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 EVERYONE, I'M DYLAN DREYER.

IT'S TIME TO DISCOVER THE EXTRAORDINARY WILDLIFE OF ITALY.

THIS IS "EARTH ODYSSEY".

COMING UP, HOW TO BE A PERFECT PARENT.

AN EAGLE TAKES THE PLUNGE FOR FOOD FOR ITS ONLY CHILD.

AND, IT'S THE BEES VERSUS THE HORNETS IN A

DANGEROUS BATTLE ROYALE.

PLUS, IT WOULDN'T BE SUMMER IN ITALY WITHOUT THIS SOUND.

AND DAREDEVIL FLYERS MEET UP BY THE THOUSANDS.

OUR WILD MEDITERRANEAN ADVENTURE BEGINS RIGHT NOW

ON "EARTH ODYSSEY".

ITALY IS FAMOUS FOR ITS HISTORY, ART, AND FOOD, BUT IT'S ALSO

ALIVE WITH WILDLIFE.

AND IN SPRING AND SUMMER, THERE'S A BRAND

NEW BUZZ OF ENERGY.

IT'S GO TIME FOR ANIMAL PARENTS, AND THAT MEANS NONSTOP ATTENTION

TO SOME INSATIABLE LITTLE ONES.

THE SUN IS RISING OVER ITALY'S MEDITERRANEAN COAST.

THIS IS THE MAREMMA, A RURAL PART OF TUSCANY.

THE COWS ARE BUSY GRAZING ON FRESH GREENS.

IN RUGGED MEDITERRANEAN COASTAL ENVIRONMENTS,

THE BLOOM STARTS EARLY.

BEDS OF CHEERFUL CHAMOMILE FLOWERS OPEN UP TO

THE SUN IN MARCH.

LIKE THE COWS, MAREMMA'S HORSES ALSO WELCOME

THE WARM, SUNNY DAYS.

BUT FOR OTHER SPECIES, SPRING IS A RESTLESS TIME.

THE RIVER AND THE SWAMPS ARE FILLED WITH COOTS.

THEY CONGREGATE IN PONDS AND SWAMPS.

THESE LARGE AND QUARRELSOME WATERBIRDS WILL FORM COUPLES,

BUT ONLY AFTER A GOOD DEAL OF SQUABBLING, CHASING, AND LEAPING

OUT OF THE WATER, CAPPED OFF BY SOME WELL-PLACED KICKS.

NEARBY, ANOTHER BIRD IS HIGH UP, OUT OF THE WAY

FROM ANY CONFLICTS.

A SHORT-TOED SNAKE EAGLET IS GROWING UP ON A DEAD PINE TREE.

AS ADULTS, THESE RAPTORS ARE MAJESTIC ANIMALS.

THEIR WINGSPAN IS NEARLY SIX FEET.

ON THE MENU TODAY IS A GREEN WHIP SNAKE, THE MOST COMMON

SNAKE ALONG ITALY'S COAST.

SNAKE EAGLE PARENTS RAISE JUST ONE PRECIOUS EAGLET AT A TIME.

BUT THIS FATHER IS DOING SOMETHING UNUSUAL.

HE'S TEACHING THE EAGLET HOW TO SWALLOW THE SNAKE.

IT'S A TASK NORMALLY PERFORMED BY THE MOTHER.

MANEUVERING PIECES OF PREY WITH A BEAK IS NO EASY JOB.

BUT TRUE TO ITS NAME, THIS YOUNG SNAKE EAGLE WILL SOON BE ABLE TO

SWALLOW WHOLE SNAKES UP TO THREE FEET LONG.

A FEW MONTHS LATER, THIS ONLY CHILD IS NEARLY READY

TO LEAVE THE NEST.

ITS JUVENILE PLUMAGE IS ALMOST COMPLETE, BUT IT'S NOT READY YET

TO HUNT AND LIVE ON ITS ITS OWN.

IT WILL TAKE WEEKS FOR ITS ADULT FEATHERS TO APPEAR AND IT

NEEDS THEM TO SOAR.

