Celebrate Earth Month with Austin PBS

Celebrate Earth Month with Austin PBS as we feature powerful programs like Future of Nature: Grasslands, Central Texas Gardener: Plants for Earth Friendly Gardens, Energy Switch: Wildfires, NOVA: Secrets of the Forest, Forest Her: The Next Wave of Conservation, and more. Tune in or stream online.

Wednesday, April 2nd

Future of Nature: Grasslands at 9:00 pm

NEW LIMITED SERIES Glimpse into Earth's grasslands, where the biggest animal numbers are found, and see how animal life helps to draw down carbon. The latest science reveals their importance to our future, and what we can do to restore them to health and abundance.

Saturday, April 5th

Central Texas Gardener: Plants for Earth Friendly Gardens at 12:00 pm

NEW EPISODE Biking along country roads inspired Laura O’Toole to rip out lawn for wildlife-friendly native grasses and perennials. Wildflower Center horticulturist Andrea DeLong-Amaya picks water wise options from her new book, The Texas Native Plant Primer. Garden consultant Colleen Dieter shows how to pick a nursery plant, and Daphne Richards explains how to prune native groundcover black dalea.

Sunday, April 6th

Energy Switch: Wildfires at 6:00 pm

NEW SEASON There are more wildfires in some areas, though globally they're down. Climate change contributes, but there are other factors which have made forests and cities more fire prone and fires more damaging while millions of Americans now live in fire areas. We explore with Lori Moore-Merrell, the US Fire Administrator, and Brian Buma, Senior Climate Scientist at Environmental Defense Fund.

Wednesday, April 9th

Future of Nature: Forests at 9:00 pm

NEW LIMITED SERIES Forests are the most effective carbon pumps on Earth, but only when they're functioning well and rich in species. Meet people working to improve biodiversity, saving keystone species and using Indigenous wisdom to rebuild and restore our forests.

Saturday, April 12th

Central Texas Gardener: Garden Success with Less Water in Drought at 12:00 pm

NEW EPISODE Style up beautiful, wildlife-friendly gardens that stand up to scalding summers and deep winter freezes with Karen Guz from the San Antonio Water System. On tour, a new Texas gardener turned a plain lawn into a drought tough cottage design. See how to nourish your soil with spent mushroom grow blocks and find out why some bluebonnets come up pink.

Ecosense: Beaver Believers at 6:00 pm

NEW SEASON ”Beavers are having a moment!" As the world struggles with more fire and droughts, people are beginning to appreciate the wetland-producing work of beavers. Ben Goldfarb, the author of EAGER: The Surprising Secret Life of Beavers & Why They Matter, weaves the incredible true tale of how beavers influenced the history of America.In northwest Montana, "Beaver Believers" brave muck and mud to install technology so these critters can co-exist harmoniously with humans. And finally, we visit "the undammed" Flint River in Georgia to understand the value of letting a river run its course.

Tuesday, April 15th

Thirst for Power at 8:00 pm

NEW DOCUMENTARY Explore the mysterious connections between water and energy throughout history in the hour-long documentary THIRST FOR POWER. This program tells the story of civilization's quest for abundant water and energy - from ancient Roman aqueducts in Europe to modern-day massive hydroelectric power stations. THIRST FOR POWER explores our collective dependence on water for energy, plus hidden vulnerabilities in our modern, water-dependent energy systems.

Wednesday, April 16th

NOVA: Secrets of the Forest at 8:00 pm

NEW EPISODE What would the restoration of Earth's forests mean in the fight against climate change? Follow researchers around the globe as they race to understand how nature processes and responds to carbon on the largest scales and how microorganisms, plants, animals, and humans combine to sustain healthy ecosystems. NOVA's cameras travel to spectacular forest landscapes in Costa Rica, Canada, Brazil, Madagascar, and other places as a global team of scientists gather data on how forests work and try to figure out how they can help tackle the twin threats of climate change and the existential threat of species extinction

Future of Nature: Humans at 9:00 pm

NEW LIMITED SERIES As the ultimate ecosystem engineers and keystone species, people can work with nature to make this world thrive. Visit the metropolises of China, the outskirts of LA, the bogs of Ireland and the favelas of Rio for a deeper look.

Friday, April 18th

Mr. Besley's Forest at 7:30 pm

Under Mr. Besley's leadership, the State Board of Forestry in Maryland was the third in the nation to establish a system of forests,parks and working landscapes. His legacy of 36 years of continuous service is alive today and growing for future generations.

Saturday, April 19th

Central Texas Gardener: Homegrown Citrus, Summer Vegetables at 12:00 pm

NEW EPISODE Get ready for fresh-squeezed goodness, baskets of just-picked harvests, and herbs to punch up recipes and patio libations. Meet a couple who fell for a plain yard that beckoned brainstorming for wildlife watching, rainwater collection, food and flower gardens, plus relaxing spots to hang out and enjoy it.

