Original subtitles

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NARRATOR: WHEN YOU SEE THIS SYMBOL, YOU KNOW YOU'RE WATCHING

TELEVISION THAT'S EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL.

THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

DYLAN: HI EVERYBODY, I'M DYLAN DREYER.

GET READY FOR AN INCREDIBLE WILDLIFE JOURNEY TO EUROPE TODAY

ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

ON TODAY'S EPISODE, HIGH IN THE ALPS, THESE YOUNG CLIMBERS

GATHER THE COURAGE TO JUMP.

PLUS, A CONTROLLED FALL WITH ONE OF NATURE'S MOST SPECTACULAR

DIVERS.

AND WHEN THE SNOW MELTS, THE REAL FUN BEGINS FOR THESE FURRY

FRIENDS.

BUT FIRST, WINTER SEEMS LIKE JUST THE RIGHT TIME FOR A DIP IN

THE OCEAN.

OUR EUROPEAN ADVENTURE STARTS NOW ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: TUSCANY IS ONE OF ITALY'S WILDEST NATURAL REGIONS.

ITS MILD CLIMATE ALLOWS ANIMALS TO FIND FOOD MORE EASILY, EVEN

IN WINTER.

AND THAT CAN MEAN MORE TIME FOR FUN.

CHECK OUT THIS AMAZING DAY AT THE BEACH.

IT'S EARLY WINTER IN ITALY.

THE MATING SEASON IS OVER FOR THESE FALLOW DEER, BUT THEIR

ANTLERS ARE STILL ON DISPLAY.

WITH EACH PASSING DAY, THE DAYLIGHT HOURS GROW SHORTER AND

SHORTER.

THE COLD WINDS BLOWING FROM THE NORTH HERALD THE ARRIVAL OF

WINTER.

BUT THE MAREMMA REGION HAS A MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATE AND SELDOM

FACES FROST AND SNOW.

EVEN IN WINTER, THIS PLACE TEEMS WITH LIFE, ATTRACTED BY THE MILD

CLIMATE AND AVAILABILITY OF FOOD.

DRIVEN BY WINDS FROM THE SAHARA DESERT, ANGRY WAVES HAVE BEEN

WHIPPING THE ITALIAN COAST FOR DAYS.

BUT NOW THE SWELL IS ABATING.

SOME BEACHES ARE DESOLATE IN WINTER, BUT HERE THERE IS PLENTY

OF ACTIVITY.

THIS MORNING THE BEACH HAS SOME VERY SPECIAL VISITORS, A GROUP

OF FALLOW DEER.

THEY'RE LOOKING FOR VEGETATION CARRIED ASHORE BY THE WAVES, BUT

THIS IS ALSO AN EXCELLENT AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY FOR A

SWIM.

THIS KIND OF BEHAVIOR IS NOT OBSERVED VERY OFTEN.

BUT THEN SOMETHING CATCHES THE DEER'S ATTENTION.

SOMETHING THREATENING.

A WOLF IS WALKING ALONG THE BEACH ON ITS WAY TO REJOINING

THE PACK.

HOWEVER, THERE SEEMS TO BE NO CAUSE FOR ALARM.

THE WOLF IS NOT HUNTING FOR PREY, BUT FOR SMELLS.

SCENT TRAILS CAN INDICATE, FOR EXAMPLE, IF WOLVES FROM OTHER

PACKS VENTURED INTO THIS TERRITORY.

IN THIS CASE, THERE SEEMS TO BE NOTHING ALARMING, AND THE

PREDATOR RESUMES ITS WALK ALONG THE BEACH.

AFTER DAYS OF SCIROCCO WINDS BLOWING FROM AFRICA, THE WINDS

ARE NOW BLOWING IN FROM THE NORTH AND AN ICY BREEZE FLATTENS

THE SEA.

IN THE EARLY MORNING, THE CONTRAST BETWEEN THE NOT YET

COLD WATER AND THE FROSTY AIR PRODUCES A THICK MIST BRUSHING

THE SHORE.

THE WARMTH OF THE NEWLY RISEN SUN DISSOLVES THE FOG INTO

FLAMING HALOS.

THE DESERTED, DANGER-FREE BEACH BECKONS THE FALLOW DEER BACK.

