♪♪ HELLO, I'M JIM WELCH, AND THIS IS NATURE SCENE WITH NATURALIST RUDY MANCKE.

WE'RE AT THE SAGUARO NATIONAL MONUMENT PART OF THE SONORAN DESERT NEAR TUCSON.

THIS IS GOING TO BE AN EXCITING SHOW FOR ME, RUDY BECAUSE OF THE BEAUTY OF THIS PLACE.

AND REALLY, JIM, YOU KNOW THE THING THAT'S GOING TO EXCITE ME IS WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SEE HOW PLANTS AND ANIMALS MAKE SOME PRETTY MAJOR ADJUSTMENTS.

THIS IS A VERY HARSH ENVIRONMENT TO YOU AND TO ME.

I MEAN, I FEEL THE HEAT HERE BUT TO PLANTS AND ANIMALS THAT LIVE HERE, THIS IS HOME AND SO THEY HAVE MADE SOME RATHER MAJOR ADJUSTMENTS TO TWO MAJOR STRESSES AND THAT IS VERY LITTLE WATER, SMALL AMOUNTS OF WATER-- DESERTS USUALLY HAVE LESS THAN TEN INCHES OF RAIN A YEAR-- AND THEN ALSO TEMPERATURES-- VERY HOT AND THEN QUICKLY GOING TO VERY COLD.

AND SO THERE ARE LOTS OF ADJUSTMENTS THAT PLANTS AND ANIMALS MAKE AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT I WANT TO DO TODAY-- TRY TO LOOK AT INDIVIDUAL PLANTS AND ANIMALS AND IDENTIFY THEM AND THEN FIGURE OUT HOW THEY'RE DOING SO WELL HERE BECAUSE, OF COURSE, THEY'RE DOING VERY FINE IN THIS SITUATION.

THE RINCON MOUNTAINS RIGHT ACROSS FROM US ARE A PART OF THE STORY OF THIS DESERT NOW.

THEY'RE, OF COURSE, NOT REALLY DESERT THEMSELVES.

THEY COLLECT A GOOD BIT OF WATER, WHICH RUNS DOWN AND, OF COURSE, WATERS THIS PLACE TO SOME DEGREE.

WHY DON'T WE JUST TURN AROUND AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE DIVERSITY OF WHAT WOULD BEST BE CALLED, AS YOU'VE SAID SONORAN DESERT?

THE SANTA CATALINA MOUNTAINS IN THE DISTANCE-- GRANITIC MOUNTAINS FORCED UP, FOLDED ROCK AND THEN, OF COURSE, ROLLING HILLS, IT LOOKS LIKE.

AND WHAT IS THE DOMINANT PLANT IN THIS DESERT?

WELL, THE SAGUARO CACTUS...

WHICH THE FIRST VISITOR MIGHT SAY "GOSH, THAT'S A TREE-- 30, 40, 50 FEET."

THAT'S A TREMENDOUS, TREMENDOUS STORY AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE BUT THAT'S NOT THE ONLY CACTUS HERE, RIGHT?

YOU CAN SEE THE BARREL CACTUS DOWN THERE.

YOU CAN SEE PRICKLY PEAR CACTUS.

YOU CAN SEE CHOLLA CACTUS DOWN THERE.

OCOTILLO, WHICH YOU MIGHT SAY IS NOT A CACTUS.

IT'S NOT A CACTUS AND WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THAT PLANT, SAY, AND THE REAL CACTUS PLANT.

AND THEN ALSO A LOT OF YELLOW FLOWERS.

WE WANT TO GET A CLOSE LOOK AT THOSE.

YELLOW SEEMS TO BE THE SPRING COLOR HERE IN THE SONORAN DESERT.

AND YOU CAN ALSO SEE LOTS OF EXTRA GREEN DOWN THERE.

IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S BUNCHED UP ALONG THE LOWEST AREAS AND THAT'S WHERE SOME OF THE WATER THAT COMES FROM THE RINCON MOUNTAINS FLOWS DOWN ALONG AND THAT, OF COURSE, REALLY CHANGES THE PLANT SPECIES IN THE DESERT.

BUT WHAT A MARVELOUS VIEW WAY OFF IN THE DISTANCE TOWARDS THE CITY, AS YOU'VE ALREADY SAID, OF TUCSON.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF FUN BASICALLY IDENTIFYING WHAT'S HERE AND THEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW IT MAKES A LIVING, SO TO SPEAK.

CHANCE OF SEEING A SNAKE OR TWO?

WELL, THERE'S A GOOD POSSIBILITY.

THEY DO FAIRLY WELL HERE AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT HOW THEY MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO SURVIVAL.

WHY DON'T WE JUST GET UP ON THIS LOOP TRAIL AND SEE WHAT WE CAN FIND?

(♪♪) NICE TO GET DOWN FROM THAT OVERVIEW AND GET A LITTLE CLOSER TO SOME OF THESE PLANTS, JIM.

ONLY WAY TO ENJOY THE SIGHTS AND SMELLS AND SOUNDS OF THE DESERT IS TO GET OUT OF THE CAR AND WALK THROUGH IT.

THERE ARE LOTS THINGS SO MUCH DIVERSITY HERE.

THIS TREE THAT'S COMING OUT WITH THE COMPOUND LEAVES NOW IS ONE OF THOSE THAT YOU WOULD COMMONLY SEE IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS-- MESQUITE IS THE NAME, AND AGAIN, THAT'S ONE THAT HAS BEEN USED FOR A LONG, LONG TIME-- FIREWOOD IF NOTHING ELSE.