SO THE EAGLE PARENTS ARE CONSTANTLY ON THE LOOKOUT FOR

PREY, LIKE THIS COMMON VIPER EXPLORING THE UNDERGROWTH.

AT LESS THAN TWO FEET LONG, IT'S NOT A BIG SNAKE,

BUT IT'S A START.

A YOUNG SNAKE EAGLE NEEDS TO EAT A COUPLE OF SNAKES

THIS SIZE A DAY.

ABOUT 80% OF ITS PREY ARE SNAKES, FOLLOWED BY LIZARDS.

THESE EAGLES ARE RAVENOUS FOR REPTILES.

ONE OF THE PARENTS ARRIVES WITH A TWIG TO FIX THE NEST.

BUT THE EAGLET DOESN'T LOOK HAPPY.

IT WAS PROBABLY HOPING FOR SOMETHING JUICIER.

THE OTHER PARENT, MEANWHILE, IS PATROLLING A SCRUB.

THERE'S A PERFECTLY POSITIONED WHIPSNAKE.

THE EAGLE TAKES A GOOD LOOK, THEN SWOOPS DOWN ON ITS PREY.

SUCCESS.

THE THREE-FOOT SNAKE DANGLES FROM THE RAPTOR'S TALONS.

THE YOUNG EAGLE CAN FINALLY EAT TODAY'S FILL, ENOUGH TO KEEP IT

GROWING AND KEEP THIS PROUD FAMILY OF BIRDS ON THE WING.

COMING UP, BEES AND HORNETS.

IT'S PREDATOR VERSUS PREY WHEN THESE ANCIENT COUSINS MEET.

AND THE SONGS OF THESE LITTLE CRITTERS ARE YEARS

IN THE MAKING.

FIND OUT WHAT THE BUZZ IS ALL ABOUT.

PLUS, THIS WILD FLIGHT PATTERN LOOKS TOTALLY UNPREDICTABLE.

BUT WILL IT KEEP THIS PREDATOR AWAY?

MORE ANIMALS, BIRDS, AND BEES OF ITALY 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.

MEDITERRANEAN SUMMERS CAN BE SCORCHING.

FRESHWATER POOLS, WHICH ARE ABUNDANT IN SPRING,

HAVE MOSTLY DRIED UP.

FOR MANY ANIMALS HERE, DRINKING TROUGHS TURN OUT TO

BE REAL LIFESAVERS.

BUT THESE WATER SOURCES CAN BE AS DANGEROUS AS A WATERHOLE IN

THE SAVANNA.

THE BEES LIVING HERE ARE VERY ACTIVE AND VERY THIRSTY.

AND THEY ARE IN UNEXPECTED DANGER HERE.

ONE OF THEIR RELATIVES IS APPROACHING.

THE HORNET IS POWERFUL, BUT THE BEES ARE MORE ADEPT AT

MANEUVERING.

THAT WAS CLOSE.

THE HORNETS TRY A SURPRISE ATTACK FROM BEHIND

THE TROUGH WALL.

ONE HITS THE MARK.

THERE GOES ANOTHER, CAUGHT IN MID-FLIGHT.

THE BEES ARE STRIPPED OF THEIR WINGS AND STINGERS AND

CARRIED TO THE HIVE.

THIRST ALSO DRIVES WOLVES TO THE TROUGH.

THEY OFTEN COME UPON POTENTIAL PREY, WHICH DART

AWAY IMMEDIATELY.

THIS TIME, HOWEVER, A ROE DEER SEEMS OBLIVIOUS TO THE THREAT.

EVEN THE WOLF LOOKS PUZZLED.

YET NO SOONER DOES THE HERBIVORE MOVE THAN THE HUNTER'S

INSTINCTS TAKE OVER.

EVEN A FRUITLESS CHASE IS WORTH THE EFFORT.

IN THE SUN SCORCHED FIELDS, ROUND BALES OF FODDER STRETCH AS

FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE.

