An Illustrated Guide to the Southwest
Arizona, California, New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, Oklahoma
written by Gregory Paxton and illustrated by Mollie Kellogg Cirino
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The yelps of the desert creatures frighten the yellowlegs wading bird during her migration flight awaking her from dreams of bathing in the soapy water extracted from the yucca plants.
The yucca plant grows in dry, sandy soil. It has stiff, sword-shaped leaves with fibers that are used for rope, sandals, and cloth. It also produces the sudsy water for washing. American Indians ate the green pods after baking them in the sun, even though the taste was bitter - like medicine!
The brightly colored yellowlegs is a wading bird. It enjoys the coolness of water, a precious commodity in the desert climate.
The sharp, shrill bark or cry of an animal is called a yelp. When you hear it, an animal is letting you know that something is wrong.
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