In 1857, the Ohio State Legislature famously wrote:

The passenger pigeon needs no protection. Wonderfully prolific, having the vast forests of the North as its breeding grounds, traveling hundreds of miles in search of food, it is here today and elsewhere tomorrow…

Forty-five years later, the last wild passenger pigeon was shot and killed in Indiana.  In 1914, the last member of the species died in captivity at the Cincinnati Zoo.

The passenger pigeon — a species once numbering in the billions — became extinct in a few short decades.

Barring a miracle in the field of de-extinction, no human alive today will ever see a living passenger pigeon that isn’t a biological novelty.  No human alive today will stand in awe as massive flocks of passenger pigeons eclipse the sun and darken the skies.

But whether or not scientists actually figure out how to resurrect the dead, there is something many humans can experience today:  the legacy left behind by the passenger pigeon on the North American landscape.

In a brand-new video, I discuss how the passenger pigeon profoundly altered North American forests.

You can watch the video here.

Thanks for reading and watching, and thanks for your continued support!

— Adam Haritan

“Respect your elders.”

I like to think that I’m a decent practitioner of this advice.

I listen to old songs.  I read old stories.  I admire old monuments.  I befriend older people.

But I’m only human.  And I live in a culture that worships youth.  As a result, I sometimes find it challenging to see the merits of old age.

Fortunately, I’ve discovered a solution: I walk through a forest. 

When I walk through a forest, I am reminded by nature to respect my elders.

Old trees are especially good at providing these reminders — not through words but through their presence.  Humans tend to feel a certain way when they’re surrounded by ancient trees.  Science can’t fully explain why this happens, but it is a wonderful phenomenon.

During a recent walk through a forest, I encountered a few old eastern hemlocks.  Fantasies of eternal childhood vanished the moment I saw them.  Sensing an opportunity to showcase what I witnessed, I decided to film the experience.

If you’re interested in seeing a few marvelous trees, check out the brand new video!

Thanks for reading and watching, and thanks for your continued support!

— Adam Haritan

American beech has seen better days.

In recent years, a new disease has been threatening its health.  Leaves are falling off prematurely.  Trees are dying.  Researchers are scratching their heads.

Since its initial detection, this mysterious disease has been spreading throughout 12 states and one Canadian province.  Some people are already predicting what a world without American beech might look like.

What is this new disease?  How bad is it really?  Who is the culprit?  And will chemical treatments work this time?

In a brand new video, I explore these questions.

You can watch it here.

Thanks for watching!
—Adam Haritan