IT SHOULD HAVE FLOWERS ON IT NOW.

I SEE SOME LEFTOVERS OF FLOWERS THERE WE MIGHT SEE A LITTLE LATER WITH YELLOW FLOWERS.

THOUSANDS OF MESQUITE TREES THERE-- THOUSANDS.

VERY, VERY COMMON.

USUALLY WHEN YOU SEE THEM, YOU'RE IN A LITTLE LOWER AREA.

THEY DO LIKE A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA MOISTURE.

I SEE A LITTLE LIZARD.

LOOK-- SITTING RIGHT ON THE BRANCH OF THE MESQUITE RIGHT IN THE SHADE THERE A LITTLE BIT.

WITH NO TAIL.

YEAH, LOOKS LIKE ONE OF THE LIZARDS THAT DOES WELL IN TREES NOT SO MUCH ON THE GROUND.

AND THAT TAIL WAS NOT BROKEN OFF TOO LONG AGO.

THAT'S REALLY ONE OF THOSE NEAT DEFENSIVE MECHANISMS.

SO IT'S NOT EATEN OFF SO MUCH AS JUST BROKEN.

A PREDATOR TRIED TO GET THAT LIZARD GRABBED THE TAIL INSTEAD OF THE FRONT PART OF THE LIZARD.

THE TAIL ACTUALLY BREAKS OFF.

THERE ARE LITTLE WEAK POINTS IN THE TAIL.

IT BREAKS OFF, WIGGLES THE LIZARD ESCAPES WITH HIS LIFE.

GROWS A NEW TAIL.

GROWS A NEW TAIL SLOWLY BUT SURELY.

FLATTENING DOWN AGAINST THAT BRANCH YOU SEE HOW WELL CAMOUFLAGED THAT IS.

ONE OF THE REPTILES, NOW THAT CANNOT CONTROL HIS BODY TEMPERATURE DIRECTLY AT ALL.

NO INTERNAL THERMOSTAT LIKE BIRDS OR MAMMALS.

CAN'T SWEAT.

CANNOT SWEAT TO RELIEVE ANY PROBLEMS TEMPERATURE-WISE AND SO IT STAYS IN THE SHADE WHEN IT'S HOT COMES OUT IN THE SUNLIGHT WHEN IT'S COLD AND REALLY REGULATES THE TEMPERATURE PRETTY FINELY JUST THAT WAY.

RUDY, IS THIS PILE OF STICKS A NEST OF AN ANIMAL?

AH, YES, IT IS AND LOOK WHAT PLANT IT PICKED TO BUILD ITS NEST IN.

AND THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD PLANT TO PICK.

THIS IS ONE OF THE PRICKLY PEAR CACTUSES AND THERE IS THE NEST OF A WOOD RAT.

OR PACK RAT.

"PACK RAT" IS A LITTLE MORE WELL-USED NAME.

BUT THAT ANIMAL TAKES BITS AND PIECES OF THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER AND PILES IT UP.

I SEE A PRETTY GOOD-SIZED PILE-- MUCH BIGGER, YOUNOW, THAN YOU WOULD EXPECT FROM THE ANIMAL THE SIZE OF A WOOD RAT OR A PACK RAT.

WORKS AT NIGHT, EATS AT NIGHT?

IT'S ACTIVE MAINLY AT NIGHT, LIVING IN THERE NOW.

I SEE LITTLE TRAILS RUNNING FROM THIS CLUSTER OF PRICKLY PEAR OVER TO THE NEXT ONE.

AND IF YOU LOOK CAREFULLY DOWN HERE YOU CAN SEE WHERE IT ACTUALLY EATS SOME OF THE THICK STEMS-- NOW, THESE ARE STEMS, NOT LEAVES THAT ARE SO THICKENED HERE-- EATS THAT STEM AND GETS WATER FROM IT AND ALSO GETS SOME NOURISHMENT.

CACTI STORE A LOT OF WATER IN THEIR STEMS.

ALL SORTS OF LITTLE SUBTLE THINGS WE WANT TO KEEP OUR EYES OPEN FOR AS WE WALK ALONG THE TRAIL.

MM-HMM.

(♪♪) LOOKS A LITTLE MORE DRY UP HERE ON THE RIDGE, DOESN'T IT?

NICE BREEZE EVERY NOW AND THEN.

AND LOOK AT THE PLANTS.

EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK, IT'S A BOTANIST'S DREAM OR IT COULD BE.

YOU'VE GOT SO MANY... WELL, THERE ARE A LOT OF SURPRISES.

I'LL TELL YOU ONE THAT IS REALLY SUCCESSFUL: CREOSOTE BUSH IS ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL PLANTS IN THIS AREA AND YOU SEE IT HERE WITH FLOWERS AND FRUIT ON IT.

LOOK AT THE LARGE NUMBER OF BRANCHES COMING UP RIGHT DOWN THERE AT THE BASE, YOU SEE?

IS THAT WHERE COMMERCIAL MANUFACTURERS GET CREOSOTES?

NO, UH-UH, BUT YOU HAVE THAT CREOSOTE-LIKE SMELL TO IT.

THAT DOES GIVE A VERY INTERESTING SMELL ESPECIALLY AFTER A RAIN OR WHEN YOU BREAK IT-- VERY, VERY SUCCESSFUL.

