A Wild Year On Earth

Arctic winds plunge the polar bear into a deep freeze, while in Australia, the heat means a feast for one bird prey.

The longer days trigger dramatic events across the natural world. In March, a wave of blooming Cherry Blossoms unfolds across Japan signalling the arrival of Spring. The season for new life spurs many creatures to find a mate.

May is a time of seasonal gear shifting and powerful forces of nature. In the heart of North America tornadoes tear across the plains as wild mustang herds gather. The end of the Dry in Southern Africa claims victims amongst the elephant herds.

Summertime triggers some of the planet's great seasonal migration events including thousands of Sock Eye Salmon that reach the end of their journey to spawn in rivers, attracting Brown Bears in a feeding frenzy.

In September, seasonal swings activate change across the natural world. The heat rises in Africa as the dry season deepens. The coming of early rains encourages new life in the Kalahari. The September Equinox marks autumn in the Northern Hemisphere.

We come full circle on this wild year on Earth. Monarch butterflies converge in Mexico. In Africa the rains return and are welcomed by Masked Weaver Birds. The lunar cycle and warm waters off Australia trigger the Great Barrier Reef's coral spawning.