Two Great PBS Shows about Carolina Ecology

Nature and history documentaries are one of my favorite genres on television ever since the Golden Era of Animal Planet, Discovery, and History Channel (before reality "script" tv and other programming took over in the 2010s). The regional PBS stations under the University of North Carolina and South Carolina ETV are among the best sources of documentaries these day. PBS staples such as Nature, Nova, and the American history series American Experience have been part of my life since I was a child (not to mention Antiques Roadshow, Bob Vila-era This Old House, and The Woodwright Shop). The universities in the Carolinas have also made some wonderful nature and history documentaries that focus on local ecology and history. Today I am highlighting two shows that showcase the ecological history of North and South Carolina.

Exploring North Carolina 

Exploring NC logo, from show's Facebook page

Exploring North Carolina with Tom Earndhart is the UNCTV show that got me hooked the ecosystems North and South Carolina's. This long-running documentary series has been on since the early/mid 2000s and takes viewers into natural ecosystems from Bald Head Island to Mount Mitchell. In addition to describing the ecosystems, wildlife, and geologic history of North Carolina, the show also has episodes about human impacts, exploration, environmental sustainability, and even how to turn your yard into a wildlife sanctuary. This was the show that got me fascinated with North Carolina's diverse habitats and the fact that the state has two climatical extremes. 

One of the episodes that caught my attention was the one that took a trip from the maritime forests of Bald Head Island and its near tropical climate to Mount Mitchell's spruce fir forests which were equivalent to boreal forests in Southern Canada. To think that there are palmettos, brightly colored songbirds, and fascinating insects within 300-400 (485-650km) of coniferous forests where Red Squirrels, Juncos, and Elk occur. This show is still in production and airs on UNCTV and its sub channels multiple times a week including its original reruns. 

This show often comes on UNCTV main channel on Thursday nights (8 or 9PM), and on sister channels such as Explorer, the NC Channel at various times (including at 7am on Saturdays) depending on the lineup. Many episodes are available on the PBS site or online. 

Exploring North Carolina at UNCTV.org

Wild Expeditions with Patrick McMillan 

Screenshot from internet, courtesy of Amazon.com

A more recent show that I enjoy on PBS is Wild Expeditions with Patrick McMillan. This show is out of Clemson University in South Carolina and focuses both on natural ecology and wildlife in North and South Carolina as well as visiting ecosystems in other parts of North America and occasionally elsewhere. Each episode takes place in a different location and ecosystem in the Carolinas or somewhere else and is packed with ecological facts, history, potential threats, and how people can help protect and enjoy the natural wonders of the Americas. Patrick goes out into forests, marshes, and unique habitats ranging from the Blue Ridge Mountains to bird colonies along the coast and many places that we may be familiar with. He also has been in the Sonoran Desert, the Prairies of the Midwest, Catalina Island, Belize, and Florida. What I like about this show is its emphasis on birds, frogs, insects, and plants in each habitat in a given season, while Exploring NC is more centered around interviewing ecologists, geologists, professors, and historians. The bird and frog sounds, close ups of animals, and seeing a meadow, forest understory, or seacoast in action are what catch my attention. Additionally he has some episodes just on attracting wildlife to the garden and explains techniques used at the South Carolina Botanical Garden to show case ways to balance aesthetics and wildlife habitat. 

This show is one of the things that inspired this blog and waking up to bird or nature walks on saturday mornings is a good way to start the weekend (along any good PBS Nature episode or production by David Attenborough, the late Steve Erwin, or other renown naturalists). Currently it comes on UNCTV's Explorer channel at 6:30am on Saturdays, and on the NC channel at 7:00 depending on the lineup. Check UNCTV and ETV SC's site for listings. There are many episodes on the show's website below.

Expeditions with Patrick McMillan at ETV SC

These are just two of my favorite nature shows with direct links to the Carolinas and are good resources for learning about wildlife and history in our area. Supporting your local PBS Station can go a long way for ensuring these types of shows will be around for future generations. Even just watching PBS is one of the best way to support the network and get others aware of the wonderful programming it offers, This is partially true these times with mainstream and cable networks becoming bogged down with reality shows, short-lived series, 24hr news cycles, and other programs that are okay in moderation but are not for everyone. 

Happy Exploring