Original subtitles

.

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, EVERYONE.

IT'S TIME FOR AN EPIC MOUNTAIN ADVENTURE IN THE HIGHLANDS OF

EUROPE.

I'M DYLAN DREYER, AND THIS IS EARTH ODYSSEY.

COMING UP...

[STAG VOCALIZING]

...THESE BIG STAGS ARE ROARING FOR ATTENTION,

BUT A WOLF IS LISTENING.

AND INCOMING!

SOUNDING THE ALARM WHEN THE THREAT IS AIRBORNE.

PLUS, HUMMINGBIRDS LIKE TO HOVER, BUT SO DOES THIS

SURPRISING CREATURE.

AND HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF A FISH BUILDING A NEST?

AMAZING ALPINE WONDERS ARE JUST AHEAD ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

[MUSIC]

FOR MOST OF THE YEAR, RED DEER AND THEIR FAWNS GRAZE QUIETLY IN

THE IBERIAN HIGHLANDS.

BUT IN THE FALL, THE ROARS OF RETURNING STAGS ECHO THROUGH THE

FOREST.

BIG SOUNDS, NOT BIG ANTLERS, ARE THEIR FAVORITE WAY TO IMPRESS A

MATE.

THE END OF SUMMER IN THE IBERIAN HIGHLANDS BRINGS AN UNMISTAKABLE

SOUND.

[ANIMAL ROARING]

A MAJESTIC CREATURE STEPS OUT OF THE MIST,

THE RED DEER.

DURING THE RUT, OR MATING SEASON, THEIR ROARS ARE

UNMISTAKEABLE.

RED DEER ARE ONE OF THE LARGEST DEER, WEIGHING OVER 350 POUNDS.

STAGS, OR ADULT MALES, SPEND MOST OF THE YEAR ALONE OR IN

BACHELOR HERDS.

[STAG ROARING]

BUT IN OCTOBER THEY'RE DRAWN BACK TOWARD THE DOES.

BUT EACH HERD IS ALREADY PROTECTED BY ONE STAG:

A POWERFUL, OLDER MALE THAT GUARDS THE SMALLER DOES AND

FATHERS THE FAWNS.

[BIRDS CHIRPING, HOOVES TROTTING]

THE YOUNGER MALES WILL SPEND THE NEXT FEW WEEKS CHALLENGING

THE OLD STAG.

HE HAS A GRUELING JOB AHEAD OF HIM.

HE'LL PUT ALL HIS ENERGY INTO KEEPING THE HERD TOGETHER AND

FENDING OFF THE OTHER STAGS, AND THAT MEANS MAKING LOTS OF NOISE.

[STAG ROARING]

BY THE END OF THE SEASON, THE OLDER STAG WILL LOSE NEARLY 20

PERCENT OF HIS BODY WEIGHT.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

[ROARING]

IT'S AN ORDEAL, BUT THE PAYOFF IS WORTH IT.

IN THE END, HE'LL KEEP HIS PLACE IN THE HERD.

BUT MATING ISN'T HIS ONLY CONCERN.

[TENSE MUSIC]

DANGER IS CREEPING SILENTLY THROUGH THE WOODS.

THE DOES SENSE IT.

THE HERD IS BEING STALKED.

WHILE THE OLD STAG IS BEING CHALLENGED BY ANOTHER MALE,

A WOLF PACK IS APPROACHING.

THESE CANINE PREDATORS WORK AS A TEAM, SURROUNDING THEIR PREY.

THEY WATCH THE DEER IN THE DISTANCE, WAITING FOR THE BEST

MOMENT.

ONE WRONG MOVE, AND THE HUNGRY WOLVES COULD FAIL.

TENSION IS HIGH.

IN THE END, THE THREE YOUNGER WOLVES CAN'T HOLD THE STAND OFF.

ONE OF THE DOES SENSES THE DANGER, AND SOUNDS THE ALARM.

THE YOUNGER WOLVES STILL HAVE A LOT TO LEARN BEFORE THEY MASTER

THE ART OF THE AMBUSH.