BUT NOW LOOK AT THE SPACE BETWEEN THIS AND ANYTHING ELSE.

YOU KNOW WHY THAT IS?

ROOTS, I BET.

ROOTS.

GOING OUT HORIZONTALLY?

WE'VE SAID THAT PLANTS HAVE COME UP WITH LOTS OF WAYS TO GRAB WATER AND LOOK, JUST LET'S JUST GET CLOSE TO THIS THING.

YOU CAN'T HELP BUT GET CLOSE TO THIS THING: ONE OF THE LARGEST WELL, I GUESS THE LARGEST CACTUS IN NORTH AMERICA: THE SAGUARO.

WE SAW IT FROM A DISTANCE A MINUTE AGO.

LOOK AT THE WAY THAT THING IS ACTUALLY PLEATED ALMOST, YOU SEE?

IT'S ALMOST PLEATED LIKE A SKIRT WOULD BE PLEATED.

OR AN ACCORDION, SURE.

YEAH, AND THAT ALLOWS THIS THING, YOU SEE TO PICK UP LARGE AMOUNTS OF WATER AND TO SWELL UP AND STORE WATER.

THE CACTUS CAME UP A LONG TIME AGO WITH THE IDEA OF STORING WATER IN VERY THICK STEMS.

AND OF COURSE WHERE'S YOUR CHLOROPHYLL?

IS IT IN LEAVES?

IT'S IN THE TRUNK, SO TO SPEAK.

IT IS IN THE STEM OF THE PLANT.

YOU DON'T REALLY SEE ANY LEAVES ON THIS CACTUS-- MAYBE THESE SPINES AND YOU SEE ROWS OF THOSE CLUSTERS OF SPINES ARE REMNANTS OF THOSE LEAVES.

NOT ONLY DO YOU HAVE TO GET WATER; YOU HAVE TO KEEP IT.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS YOU DO TO KEEP IT, OF COURSE IS TO COME UP WITH SPINES LIKE THAT.

YOU SEE THE WAY THOSE LITTLE SPINES COME OUT FROM LITTLE RAISED AREAS?

THAT'S SO TYPICAL OF THE CACTUS FAMILY.

ALL THE SPINES COME OUT FROM THOSE LITTLE RAISED AREAS NIPPLE-LIKE AREAS THAT RUN UP AND DOWN THE SIDES.

THEY HAVE DEFINITE PURPOSES FOR HAVING THE SPINES?

WELL, AGAIN, TO PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT OF WATER.

IF WE COULD SEE THE ROOT SYSTEM IT GOES WAY DOWN IN THE GROUND, DEEP AND OUT AND WHEN IT RAINS, OF COURSE YOU JUST SOAK UP AS MUCH WATER AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN.

AND WITHOUT THEM, ANY ANIMAL WOULD COME UP AND TAKE A GOOD BITE OR CHUNK OUT OF IT.

YEAH, AND MOST OF THE WEIGHT OF THAT THING RIGHT NOW YOU SEE IS WATER.

HOW OLD IS THIS SAGUARO, RUDY-- ANY IDEA?

COUPLE HUNDRED YEARS OR SO.

IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO GET THIS SIZE.

YOU SEE THE BRANCHES COMING OFF AND AGAIN THESE ARE PROTECTED HERE.

THAT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT, BUT TYPICAL.

I GUESS THIS WOULD BE THE TYPICAL PLANT OF THE SONORAN DESERT.

AND SO MANY THINGS USE THAT PLANT EITHER TO GET FOOD OR TO NEST IN.

WE'LL BE SEEING THAT, I'M SURE, AS WE WALK.

HERE'S ANOTHER CACTUS NOW.

WHAT KIND IS THAT?

YOU KNOW THAT ONE, THE CHOLLA-- C-H-O-L-L-A PRONOUNCED "CHOYA" AND IT'S GOT SOME FRUIT ON IT THERE AND SOME... LOOKS LIKE SOME EARLY FLOWERS.

THIS, I'LL BET, THEN, IS THE STAGHORN CHOLLA.

THAT'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, UH-HUH.

A LOT OF COMMON NAMES FOR THESE THINGS.

AGAIN, YOU'VE GOT THOSE MODIFIED LEAVES-- THE SPINES RATHER THAN LEAVES.

IF YOU HAVE LEAVES ON A PLANT YOU HAVE A TENDENCY TO LOSE A LOT OF WATER.

IF YOU THINK OF REGULAR LEAVES THAT MOST PEOPLE ARE FAMILIAR WITH THAT'S AN EASY WAY TO LOSE A LOT OF WATER.

HERE'S ANOTHER-- LOOK AT THIS-- ANOTHER FORM OF THE CACTUS.

LOOK AT THE SPINES ON THAT, ALMOST... CURLED LIKE A FISHHOOK.

YEAH, LIKE A FISHHOOK.

ONE OF THE BARREL CACTUSES AND THESE THINGS, OF COURSE ARE FLOWERING PLANTS, RIGHT?

SO WE SEE SOMETHING HERE THAT'S LEFT OVER AFTER THE FLOWER'S GONE AND THAT IS THE FRUIT, WHICH IS EDIBLE.

A LOT OF ANIMALS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT OPPORTUNITY.

LOOK AT, AGAIN, THE SIZE AND YOU SEE THE SAME PLEATED KIND OF FEELING-- PLENTY OF EXPANSION THERE WHEN YOU GET WATER.

