In a world so full of chaos, violence, and dissension, we often forget that the wilderness offers something much simpler than our human interactions. Luckily, we’re sent reminders about nature’s powerful peacefulness from people like Robert Martinez. Just when we needed it most, the wildlife enthusiast posted a four-minute video clip of his latest ventures inside California’s Angeles National Forest.
His TikTok channel, @parliamentofowls, frequently gives viewers up-close and personal glimpses into the animal kingdom. He sets up his cameras and lets nature take its course. His latest content from the Angeles National Forest, posted on September 11th, does not disappoint.
The video offers intimate moments with brown bears, skunks, bobcats, hawks, foxes, mountain quail, and deer. We even see what looks to be at least one mountain lion. There are no human voices. We don’t hear manmade music. We’re given California’s natural soundtrack, provided by the animals and insects that inhabit the deep forest.
Robert, who’s also an artist-in-residence for the U.S. Forest Service, captioned his footage with details about his approach to unscripted wilderness investigation:
Keeping it on the down low. My camera angle that is. A few months in the creek in the Angeles National Forest from June to September 2025.
I almost always try and place my camera as low as possible. Pretty much right on the ground to get that eye to eye view with our beloved wildlife.
At a pivotal point in the video, we even see a giant bear moving the camera around.
Robert’s fan base, which exceeds 33,000 people on TikTok alone, can’t get enough of his shared explorations.
One viewer, for instance, excitedly asked him, “Wait! Was that a fox with the zoomies?” Others praised his work and even asked their own animal-related questions, which he answered with great grace.
Hopefully, his newest wildlife adventure provided a moment of respite for many who feel overwhelmed by current news reports and the countless tragic moments shown to us day after day. I know that going forward, I’ll certainly be following @parliamentofowls for my own social media sanity. Animal love for the win!
