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

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the premiere of ‘Earth’s Great Seasons’.
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Each and every one of us, have an outright favorite season. Some of us for example, are all about spring and the wonderful sense of renewal that it sends our way. While others are a big fan of summer and all the beauty and freedom it affords us. Then there are those of us, who love fall, and all the wonderful colors it provides us with and of course, there are people who love the stark beauty that accompanies winter. But while we all have our own tastes when it comes to the various seasons of the year, and have our own habits that accompany that change, in nature; seasons mean so much more. For the changing of the temperature and the landscape brings about different priorities for the animals that populate our world. 

Because for them, daily life is all about survival and the changing of the seasons lets them know where they are at, in their quest to thrive and see another day. But what exactly goes into that quest for survival is something that remains relatively unknown to us since we live in a vastly different world, one where we can steer clear of the seasons if we so choose. But thankfully, that’s why we have nature themed shows, since they can offer us that in depth look at how the world gets along with the harsh environments that no longer bother mankind. And it just so happens that BBC America is going to take the time to explore exactly how wildlife and plant life, survive as the seasons change around them, by way of the fascinating new documentary Earth’s Great Seasons.

A feat that that this particular documentary is going to accomplish, by taking us around the globe to see how animals and plant life interact with a respective season in great detail and what better place to kick off a journey this epic and this powerful, than by starting within the framework of ‘Spring’. For this is when life more or less reawakens in nature since the harsh cold of winter has come to a close and that’s really the first thing that this particular documentary showed us; the process that animals go through, as they wake up and re-acclimate to the world. For so many animals take the time to hibernate in winter, and once the thaw begins, the time arrives for them to venture back out into the world in order to find food and prepare for the most important part of the spring… starting a family.

Because keeping the species going is the ultimate goal for every creature on this planet, and that’s why so many of them take a mate during the spring. Because now is the perfect time to raise their young and teach them how to function in this wild world before the winter forces so many creatures into hiding, and it was just incredible to see how some animals court one another during this season, such as the Clark’s Grebe. Since these birds will dance in a celebration of love before settling down. Plus, it was equally as amazing to see animals from every species out there, prepare their young for a future where they are on their own and to see how far they travel to feed and breed. Since swallows will traverse all of Africa to lay eggs in Europe, and Humpback Whales and Caribou will travel thousands of miles to enjoy the bounty of plentiful feeding grounds. 

If anything, this particular documentary taught us that spring, is a busy time for nature. Because it really does seem as though every creature out there uses the warmth of this season to get a ton of goals of accomplished. Since we saw nature just moving without taking a break in this tale. Which makes for a fascinating contrast to our own world. Since we’re getting ready to enjoy our first hike of the season, or picnic when spring hits, and it just speaks to how unique and special our lives are. Since we are masters of our domain and don’t have to worry about scrambling to get our lives and our future in order when the snow comes to an end. But what matters more, is that this documentary truly left no stone unturned in regard to how much goes on during this season of rebirth, and it is truly going to be interesting to learn what nature’s agenda is during summer, when Earth’s Great Seasons returns for its next episode. Until next time.

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