The Tortoises of Coachella Valley
A tortoise count is happening in the Coachella Valley— and I’m tagging along.
A tortoise count is happening in the Coachella Valley— and I’m tagging along.
Coachella Valley, Flora, Mojave Desert
The spring of 2022 was a dry one, and in the middle of an extended drought. But life still prevails. Seeds must be produced. These little flowers gave it everything they had to complete their lifecycle before another summer set in.
Desert Sunlight Solar Project was one of the first significant installations in the Mojave. I decided to get a fresh perspective on it, from the air.
Gopherus agassizii, Mojave Desert
There’s an entire industry set up to manage tortoise populations. At the center of the action is the Desert Tortoise Council, a brain trust of biologists, ecologists, and conservationists who have been training people for 30 years to help protect these tortoises.