THEY TAKE A FEW SIPS OF SALT WATER BENEFICIAL TO THEIR DIET.

A TRULY MAGICAL SIGHT HERE IN ONE OF ITALY'S WILD HABITATS.

COMING UP, MOUNTAINS OF ALPINE WATER CREATE THE PERFECT SPOT

FOR THIS LITTLE DIPPER.

AND WE GET SOME EYES ON THESE ANCIENT FLIERS.

PLUS, EVERYBODY'S GOT SPRING FEVER.

SOME IRRESISTIBLE NEWBORNS 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: AT FIRST GLANCE, THE MOUNTAINS MIGHT SEEM LIKE AN

INANIMATE WORLD.

BUT SOMETHING IS MOVING.

IN THESE OPEN SPACES, CAMOUFLAGE IS VITAL TO SURVIVAL.

BOTH THE MOUNTAIN HARE AND THE PTARMIGAN HAVE DEVELOPED A

BIOLOGICAL MECHANISM TO QUICKLY CHANGE THEIR WHITE WINTER COATS

WHEN THE SEASONS CHANGE.

DARK COLORING AND SLOW MOVEMENTS IN THIS EMPTY TERRAIN ARE

ESSENTIAL STRATEGIES TO DEFEND THEMSELVES FROM PREDATORS.

THESE ARE THE ICONIC ANIMALS OF THE MOUNTAINS, CREATURES SO WELL

ADAPTED TO THE RIGORS OF SURVIVING WHERE OTHERS CANNOT.

AT NO TIME OF THE YEAR DO THEY COMPLETELY ABANDON THE MOUNTAIN

HEIGHTS.

IT'S AN EXTRAORDINARY ACCOMPLISHMENT, CONSIDERING THAT

AT THIS ALTITUDE, SUMMER IS THE EXCEPTION AND WINTER THE RULE.

IF THE MOUNTAINS HAD A VOICE, THEY WOULD SURELY SING THE

MUSICAL NOTES OF WATER.

[WATER TRICKLING]

DYLAN: THE HIGHEST PARTS OF THE ALPINE CHAIN ACCUMULATE A HUGE

MASS OF WATER IN ITS SNOWY, SOLID FORM.

AROUND 40% OF THE FRESH WATER REACHING THE PLAINS OF CENTRAL

EUROPE ORIGINATE FROM THE SLOPES OF THESE MOUNTAINS.

BUT THE WATER CYCLE OF THE ALPS IS CHANGING.

THE TEMPERATURE INCREASE IN THE MOUNTAINS IS TWICE THE AVERAGE

FOR THE PLANET.

AS ICE MELTS, IT CAN TAKE STRUCTURES OF ROCK WITH IT.

THAT CAN AFFECT THE CREATURES WHO LIVE HERE AND THOSE IN THE

LOWLANDS BELOW.

AS THE WATER RUNS DOWN INTO THE VALLEY, GLACIAL WATER CONSTANTLY

WASHES THE ROCKS, BECOMING ENRICHED WITH SALTS AND

MINERALS.

IT ALSO BRINGS WITH IT A MYRIAD OF LIVING ORGANISMS RUSHING DOWN

BELOW.

[SOUNDS OF WATER RUSHING]

DYLAN: THERE ARE THOSE THAT KNOW HOW TO TAKE ADVANTAGE.

THE LIVES OF MANY INSECT LARVAE ARE DOMINATED BY A CONSTANT

EFFORT TO CLING TO THE ROCKS.

EVEN IF THEY NEED TO STRUGGLE TO A PRIME POSITION, THE ADVANTAGE

IS THAT FOOD CARRIED BY THE CURRENT ARRIVES CONSTANTLY.

TO HIDE FROM PREDATORS, CADDIS LARVAE BUILD A PROTECTIVE POUCH

OF TINY STONES FROM THE RIVERBED.

BUT IT'S NOT EASY TO AVOID A WHITE-THROATED DIPPER'S KEEN

GAZE AS IT PATROLS INCESSANTLY FLYING THE STREAM WITH EASE

WHETHER ABOVE OR BELOW THE WATER SURFACE.

IT'S SOMETHING FEW CAN DO.