COMING UP, THESE MARVELOUS MOUNTAIN MARMOTS TRULY LOOK OUT

FOR EACH OTHER.

[MARMOT WHISTLING]

AND THESE DECEPTIVELY BEAUTIFUL PLANTS ARE HIDING A DEADLY

SECRET.

PLUS, WE TAKE THE WAY-BACK MACHINE TO MEET AN ANCIENT FISH.

MORE WONDERFULLY STRANGE SPECIES 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: THIS MOUNTAIN RANGE SEPARATES THE IBERIAN PENINSULA

FROM THE REST OF EUROPE.

[CALM MUSIC]

THIS NATURAL BARRIER BETWEEN FRANCE AND SPAIN CREATES A

PROTECTED ZONE FOR LOCAL ANIMALS.

IT'S SUMMER, AND NEXT TO THIS STREAM, A GROUP OF BLUE

BUTTERFLIES GATHER TO COLLECT MINERAL SALTS FROM ITS MUDDY

BANKS.

[CURIOUS MUSIC]

NOT FAR AWAY, A FAMILY OF ALPINE MARMOTS ARE BUILDING THEIR

CASTLE IN THIS MEADOW.

FROM THE TOP, THEY HAVE A PRIVILEGED VIEW OVER THE VALLEY,

AND HERE THEY CAN EAT IN PEACE.

WHEN THESE LARGE GROUND SQUIRRELS ARE OUT AND ABOUT,

THEY POST A SENTRY, WHO STANDS GUARD FOR EVERYONE'S SAFETY.

ITS ROLE IS TO WARN THE ENTIRE GROUP OF THE SLIGHTEST SIGN OF

DANGER.

WINTER IS COMING, SO THE MARMOTS ARE IN A HURRY TO REGAIN THE FAT

OR ENERGY RESERVES THEY LOST DURING THEIR LAST HIBERNATION.

[UPBEAT MUSIC]

THESE PUPS ARE THREE MONTHS OLD.

THEY ARE AT THE BEGINNING OF THEIR LEARNING CURVE.

ONE OF THE FIRST LESSONS IS TO ALWAYS BE ALERT.

A THREAT HANGS IN THE SKY.

[MARMOT WHISTLING]

A HIGH-PITCHED SOUND IS THE SIGNAL TO RUN FOR COVER.

THE GOLDEN EAGLE IS THE MARMOT'S NUMBER ONE ENEMY.

[WHISTLING CONTINUES]

THE SENTRY IS THE LAST MARMOT STANDING; IT HAS TO ENSURE THAT

NO ONE IS LEFT BEHIND.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: ALL THE MARMOTS HAVE DISAPPEARED INTO

THEIR BURROW.

THE EAGLE WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE ITS SEARCH.

IT WON'T BE LUCKY IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.

WHILE THE MARMOTS NIBBLE ON GREENS AND NUTS TO PREPARE FOR

WINTER, ANOTHER FURRY SPECIES IS ON THE PROWL, BUT NOT FOR

PLANTS.

[PLAYFUL MUSIC]

IN THE NORTH OF PORTUGAL, AN OLD AND QUIET RIVER IS THE HOME OF

ONE OF THE GREATEST HUNTERS OF IBERIA...

OTTERS ARE EXCELLENT SWIMMERS.

THEY HUNT MANY DIFFERENT PREY, BUT FISH IS THEIR FAVORITE.

OTTERS ARE PERFECTLY ADAPTED TO LIFE UNDERWATER.

HE STARTS BY CHECKING A SUBMERGED TREE ROOT FOR HIDDEN

FISH.

BUT THE FISH SENSE THE DANGER, AND FLEE.

BACK UP FOR A GULP OF AIR, AND THEN HE'S BACK DOWN BELOW THE

SURFACE, DETERMINED TO CATCH A FISH.

OTTERS GLIDE EFFORTLESSLY UNDERWATER, AND CAN HOLD THEIR

BREATH FOR UP TO EIGHT MINUTES, MAKING THEM ABLE MASTERS OF THIS

RIVER.

