Original subtitles

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Narrator: when you see this Symbol, you know you're watching

Television that is educational And informational.

The more you know on nbc.

Dylan: hi, I'm dylan dreyer get Ready to take flight on an avian

Adventure today on "Earth Odyssey."

On today's episode we meet a Bird with a bias for blue,

And find out how flamingos get That perfect shade of pink,

Plus a battle royale for love in The scottish highlands,

And one of the most breathtaking Birds on the planet is also one

Of the most devoted.

An amazing track across the ice And so much more starting now on

"Earth odyssey."

[music]

Dylan: there are more than 10,000 species of birds on

Planet earth, that's twice the Number of mammals.

They're captivating songs Stunning colors and everyday

Behaviors definitely attract our Attention.

But it's their ability to fly That really inspires our

Imagination no matter where they Land birds surprise us with

Their intelligence.

This next unusual avian is no Exception

Near the eastern woodlands of Australia is a subtropical and

Temperate rainforest, a remnant Of a time when australia was

Still part of a giant Supercontinent

Ancient species of conifers, Beach trees, and ferns

Still take root.

The gondwana forests have Remained almost unchanged since

Prehistoric times.

But unfortunately even here Signs of modern human impact can

Be found.

But one wild species has turned Our trash into treasure.

As long as it's trash of a Certain color.

This satin bower bird is putting The finishing touches on a

Bower, which is a leafy Protected space or enclosure

Like an arbor.

Meticulously he places sticks to Create two curved walls.

This complex structure really Shows off his looks but the

Satin bower bird strictly Prefers his favorite accent

Color, blue.

It's thought to show off the Male's own blue iridescent

Plumage talk about Matchy-matchy.

This bird has created an Artistic bower that doubles as a

Stage.

It's one of the most elaborate Decorative structures designed

To woo a female in the animal Kingdom.

Every artist needs an audience.

A female.

He's playing it cool, but to win Her over he'll have to put on a

Performance of a lifetime.

His bower is not the only one She'll visit.

She'll check several before Choosing her favorite.

Let the show begin.

Watching through his bower She'll judge his performance.

[music]

[birds tweeting]

Dylan: a strut, a bow,

And a trademark wing quiver.

And even a floral accent.

If he does win her affection Females are known to visit the

Same bowers annually to mate.

But only the best are selected.

The final move an offering of One of his favorite treasures.

[music and bird squawking]

Dylan: it's a no.

Something was off.

It's back to perfecting his art.

Coming up a fledgling flamingo Loses its way in a sea of pink,

And it's time to shake those Tail feathers the courtship is

On.

Plus this dad goes to the ends Of the earth to keep his baby

Bird warm.

All this and more incredible Animal stories are just ahead

When, "Earth odyssey" returns.

Narrator: we'll be right back To the more you know on nbc.

.

Narrator: we now return to The more you know on nbc.

[music]

Dylan: on italy's west coast the Marima park is a lush paradise

For wildlife.

The abundance of food attracts Many birds.

Mostly wood pigeons which in Autumn flock here by the

Thousands to feed all this Activity attracts predators.

The peregrine falcon is a Specialist at catching birds

Mid-flight at high speeds wood Pigeons are powerful flyers and

Can sustain high speeds for a Long time the falcon knows what

To do.

It picks a specific target group And takes off with determination

From its perch.

The chase is chaotic a race of Power and speed but this time

The falcon sneak attack is no Match for the flock.

Across the mediterranean another Flock of birds has found an

Unusual home in a vast salt Marsh.

It's too salty for most plants To grow but it's the ideal

Nesting site for an african Species that's made its way to

Europe; the greater flamingo.

One of the continent's largest Breeding populations is found

Here in the south of france,

And more than 20,000 of these Unmistakable birds have flocked

To a shallow salt lake.

Only a few hardy life-forms can Survive in this extreme alkaline

Water including phytoplankton And bacteria.

Colonies of brine shrimp feed on These microorganisms which in

Turn feed the region's Flamingos.

A diet of mainly shrimp gives Flamingos a light pink color

Which can fade to white during Breeding season.

Their long legs covered in tough Scales tolerate the harsh

Conditions.

Any excess salt consumed with Their food is excreted through

Glands in their nostrils Perfectly adapted to this

Challenging environment.

It's the very first breeding Season for this couple,

And their meticulously built mud Nest is already occupied.

A healthy young male.

He's less than a week old and About the size of a tennis ball.

Today he's taking his first Steps outside of the nest,

And into the crowded colony.

He's barely gone 10 feet and Already lost sight of his

Parents.

[music and flamingos squawking]

Dylan: lost and alone, the young Flamingo has wandered into the

Wrong neighborhood picked on by The larger chicks, he has no

Idea how to get back home.

Mom and dad recognize his Distinctive call...

[baby flamingo calling]

Dylan: reunited just in time.

The young chick has learned a Valuable lesson; don't try to

Grow up too fast.

Coming up, in scotland it's Winner take all for these brawny

Birds.