BUT THE BARREL CACTUS WOULDN'T GET TOO HIGH COMPARED TO THE SAGUARO.

UH-UH, NO, IT NEVER GETS AS LARGE AS THAT SAGUARO THAT WE LOOKED AT A MOMENT AGO.

I'LL TELL YOU, THERE'S A SAGUARO RIGHT OVER HERE.

LET'S CHECK THIS OUT FOR A SECOND.

SEE THE FLOWERS UP ON THE TOP, JIM?

OH, YES-- BEAUTIFUL BLOSSOM.

DON'T STAY OPEN VERY LONG.

FANTASTIC FLOWERS, NICE WHITE FLOWERS.

THE STATE FLOWER OF ARIZONA.

DO I SEE SOMETHING?

LOOK, LOOK AT THE FLOWER HEADS ON THE TOP.

THERE'S MOVEMENT.

I THINK THERE'S A WOODPECKER UP THERE.

WHAT KIND OF WOODPECKER?

WAIT A MINUTE-- YEAH.

THAT'S THE GILA WOODPECKER UP THERE.

NOW, OFTEN YOU WOULD SEE A CACTUS WREN ON TOP OF THEM.

OH, MY GOODNESS.

WE'LL PROBABLY SEE THOSE IN A MINUTE BUT LOOK AT THE WORK OF THAT LITTLE BIRD NOW TURNING AROUND, GETTING ON ONE OF THE FLOWERS AND STICKING ITS BEAK IN, GETTING SOME NECTAR PROBABLY SOME INSECTS THERE, TOO AND THEN, OF COURSE, TRANSFERRING POLLEN, YOU SEE AS IT GOES FROM FLOWER TO FLOWER.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THAT SAGUARO CACTUS AND THE GILA WOODPECKER IS AN INTIMATE KIND OF RELATIONSHIP.

AND, OF COURSE, THE GILA WOODPECKER IS THE ONE THAT DRILLS HOLES INTO THIS LARGE CACTUS QUITE OFTEN USES THEM AS NESTS, AND THEN WHEN THEY LEAVE MANY, MANY OTHER THINGS COME AND NEST.

OF COURSE, THAT'S A GOOD PLACE TO PERCH.

I JUST LOOK OFF IN THE DISTANCE.

I SEE A NUMBER OF OTHER... SEE THE CARDINAL ON TOP OF ONE OVER THERE-- BRIGHT RED MALE... ON THE SAGUARO?

YEAH, CARDINAL.

I'M JUST LOOKING FROM ONE TO THE OTHER AND I SEE ALSO ONE OF THE CURVE-BILLED THRASHERS UP THERE IN THE DISTANCE.

SEE THE CURVE ON THE... ON THE BILL?

ONE OF THE VARIETIES THAT ARE USUALLY CALLED CURVE-BILLED THRASHERS.

DOING WELL IN THIS KIND OF SITUATION.

AND YET THE BOOKS AND BROCHURES AND THE GUIDES TO THESE AREAS WOULD SAY CACTUS WRENS ON TOP OF THE SAGUARO.

WELL, YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOOK MUCH FURTHER.

JUST LOOK OVER THERE AND THERE'S YOUR CACTUS WREN SITTING ON THE TOP, SEE?

AH, NOW THAT'S LARGER THAN THE WREN THAT ONE MIGHT BE ACCUSTOMED TO.

THAT'S THE LARGEST WREN IN NORTH AMERICA-- A BIG ONE DOING VERY WELL NESTING OFTEN IN THE CHOLLA CACTUSES.

WE'LL LOOK FOR ONE OF THE NESTS BUT THERE IT IS SITTING RIGHT WHERE IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE UP ON THE TOP.

RUDY, IS THE CACTUS WREN THE STATE BIRD OF ARIZONA?

YEAH, I BELIEVE IT IS, JIM AND AGAIN, DOING VERY WELL.

WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO SEE MORE SIGN OF IT A LITTLE BIT LATER.

(♪♪) SO MANY INTERESTING THINGS TO LOOK AT IN THE DESERT.

IT'S SO FULL OF BEAUTY-- DIFFERENT SIGHTS AND SOUNDS AND SMELLS AS I MENTIONED.

YEAH, AND SPINY THINGS, TOO, AS WE'VE SAID.

AND... OH, MY GOODNESS.

OH.

OH, MY GOODNESS RIGHT HERE ON THE PATH, JIM.

OH, TALK ABOUT SPINY THINGS, NOW.

THIS IS THE... LOOKS LIKE THE WESTERN DIAMONDBACK RATTLESNAKE AND HE'S NOT HAPPY.

WE'VE SURPRISED HIM, COILED UP ON THE SIDE OF THE PATH.

LOOK AT THAT POSE.

YOU KNOW, IT'S MAKING MY SKIN CRAWL A BIT.

THAT IS ONE OF THOSE ANIMALS YOU EXPECT TO SEE, THOUGH IN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS USUALLY IN THE SHADE THIS TIME OF DAY.

LISTEN TO THE RATTLE NOW.

JUST LISTEN TO THAT.

HE'S NOT GOING TO LEAVE OR RUN AWAY?

NO, I THINK HE'LL STAY THERE FOR A SECOND.

OBVIOUSLY WE'VE GOTTEN HIS ATTENTION.

LISTEN TO THAT RATTLE.

