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Animals can sometimes reach such
numbers they defy our understanding.
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They seem to rise up
and invade our lives.
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00:00:15,040 --> 00:00:18,680
They become Superswarms -
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00:00:18,680 --> 00:00:22,240
so immense,
they are impossible to ignore.
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00:00:24,960 --> 00:00:28,840
From the outside, they can be
the stuff of nightmares.
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00:00:28,840 --> 00:00:33,080
From the inside, they are a
thing of extraordinary beauty.
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00:00:33,080 --> 00:00:37,400
Among the apparent chaos,
something remarkable is going on.
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A weird kind of intelligence
controls the swarm.
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00:00:51,200 --> 00:00:53,240
Right now, 8:30 sharp.
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It's like swarms right now,
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00:00:55,000 --> 00:00:58,120
you see, they look like black
clouds going across the sky.
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00:00:58,120 --> 00:01:00,520
At Congress Bridge in Austin, Texas,
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00:01:00,520 --> 00:01:03,360
100,000 tourists visit each year
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to watch an incredible
natural spectacle -
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00:01:06,120 --> 00:01:11,720
1.5 million free-tailed bats
leaving their roost for the night.
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00:01:14,080 --> 00:01:17,400
It's an awe-inspiring sight,
that to our eyes looks chaotic.
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00:01:20,120 --> 00:01:24,080
Inside the swarm,
it's a very different picture.
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The bats fly in perfect unison,
always aware of their nearest
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00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:32,840
neighbour, chatting together
as they stream from the roost.
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00:01:32,840 --> 00:01:37,320
The tourists sometimes spot
a bird diving among the bats,
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trying to grab a meal -
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this gives even more of
a clue as to what is going on.
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00:01:43,080 --> 00:01:47,480
Slow down the action and
what's happening becomes clearer.
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00:01:50,760 --> 00:01:54,080
For the peregrine to succeed,
she must single out a bat from
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00:01:54,080 --> 00:01:57,960
the masses - an almost impossible
task amongst all the confusion.
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00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:08,160
A red-tailed hawk tries his luck,
but faces the same problem.
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00:02:08,160 --> 00:02:10,200
BATS SQUEAK
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00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:16,280
The bats' alarm calls warn
of danger - they work together.
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00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:22,640
They drop like stones from the sky
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- the sudden change of direction
wrong-footing their attackers.
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Bats on their own
are easier to pick out.
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00:02:39,280 --> 00:02:42,280
And there is no-one
to watch their backs.
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00:02:55,480 --> 00:02:57,560
By sharing information,
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00:02:57,560 --> 00:03:00,560
the bats effectively
increase their intelligence.
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00:03:03,240 --> 00:03:04,840
LOUD SQUEAKING
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00:03:08,920 --> 00:03:14,800
Just 60 miles away, at Bracken Cave,
a mothers' meeting is taking place.
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00:03:18,120 --> 00:03:20,280
Here, female bats
gather to give birth.
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00:03:20,280 --> 00:03:26,200
40 million bats in all - the
largest swarm of mammals on earth.
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00:03:26,200 --> 00:03:28,680
The bats migrate to these
maternity caves
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00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:31,040
from South and Central America.
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00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:38,600
It's like a giant creche and
the mothers don't stop talking.
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00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:42,320
But this isn't idle gossip -
they are exchanging information.
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00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:51,360
At dusk, the females and young
take to the air with a purpose.
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00:03:58,720 --> 00:04:03,280
It may seem disorganised, but
this is flight school for bats.
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The young learn from their
mother how to catch insects.
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00:04:12,480 --> 00:04:15,920
Among the millions, she can
recognise her own young's call
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00:04:15,920 --> 00:04:18,200
and they stay together as they fly.
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00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:37,360
At normal speed, you get a sense
of how difficult this must be.
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00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:41,520
But this Superswarm doesn't exist
in any time world we know.
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00:04:41,520 --> 00:04:43,960
They react many times
faster than we can.
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00:04:43,960 --> 00:04:47,920
The older, more experienced
females act like scouts,
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leaving the cave first
to check that all is clear.
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The novices follow, swirling
together to form a bat tornado.
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00:05:05,720 --> 00:05:10,360
This vortex grows rapidly, always
spinning in the same direction.
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00:05:10,360 --> 00:05:14,360
It acts as a beacon, signalling
to others that it's time to leave.
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00:05:27,680 --> 00:05:30,520
The bats also use the vortex
to exchange information.
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00:05:30,520 --> 00:05:34,120
They collectively make informed
decisions on where they should go,
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00:05:34,120 --> 00:05:37,120
based on their experiences
from the previous night.
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00:05:44,440 --> 00:05:47,960
In this gathering, a kind of swarm
intelligence is being created
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00:05:47,960 --> 00:05:50,400
and spread among the individuals.
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00:06:01,640 --> 00:06:04,800
Other swarms use this behaviour too.
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00:06:11,960 --> 00:06:15,200
The vortexes created by fish
can be so spectacular
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00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:18,760
they appear almost
like an alien organism.
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00:06:22,720 --> 00:06:24,200
They move like one too -
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00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:27,360
a creature that
shape-shifts before our eyes.
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00:06:42,800 --> 00:06:46,280
Fish have a lateral line system,
sensitive to pressure waves,
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00:06:46,280 --> 00:06:49,920
that runs like a series
of hidden ears along the body.
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00:06:49,920 --> 00:06:53,560
This picks up the tiny movements
of neighbouring fish so they can
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00:06:53,560 --> 00:06:56,440
mirror each other's actions
in perfect synchrony.
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00:06:56,440 --> 00:06:59,040
The lateral line
also detects predators.
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00:07:03,120 --> 00:07:06,040
Sailfish are built to deal with
this super-organism.
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00:07:06,040 --> 00:07:09,000
They are the
fastest fish in the ocean.
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00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:12,640
But, like birds, they find that
dealing with the swarm isn't easy.
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00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:20,200
If any member of the shoal
detects danger,
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00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:22,720
they use pheromones
to warn the others.
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00:07:22,720 --> 00:07:27,720
With so many individuals on the
lookout, their senses are amplified.
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00:07:27,720 --> 00:07:30,840
It's difficult for predators
to take them by surprise.
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00:07:37,440 --> 00:07:43,320
The Sailfish's gameplan is to divide
and rule. Smaller shoals are easier.
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00:07:52,720 --> 00:07:56,600
They slice through the mass,
breaking them into smaller targets.
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00:08:15,840 --> 00:08:19,880
But chasing even these
mini-swarms is difficult.