And in antarctica, it's mom to The rescue time to feed some

Very hungry chicks.

Stay tuned for more amazing Animals just ahead on "Earth

Odyssey."

Narrator: we'll be right back To the more you know on nbc.

.

Narrator: we now return to The more you know on nbc.

[music]

Dylan: like all animals, birds Have evolved complicated

Strategies to survive.

Finding food, habitat and a safe Place to raise their young are

Top priorities and like other Animals, birds go to great

Lengths to fend off rivals and Attract a mate.

Take a look.

It's dawn in the pine forests of Scotland.

The snow lays thick on the Ground, but tempers here are

Raging hot.

[music]

Dylan: these male western Capercaillies or wood grouse are

Fighting for their chance at a Hen harem.

[bird clicking]

Dylan: female birds watch the Display from the safety of the

Treetops they aren't in a hurry To choose a victor, they will

Have many suitors before The day is out.

[smacking noises]

Dylan: the winner of the morning Scuffle paces the snow.

His is the posture of courtship And intimidation.

[music and clicking continues]

Dylan: his beak points at the Sky and his tail is fanned to

Its maximum extent as tall And showy as possible.

The males are as large as a North american turkey, weighing

Up to 16 pounds and this Courtship display is impossible

To miss.

He calls to the females and any Who dare challenge his territory

With distinctive clicks that Resonate throughout the forest.

[grouse clicking and flapping]

Dylan: that's not an echo, it's A rival male.

The distinct clicking gets Closer.

[clicking continues]

Dylan: the bird appears to be Getting angrier.

Then a challenger emerges.

A female moves closer to Observe, sending the males into

A click frenzy.

She appears only mildly Interested in the showdown but

Much more is at stake than the Attention of a single hen.

Any female in earshot will agree On the winner and they will

All offer him the right To father their offspring.

As the females gather, so do More males they are intoxicated

With aggression.

One male advances on a hen it's Too much for his rival, and the

Fight turns physical.

[smacking noises]

Dylan: these brutal duels can End in death or serious injury.

[music and flapping noises]

Dylan: finally, a victory Emerges from the fray he's short

A few feathers but his pride has Swelled to new heights.

He's won favor with the females And the prize is reproductive

Success, crucial to this Endangered species.

Coming up, the iconic emperor Penguin and its unbelievable

Trek across the frozen ocean, a Wildlife story of extreme

Devotion when, "Earth odyssey" Comes right back.

Narrator: we'll be right back To the more you know on nbc.

.

Narrator: we now return to The more you know on nbc.

[music]

Dylan: antarctica is an extreme World.

Gusts can exceed 185 miles per Hour.

And temperatures can drop more Than 70 degrees below zero.

Few can survive such conditions,

But there's one resident that Battles the antarctic winter in

A bid to bring new life into The world.

The emperor penguin.

The largest of the world's Penguin species the emperor

Penguin stands almost four feet Tall and can weigh up to 90

Pounds.

These birds don't fly they spend Most of their lives at sea

Hunting for food but in winter, When temperatures plummet and

The sea ice platform grows thick Enough emperor penguins leave

The sea and march to old Breeding grounds, they'll trek

Up to 75 miles to get to The perfect familiar spot,

A chorus of noisy courtship Erupts as past parenting

Partners reunite.

They recognize each other by Their unique calls around a

Month later, each female lays a Single egg.

She passes it to her mate along With a heavy responsibility.

There is nothing organic on The ice pack to build a warm

Winter's nest with, so he Carries the egg on top of his

Feet covering it with a thick Layer of skin and feathers on

His belly called a brood pouch.

His task is to keep the egg and The nestling inside safe and

Warm while his mate journeys for Food.

It will be a test of fatherly Endurance.

[music]

Dylan: they stand together and Turn their backs creating a

Circle of heat.

Constantly moving, they take Turns shielding the other

Penguins from the onslaught Of stinging ice.

Together, the emperor penguins Battle the weather for weeks on

End waiting for the females to Return to the breeding colony.

After 65 days, the eggs begin to Hatch.

By this time, some males have Endured four months without a

Meal.

They've lost half their body Weight chicks need to eat.

The females are finally on their Way home with a belly full of

Food for the young.

Not a moment too soon.

Even though he is starving, the Father is reluctant to hand over

The baby chick he has faced so Much to protect his precious

Cargo.

But now it's his turn to leave The colony and find seafood for

Himself and the growing chicks.

It will take the chicks another 50 days to grow enough fat and

Feathers to swim and feed on Their own until then, their

Eternally patient penguin Parents will continue to give

Them shelter from the storms of Eastern antarctica.

We might take our avian Companions for granted, but

Science doesn't for example, Birds played a significant role

In the theory of evolution after Studying the finches in the

Galapagos islands, charles Darwin realized how crucial a

Role habitat can play in Adaptation.

Thanks for watching, I'm dylan Dreyer, we'll see you next time

On "Earth odyssey."

[music]