WHILE THE HIGH MOUNTAIN IS STILL GRIPPED IN ICE, SPRING SLOWLY

RISES FROM THE VALLEY BOTTOM WITH EACH PASSING DAY.

ANIMALS CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS WITH A DESCENT OF JUST A

FEW HUNDRED YARDS.

WITH THE MOST TRYING TIME OF YEAR BEHIND THEM, THE IBEX

FINALLY LOSE THEIR HEAVY WINTER COATS.

THEY HAVE ENDURED LONG MONTHS ON ROCK OR IN SNOW.

FOR THEM, EACH NEW BLADE OF GRASS, EVERY SCENT CARRIES A

PROMISE.

THE NEW SEASON IS COMING.

IT'S TRULY TIME TO JUMP FOR JOY.

COMING UP, A BIRD OF PREY FLIES WITH ITS CATCH, JUST IN TIME FOR

ITS HUNGRY CHICKS.

AND IT'S HARD TO TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THESE IRIDESCENT FLYERS.

FIND OUT WHAT MAKES THEM SO SPECIAL.

PLUS, EVERYBODY'S GOT SPRING FEVER.

SOME IRRESISTIBLE NEWBORNS 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: WHEN IT'S HOT OUT, DRAGONFLIES DIP INTO THE WATER,

DO A SOMERSAULT, AND THEN ZOOM BACK UP INTO THE AIR.

BUT WHILE THESE AERONAUTIC MARVELS ARE BUSY COOLING OFF IN

EUROPE'S FRESHWATER STREAMS, A PREDATOR IS WATCHING.

AND THAT MEANS A SUMMER DAY CAN QUICKLY TURN INTO A RISKY GAME

OF CATCH ME IF YOU CAN.

ITALY IS HOME TO EUROPE'S HIGHEST MOUNTAINS AND MILES OF

COASTLINE.

BUT ITS NATURAL HABITATS HAVE ENDURED THOUSANDS OF YEARS OF

DISRUPTIVE HUMAN ACTIVITY.

FORTUNATELY, IN THE MAREMMA REGIONAL PARK, THE OMBRONI RIVER

AND ITS SURROUNDING CANALS ARE STILL FILLED WITH WILDLIFE ABOVE

AND BELOW THE SURFACE.

THROUGHOUT THE DAY, THE CALMER STRETCHES OF WATER COME ALIVE

WITH THE NONSTOP FLIGHT OF THE DRAGONFLIES.

THEIR FOUR INDIVIDUALLY CONTROLLED WINGS MAKE THEM ONE

OF THE FASTEST, MOST AGILE INSECTS IN AERIAL MANEUVERS.

THE RIVER ALSO NOURISHES SEVERAL BIRD SPECIES.

THE COOTS DIVE IN THE WATER TO COLLECT AQUATIC PLANTS AND

INSECTS.

THEY'RE PROTECTED BY THEIR WATER-REPELLENT PLUMAGE.

IN THE MIDDLE OF SUMMER, THE DRAGONFLIES ARE MORE ABUNDANT

THAN EVER.

THEY'RE FAST AND IT TAKES THE RIGHT TECHNIQUE TO CATCH THEM.

FINALLY, SUCCESS!

YOU NEED TO APPROACH THE PREY WITH YOUR HEAD DOWN SO IT WON'T

GET SUSPICIOUS AND WAIT UNTIL THE VERY LAST SECOND TO SPRING.

IT'S A FASCINATING BEHAVIOR AND VERY DIFFICULT TO OBSERVE.

AT THE MOUTH OF THE RIVER, HUNGRY LITTLE ONES IMPATIENTLY

DEMAND FOOD.

[OSPREY SCREECHING]

DYLAN: IN LATE SUMMER, THESE YOUNG OSPREYS HAVE ALREADY LEFT

THE NEST, BUT THEY STILL RELY ON THEIR PARENTS FOR FOOD.

FINALLY, THE ADULTS GET READY FOR SOME FISHING ACTION.

ONE OF THEM PATROLS THE SHORE FROM ABOVE, TRYING TO LOCATE

SCHOOLS OF FISH.

THEN IT SWOOPS DOWN LIKE AN ARROW.

MANY ATTEMPTS FAIL.

SOMETHING HAS CAUGHT THE BIRD'S EYE.

