft trip down the Colorado River into the heart of the Grand Canyon as they retrace the historical exploits of Robert Brewster Stanton, an engineer cum explorer who set out to investigate the possibilities of building a railroad through the harsh, extreme terrain. Pulitzer Prize-winning author N. Scott Momaday hosts. [HDTV/Letterbox] In the Land of the Guarijio: The Guarijio Indians live in the southern portion of the state of Sonora, Mexico in the Sierra Madre Mountains. The tribe has lived in these mountains for centuries, but until the 1970's were held in virtual slavery by wealthy landowners. This program is about the Guarijio and their land. through an uprising, they regained control of the land they call home, located in a tropical deciduous forest rich in plants and animals. The Guarijio are intimately tied to the land. The program features ethnobotanist David Yetman from the University of Arizona's Southwest Center. Mesquite, Tree of Life: This program surveys the role of the Mesquite tree in the desert Southwest. lean about the giant Mesquite Bug, which lives solely on this thorny habitat, and discover the many uses humans have for the Mesquite; from culinary (as a barbecue additive) to furniture making. Also, view artifacts from the Arizona State Museum of different items made of Mesquite highlighting the cultural and historical uses of Mesquite by the Tohono O'odham and other tribes. The Roadrunner and the Coyote: Unlike the famous cartoon duo, these two inhabitants of the desert rarely meet. Their cinematic relationship is simply a figment of the Hollywood imagination. lean the real story of these two desert dwellers in this episode. The "ferocious" (and often carnivorous) roadrunner remains one of the icons of the Southwest, and one of the most popular desert birds. Coyotes are opportunists and survivors, doing well in any environment. Although wild, both the coyote and roadrunner have adapted to human interaction in order to survive. Coyotes can hunt as well as most predators, but will just as easily grab a meal from human garbage or scavenge a roadkill snack. The program clears up some misconceptions about two of the desert's most famous inhabitants. Kartchner Caverns, Alive with Wonder: Image climbing in a sink hole on a remote Arizona ranch and discovering a fascinating - even mystical - underground environment. Explore the beauty and natural wonder of a "living cave," through the eyes of both the discoverers and visitors. From a mineralogical perspective, Kartchner Caverns is one of the top ten caves in the world. It has more richness and diversity of formations with names such as "soda straws," "butterscotch," "bacon" and "fried eggs." Kept secret for 14 years in order to protect it from cave hunters, learn how this marvel of natural architecture was formed (and is still forming), and examine the extensive construction and ongoing preservation efforts necessary to protect this fragile underground ecosystem. The Salton Sea: Take a look at the geological past and present of the Salton Sea, an ancient seabed. Naturally flooded six times in the 1800s, it took human intervention to keep the water flowing enough to create the "sea" we know today. The result is an incredible birding oasis. Birdwatchers from around the world flock to this remote desert sea because both sea birds and fresh water birds include the Salton Sea on their migratory paths. Portions of the area have become a wildlife refuge maintained by the U.S. Fist and Wildlife service to feed and protect the birds. While the climate is harsh, (due to agricultural use and evaporation, the water here is 40 percent saltier than the ocean), the Salton Sea has become a popular haven for birds and their human observers. Rock & Road Trip: Accompany a college geology class field trip through the upper stretches of Sonora, Mexico. See the evidence of a major earthquake from the late 1800s, and visit several hot springs to see indications of current geological activity. Also explore the connections of geology with climate, vegetation and animals. Travel inside a lava tube to find a colony of bats, then examine some of the cultural aspects of geology with a visit to Arizpe, an old colonial town and the former capital of Sonora where past earthquake damage is still evident. The People of the Mangroves: This episode looks at the lives of the people of Magdalena Bay along the Pacific side of Baja, California, and how they live off the bounty of the Mangroves. Mangroves are trees with root support systems that can establish themselves in the saltwater estuaries of the bay. Bountiful fisheries result directly and indirectly from the presence of the Mangroves. The Mangrove thrive in the bay, a wealth of sea life - fish, clams, lobster, crabs, shrimp, and scallops - thrive among the Mangrove, and the people harvest the sea life as their means of making a living. The program also offers a brief look at aquaculture (framing the seas for fish) during a visit to a tuna farm. Home on the Range: Come along for a day in the life of a ranching family in Southern Arizona's San Rafael Valley along the Arizona-Mexico border. Born and raised as ranchers, the family is ranching for the long haul. The program demonstrates that ranching done responsibly results in healthier cattle, healthier land and healthier wild species. In essence, everyone and everything benefits. By rotating livestock, not overgrazing and managing the land with an eye on more than the bottom line, the long-term results can be positive. The program visits the headwaters of the Santa Cruz River, a biologically rich area with 30 species of native grasses in the midst of ranch land. Peter Warren, a biologist for the Nature Conservancy, interprets the surrounding ecosystems and riparian areas.
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