COMING UP, THIS SPECIES SEDUCES WITH SPARKLES, BUT IT'S A

DEADLY, STICKY TRAP.

PLUS, IF YOU SEE A GROUP OF THESE GO BY, IT COULD MEAN GOOD

LUCK.

AND, HE'S BUILT A ROCKY NEST BUT IS IT GOOD ENOUGH FOR HER

APPROVAL?

AN UNDERWATER SURVIVAL STORY 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: A TINY BUT SPECIALIZED SPECIES IS FAMOUS FOR ONE OF

NATURE'S ULTIMATE DECEPTIONS.

IN OUR NEXT STORY, WHAT LOOKS LIKE A HUMMINGBIRD SEARCHING FOR

NECTAR TURNS OUT TO BE A REAL SURPRISE.

[MUSIC]

THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS OF PORTUGAL,

THE PONDS AND SMALL LAKES THAT EXIST HERE ARE A TREAT FOR

WILDLIFE.

AT THIS ALTITUDE, INSECTS HAVE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SUMMER'S

FLOWERING PLANTS.

ONCE THE MOUNTAIN TEMPERATURE DROPS, THE INSECTS MUST MIGRATE

OR FREEZE.

IT'S A RACE AGAINST THE WEATHER.

AFTER REACHING ADULTHOOD, MOST INSECTS HAVE ONLY A FEW WEEKS TO

REPRODUCE.

IN ALL THIS HURRY, THERE IS TRULY THE NEED FOR SPEED.

SOME PLANTS AND ANIMALS TAKE FORMS AND BEHAVIORS THAT WE

DON'T USUALLY ASSOCIATE THEM WITH.

THIS IS THE CASE OF THE HUMMINGBIRD HAWK MOTH.

THEIR SHAPE AND BEHAVIOR PERFECTLY RESEMBLE A

HUMMINGBIRD.

IT'S A REMARKABLE CASE OF CONVERGENT EVOLUTION.

DIFFERENT BRANCHES, SAME SOLUTION.

[MUSIC, BIRDS CHIRPING]

THE MOTHS CAN FLAP THEIR WINGS UP TO 85 TIMES PER SECOND.

THEY ARE SUGAR-POWERED MACHINES.

MUCH LIKE THE MOTH, THIS PLANT HAS SOME UNEXPECTED FEATURES.

ITS LEAVES ARE COVERED WITH TENTACLES, WHOSE TIPS LOOK LIKE

DROPS OF DEW.

THESE DROPS GIVE THE PLANT ITS NAME, THE SUN DEW.

ITS SMELL AND APPEARANCE ARE IRRESISTABLE FOR MANY INSECTS.

BUT ITS SURFACE IS EXTREMELY STICKY AND BECOMES A DEATH-TRAP.

INSECTS, ATTRACTED BY THE PROMISE OF NECTAR, ARE STUCK,

UNABLE TO BREAK FREE.

AS TIME PASSES, THE SUN DEW TIGHTENS ITS GRIP.

THEN THE PLANT'S DIGESTIVE ENZYMES TURN THE INSECT INTO A

NUTRIENT-RICH MEAL.

WITHOUT THIS CARNIVOROUS DIET, THE SUN DEWS WOULD NOT SURVIVE

ON THESE POOR, ROCKY MOUNTAIN SOILS.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC, BIRDS CHIRPING]

SMALL RIVERS AND THEIR SURROUNDING VEGETATION FORM THE

PERFECT HABITATS FOR MANY SPECIES OF BIRD.

THEY ARE PERFECT SITES FOR BREEDING, AS WATER AND FOOD ARE

READILY AVAILABLE.

SPRING HAS ARRIVED.

THIS IS A BLACK KITE'S NEST.

KITES ARE MIGRATORY BIRDS.

THEY SPEND THE WINTERS IN AFRICA AND MIGRATE TO EUROPE DURING

SPRING AND SUMMER TO NEST.