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00:08:19,880 --> 00:08:23,000
Only the weak or diseased
usually get taken.
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00:08:27,840 --> 00:08:31,280
The fragmented shoal seeks
safety with the master swarm.
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00:08:35,960 --> 00:08:39,000
In this fish whirlpool,
they communicate by resonating
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00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:41,640
their swim bladders
or grinding their teeth.
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00:08:49,960 --> 00:08:54,720
Together, they become more
than the sum of their parts.
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00:08:54,720 --> 00:08:58,000
It's as if each fish adds its
intelligence to the other,
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00:08:58,000 --> 00:08:59,960
to create a single mind.
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00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:08,440
The root of such complex behaviour
lies with far simpler animals.
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00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:15,520
This is Mono Lake in California,
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00:09:15,520 --> 00:09:19,800
a hauntingly beautiful location
made famous by it's pumice towers.
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00:09:24,320 --> 00:09:28,400
Appearances are deceptive -
below its calm surface
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00:09:28,400 --> 00:09:32,400
is a caustic chemical brew
in which almost no life survives.
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Except, that is, for flies.
Brine Flies.
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00:09:38,360 --> 00:09:40,920
There are billions of them.
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00:09:45,160 --> 00:09:48,240
Often so deep
they blacken the ground.
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00:09:48,240 --> 00:09:50,880
Their young live in the
lake and when they emerge,
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they eat nothing but algae.
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00:10:00,640 --> 00:10:02,480
Visitors can't help but notice
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00:10:02,480 --> 00:10:05,280
the flies' extraordinary
swarming behaviour.
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00:10:08,800 --> 00:10:11,120
They ripple away
from whoever approaches.
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00:10:11,120 --> 00:10:13,240
It's a game of chasing shadows.
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00:10:24,080 --> 00:10:28,200
Gulls chasing the flies
create the same reaction.
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00:10:29,680 --> 00:10:32,840
The flies react in a wave,
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sensing their neighbour's
movements and reacting instantly.
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00:10:40,040 --> 00:10:41,880
Against such organisation,
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00:10:41,880 --> 00:10:44,520
the gull's response
is about as basic as it gets.
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00:10:44,520 --> 00:10:47,960
They open their mouths,
run, and hope for the best.
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00:11:04,200 --> 00:11:05,720
It's frustrating work -
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00:11:05,720 --> 00:11:10,040
for most of the time the flies
keep tantalisingly out of reach.
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00:11:26,640 --> 00:11:29,600
These apparently simple animals
have complex behaviour
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00:11:29,600 --> 00:11:31,640
and are capable of learning.
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00:11:43,680 --> 00:11:47,880
Working as a swarm,
the flies increase their
awareness of the world,
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00:11:47,880 --> 00:11:50,800
making it difficult
for predators to catch them.
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00:11:57,440 --> 00:12:00,040
Fortunately, the flies
are so high in protein
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the gulls don't actually
need to catch that many.
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00:12:02,680 --> 00:12:06,400
Just 20 flies a day gives them
all the calories they need.
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00:12:24,840 --> 00:12:26,680
The flies are so nutritious,
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00:12:26,680 --> 00:12:30,960
65,000 Californian gulls come
here to breed each year.
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00:12:51,480 --> 00:12:54,920
In Rome, yellow-legged
gulls also adapt their
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behaviour to feed on a swarm.
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00:13:09,360 --> 00:13:13,160
As 10 million starlings stream
into the city to roost,
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00:13:13,160 --> 00:13:15,840
they outnumber the
human residents four to one.
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00:13:18,320 --> 00:13:22,160
Each year, these common garden
birds of northern Europe
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00:13:22,160 --> 00:13:25,480
take a winter break in
the warmer south.
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00:13:25,480 --> 00:13:28,040
Most are young, inexperienced birds.
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00:13:28,040 --> 00:13:32,680
By flocking together, they benefit
from each other's knowledge.
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00:13:32,680 --> 00:13:38,160
For the gulls, it's like
chasing fish shoals in the sky.
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00:13:38,160 --> 00:13:41,240
They act like fish shoals too -
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00:13:41,240 --> 00:13:43,680
forever changing
shape and re-forming.
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00:13:50,960 --> 00:13:56,280
The gull attacks, trying to split
the flock. The flock regroups.
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00:13:56,280 --> 00:14:00,840
The starlings' manoeuvres are
too quick for a single predator.
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00:14:00,840 --> 00:14:05,680
The gulls try to turn the odds in
their favour by working as a team.
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00:14:05,680 --> 00:14:09,800
Together, they corral the starlings
and try to split the flock.
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00:14:09,800 --> 00:14:13,560
But the flock grows
more powerful by the minute.
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00:14:13,560 --> 00:14:17,600
As more birds join,
they gain strength in numbers.
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00:14:23,240 --> 00:14:26,720
A peregrine falcon is a
greater challenge -
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00:14:26,720 --> 00:14:31,200
it reaches 220mph in a dive.
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00:14:41,800 --> 00:14:45,040
The starlings snap
together in close formation.
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00:14:45,040 --> 00:14:46,680
They become a blockade of birds.
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00:14:46,680 --> 00:14:49,640
The peregrine risks serious
injury if it attacks now.
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00:15:01,200 --> 00:15:02,840
The flock is like quicksilver,
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forever splitting and reforming
to confuse their attackers.
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00:15:09,800 --> 00:15:12,240
It's impossible to
target a single bird.
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00:15:21,800 --> 00:15:25,240
Like other swarms, birds create
this distracting display
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00:15:25,240 --> 00:15:27,280
by watching their companions.
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00:15:27,280 --> 00:15:29,840
Amazingly, each starling
tracks the movements
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of seven of its
neighbours at a time.
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00:15:36,560 --> 00:15:41,320
By monitoring these seven birds and
keeping in formation with them, each
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individual helps keep
the swarm as a cohesive force.
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00:15:45,840 --> 00:15:50,640
All this happens ten times
faster than a human can think.
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We are only just discovering how
much information is exchanged
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when birds gather in huge numbers.
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00:16:10,760 --> 00:16:14,800
It's May in Delaware Bay
on the east coast of America.
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00:16:14,800 --> 00:16:17,680
These waders have flown
all the way from South America
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to coincide with a
very special swarming event.
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As the birds roost,
the invasion begins, cued by
the cycle of the moon.
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00:16:28,680 --> 00:16:32,720
Human visitors
usually see them first.
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00:16:32,720 --> 00:16:34,720
Well, I tell you, this is creepy...
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00:16:34,720 --> 00:16:37,120
not creepy, but just freaky!
