‘Earth’s Great Seasons’ Recap: ‘Autumn’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the third episode of ‘Earth’s Great Seasons’.
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Autumn truly is a special time of year. Mainly because, it offers up so much beauty. For this is when the leaves begin to change, and that brings forth seas of endless colors and wonder. And of course, that magnificent change in our environment, motivates us to get outside to take in those incredible views before the snow arrives and forces us indoors for the winter. Plus, this is also an oddly philosophical time for humanity as well. For we tend to realize that autumn is a signal that another journey around the sun is nearing its completion. Prompting us to take inventory of how our year went to see if our respective goals were accomplished or if we need to refocus our efforts in the new year to come.

But while our autumn experience is filled with pumpkin spiced lattes and reflections upon our respective journeys, it is a far more chaotic time in nature. For the next episode of Earth’s Great Seasons took the time to show us that while mankind is slowing down and preparing to take it easy in the wintertime, the wildlife that populates our incredible world is in fact, speeding up. For ‘Autumn’ features nature's mad dash to prepare for the harsh winter and one key thing that animals do to prepare for the cold, is stock up. Because a great many animals sleep the winter away or burrow into shelter for the season and that means they spend autumn gathering food or eating as much of it as possible to prepare for the snow, and this hurried rush to prep for the oncoming cold doesn’t end with stocking up on supplies.

For a great many animals in this world, simply opt to migrate away from the cold, especially birds. And while we admire the sight of birds heading south, the fact of the matter is… this important act can be quite dangerous for these fine feathered travelers. For the cranes that head south toward India during this time of year, have to brave the Himalayan mountain range, and that is no easy task. For the weather is harsh there and there are predators waiting for a chance at a meal when one bird cannot handle the voyage. Plus, there are birds in Norway, the Brunnich Guillemot to be specific, that risk life and limb with their young in order to find food and a warmer climate. For their babies aren’t quite ready to fly in the fall and it is up to the parents to teach them how to do so in a rushed manner when their food runs out. A decision that can lead to outright disaster for parent and child since the former never leaves their child's side, even in the worst possible moment. Allowing for predators to take advantage when failure comes into play.

But thankfully, autumn has to more to offer than harrowing experiences for the wildlife of the earth. For the cycle of life continues along just fine as the temperatures begin to drop, since some animals see this as the appropriate time to find a mate and start a family. Because they know, that if they’re going to be in one place for months on end, they can safely carry a child to term. Plus, it was equally as fascinating to discover that some animals are eager to teach their young how to fend for themselves when autumn arrives. Partly because the parents are going to leave their babies behind in the spring and they need their young to be ready to survive on their own. But also because... this grand push to feed and hunt during autumn, makes it the perfect time of year for any young animal to hone their hunting skills.

If anything, this ended up being quite the eye-opening episode when all is said and done. Because the prevailing belief about fall is that it is a gentle time, where animals leisurely graze and gather food before settling in for a long winter’s nap and now we can see, that is simply not the case. No instead this is a frenetic time of year, and that led to one intense tale for certain. Because every animal in this episode was rushing toward their respective goals and well, everything we witnessed here will definitely provide us with a newfound appreciation for our lives and our world, the next time we go out to look at the changing leaves. For we will be promptly reminded that our moment of Zen stands in stark contrast to the animals that are working hard to prepare for the bitter winter, that is headed their way. Until next time.

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