( rattling ) YOU SEE NOW THAT'S DEAD SKIN.

IT RUBS TOGETHER; WHEN IT'S VERY DRY, IT MAKES THAT LOUD SOUND.

AND BOY, YOU COULD REALLY HEAR HIM WHEN WE WALKED UP.

HE FEELS US COMING.

HE PICKS UP VIBRATIONS THROUGH THE GROUND AND, OF COURSE, HE'S GOT EYES.

HE SEES MOVEMENT PRETTY WELL.

BUT HE ALSO HAS A BIG TONGUE.

LET'S GET A LITTLE, SEE IF WE CAN GET A LITTLE CLOSER HERE.

NOW, LOOK AT THAT TONGUE COMING OUT-- SEE?

PICKING UP ODORS OUT OF THE AIR AND THAT LETS HIM KNOW, OF COURSE THAT WE'RE NOT A JACKRABBIT OR A GOPHER OR SOMETHING, THAT WE'RE A HUMAN BEING AND THAT, OF COURSE, BOTHERS HIM.

WE'RE NO FRIEND OF THEIRS.

I'M AFRAID WE'RE A THREAT TO HIS LIFE AND HE KNOWS IT.

HOW FAR AWAY WOULD HE STRIKE IF HE HAD TO?

HE COULD STRIKE ABOUT HALF THE LENGTH OF THE BODY.

LOOK AT THE DIAMOND- SHAPED MARKINGS ON THE SNAKE.

SEE THOSE DIAMONDS?

AND THEN THE LIGHT LINES ALONG THE SIDE OF THE HEAD.

AND THEN THOSE PITS-- THOSE LARGE HOLES THERE BETWEEN THE EYE AND NOSTRIL.

MMM.

THE SLIGHTEST MOVEMENTS-- IT'S ALMOST MECHANICAL IN SOME RESPECTS.

SEE THE WAY HE LIFTS HIS BODY UP AGAIN?

HE CAN PULL IT BACK AND THEN FLICKERS THAT TONGUE OUT AND THEN SOMETIMES ACTUALLY HOLDS IT IN POSITION.

AND THOSE PITS TELL HIM HOW BIG AN ANIMAL WE ARE HOW FAR AWAY FROM HIM WE ARE AND, REALLY, IF WE'RE WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE.

THIS THING NOW FEEDS ON WOOD RATS LIKE THE PACK RAT WE SAW THE HOME OF BACK THERE OR GOPHERS OR KANGAROO RATS OR WHATEVER OTHER MAMMALS IT FINDS HERE.

WELL, WE'VE... WE'VE BOTHERED HIM ENOUGH.

THAT IS AN EXTRA- SPECIAL THING TO SEE AND THAT IS, AGAIN AN ANIMAL YOU EXPECT TO SEE IN THE DESERT SO YOU CERTAINLY WANT TO WALK WHERE YOU CAN SEE WHERE YOUR FEET ARE GOING.

BUT WHAT IS THE CHANCE OF A TOURIST OR VISITOR WALKING DOWN A TRAIL LIKE THIS OF COMING UPON THE WESTERN?

SLIM TO NONE.

BUT AGAIN, WE'RE HERE ON A DAY WHEN IT'S CLOUDY AND SUNNY A LITTLE BIT IN AND OUT AND THAT GIVES US A BETTER OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE REPTILES OUT.

SHOULD WE JUST WALK ON BY HIM?

YEAH, LET'S JUST HEAD ON DOWN THE TRAIL.

I'M SURE THERE ARE OTHER GOOD THINGS TO SEE.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO WALK ON THE INSIDE?

( rattling ) HERE'S SOME MORE PLANTS NOW THAT ARE KIND OF INTERESTING WE'LL NEED TO GET OVER CLOSE TO.

ONE THAT IS REALLY ALWAYS INTERESTING TO ME IS THIS ONE.

HERE'S A SMALL ONE, JIM.

LOOKS LIKE A... PALOVERDE.

I WAS GOING TO SAY IT LOOKS LIKE GREEN STICKS.

PALOVERDE MEANS "GREEN STICK" AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

NOW, DO YOU SEE ANY LEAVES ON THAT?

NO.

I SEE A FEW LITTLE, OLD, FLIMSY, LITTLE NOTHINGS AND THOSE ARE THE LEAVES.

THEY'RE ON FOR A SHORT TIME IN RAINY SEASON BUT THEY USUALLY SHED ONCE IT GETS DRY.

AND CHLOROPHYLL, YOU SEE IS IN THE STEM, GIVING THAT GREEN LOOK TO IT AND THAT'S WHERE PHOTOSYNTHESIS OCCURS.

AGAIN, IF YOU WANT TO SAVE THE WATER YOU GET YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE REALLY LARGE LEAVES STICKING OUT BECAUSE YOU LOSE TOO MUCH WATER THAT WAY.

SO THE LEAVES ARE ON WHEN YOU CAN GET THEM AND USE THEM BUT THEY'RE SHED VERY QUICKLY IN DRYER WEATHER.

PALOVERDE IS THE ARIZONA STATE TREE.

RIGHT, YEAH.

AND IT'S VERY SMALL.

WELL, THEY GET LARGER, NOW.

THERE'S A BIGGER ONE...

BIGGER ONE BEHIND US THERE.

I SEE SOMETHING HERE, THOUGH THAT'S VERY SMALL.