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00:16:38,480 --> 00:16:40,200
I don't know what they're doing -
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00:16:40,200 --> 00:16:43,760
are they battling or something
over a female? Holy mackerel!
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Here's a guy swimming along.
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And I just... I love them,
they're just so, so, so...
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00:16:49,520 --> 00:16:51,760
oh, my God, it's cold! ...So cool.
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00:16:51,760 --> 00:16:55,600
You know, you're cool and
all, but I really don't
want you that close to me.
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I think I could stay out here longer
now my feet have gone numb - Ahhhh!
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00:16:59,720 --> 00:17:03,480
Dawn reveals the true
scale of the spectacle.
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00:17:04,840 --> 00:17:08,640
It's an event that
has been happening for the
last 250 million years.
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00:17:10,280 --> 00:17:13,560
The horseshoe crab
is truly prehistoric.
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00:17:16,520 --> 00:17:19,600
They are more closely
related to spiders than crabs.
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00:17:19,600 --> 00:17:22,240
They chew with their legs
and their digestive tract
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passes through their brain.
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00:17:24,200 --> 00:17:28,560
Sometimes known as King crabs, they,
appropriately, have blue blood.
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00:17:32,280 --> 00:17:34,400
Their timing is precise.
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00:17:34,400 --> 00:17:39,280
They always appear in early May,
on the highest tides of the month.
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00:17:40,320 --> 00:17:42,960
They use an internal body clock.
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00:17:42,960 --> 00:17:45,800
This is set by watching
the cycles of the moon.
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00:17:50,680 --> 00:17:53,840
Their eyes are a thousand times
more sensitive than ours.
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00:17:53,840 --> 00:17:57,400
They have ten in all and a couple
on their tail for good measure.
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00:18:00,240 --> 00:18:04,520
Good time-keeping ensures that a
half a million crabs synchronise
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00:18:04,520 --> 00:18:07,160
their egg-laying
with the high spring tides.
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00:18:07,160 --> 00:18:12,600
The smaller males cluster around the
larger females, fertilising the eggs
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00:18:12,600 --> 00:18:14,440
that she buries deep in the sand.
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00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:21,160
Laid high up the beach, the eggs
are out of the reach of fish
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00:18:21,160 --> 00:18:22,960
predators for most of the month.
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00:18:27,280 --> 00:18:31,120
But these prehistoric creatures
hadn't reckoned on the birds.
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00:18:36,600 --> 00:18:40,800
Horseshoe crabs once walked
alongside dinosaurs, long
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00:18:40,800 --> 00:18:42,680
before birds appeared on Earth.
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00:18:43,880 --> 00:18:47,360
Evolution never
prepared them for this.
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00:18:49,360 --> 00:18:52,200
The birds snatch any eggs they can.
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00:18:53,240 --> 00:18:57,320
Fortunately, as each crab
lays 100,000 eggs,
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00:18:57,320 --> 00:18:59,520
there are plenty to spare.
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00:18:59,520 --> 00:19:03,200
The crabs prefer to sneak ashore
under the cover of darkness, but
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00:19:03,200 --> 00:19:07,280
if the weather is bad, they have
to take their chance in the day.
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00:19:07,280 --> 00:19:10,520
One million shore birds
use the eggs as fuel to
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00:19:10,520 --> 00:19:14,920
power their journey onwards to their
Arctic breeding ground. Some travel
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00:19:14,920 --> 00:19:16,960
ten thousand miles to get here.
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00:19:20,080 --> 00:19:24,720
Sand-pipers rely on the surf to
reveal the nutritious crab caviar.
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00:19:32,040 --> 00:19:35,440
Although the horseshoe
crabs' emergence is remarkable,
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00:19:35,440 --> 00:19:39,360
the birds' appearance here is
even more extraordinary.
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00:19:39,360 --> 00:19:42,760
Their journeys are governed by
a knowledge held by all the birds
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00:19:42,760 --> 00:19:46,840
- a swarm intelligence based on
the collective experience of all.
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00:20:00,720 --> 00:20:04,760
It is this kind of
shared intelligence that drives
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one of the most famous
migrations on the planet.
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00:20:13,080 --> 00:20:15,000
Wildebeest may seem familiar,
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00:20:15,000 --> 00:20:17,560
but look at them from
a different perspective
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00:20:17,560 --> 00:20:20,680
and it's clear
that they act as a swarm.
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00:20:25,040 --> 00:20:27,400
As they cross the plains
of East Africa,
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00:20:27,400 --> 00:20:30,800
following the seasonal rains,
they do everything together.
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00:20:33,240 --> 00:20:35,640
Like starlings,
they are hyper-sensitive
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00:20:35,640 --> 00:20:41,440
to their immediate neighbours and
their interactions connect
the herd together like a web.
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00:20:41,440 --> 00:20:46,640
From the air, it's possible
to gain a sense of how
far the network spreads.
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00:20:50,680 --> 00:20:54,080
Dotted among the wildebeest are
smaller groups of zebra.
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00:20:55,160 --> 00:20:59,200
They exist as small family groups,
even within bigger herds.
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00:20:59,200 --> 00:21:03,920
Each member reacts intelligently to
events. As they join the wildebeest
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00:21:03,920 --> 00:21:08,560
migration, it's possible to
see their different
strategies in action.
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00:21:10,360 --> 00:21:14,800
In common with other swarms,
migrating wildebeest are
gripped by a collective urge -
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00:21:14,800 --> 00:21:16,440
nothing stands in their way.
219
00:21:18,280 --> 00:21:21,520
Driven by the will of the herd,
they make decisions
220
00:21:21,520 --> 00:21:23,760
that, on the face of it,
seem quite stupid.
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00:21:26,920 --> 00:21:28,800
The river stops them in their tracks
222
00:21:28,800 --> 00:21:31,240
- it's as if the whole herd
has to decide together
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00:21:31,240 --> 00:21:33,280
when it's safe to take the plunge.
224
00:21:36,600 --> 00:21:41,120
Gradually, pressure builds from the
ones behind until the front-runners
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00:21:41,120 --> 00:21:42,640
are left with no option.
226
00:21:42,640 --> 00:21:44,880
Someone has to go first -
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00:21:44,880 --> 00:21:47,320
but it's the herd
that makes the decision.
228
00:22:18,640 --> 00:22:21,640
This is the moment the
crocodiles have been waiting for -
229
00:22:21,640 --> 00:22:26,240
with thousands of floundering prey,
they should have a field day.
230
00:22:29,960 --> 00:22:34,480
But the crocs soon
discover it's not that easy.