THE IBERIAN PENINSULA IS HOME TO THE LARGEST BLACK KITE COLONY IN

EUROPE.

TO FEED HER CHICK, THIS MOTHER MUST TRAVEL GREAT DISTANCES.

THEY SPEND A LOT OF TIME GLIDING, USING HOT AIR CURRENTS

WHILE CRUISING THE LANDSCAPE IN SEARCH OF FOOD.

BUT ONE THING'S FOR SURE; THIS MOM WILL DO EVERYTHING SHE CAN

TO BRING UP SUPPER FOR HER CHICK.

COMING UP, THIS ANCIENT FISH SPECIES IS RETURNING HOME ONCE

AGAIN.

INCREDIBLE JOURNEY 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 WE THINK OF FISH SWIMMING UPSTREAM, THE MIGHTY

SALMON IS TOP OF MIND.

BUT THEY AREN'T THE ONLY FISH WHO RETURN FROM THE OCEAN TO

THEIR BIRTHPLACE TO SPAWN.

THIS RIVER MAKES UP ONE OF THE MANY NATURAL BORDERS BETWEEN

PORTUGAL AND SPAIN.

IT BEGINS IN SPAIN AND RUNS THROUGH THE ATLANTIC OCEAN.

AND IT IS IN THESE WATERS THAT WE CAN FIND ONE OF THE MOST

FASCINATING RIVER CREATURES...

THE LAMPREY.

THIS INDIVIDUAL IS NEARING THE END OF HIS LIFE.

HIS BODY IS A TESTIMONY TO THE EXHAUSTING ODYSSEY HE RECENTLY

UNDERTOOK.

LIKE SALMON, THE LAMPREY IS A MIGRATORY SPECIES.

HE WAS BORN IN FRESH WATER.

WHILE HE WAS STILL A LARVAE, HE FED ON DEBRIS AND PLANKTON ON

THE RIVERBED.

BUT AFTER A FEW YEARS, HE UNDERWENT A METAMORPHOSIS AND

MIGRATED TO THE SEA.

[MAJESTIC MUSIC]

NOW, A YEAR LATER, THIS JAWLESS FISH HAS RETURNED TO THE RIVER

WITH A SINGLE AND ULTIMATE GOAL: TO SPAWN.

REMARKABLY, HE'S BUILDING A NEST ON THE RIVERBED, USING STONES

AND SAND.

[QUIRKY MUSIC]

HE REMOVES THE UNWANTED PEBBLES ONE BY ONE.

EVERYTHING HAS TO BE PERFECT, OR IT WILL ALL BE FOR NOTHING.

THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEST IS TIRING.

AFTER RETURNING TO THIS RIVER, THE MALE HAS STOPPED EATING.

HE NOW LIVES EXCLUSIVELY ON HIS FAT RESERVES.

IT IS A RACE AGAINST TIME.

HE MUST FIND A MATE.

AT LAST, HIS CAREFULLY-BUILT NEST HAS BEEN APPROVED, AND A

FEMALE COMES CLOSER.

[PENSIVE MUSIC]

[UPBEAT MUSIC]

IT'S A LAST DANCE, A RITE OF SPRING.

[LIGHT MUSIC]

THE FEMALE RELEASES THE EGGS OVER THE NEST, AND THE MALE

FERTILIZES THEM RIGHT AWAY.

THE NEXT GENERATION WILL BE BORN HERE.

THIS INDIVIDUAL LAMPREY'S CYCLE OF LIFE IS COMPLETE.

BUT IT'S SPECIES 360-MILLION-YEAR HISTORY

WILL LIVE ON, WITH THE RIVER.

AFTER CENTURIES UNDER THREAT, IBERIAN ANIMALS LIKE WOLVES,

LYNX, AND EVEN RABBITS ARE SLOWLY MAKING A COMEBACK.

I'M DYLAN DREYER.

THANKS FOR JOINING OUR ALPINE ADVENTURE IN SPAIN AND PORTUGAL.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

[MUSIC]