YOU SEE THE LITTLE EGG CASE THERE OF ONE OF THE MANTISES LAID ON THE PALOVERDE STEM.

AND AGAIN, THEY USUALLY LAY EGGS ON SOMETHING STURDY.

THOSE WILL HATCH OUT INTO A NUMBER OF LITTLE INSECTS, OF COURSE WHICH WILL DO VERY WELL HERE.

WELL, BOY WE'RE SEEING SOME PREDATORS, AREN'T WE?

THAT SNAKE AND THAT'S ANOTHER ONE OF THE PREDATORS.

LARGE PALOVERDE HERE, THOUGH.

BIG ONE BEHIND, YOU SEE, SPREADING OVER AND MISTLETOE UP IN THE TOP.

DO YOU SEE THE CLUMPS UP THERE?

THAT'S A MISTLETOE.

DIFFERENT FROM SOME OF THE EASTERN MISTLETOE.

YES, YES, BUT AGAIN, A PARASITE-- ONE OF THOSE THINGS... AND NOW, THE PARASITESEE DOESN'T DO ANY WORK COLLECTING WATER IT JUST TAKES WATER FROM THE PALOVERDE THAT'S BEEN COLLECTING IT FOR A LONG TIME AND BASICALLY THAT'S WHAT PARASITES DO FOR A LIVING: TAKING FOOD AND WATER FR1x OTHER THINGS.

AND, OF COURSE, WHAT IS THAT THING STICKING RIGHT UP IN THE CENTER?

NO CHLOROPHYLL IN THAT.

WHAT IS THAT PLANT?

THAT IS THE INSIDE OF THE SAGUARO CACTUS.

AND YOU SEE IT'S GOT A WOODY SKELETON ON IT LIKE SO MANY OF THE LARGE CACTUS PLANTS DO AND AFTER IT'S DEAD AND GONE THAT BIG THING STILL REMAINS.

AGAIN, A GOOD HOME FOR ALL SORTS OF THINGS.

EVEN AT THIS STAGE.

IT ALMOST LOOKS LIKE THAT SAGUARO GOT STARTED THERE BY THE PALOVERDE.

SO THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A NURSE PLANT ON THIS TREE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT THESE SAGUAROS NEED A LITTLE EXTRA PROTECTION FROM...

MAINLY FROM COLD WEATHER AND IT FINDS IT AT THE BASE OF ONE OF THESE TREES AND A "NURSE" TREE WOULD BE A REASONABLE NAME FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO THAT WOULD MAKE THE PALOVERDE FAIRLY OLD AND THAT IS A PRETTY GOOD-SIZE TREE.

LOOK RIGHT THERE.

SEE ON THE GRASS?

SEE THE LITTLE INSECT RIGHT THERE?

HE'S JUST CAUGHT... THAT'S A ROBBER FLY THAT'S JUST CAUGHT ANOTHER FLY.

HE FLIES UP AND GRABS IT, STICKS IN A LITTLE TUBE AND SUCKS OUT ALL THE FLUID IN THAT OTHER FLY.

AND THERE'S ANOTHER PREDATOR.

AND PREDATOR-PREY RELATIONSHIPS ARE VERY CLEAR IN THE DESERT AS ELSEWHERE.

AND THEY'RE DOING WELL EVEN THOUGH THE WIND'S BLOWING THAT GRASS AROUND.

LIVING AND DYING DESERT.

IT'S GOING ON ALL THE TIME.

LET'S EASE OVER TO THIS PRICKLY PEAR NOW.

THAT'S SUCH A NICE ONE WITH ALL THE FLOWERS ON IT.

BOY, THOSE ARE BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS, AREN'T THEY?

WAXY-LOOKING, RUDY.

WOW, LOOK AT ALL OF THE...

BOY, JUST UNFOLDING.

LOOK AT ALL THE REPRODUCTIVE PARTS DOWN IN THERE-- ALL THE STAMENS THAT PRODUCE POLLEN AND THEN THAT GREEN AREA IN THE MIDDLE IS THE FEMALE PARTS OF THE FLOWER.

AND AGAIN THOSE SPINES THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT PROTECTING ITS INVESTMENT, SO TO SPEAK BECAUSE WATER IS STORED IN THOSE STEMS.

YOU SEE THE WAY THE FLOWERS START OFF KIND OF PINKISH AS THEY'RE BEGINNING TO OPEN AND THEN AS THEY OPEN UP YOU SEE THE REAL COLOR IS YELLOW ON THIS PRICKLY PEAR.

AND AGAIN LOOKING IN THERE, YOU SEE DAMAGE DONE BY PROBABLY RODENTS THAT ARE FEEDING ON IT EATING BETWEEN THE SPINES.

I'M SURE THERE'S MORE TO SEE FURTHER DOWN THE LINE.

(♪♪) LET'S JUST HEAD ON BACK TO THE TRAIL.

(♪♪) IT'S REALLY A BEAUTIFUL VIEW BEHIND US OF THE RINCON MOUNTAINS WITH THE SHADOWS OF THE CLOUDS ON IT.

SPECTACULAR PLACE.

RUDY, THIS MONUMENT HAS ALMOST 63,000 ACRES OF A SPECTACULAR BEAUTY.

WELL, THERE ARE A LOT OF SURPRISES AND THAT'S WHAT SO NICE.

THESE RELATIONSHIPS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT ARE NICE, TOO.

THERE'S ANOTHER ONE OF THE CACTI WITH FLOWERS ON IT.