231
00:22:34,480 --> 00:22:36,880
Among the mass of bodies
and flailing hooves,
232
00:22:36,880 --> 00:22:39,240
the crocs
can't single out a target.
233
00:22:41,160 --> 00:22:45,040
Faced by overwhelming numbers,
they beat a retreat.
234
00:22:45,040 --> 00:22:48,440
Jumping in feet first has
actually worked for the swarm.
235
00:22:51,080 --> 00:22:52,520
The zebras arrive.
236
00:22:52,520 --> 00:22:55,760
Unlike the wildebeest,
they prefer to make a plan.
237
00:23:04,320 --> 00:23:08,360
They carefully consider all
options before they join the throng.
238
00:23:12,240 --> 00:23:15,280
They deliberately avoid the
apparently mindless masses.
239
00:23:30,680 --> 00:23:34,160
Meanwhile, the wildebeest have
led themselves up a blind alley.
240
00:23:34,160 --> 00:23:37,080
They are pinned against a wall
that is impossible to climb.
241
00:23:42,320 --> 00:23:44,680
The zebra appear to
have chosen more wisely,
242
00:23:44,680 --> 00:23:47,360
but independence
has its own dangers.
243
00:23:47,360 --> 00:23:52,080
Their well-considered plan
didn't account for the crocodiles.
244
00:24:06,080 --> 00:24:09,040
On their own, the zebra
are an easy target.
245
00:24:18,240 --> 00:24:21,720
The wildebeest may be floundering,
but the mass of bodies pushing
246
00:24:21,720 --> 00:24:24,920
from behind has helped some
to start scaling the wall -
247
00:24:24,920 --> 00:24:26,640
probing it for escape routes.
248
00:24:43,600 --> 00:24:46,480
The remaining zebra make it
to the other side,
249
00:24:46,480 --> 00:24:48,280
but their problems continue.
250
00:24:49,320 --> 00:24:51,600
The bank is too high to get out.
251
00:25:00,120 --> 00:25:05,400
The wildebeest spread along
the bank, testing each section
for a possible way out.
252
00:25:05,400 --> 00:25:08,200
Their vast numbers increase
the chance of one of them
253
00:25:08,200 --> 00:25:09,640
finding an escape route.
254
00:25:21,520 --> 00:25:24,240
Eventually, some
of them are successful.
255
00:25:24,240 --> 00:25:26,000
The masses follow their lead.
256
00:25:29,240 --> 00:25:32,480
Swarm intelligence finally pays off.
257
00:25:36,880 --> 00:25:41,520
The zebra are still paying the price
for their independence of mind.
258
00:25:57,080 --> 00:26:01,160
The whole wildebeest herd
funnels up the escape route.
259
00:26:01,160 --> 00:26:06,080
As they break down the
bank, they make it easier
for those that follow.
260
00:26:07,360 --> 00:26:09,440
This fact hasn't been
lost on the zebra -
261
00:26:09,440 --> 00:26:11,600
they now have
to join the wildebeest.
262
00:26:14,480 --> 00:26:17,440
Despite their apparently
mindless approach,
263
00:26:17,440 --> 00:26:19,480
all the wildebeest survived.
264
00:26:19,480 --> 00:26:22,480
The zebra weren't so lucky.
265
00:26:22,480 --> 00:26:26,440
Here it's not brain versus brawn -
266
00:26:26,440 --> 00:26:30,880
it is individual brains versus
the intelligence of the swarm.
267
00:26:34,040 --> 00:26:37,640
Although each zebra has a higher
intellect, by working together,
268
00:26:37,640 --> 00:26:40,040
the wildebeest herd
gains greater wisdom.
269
00:26:40,040 --> 00:26:43,280
It's surely no coincidence that
wildebeest outnumber zebra
270
00:26:43,280 --> 00:26:44,880
by nearly ten to one.
271
00:26:50,880 --> 00:26:55,120
This swarm is joined by another
- red-billed quelea -
272
00:26:55,120 --> 00:26:58,120
the most numerous
bird on the planet.
273
00:26:58,120 --> 00:27:01,880
When they flock together,
they also act with one mind.
274
00:27:01,880 --> 00:27:06,880
Although they feed in small flocks,
they join up to become a mega-flock
275
00:27:06,880 --> 00:27:09,880
as they make their way
to roost sites or waterholes.
276
00:27:22,880 --> 00:27:26,200
The flocks are mixed ages.
Most are this year's young -
277
00:27:26,200 --> 00:27:28,760
fledgling birds,
just a few weeks old.
278
00:27:28,760 --> 00:27:31,400
LOUD CHIRPING
279
00:27:45,800 --> 00:27:49,880
They are still very inexperienced -
their naivety makes them vulnerable.
280
00:27:53,640 --> 00:27:56,840
Their biggest enemy is
the lanner falcon.
281
00:27:56,840 --> 00:28:00,040
It soon learns where
their watering holes are.
282
00:28:03,520 --> 00:28:07,360
The lanner reaches 150 miles
per hour in a stoop.
283
00:28:14,720 --> 00:28:18,480
Taken by surprise, the youngster
didn't stand a chance.
284
00:28:24,040 --> 00:28:26,800
The survivors may have had
their feathers ruffled,
285
00:28:26,800 --> 00:28:29,480
but they've learned an
important lesson.
286
00:28:33,760 --> 00:28:35,000
They are in a quandary.
287
00:28:35,000 --> 00:28:36,920
It's dangerous to drink,
288
00:28:36,920 --> 00:28:39,680
but they won't survive
the night without water.
289
00:28:41,720 --> 00:28:46,600
This is where their collective
intelligence starts to work.
290
00:28:46,600 --> 00:28:50,040
The flock start to share roles.
291
00:28:50,040 --> 00:28:53,760
The more adventurous resume
drinking, but this time,
292
00:28:53,760 --> 00:28:56,520
the more nervous birds
act as lookouts.
293
00:28:56,520 --> 00:29:00,080
They watch the braver
ones' backs as they drink.
294
00:29:05,360 --> 00:29:07,480
The falcon tries again.
295
00:29:11,160 --> 00:29:13,000
FRANTIC CHIRPING
296
00:29:13,000 --> 00:29:16,640
Quickly spotted, a wave
of panic alerts the flock.
297
00:29:28,640 --> 00:29:33,680
Such group tactics work well
because every bird has a
slightly different personality.
298
00:29:33,680 --> 00:29:35,320
Some are wary and hold back,
299
00:29:35,320 --> 00:29:39,480
others throw caution to the wind,
risking all for a drink.
300
00:29:39,480 --> 00:29:44,040
Once the daredevils have finished,
they take over lookout duties.
