Spring is one of nature’s great “performances,” and this exhibition of transformation and rejuvenation comes to life in “American Spring LIVE” for three consecutive nights beginning April 29 at 7 p.m. on Arizona PBS.
Juju Chang hosts this multi-platform event with on-camera experts showing springtime phenomena in ecosystems ranging from the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the Everglades, from inner-city parks to remote wilderness preserves. The series includes a mix of footage highlighting some of the most pivotal events in nature’s calendar.
A diverse group of researchers and scientists will investigate how a wide range of organisms respond to the change of seasons. They share their insights into the natural world, reveal new technologies that make their discoveries possible and encourage you to join the adventure of science.
Each episode is built around a central theme chosen to reveal how the new season triggers extraordinary biological change. Live locations include California’s Sequoia National Park and Point Reyes National Seashore; Gainesville, Florida, and the Everglades; the Eastern shore of Virginia; a sheep farm in Maine; a black bear den in rural Western Maryland; Mt. Lemmon, Arizona; and Texas’ Bracken Cave and Gulf Coast.
April 29: Birth and Rebirth
Tracing the green wave that sweeps across the continent in spring, see how the rising temperatures and longer days spur plants to awaken and flower. Animals go through their own transformations, seeking out newly abundant resources, moving from winter homes to summer breeding grounds, or emerging from hibernation. Learn how both plants and animals have incorporated seasonal change into their life cycles and successful reproductive strategies – all demonstrated by the birth of a lamb in Maine. Watch online.
April 30: Migration
Breeding and the greening of the landscape are tied to another major spectacle of spring: the mass movements of animals as they take advantage of spring’s bounty. Meet the scientists who track these journeys, often over vast distances, from winter refuge to spring nesting grounds. As they attempt to uncover the precise triggers and timing of migration and its impact on other animal species, the scientists grapple with how these patterns and behaviors may shift due to climate change. Watch online.
May 1: Connections
Nature’s perfect partnerships, precisely synchronized, have evolved over thousands of years. Learn how plants and animals depend on each other to survive. See first-hand how climate change can break those connections, altering the timing of weather and plant growth, and disrupting the delicate relationships between plants and pollinators such as bees and butterflies. Watch online.
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