For TV, it’s Earth Month-plus

In the TV world, Earth Day has become Earth Month.
Or, actually, Earth Month-plus-a-day-or-two.
That will be clear when James Cameron’s “Secrets of” series (shown here in a previous year) — usually the centerpiece of Earth Day — debuts Tuesday (March 31) on National Geographic. This time, it’s a fascinating look at bees … and it coincides with the conclusion of Ken Burns’ compelling portrait of Henry David Thoreau.
The next day, “Earth Month” begins. Highlights from the month-plus are:
“HENRY DAVID THOREAU,” 9 and 10 p.m. Monday (March 30) and 9 p.m. Tuesday, PBS. Burns profiles a gregarious, talkative man who did his best work during two years in a cabin, surrounded by nature.
“SECRETS OF THE BEES,” 8 and 9 p.m. Tuesday, National Geographic Channel and NatGeo Wild. After some years viewing mega-creatures — elephants and whales and such — Cameron’s production goes the other way. With stunning inner-hive camerawork, young filmmaker Bertie Gregory shows us the intriguing world of bees.
“ORANGUTAN” is reportedly set to debut on Earth Day (April 22) on Disney+. It’s the 19th film in the lush “Disneynature” series. Most debuted on or near Earth Day — in theaters or (in recent years) on Disney+ … which has the previous ones, plus the Cameron films and other National Geographic projects.
PBS: Things start with one hour on April 1, then peak three weeks later. That includes:
— Wednesdays, 10 p.m. “Out New World” starts the emphasis, on April 1 and 8. On April 22 (Earth Day) is “Wilding,” profiling a young English couple turning a 3,500-acre estate back to nature. A week later, the “Shared Planet” series begins.”
— Wednesdays, 9 p.m.: On April 22, “Nova” repeats “Rain Bombs,” viewing the fierce storms that have struck in recent years.
— Wednesdays, 8 p.m.: On April 8 and 15, “Nature” has “Becoming Elephants,” filmed at the only community-owned elephant sanctuary in Africa. On April 22, “The Legendary Tigers of India” follows 50 years of a sanctuary that includes an ancient fort.
— Also: Several animated shows will have a nature emphasis, on daytime or PBS Kids. And the PBS Digital Studios will have films available at PBS.org, YouTube or the PBS app; they include “megaquakes” on April 2, early warning systems on April 9 and data centers, April 16.
— One more: At 8 p.m. May 6 — two days before David Attenborough turns 100 — PBS airs “Life on Earth: Attenborough’s Greatest Adventure.” It views the three-year effort to create the “Life on Earth” series, filmed in 40 countries.