301
00:29:48,520 --> 00:29:52,240
By rotating roles, the flock
increases its overall awareness.
302
00:29:52,240 --> 00:29:56,240
Together, they outsmart
the lanner falcon.
303
00:30:36,680 --> 00:30:40,320
Safely refreshed,
the flock returns to its roost.
304
00:30:47,520 --> 00:30:50,080
But this is not simply a dormitory,
305
00:30:50,080 --> 00:30:55,560
it's a meeting room where almost a
million birds exchange information.
306
00:30:58,160 --> 00:31:03,000
In a way not yet understood,
the quelea learn from each other.
307
00:31:14,240 --> 00:31:15,520
News travels fast.
308
00:31:15,520 --> 00:31:17,480
Prime feeding spots that yesterday
309
00:31:17,480 --> 00:31:21,520
were only known by a select few,
become today's star attractions.
310
00:31:23,160 --> 00:31:27,440
They leave the roost with a clear
mission on their collective mind.
311
00:31:27,440 --> 00:31:31,720
A deluge of birds now descends
on the ripe grass seeds.
312
00:31:38,280 --> 00:31:41,640
The leading edge of the flock
lands and begins to feed.
313
00:31:41,640 --> 00:31:44,880
Birds at the back leapfrog
to the front of the queue.
314
00:31:44,880 --> 00:31:47,160
This creates a wave
of continuous motion -
315
00:31:47,160 --> 00:31:51,400
a rolling flock that devours
every seed in its path.
316
00:32:10,720 --> 00:32:14,440
Both wildebeest and quelea show
the wisdom of the crowd in action.
317
00:32:14,440 --> 00:32:20,280
But swarm intelligence actually
reaches perfection in insects.
318
00:32:25,680 --> 00:32:31,280
Even the most basic insects can
show surprising social organisation.
319
00:32:31,280 --> 00:32:38,320
Every month, Lake Victoria
in East Africa spawns the largest
eruption of flies on earth.
320
00:32:39,520 --> 00:32:43,320
They emerge from the lake at
night after the rains,
321
00:32:43,320 --> 00:32:45,640
triggered by
the onset of the new moon.
322
00:32:45,640 --> 00:32:47,280
BUZZING
323
00:32:51,800 --> 00:32:56,800
During an emergence, lakeside
islands become blanketed with flies.
324
00:32:59,680 --> 00:33:03,600
Their sole purpose is to reproduce.
325
00:33:03,600 --> 00:33:07,040
It's how they go about it that
makes them so extraordinary.
326
00:33:09,400 --> 00:33:15,320
The male use their large feathery
antennae like the antlers of
rutting deer, to fight with rivals.
327
00:33:23,040 --> 00:33:26,360
Like deer, those with the most
impressive headgear have the
328
00:33:26,360 --> 00:33:28,800
greatest chance of
attracting a mate.
329
00:33:37,240 --> 00:33:42,920
Once airborne, the power of
the swarm really takes off.
330
00:33:44,160 --> 00:33:48,400
They are about to undertake
the world's largest mating ritual.
331
00:33:49,600 --> 00:33:52,360
At first, the clouds of males
look totally random,
332
00:33:52,360 --> 00:33:56,320
but gradually,
order emerges from the chaos.
333
00:33:56,320 --> 00:33:58,800
The flies decide on
a landmark on the ground
334
00:33:58,800 --> 00:34:00,800
and organise themselves above it.
335
00:34:04,280 --> 00:34:08,360
They create columns that dance
like will-o-the-wisps,
336
00:34:08,360 --> 00:34:11,360
never shifting
from their chosen position.
337
00:34:12,400 --> 00:34:17,080
The dance of the males is designed
to entice the females. The columns
338
00:34:17,080 --> 00:34:21,200
lure them in from a great distance.
Once inside, they mate.
339
00:34:36,960 --> 00:34:40,320
When the dancing is at its
height, it looks almost as
340
00:34:40,320 --> 00:34:42,840
though the forest is on fire.
341
00:34:51,960 --> 00:34:55,440
Out on the lake, this mating ritual
happens on a spectacular scale.
342
00:34:55,440 --> 00:34:58,320
Trillions of flies are involved
343
00:34:58,320 --> 00:35:01,480
and the column may rise
200m into the air.
344
00:35:03,360 --> 00:35:07,720
Their desire to perform over
a fixed point draws them to land.
345
00:35:13,360 --> 00:35:17,160
Billions of flies create this
ephemeral structure.
346
00:35:17,160 --> 00:35:21,040
It behaves like a single entity,
even flying against the wind -
347
00:35:21,040 --> 00:35:24,760
a seemingly impossible feat,
given the flies' tiny size.
348
00:35:35,240 --> 00:35:37,600
If lake flies can
become so organised,
349
00:35:37,600 --> 00:35:40,400
it is hardly surprising
that some insects have taken
350
00:35:40,400 --> 00:35:44,000
social decision-making to
spectacular heights.
351
00:35:44,000 --> 00:35:47,200
But we are only just discovering
how clever they really are.
352
00:35:47,200 --> 00:35:51,960
A fact some of us may
have suspected all along.
353
00:35:53,040 --> 00:35:55,800
Ew...This is gross.
354
00:35:55,800 --> 00:35:58,120
OK, go and move the pillow.
355
00:35:58,120 --> 00:36:02,080
Ah, this is disgusting!
Mum, look at...
356
00:36:02,080 --> 00:36:04,120
how many do you think there are?
357
00:36:04,120 --> 00:36:06,120
About a thousand.
358
00:36:06,120 --> 00:36:08,400
What do you think
these guys are thinking?
359
00:36:08,400 --> 00:36:12,400
We have reason to be in awe of ants.
360
00:36:18,320 --> 00:36:20,800
Slowed down forty times,
361
00:36:20,800 --> 00:36:23,800
these African driver ants
are moving house.
362
00:36:25,240 --> 00:36:29,120
The 20 million individuals
that make up the colony
363
00:36:29,120 --> 00:36:32,360
have collectively
made the decision to move.
364
00:36:32,360 --> 00:36:37,040
They carry their eggs, larvae
and pupae with them,
365
00:36:37,040 --> 00:36:40,000
dividing up their tasks
according to size.
366
00:36:44,480 --> 00:36:47,320
The workers carry the larvae,
while the soldiers hold
367
00:36:47,320 --> 00:36:51,240
the much larger pupae that will
ultimately become new soldiers.
