Expeditions With Patrick McMillan

California is by far America's most diverse state. It's a hotbed for diversity and relicts from the past. How do you generate such diversity, how has it been maintained and what can we learn from California's geologic history. Join Patrick for a look at the coasts, shrublands, deserts and mountains of San Diego County.

Condors, Elephant Seals, Sea Otters and Elk - mankind always seems to step in at the very last minute to save a species, to make a change. Join Patrick as he explores some of the most compelling stories of survival on the California coast.

Moose, Grizzly Bears, and Bison are typical American animals, but their roots are in Asia. The wildlife of North America was largely shaped by the land bridge of Beringia. Join Patrick for an unforgettable look at the remnants of Beringian Alaska - an eternal frontier.

Like it or not, change has come to the Arctic. Join Patrick as he explores the dramatic changes happening today in this frozen tundra and how they might impact our everyday lives.

It was rice that built wealth in South Carolina - vast project of converting swamps to fields that was abandoned in the early 20th century. These fields have reverted to one of the most spectacular natural treasures in the South - havens for wildlife and wildflowers. Sometimes man's alterations can have positive consequences.

When you think of southern Arizona you probably don't think about prairies, moist Sycamore and maple forests, or lush oak and pine forests, but they are a huge part of southern Arizona. Join Patrick as he explores the unexpected and unusual diversity found in Arizona's sky islands.

Much of the diversity of southern Arizona is more Mexican than American. Political borders are changing biological movements and frontiers. Join Patrick as he explores the Mexican connection of American wildlife and challenges they face due to the border fence between the two countries.

The Southern Blue Ridge escarpment in South Carolina is often overlooked for the loftier peaks of the Appalachian spine but they are the diverse and resilient center of the eastern Deciduous forest. Join Patrick for an unforgettable journey through the "Blue Wall" of South Carolina.

The Southern Blue Ridge escarpment in South Carolina has served as a refuge for life during changing climates in the past and can serve as a resilient landscape in the face of changes happening today. Join Patrick for a journey through the gorges that serve as a crucible of life during change.

The state of Nebraska is the heart of the Great Plains, the heartland of the North American continent that is tied to every corner and every life. Join Patrick on an unforgettable voyage of discovery through this immense sea of grass as he explores the ever-changing tapestry of the Great Plains.

Imagine 30 million Bison sharing the plains with humans. In only a decade these massive herds were all but extinguished. Today Prairie Dogs, Black-footed Ferrets and Kit Foxes are the endangered species living on the plains of the American West. Join Patrick as he journeys into the prairie with researchers who are trying to change the fate of those that are on the verge of becoming ghosts.

Few places can inspire a naturalist as much as Roan Mountain, located on the border of Tennesse and North Carolina. The crown jewels of this highland are its grassy balds, vast treeless grasslands that are reminiscent of prairies. They shelter many rare and endangered species and connect man to the natural world. Join Patrick as he explores the grassy balds, the heart of Roan.

Birds migrate huge distances from wintering grounds. Frogs call from wetlands. Deer and elk battle with anglers as weapons. What is the point of all of this? Every spring, thousands of species participate in rites with a single goal in mind: breeding. Join Patrick as he explores the amazing, and often bizarre rituals of many creatures across the continent.