Ecosense: Snow & Flow at 6:00 pm

NEW SEASON Wolverines are rarely seen, living reclusive lives deep within high, snowy mountains. EcoSense visits Zoo Montana to see the only wolverine kit born in captivity that year and uncovers the truth about "fierce" wolverines, and their survival as snow decreases. In the great northwest, the Nez Perce tribe are called "the Salmon People" for their long, close cultural relationship with these species. The Nez Perce tribe shows us how the fate of salmon is intertwined and connected to all living things. Lastly, Yellowstone Ski Resort spent millions to pioneer a process that uses recycled wastewater to make snow. Their shared open technology could extend the life of creeks and rivers in the drought-plagued west.

Monday, April 21st

Water for Life at 10:00 pm

Follow Indigenous community leaders in Latin America as they face death threats and murder while fighting to save their precious water resources from mining and hydroelectric projects.

Tuesday, April 22nd

Frontline: Alaska's Vanishing Native Villages at 9:00 pm

NEW EPISODE Alaska Native villages fighting for survival against climate change. With the Howard Center at ASU, why communities are relocating, and struggling to preserve their traditions. Also: an investigation into Russian atrocities in Bucha, Ukraine.

Single-Use Planet at 10:00 pm

NEW DOCUMENTARY Plastic is vital to our modern way of life—but not all forms of it. In search of why more single-use plastic debris enters the ocean each year despite all recycling efforts, SINGLE-USE PLANET goes upstream in the U.S. to where millions of tons of raw plastic are being made with generous government support. How have other countries solved for the pollution? The quest eventually leads to France.

Wednesday, April 23rd

NOVA: Arctic Sinkholes at 8:00 pm

Scientists investigate colossal explosions in Siberia and other evidence that rapidly melting soil in the Arctic is releasing vast amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. What are the implications for our climate future?

Changing Planet: River Restoration at 9:00 pm

NEW EPISODE Explore the planet's most threatened ecosystems. Follow Dr. M. Sanjayan on a visit to northern California where the largest river restoration project in US history is aiming to bring life back to a sacred river.

Friday, April 25th

Forest Her: The Next Wave of Conservation at 7:30 pm

Join in on the journey of exploring the historical roles women have provided to their communities by using scientific forest management while sharing the Next Wave of Conservation from the perspectives of private forest landowners, professional foresters, citizen foresters, and a groundbreaking conservation trailblazer. Planting trees and inspiration for a healthier planet for today and tomorrow.

Saturday, April 26th

Central Texas Gardener: Planting Native Bees at 12:00 pm

NEW EPISODE What exactly are pollinators? Dr. Sean Griffin from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center explores the diversity and how they partner with plants. In Jarrell, wildlife graze four acres of native plant gardens on former Blackland Prairie ranchland. Attract pollinators with native groundcovers for sun and shade.

Ecosense: Untamed at 6:00 pm

NEW SEASON Wild horses, a symbol of the American west, have long held a special status and protection under the law. As their numbers have grown, so has the controversy around them. At the Wind River Wild Horse Sanctuary in Wyoming, a cowboy and wild horse manager untangles the issues, and how to solve them. A biologist, a professor, and international students from the Savannah College of Art & Design explore how the natural world influences design in surprising and helpful ways. The Great Bear Rainforest in northwest Canada is a remote wonderland of wild animals and the indigenous communities who protect it. Visitors hope to see the rare "spirit bear," whose genetic difference may help them catch salmon.

Sunday, April 27th

Energy Switch: Climate Adaptation at 6:00 pm

NEW SEASON To curb global warming, governments often focus on reducing CO2 emissions. But many are now also adapting to a changing climate, from expanding air conditioning and passive cooling techniques, to engineered and nature-based solutions to counter sea-level rise. We discuss with Vijay Limaye from the National Resources Defense Council,and Susan Asam, VP of Climate Planning at ICF, a consultancy.

Stream Online

Ambient Films: First Signs of Spring at Caddo Lake

Drift through Caddo Lake as spring awakens, with new buds and fresh foliage emerging among cypress trees and epiphytes. This meditative, floating journey—set to a dreamy score—captures the lake’s timeless beauty. While Caddo tradition links its origin to the 1811 New Madrid Earthquake, geologists believe it formed gradually due to the Great Raft, a 100-mile log jam on the Red River.

PBS KIDS

Thursday, April 3rd

Nature Cat: The Nature-tastic Four Movie at 11:30 am on Austin PBS, and 6:30 pm on PBS KIDS

Celebrate Earth Day with the Nature-tastic Four in this new one-hour special! An outer space creature from the Planet Twylo named Sandos has come down to Earth with one thing on her devious mind, to steal the power sources from the Nature-tastic Four. She wants the power of Plant Bunny, Rock Dog and Water Mouse for herself. What about Nature Cat's power? Nah! He has no power! Or so Sandos thinks. But when the others lose their power and nature needs defending, only one will rise to the occasion and come through! Nature Cat!

Monday, April 7th

Wild Kratts: Activate Kid Power! at 6:00 am on Austin PBS, and 5:00 pm on PBS KIDS

Also for Earth Day, a new one-hour special from Wild Kratts! When the Wild Kratts receive an overload of calls for creature rescues, their creature power capacity fails. The team is left helpless, but soon learn that by working with Wild Kratts Kids that Kid Power is perhaps the most amazing and effective creature power of all!