368
00:37:03,840 --> 00:37:07,840
It's a huge undertaking,
but many claws make light work,
369
00:37:07,840 --> 00:37:12,040
and the entire colony of
20 million individuals relocates
370
00:37:12,040 --> 00:37:14,280
over the course of 48 hours.
371
00:37:25,240 --> 00:37:28,640
The heavily fortified trail can
stretch a hundred metres from the
372
00:37:28,640 --> 00:37:32,240
old nest - the equivalent of
11 miles in the human world.
373
00:37:49,160 --> 00:37:51,960
As we all know,
moving house is never easy
374
00:37:51,960 --> 00:37:55,000
and the ants' journey
is fraught with problems.
375
00:38:02,560 --> 00:38:07,040
A twig blocking their path is
like a tree blocking a main road.
376
00:38:07,040 --> 00:38:10,680
Their first job is to
identify the problem.
377
00:38:12,680 --> 00:38:17,120
Those first at the scene call for
back-up, releasing a pheromone.
378
00:38:17,120 --> 00:38:20,280
The heavy mob arrive
and immediately set to work -
379
00:38:20,280 --> 00:38:22,880
they can lift
50 times their own weight.
380
00:38:29,520 --> 00:38:33,560
As well as brute strength,
this needs supreme organisation.
381
00:38:33,560 --> 00:38:37,480
They somehow have to all lift and
push at the same time -
382
00:38:37,480 --> 00:38:41,400
a challenge that
even we find difficult.
383
00:38:45,680 --> 00:38:49,200
Obstruction removed, the traffic
soon starts flowing again.
384
00:38:51,960 --> 00:38:55,560
In defence of the trail,
the ants take no prisoners,
385
00:38:55,560 --> 00:39:00,200
but even an innocuous-looking insect
can be surprisingly dangerous.
386
00:39:03,480 --> 00:39:07,760
The soil millipede is killed
quickly, but the soldier's highly-
387
00:39:07,760 --> 00:39:12,440
sensitive antennae immediately
reveal that it's poisonous.
388
00:39:12,440 --> 00:39:17,680
The message soon reaches nearby
ants. They know exactly what to do.
389
00:39:17,680 --> 00:39:21,480
They gather lumps of mud
and bury the problem.
390
00:39:54,440 --> 00:39:57,720
With the millipede out of harm's
way, the trail can safely
391
00:39:57,720 --> 00:39:59,280
continue its journey.
392
00:40:06,040 --> 00:40:08,680
But more dangers
await the trailblazers.
393
00:40:14,080 --> 00:40:18,200
A praying mantis plucks
unsuspecting ants from the column.
394
00:40:24,520 --> 00:40:26,160
He seems to have the upper hand,
395
00:40:26,160 --> 00:40:30,840
but the ants he kills
send out a dying message.
396
00:40:30,840 --> 00:40:35,480
Reacting to this pheromone,
reinforcements arrive.
397
00:40:35,480 --> 00:40:38,120
The mantis is a deadly predator,
398
00:40:38,120 --> 00:40:41,040
but the ants know exactly what
they're dealing with.
399
00:40:46,320 --> 00:40:48,640
One soldier grabs the mantis' jaws,
400
00:40:48,640 --> 00:40:50,960
stopping it from
doing any more damage.
401
00:40:56,600 --> 00:40:58,640
Other ants swarm over the mantis,
402
00:40:58,640 --> 00:41:01,280
butchering it
with surgical precision.
403
00:41:14,920 --> 00:41:19,080
The mantis' fate is sealed by
a clinical decapitation.
404
00:41:29,200 --> 00:41:32,720
The eggs and pupae are
taken into the new nest.
405
00:41:36,040 --> 00:41:38,080
Here, they are safe.
406
00:41:38,080 --> 00:41:41,080
The millions of interlocking
ants that make up the nest's
407
00:41:41,080 --> 00:41:44,120
superstructure create
an impenetrable barrier.
408
00:42:03,240 --> 00:42:06,440
Only from the outside is
it possible to get an idea
409
00:42:06,440 --> 00:42:08,520
of the nest's huge scale.
410
00:42:14,640 --> 00:42:17,280
Literally millions of individuals
411
00:42:17,280 --> 00:42:21,920
form a nervous network that
communicates using pheromones.
412
00:42:24,880 --> 00:42:29,240
As ants pass messages to
each other, they effectively
act like brain cells.
413
00:42:35,520 --> 00:42:38,160
Through the millions
of inter-connections
414
00:42:38,160 --> 00:42:41,840
they arrive at a decision that
works for the benefit of the colony.
415
00:42:51,360 --> 00:42:54,920
Like human brain cells, individual
ants are not "intelligent",
416
00:42:54,920 --> 00:42:59,520
but the links between them create
a mind - an ant superbrain.
417
00:43:26,520 --> 00:43:29,640
Deep inside is the queen.
418
00:43:29,640 --> 00:43:34,640
Her role is to replenish the colony
by laying 2 million eggs a month.
419
00:43:39,320 --> 00:43:43,200
She is merely an egg-laying machine,
under the collective command of all
420
00:43:43,200 --> 00:43:45,800
the ants that make up
the mind of the hive.
421
00:44:01,560 --> 00:44:04,320
The ants create a different
kind of intelligence -
422
00:44:04,320 --> 00:44:07,960
a brain that exists
outside any single body.
423
00:44:15,560 --> 00:44:17,920
Other social insects work
in a similar way.
424
00:44:17,920 --> 00:44:21,120
One of the most well-studied
is the honey bee.
425
00:44:24,800 --> 00:44:27,880
Like ants, individual bees
communicate with others in
426
00:44:27,880 --> 00:44:31,320
the hive and their experiences
add together to make decisions
427
00:44:31,320 --> 00:44:32,920
for the benefit of the colony.
428
00:44:34,360 --> 00:44:39,920
This is most apparent when
bees create swarms, as they do
when looking for a new home.
429
00:44:47,760 --> 00:44:51,600
In their searches, they can
turn up just about anywhere
430
00:44:51,600 --> 00:44:55,360
- a disconcerting fact for
anyone caught in their path.
431
00:44:56,680 --> 00:44:58,960
They're all right here, man.
432
00:44:58,960 --> 00:45:02,280
Every single one of them.
433
00:45:02,280 --> 00:45:07,200
We'll end up with a whole
hive on the thing. Oh yeah.
434
00:45:20,880 --> 00:45:25,880
What seems to us an odd choice is
just part of an efficient process
435
00:45:25,880 --> 00:45:31,200
that ultimately results
in the swarm finding the right
place to settle permanently.
436
00:45:31,200 --> 00:45:34,880
So, choosing a car or a bike
isn't necessarily a mistake.