THE SUMMER SUN DRIES UP THE FEW REMAINING POOLS AND

THE DRY SOIL CRACKS.

PLACES THAT USED TO BE RICH IN WATER IN SPRING NOW LOOK LIKE A

BARREN DESERT-LIKE EXPANSE.

NATIVE COWS AND HORSES ARE ADAPTED TO THIS ENVIRONMENT, BUT

THEY HAVE TO SURVIVE ON INCREASINGLY MEAGER PASTURES.

THE LANDSCAPE SOMETIMES RESEMBLES AN ARID SAVANNA.

THE DIFFERENCE IN TEMPERATURE BETWEEN AIR MASSES GENERATES

GUSTS OF SWELTERING WIND AT GROUND LEVEL.

THANKFULLY, THESE WATER TROUGHS ARE READY FOR

SOME THIRSTY CATTLE.

IN THE MIDDLE OF SUMMER, FRESH WATER IS A RARE LUXURY.

TREES ARE ABLE TO STORE SOME WATER DEEP IN THEIR TISSUES.

THIS CORK OAK IS LEAKING SAP FROM A CUT IN ITS TRUNK.

LARGE EMERALD GREEN BEETLES IMMEDIATELY TAKE ADVANTAGE

OF THE SUGARY SAP.

HERE IS WHAT CAUSED THE DAMAGE TO THE OAK.

THE OPENING WAS CAUSED BY THE LARVA OF A GOAT MOTH.

THE LARVA BURROWED DEEP INTO THE TREE TRUNKS, CUTTING THE OAK.

IT'S A THREAT TO THE TREES, BUT THE MOTH LARVA WAS ALSO ONCE IN

DANGER, AS IT WAS CONSIDERED A DELICIOUS DELICACY

BY THE ANCIENT ROMANS.

QUITE THE CIRCLE OF LIFE HERE IN THIS ANCIENT PART OF THE WORLD.

COMING UP, SUN UP AND SUN DOWN BRING A RELENTLESS CHORUS.

WE FIND OUT IF IT'S A WARNING OR A LOVE SONG.

AND THESE FLYERS IMPROVISE A SPECTACULAR SKY SHOW.

WHICH WAY WILL THEY GO NEXT?

MORE SECRETS OF THE ANIMAL WORLD 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.

IN SUMMER, THE ITALIAN COUNTRYSIDE POSITIVELY VIBRATES

WITH THE SOUNDS OF CRICKETS AND CICADAS.

WHILE SOME FOLKS FIND IT SOOTHING, THOSE CHIRPS ARE SOME

OF THE LOUDEST INSECT SOUNDS AROUND.

LET'S LISTEN IN TO THIS UNMISTAKABLE SONG OF SUMMER.

INSIDE THIS OLD OAK TREE, A SCOPS OWL COUPLE, SMALL

NOCTURNAL BIRDS OF PREY, ARE BRINGING FOOD TO THEIR OWLETS.

THE MENU MAINLY INCLUDES SMALL RODENTS AND GRASSHOPPERS, WHICH

THE OWLETS ARE FED INCESSANTLY.

AS A NEW DAY DAWNS, HUNDREDS OF MYSTERIOUS SHAPES

DECORATE THE TREE TRUNKS.

IT'S WHAT'S LEFT OF THE CICADA LARVA AFTER MOLTING.

THEY EMERGED FROM THE GROUND DURING THE NIGHT AND CLUNG TO A

PLANT TO COMPLETE THEIR METAMORPHOSIS.

THE WEBS OF A LARGE SPIDER COMMON IN SUNNY MEDITERRANEAN

HABITATS ARE A DEADLY TRAP FOR FOR THIS FAMOUSLY LOUD INSECT.

ONLY WHEN THE VICTIM IS INCAPACITATED DOES THE SPIDER

APPROACH AND BITE IT.

AT THE EDGE OF THE WOODS AND PINE FORESTS,

A VAST PRAIRIE BEGINS.