LOOK AT THAT PINKISH FLOWER ON THAT... AGAIN, THE WAXY LOOK.

HEDGEHOG CACTI, AND AGAIN, SPINES ALL OVER THE PLACE.

SO MANY KINDS OF CACTUS HERE AND IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE THIS ONE IS IN THE SAME FAMILY AS THE SAGUARO.

DIFFERENT SIZES, OF COURSE, AND DIFFERENT SPECIES.

THIS ONE DOESN'T GET MUCH LARGER THAN THAT BUT THAT IS A BEAUTIFUL FLOWER.

VERY DIFFERENT FROM SOME OF THE EARLY ONES THAT WE'VE SEEN.

POLLEN IN IT.

YEAH, YOU CAN SEE POLLEN SCATTERED AROUND WHICH MEANS THAT'S A FAIRLY FRESH FLOWER.

THE INSECTS HAVEN'T COME AND TRANSFERRED THAT AWAY.

THERE ARE LOTS OF INTERESTING THINGS.

I'M JUST LOOKING AGAIN AT THE PLANT WE KEEP SEEING-- MESQUITE-- ALL OVER THE PLACE.

NOW, WHY WOULD IT DO SO WELL HERE?

IT HAS DEEP ROOTS THAT GO DOWN AND I MEAN, WAY-- 50, 100 FEET SOME OF THEM DOWN IN THE GROUND.

SO WHEN EVERYTHING ELSE IS FAIRLY DRY THEY HAVE ACCESS TO WATER IN THE GROUND WHICH MAKES A REAL BIG DIFFERENCE AND YOU SEE THEY'RE DOING VERY WELL HERE.

LIFE IN THE DESERT IS ONE OF ADAPTATION.

WELL, SURVIVAL IS THE BOTTOM LINE, OF COURSE AND YOU'VE GOT TO COME UP WITH WAYS TO PUT UP WITH HOT TEMPERATURES AND THEN COLD TEMPERATURES QUICKLY FOLLOWING AND A LACK OF WATER.

AND THESE PLANTS AND THESE ANIMALS THAT WE'VE SEEN OF COURSE, HAVE DONE THAT.

SPEAKING OF ANIMALS LOOK RIGHT OVER HERE, JIM.

RIGHT OVER HERE ON THE SIDE.

AGAIN A BEAUTIFUL SNAKE!

NOW, LOOK AT THE MARKINGS ON THAT.

THAT, AT FIRST GLANCE LOOKS A LITTLE BIT LIKE THE RATTLESNAKE BUT NOW, THIS IS A NONPOISONOUS ONE USUALLY CALLED A GOPHER SNAKE BECAUSE IT GOES DOWN IN GOPHER HOLES AND FEEDS ON GOPHERS AND OTHER RODENTS.

ANOTHER NAME FOR THAT IS A BULL SNAKE.

LOOK AT THE ROUNDED HEAD, THOUGH.

YOU SEE, IT'S NOT SO FLAT LIKE IT WAS ON THE RATTLESNAKE.

OF COURSE, NO PIT, ROUND PUPIL IN THE EYE BUT BEAUTIFULLY MARKED.

AND THAT IS A CONSTRICTOR ONE VERY, VERY POWERFUL SNAKE THAT GRABS ITS PREY AND THEN SQUEEZES UNTIL THE PREY IS UNCONSCIOUS AND THEN IT SWALLOWS THE ANIMAL BASICALLY ALIVE.

AND THAT ONE REALLY COULD BE THE SONORAN GOPHER SNAKE AND THAT WOULD MAKE IT VERY SPECIAL BEING FOUND RIGHT HERE IN THE SONORAN DESERT.

IS THAT ONE THAT PEOPLE SOMETIMES MAKE A PET OF?

THAT'S ONE THAT'S OFTEN COLLECTED AS A PET.

EVERYTHING IN THIS MONUMENT NOW IS PROTECTED.

PLANTS AND ANIMALS HERE WHETHER THEY'RE POISONOUS OR NOT, ARE PROTECTED.

REALLY IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE NATIONAL MONUMENTS LIKE THIS TO PROTECT ANIMALS LIKE THAT AND ALL THESE PLANTS THAT WE'VE SEEN.

SO MUCH DIVERSITY HERE.

OH, YEAH.

NOW, THERE'S ONE THAT WE SAW EARLIER.

LOOK AT THE FLOWERS AT THE TOP, RED.

OCOTILLO.

NOW, THAT, AT FIRST GLANCE, SPINY THING-- LOOKS A LITTLE LIKE A CACTUS, DOESN'T IT?

MM-HMM.

AGAIN, MOST OF THE TIME WE'VE SAID CACTUSES REALLY DON'T HAVE LEAVES.

THEY HAVE ENLARGED STEMS AND THEY, OF COURSE, HAVE SPINES COMING OUT ON THOSE LITTLE PROJECTIONS.

THAT ONE HAS SPINES BUT YOU SEE THE LEAVES ON IT?

LITTLE TINY LEAVES.

UH-HUH, AND THOSE LEAVES WILL STAY ON AS LONG AS THERE'S ENOUGH MOISTURE.

WHEN TIMES GET HARD THE FIRST THINGS TO GO ARE YOUR LEAVES.

DROP THEM OFF.

THOSE PLANTS DO VERY WELL HERE AND AGAIN, FLOWERING THIS TIME OF THE YEAR SUPPLYING FOOD FOR HUMMINGBIRDS AND A VARIETY OF INSECTS.