437
00:45:37,320 --> 00:45:41,080
It has plenty of nooks and crannies
where they can build their combs.
438
00:45:48,920 --> 00:45:53,600
The first bees to land release a
pheromone that guides the others in.
439
00:45:53,600 --> 00:45:56,560
They cluster together
in a protective mass.
440
00:45:58,840 --> 00:46:02,840
But as the sun beats down and
temperatures soar, they begin
441
00:46:02,840 --> 00:46:04,960
to question their choice.
442
00:46:07,200 --> 00:46:09,640
There is only so much
shade to go around.
443
00:46:09,640 --> 00:46:11,440
They fan their wings to keep cool.
444
00:46:11,440 --> 00:46:14,480
But the over-heating bees
release a chemical signal
445
00:46:14,480 --> 00:46:17,320
that tells the scout bees
that they aren't happy.
446
00:46:19,560 --> 00:46:24,000
The scouts quickly get the message,
and set off to find an alternative.
447
00:46:25,480 --> 00:46:29,080
With the sun beating down,
it's a race against time.
448
00:46:29,080 --> 00:46:33,040
The scouts look for a cavity
large enough to contain the hive.
449
00:46:33,040 --> 00:46:36,640
This shows distinct possibilities.
450
00:46:42,000 --> 00:46:43,640
She inspects the property -
451
00:46:43,640 --> 00:46:47,200
pacing the floor and measuring up,
just like a human surveyor.
452
00:46:59,200 --> 00:47:02,640
Once the scout is happy,
she leaves to let the swarm know.
453
00:47:08,920 --> 00:47:13,840
Back at the temporary bivouac, she
announces the good news by dancing.
454
00:47:13,840 --> 00:47:16,960
But this is a dance
with a precise meaning.
455
00:47:16,960 --> 00:47:19,440
The straight part of the
dance shows the angle
456
00:47:19,440 --> 00:47:21,520
they must fly to find the cavity.
457
00:47:27,240 --> 00:47:30,640
The duration of her waggle dance
shows how far they have to go.
458
00:47:30,640 --> 00:47:34,600
A second's worth of waggles
equals half a mile of flying.
459
00:47:44,880 --> 00:47:47,920
Other scouts watch the dance,
460
00:47:47,920 --> 00:47:52,040
following her every move,
taking in her directions.
461
00:47:52,040 --> 00:47:55,640
When she leaves, the scouts follow.
462
00:47:57,000 --> 00:48:01,360
With her guidance,
this advance party makes a
beeline to the exact spot.
463
00:48:08,040 --> 00:48:09,880
Now it's their turn to check it out.
464
00:48:12,680 --> 00:48:17,360
They too pace out the cavity,
checking whether they agree or not.
465
00:48:24,200 --> 00:48:26,280
Having all made their assessment,
466
00:48:26,280 --> 00:48:29,760
they hold a committee meeting
to consider their findings.
467
00:48:32,240 --> 00:48:34,640
How they arrive at a
consensus is uncertain,
468
00:48:34,640 --> 00:48:36,080
but eventually they do.
469
00:48:40,960 --> 00:48:44,000
They let the swarm know
the good news.
470
00:48:54,280 --> 00:48:57,600
The scouts rush through the swarm,
vibrating their wings
471
00:48:57,600 --> 00:48:59,440
in what is called a buzz run.
472
00:49:05,080 --> 00:49:07,560
This tells the swarm one thing...
473
00:49:09,600 --> 00:49:11,400
It's time to leave.
474
00:49:12,520 --> 00:49:18,000
100,000 bees take to the
air in less than two minutes.
475
00:49:21,840 --> 00:49:25,360
The swarm follows the scouts,
leading them to their new home.
476
00:49:35,560 --> 00:49:37,720
As more and more bees settle in,
477
00:49:37,720 --> 00:49:40,640
they release a scent that
attracts in any stragglers.
478
00:49:43,720 --> 00:49:46,760
Communal thinking is the secret
to the swarm's success.
479
00:49:46,760 --> 00:49:49,680
But this kind of
intelligence has its problems.
480
00:49:49,680 --> 00:49:52,920
It works best when things stay
as nature intended.
481
00:49:52,920 --> 00:49:55,480
But it can't think out of the box.
482
00:50:03,240 --> 00:50:05,680
Even this might not be
the disaster it seems.
483
00:50:05,680 --> 00:50:08,720
Many swarms have become
successful by being transported
484
00:50:08,720 --> 00:50:10,320
as stowaways around the world.
485
00:50:16,200 --> 00:50:19,080
..Traffic heavy, one mile
south of the airport...
486
00:50:22,240 --> 00:50:27,400
These are Fireants. They originated
in the jungles of Brazil and arrived
487
00:50:27,400 --> 00:50:29,920
in North America on cargo vessels.
488
00:50:29,920 --> 00:50:35,520
They now infest many airports,
homes and public buildings across
the southern states of America.
489
00:50:36,680 --> 00:50:40,880
Despite their tiny size,
they have the power to close down
490
00:50:40,880 --> 00:50:44,280
airports, traffic control systems
and server networks.
491
00:50:44,280 --> 00:50:47,280
Their destructive influence
continues to grow.
492
00:50:52,160 --> 00:50:54,880
Computers are especially vulnerable.
493
00:50:54,880 --> 00:50:57,880
Remarkably, it's the
electricity that they like.
494
00:51:01,520 --> 00:51:04,960
Their antennae are electro-sensitive
and the ants react
495
00:51:04,960 --> 00:51:09,400
to electrical charges by
attacking them with their jaws.
496
00:51:09,400 --> 00:51:12,480
The soldier ants also like
the sweet taste of the terminals
497
00:51:12,480 --> 00:51:14,920
and they can't
resist having a nibble.
498
00:51:20,000 --> 00:51:23,120
All this activity creates
problems and leads to dangerous
499
00:51:23,120 --> 00:51:27,120
short circuits as their jaws
and legs touch exposed circuitry.
500
00:51:32,160 --> 00:51:34,200
They are now creating havoc
501
00:51:34,200 --> 00:51:37,440
over vast areas of the
southern states of America.
502
00:51:47,640 --> 00:51:51,840
Having come from the
rainforest, the ants are used
to this kind of weather.
503
00:51:56,960 --> 00:52:01,880
But unknowingly, the ants have built
their nest in a drainage ditch.
504
00:52:03,160 --> 00:52:07,120
Flooding is a challenge for
even the most intelligent swarm.
505
00:52:13,120 --> 00:52:16,880
The ants start an evacuation,
moving the nest to higher ground.