THREE MULLETS ARE SWIMMING CLOSE TO THE SURFACE.

UNFORTUNATELY FOR THE YOUNG OSPREYS, THE LUCKY FISHER WASN'T

ONE OF THEIR PARENTS.

INDEED, INSTEAD OF GOING BACK TO THE NEST, IT PERCHES ON A TREE

AND STARTS EATING.

[CAWING]

DYLAN: TOWARDS EVENING, THE IMPATIENCE OF THE YOUNG OSPREYS

IS APPEASED.

[OSPREY CHICKS PEEPING]

DYLAN: ONE OF THEIR PARENTS IS COMING BACK WITH A FISH.

A LONG SERIES OF CRIES GREETS THE FATHER CARRYING THE PRIZE.

THE QUICKER OF THE TWO YOUNG BIRDS MANAGES TO GRAB THE FISH.

THE SIBLING MAY HAVE TO WAIT.

LET'S HOPE HE DOESN'T MISS DINNER COMPLETELY.

COMING UP, THIS LITTLE CLIMBER SEEMS TO HAVE A CASE OF THE

HESITATION BLUES.

HOW ANIMALS CURE CLIFFSIDE JITTERS 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: IN THE ALPS, AS SOON AS THE GROUND IS FREE FROM SNOW,

PLANTS AND INSECT LARVAE EMERGE IN PROFUSION INTO THE SUNLIGHT.

ANIMALS THAT HAD LOOKED FOR REFUGE UNDERGROUND ALSO COME

OUT.

THEIR ESSENTIAL LIFE PROCESSES HAD SLOWED DOWN DURING WINTER.

HIBERNATION IS A SURVIVAL STRATEGY FOR THOSE THAT CAN'T

MIGRATE TO WARMER PLACES, AS MANY BIRDS DO.

EVEN THE MARMOTS, LARGE EUROPEAN GROUND SQUIRRELS, HAVE EMERGED.

THEIR SQUABBLING CAN BE USED TO ESTABLISH A HIERARCHY.

BUT MORE OFTEN IT SEEMS LIKE A WAY OF CELEBRATING THE END OF

WINTER DARKNESS AND ROLLING INTO SPRING.

ON HIGHER GROUND, SNOW STILL COVERS LARGE PATCHES OF LAND.

EVEN THE ROCK FACES ARE POPULATED.

INSTEAD OF HEADING DOWN TO THE VALLEYS, THE FEMALE IBEX TAKE

REFUGE ON THE MORE REMOTE SLOPES.

THERE'S JUST ONE REASON: THE NEW ARRIVALS THAT HAVE BEEN WITH THE

GROUP FOR A FEW DAYS.

FROM THE MOMENT OF BIRTH AND AS LONG AS THEIR OFFSPRING ARE

VULNERABLE, THE MOTHER IBEX GUIDE THEIR KIDS TO THE MOST

RUGGED PARTS OF THEIR TERRITORY, GATHERING THEM IN GROUPS OF TENS

OF INFANTS.

THE SLOPES ARE THEIR ALLIES.

FEW PREDATORS CAN FOLLOW THEM IN SUCH AN INACCESSIBLE LANDSCAPE,

ESPECIALLY OVER THE ROCKS WHERE THE KIDS AGILITY AND LIGHTNESS

OF FOOT MAKE THEM ALMOST MORE CAREFREE THAN THE ADULTS.

MOMENTS OF DOUBT CAN OVERTAKE ANYONE, BUT THE MESSAGE IS

CLEAR...

...GET OVER IT.

AFTER ALL, WITH A LITTLE NUDGE FROM MOM, ALMOST ANYTHING IS

POSSIBLE.

BEFORE LONG, MANY NEW ALPINE BABIES, LIKE THESE PYGMY OWLS,

WILL BE STRONG ENOUGH TO NAVIGATE LIFE ON THEIR OWN

IN THIS MAGNIFICENT, EVER-CHANGING ALPINE PARADISE.

IT'S EASY TO FEEL EMOTIONAL WHEN WE SEE WILD ANIMALS EXPERIENCING

THEIR OWN MOMENTS OF JOY IN THE NATURAL WORLD.

I'M DYLAN DREYER, THANKS FOR WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME ON EARTH

ODYSSEY.

[MUSIC]