AND THOSE FLOWERS ARE SO COLORFUL.

YEAH, REALLY BRIGHTENS THIS PLACE UP.

THEN, OF COURSE, THE CACTUS, NOW, RIGHT NEXT TO IT-- VERY DIFFERENT- LOOKING PLANT WHEN YOU SEE THE TWO TOGETHER.

THE CHOLLA CACTUS DOING RATHER NICELY THERE.

GOSH, THERE'S MUCH TO SEE.

WHY DON'T WE JUST HEAD ON DOWN THE WAY?

(♪♪) WE'VE SEEN A GREAT DEAL OF DIVERSITY TODAY BUT WHENEVER I THINK OF THE SONORAN DESERT I THINK OF THIS PLANT RIGHT HERE.

THE SAGUARO CACTUS TO ME IS ABOVE AND BEYOND EVERYTHING ELSE.

MAGNIFICENT.

WOW!

REACHING UP TO THE BLUE SKY.

YOU CAN HEAR THE WIND WHISTLING AROUND THOSE SPINES.

AND LOOK AT ALL OF THE WOODPECKER HOLES.

I'VE HEARD THAT A GILA WOODPECKER WILL MAKE FIVE OR SIX NESTS OR HOLES IN ONE YEAR.

AND YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T USUALLY REUSE THEM MUCH SO ELF OWLS CAN COME IN OR A SNAKE OR ANOTHER WOODPECKER OR MANY OTHER ANIMALS USE THEM.

SAGUARO IS REALLY THE BASIS FOR A LOT OF INTERESTING RELATIONSHIPS AND THEN YOU COME DOWN FROM THAT TALL STALK AND LOOK AT THE ROOTS, JIM.

LOOK HOW BIG THOSE ROOTS ARE.

IT LOOKS MORE LIKE A TREE DOWN HERE BUT, OF COURSE, IT'S NOT A TREE.

GOING DOWN DEEP IN THE GROUND AS WELL AS OUT, GATHERING MOISTURE.

WE SAID THAT'S SO IMPORTANT TO KEEP THESE ANIMALS... KEEP THESE PLANTS ALIVE.

AND, OF COURSE, IT ALSO KEEPS ANIMALS ALIVE IN SOME WAYS.

ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS-- I NOTICED THIS WALKING IN-- THAT HAPPENS SOMETIMES IS THAT WHEN THE WOODPECKER DRILLS IN THIS PLANT FORMS WHAT'S CALLED A CALLUS AROUND IT AND SOMETIMES CREATES THINGS THAT LOOK LIKE THIS.

THE WOODPECKER, YOU SEE, ON THIS OLD CACTUS CAME IN AND DRILLED A HOLE RIGHT HERE RIGHT WHERE I'M PUTTING MY FINGER.

AND, OF COURSE, THAT DRILLED IN FIRST AND THEN-- LET'S JUST TURN IT SIDEWAYS-- DRILLED THROUGH THE WALL OF THE CACTUS AND DOWN IN THE INSIDE OF THE CACTUS TO FORM A LARGE CAVITY.

WHAT THE CACTUS DID WAS FORM A CALLUS TO WALL IT OFF.

HMM.

LET'S JUST TILT IT OVER LIKE THIS AND YOU CAN SEE THAT LARGE SPACE IN THERE, YOU SEE FOR THE NEST CAVITY.

THAT'S WHAT THE WOODPECKER USED TO NEST IN.

IT'S A GOURD-LIKE CONTAINER.

A GOURD-LIKE SUBSTANCE THAT BASICALLY WAS FORMED BY THE CACTUS IN RESPONSE TO INJURY THAT WAS CAUSED BY THE WOODPECKER.

AND SOMETIMES THESE ARE ACTUALLY CALLED "BOOTS" BECAUSE OF THE ODD SHAPE.

THE BOOT IS QUITE UNIQUE BUT SO IS THE 22 MILLION SEEDS THE SAGUARO PUTS OUT IN A LIFETIME.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PLANTS NOW THAT PUT OUT A GREAT NUMBER OF SEEDS.

YOU REMEMBER WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT YELLOW PLANTS EARLIER AND THERE'S ONE CALLED PAPER FLOWER THAT DOES THE SAME THING THE CACTUS DOES-- PRODUCES TREMENDOUS NUMBERS OF SEED.

MOST OF THEM DO NOT MAKE IT.

OF COURSE, OTHER THINGS FEED ON THEM.

THERE'S SOME PLANTS THAT ACTUALLY COME UP FROM SEED THAT LAST FOR YEARS AND YEARS LIVE ONLY A SHORT TIME AND DIE.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE'VE SEEN PLANTS TODAY THAT HAVE TO PUT UP WITH DROUGHT WITH HOT AND COLD FOR A LONG TIME.

THIS MIGHT BE A DIFFICULT PLACE TO LIVE BUT A GRAND PLACE TO VISIT.

WELL, IT IS A FANTASTIC PLACE: SAGUARO NATIONAL MONUMENT NEAR TUCSON.

WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO COME AND SEE IT FOR YOURSELF AND TO FIND PLACES LIKE THIS TO SEE HOW NATURE PUTS THINGS TOGETHER AND WHAT IT TAKES TO SURVIVE.

JOIN US AGAIN ON THE NEXT NATURE SCENE.

(♪♪) (♪♪)