506
00:52:22,320 --> 00:52:24,560
It's women and children first,
507
00:52:24,560 --> 00:52:28,240
as the ants carry the queen
and her pupae to safety.
508
00:52:29,880 --> 00:52:31,840
But still the water rises.
509
00:52:46,960 --> 00:52:51,960
The ants react by linking
arms together, forming a mesh
of inter-connected bodies.
510
00:52:51,960 --> 00:52:55,240
Between them, they
are making a life-raft.
511
00:52:59,920 --> 00:53:01,760
The ants' most precious cargo,
512
00:53:01,760 --> 00:53:05,440
the eggs and remaining pupae,
are safely stowed on top.
513
00:53:05,440 --> 00:53:07,840
Flying ants also board
- like helicopters on
514
00:53:07,840 --> 00:53:11,400
an aircraft carrier, ready
to lift off to start a new colony
515
00:53:11,400 --> 00:53:13,160
if the raft gets into trouble.
516
00:53:16,800 --> 00:53:19,440
Remarkably, some of
the pupae are set aside to
517
00:53:19,440 --> 00:53:23,320
act as flotation devices,
to help keep the raft afloat.
518
00:53:33,680 --> 00:53:37,880
The ants that make up the submerged
part of the raft have their own
519
00:53:37,880 --> 00:53:41,360
emergency air-supply from
the air trapped on their bodies.
520
00:53:44,440 --> 00:53:47,760
As the water level rises
further, the raft detaches
521
00:53:47,760 --> 00:53:52,760
from its moorings - it is now at
the mercy of the wind and water.
522
00:54:00,280 --> 00:54:02,880
Some of the workers paddle
with their front legs,
523
00:54:02,880 --> 00:54:05,120
giving the elements a helping hand.
524
00:54:08,760 --> 00:54:12,600
On the top deck, the workers
tend the pupae and larvae.
525
00:54:12,600 --> 00:54:16,160
Below deck, workers clean and
maintain the underside of the raft.
526
00:54:23,040 --> 00:54:26,880
As the raft approaches land,
it begins to change shape.
527
00:54:30,800 --> 00:54:33,560
The ants start building
a pontoon from the raft that
528
00:54:33,560 --> 00:54:35,000
reaches towards the bank.
529
00:54:38,280 --> 00:54:41,280
The individuals are working
as a unified team
530
00:54:41,280 --> 00:54:43,160
for the benefit
of the whole colony.
531
00:54:47,400 --> 00:54:49,240
As fingers of ants reach out,
532
00:54:49,240 --> 00:54:52,800
they show swarm intelligence
working to perfection.
533
00:55:02,960 --> 00:55:05,480
As more ants add to
the pontoon's length,
534
00:55:05,480 --> 00:55:07,920
it becomes a bridge to the land.
535
00:55:21,920 --> 00:55:26,000
Once contact is made, the most
precious cargo is unloaded first.
536
00:55:27,400 --> 00:55:30,840
Like a team of porters,
they ferry the pupae to the shore.
537
00:55:30,840 --> 00:55:34,280
The next generation is safe.
538
00:55:39,800 --> 00:55:45,880
The queen is next to disembark -
the colony's future is assured.
539
00:55:52,760 --> 00:55:57,800
Using their incredible swarm
intelligence, fireants
are taking on the world.
540
00:55:59,920 --> 00:56:04,200
As well as invading America, they
have started to colonize Australia.
541
00:56:04,200 --> 00:56:07,040
With global warming, they are
likely to invade Europe,
542
00:56:07,040 --> 00:56:09,880
as far north as southern England.
543
00:56:12,080 --> 00:56:15,480
They are the swarm of the future.
544
00:56:18,120 --> 00:56:20,440
As we have explored
the world of the swarm,
545
00:56:20,440 --> 00:56:24,600
we discovered how they profit
on the back of our success.
546
00:56:24,600 --> 00:56:27,120
How they feed off our agriculture
547
00:56:27,120 --> 00:56:31,160
and take advantage of the
new environments we create.
548
00:56:32,960 --> 00:56:37,280
We have seen how they can erupt at
any time - taking us by surprise.
549
00:56:38,720 --> 00:56:41,640
And how they have hitched a
ride with us around the world.
550
00:56:41,640 --> 00:56:45,240
We have seen how even simple
organisms can create spectacles
551
00:56:45,240 --> 00:56:49,240
that can be
awe-inspiring and beautiful.
552
00:56:49,240 --> 00:56:53,840
And also how they can become
the stuff of nightmares.
553
00:56:53,840 --> 00:56:57,560
We have seen how swarms can learn
from their collective experience.
554
00:56:57,560 --> 00:57:00,440
And how they can act as
a single organism.
555
00:57:00,440 --> 00:57:04,120
We have even seen how looking
at swarms is like looking
556
00:57:04,120 --> 00:57:07,920
into the inner workings
of an alien brain.
557
00:57:07,920 --> 00:57:11,200
But this is one swarm that
we have yet to feature -
558
00:57:11,200 --> 00:57:14,840
one that may even
help to save the world.
559
00:57:16,960 --> 00:57:21,560
These little known creatures
are salps - a sea creature that
560
00:57:21,560 --> 00:57:25,880
in fact is more closely related to
us than the jellyfish it resembles.
561
00:57:27,040 --> 00:57:30,760
They come in many
bizarre shape and sizes.
562
00:57:30,760 --> 00:57:35,520
Many are joined together to create
daisy chains - some a mile long.
563
00:57:42,280 --> 00:57:45,720
At night, all across
the oceans of the world,
564
00:57:45,720 --> 00:57:49,200
they rise to the surface
in their billions to feed.
565
00:57:50,240 --> 00:57:52,840
Recently, their numbers have
started to increase
566
00:57:52,840 --> 00:57:57,320
and swarms now cover
thousands of square miles.
567
00:57:58,520 --> 00:58:03,440
They eat the algae that absorb
our greenhouse gasses and then
568
00:58:03,440 --> 00:58:07,040
safely lock the carbon away
at the bottom of the ocean.
569
00:58:09,120 --> 00:58:14,360
An average swarm removes
an incredible 4,000 tons
of carbon each night.
570
00:58:16,840 --> 00:58:21,040
They are a growing swarm with the
power to help save our planet and
571
00:58:21,040 --> 00:58:24,240
their significance has
only just been discovered.
572
00:58:24,240 --> 00:58:30,000
They are living proof that
we should never underestimate
the power of the swarm.
573
00:58:50,720 --> 00:58:54,600
Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
574
00:58:54,600 --> 00:58:58,240
E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk
51435
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