THESE OCEANS OF GRASS ARE THE KINGDOMS OF CRICKETS

AND GRASSHOPPERS.

LIKE THIS CRICKET, WHICH BELONGS TO A THREATENED SPECIES WITH A

VERY DISTINCTIVE EVENING CHIRP.

SOME YEARS BRING A SURGE OF CRICKETS TO THE REGION.

THEY FEED ON VEGETABLE MATTER, INCLUDING SPROUTS, LEAVES, AND

FRUITS, WHICH THEY CONSUME WITH THEIR POWERFUL JAWS.

THEY MAKE THEIR SOUND BY RUBBING TOGETHER THE MOVABLE PARTS OF

THEIR THORAX OR MIDDLE SECTION.

THE CHIRP IS HOW MALES ADVERTISE THEIR PRESENCE TO THE FEMALES.

IF THERE'S ONE NEARBY, SHE'LL LIKELY COME FORWARD.

SHE APPROACHES THE MALE AND MAKES HER PRESENCE KNOWN.

THEIR WHIRLING ANTENNAE ARE A SIGN OF GREAT EXCITEMENT.

AFTER FERTILIZATION, ALL THE FEMALE NEEDS TO DO IS LAY HER

EGGS IN THE GROUND.

HER OFFSPRING WILL BE BORN THE FOLLOWING SPRING, READY TO SING

THEIR OWN DISTINCTIVE SONG OF SUMMER.

COMING UP, A RUSH OF WINGS AND A WILD DANCE.

HOW STARLINGS MAKE THEIR MOVES 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.

SUMMER IS ABOUT TO END.

IN SEPTEMBER, THE MEDITERRANEAN DAYS ARE STARTING TO GROW

NOTICEABLY SHORTER.

THE TEMPERATURE IS MILDER AND THE SMELL OF

CHANGE IS IN THE AIR.

AUTUMN IS AROUND THE CORNER, BRINGING FLOCKS

OF MIGRATORY BIRDS.

AND SOMEONE'S WAITING FOR THEM.

THE PEREGRINE FALCON, A SPECIALIST IN CATCHING

BIRDS IN FLIGHT.

THOUSANDS OF STARLINGS FLY IN TIGHT GROUPS

LIKE SWARMS OF BEES.

WHEN THE RAPTOR ARRIVES, THE FLOCKS STRETCH AND THIN

OUT AS IF SWEPT BY A WAVE.

MORE FALCONS JOIN IN THE ATTACK.

THEY FLY INTO THE SWARM-LIKE FLOCK LIKE ARROWS, AND THE

STARLINGS REACT, LEAVING AN EMPTY SPACE AROUND THE HUNTERS.

RECENT STUDIES SUGGEST EACH STARLING WATCHES WHAT THE FIVE

OR SIX BIRDS AROUND IT DO.

WHEN THE FALCON APPROACHES, THE STARLINGS IN THEIR TRAJECTORY,

MOVE, PROMPTING THE BIRDS NEAREST TO THEM TO

AUTOMATICALLY DO THE SAME.

IN EXCEPTIONAL YEARS LIKE THIS, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF BIRDS CAN

COME FLOCKING TO THE MAREMMA PARK IN JUST A FEW DAYS.

THEY'RE CONSTANTLY MOVING, FILLING THE AIR

WITH THEIR CRIES.

THERE ARE SO MANY BIRDS YOU CAN FEEL A RUSH OF

AIR WHEN THEY FLY BY.

LATE IN THE AFTERNOON, AS IF OBEYING A MYSTERIOUS COMMAND,

THE ENTIRE FLOCK OF STARLINGS SIMPLY FLIES AWAY.

EACH FLOCK LEAVES FOR A SAFE PLACE TO SPEND THE NIGHT.

WE ARE TRULY LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO TAKE A BREATH AND

OBSERVE NATURE IN ACTION.

THANKS FOR SHARING OUR WILDLIFE ADVENTURES WITH US TODAY.

I'M DYLAN DREYER.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME ON "EARTH ODYSSEY".