All language subtitles for American Eagle PBS Nature 2008 720p HDTV EN sub

Narrator: FROM THE SKIES OVER
THE MISSISSIPPI

COMES A PERSONAL STORY
OF OUR NATION'S SYMBOL...

Man: WHEN I WAS A KID,
JUST TO SEE A BALD EAGLE

WAS JUST A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME
EXPERIENCE --

IT'D BE ON THE FRONT PAGE
OF THE PAPER --

"A BALD EAGLE WAS SEEN."

Narrator:
NOW, ALL THAT HAS CHANGED.

WE'RE REALLY HOPING
TO INSTALL MULTIPLE CAMERAS --

MAYBE ONE ON THIS LIMB,
PERHAPS ONE ON THE OTHER LIMB.

Narrator: WE'RE AFTER
THE ULTIMATE

BIRD'S-EYE VIEW

INTO THE PRIVATE LIFE

OF AN AMERICAN ICON.

Man: WE'VE BEEN WORRIED
ABOUT WHETHER

THE YOUNGER SMALLER CHICK
IS GOING TO SURVIVE OR NOT.

Narrator: SIBLING RIVALRY...

PARENTS IN CRISIS...

PARTNERS...

FOR BETTER OR WORSE.

Man: AND HE'S THE BOSS.

BOY, THIS IS HIS NEST --
NO MATTER WHAT SHE DOES,

HE COMES BACK
AND REARRANGES IT.

Narrator: A NATIONAL TRIUMPH --
RECLAIMING ITS PLACE

IN THE NATURAL WORLD.

THE AMERICAN EAGLE...IS BACK.

Narrator:
THE FOUR OF JULY, 1776.

ON A DAY OF HIGH EMOTIONS --

HOURS AFTER
DECLARING INDEPENDENCE --

CONGRESS ASKED THOMAS JEFFERSON,

BEN FRANKLIN,
AND JOHN ADAMS

TO CHOOSE AN EMBLEM

FOR THE FLEDGLING UNITED STATES.

WHAT SYMBOL WOULD BEST REPRESENT
A NEW SOVEREIGN NATION,

AND A FREE PEOPLE?

THE COMMITTEE FIRST LOOKED
TO HISTORY,

AND BEGAN WITH
A CLASSICAL DESIGN.

THEN INSPIRATION STEPPED IN --

THEY TURNED TO NATURE,

TO SOMETHING POWERFULLY ALIVE.

THE BALD EAGLE
WAS DISTINCTLY AMERICAN.

THE ULTIMATE EMBLEM OF A NATION
WITH SOARING ASPIRATIONS.

SINCE THEN, THE AMERICAN EAGLE
HAS HAD SWINGS OF FORTUNE

EVERY BIT AS DRAMATIC AS THOSE
OF THE UNITED STATES.

Man: I THINK THAT BEING AN EAGLE
IS A TOUGH THING.

I MEAN, THEY'RE OUT THERE
EVERY DAY

LIVING ON THE EDGE OF SURVIVAL.

I'M NEIL RETTIG,
I'M A NATURAL HISTORY FILMMAKER,

I'VE BEEN MAKING
WILDLIFE DOCUMENTARIES

FOR OVER 30 YEARS.

MY BIG PASSION IN LIFE, THOUGH,

HAS BEEN BIRDS OF PREY.

THE REALLY NEAT THING ABOUT THIS
IS THAT,

ON A DAY LIKE TODAY,
YOU HAVE UNLIMITED VISIBILITY.

AND 180�.

AFTER ALL THESE YEARS,

I DECIDED IT WAS THE TIME
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT

THE NATIONAL BIRD --

A BIRD THAT AMERICANS REALLY
DON'T KNOW ALL THAT MUCH ABOUT.

AND SO WE SET OUT TO DISCOVER
THEIR SECRET LIFE --

HOW THEY BREED, HOW THEY HUNT...

TO DEPICT A REAL PREDATOR --

A CHASER OF DUCKS,
A CATCHER OF GAME.

AND WHAT WE FOUND WAS IN SOME
WAYS INCREDIBLY MIND-BLOWING.

THEY WILL FACE ANY KIND OF
THREAT WITH FULL FORCE,

AND THEY WON'T HOLD BACK.

HERE'S A COUPLE MORE CHASING
EACH OTHER DOWN HERE, LOOK AT.

THEY'RE GONNA COME BY --

WE'RE GONNA GET SOME SHOTS.

Abraham: ALONG A TRIBUTARY
OF THE MISSISSIPPI,

NEIL FINDS THE PERFECT
NEST SITE.

IT HAPPENS TO BE RIGHT ABOVE
THE STATE FISH HATCHERY,

IN A HUGE COTTONWOOD TREE.

Rettig: NOW THESE EAGLES
TURNED OUT TO BE

AN EXTRAORDINARY PAIR
TO WORK WITH.

NOT ONLY WERE THEY

VERY TOLERANT
OF HUMAN ACTIVITY,

BUT THEY WERE ALSO
CATCHING TROUT

RIGHT UNDER THE NEST
IN THE FISH HATCHERY PONDS.

THE FEMALE WAS A PARTICULARLY
COOL CHARACTER --

SHE HAD ONE EYE MISSING.

WATCHING THESE BIRDS
WORK ON THE NEST

IN THE DEAD OF WINTER
WAS REALLY SOMETHING.

BUT THE MOST EXCITING THING

WAS WATCHING THEM ACTUALLY
SWOOP DOWN

INTO THE WATERS
OF THE FISH HATCHERY POND.

EVEN THOUGH THE FEMALE

HAD ONE EYE,
I WAS AMAZED AT HER ACCURACY

IN ACTUALLY CATCHING TROUT.

THERE WAS NO TOLERATION
OF TRESPASSERS.

THE NEST SITE IS THE NUCLEUS
OF THEIR ACTIVITIES,

AND THEY HAVE TO PROTECT THE
RESOURCES RIGHT NEAR THE NEST.

ANY OTHER EAGLE
THAT WOULD COME

ANYWHERE NEAR
THAT FISH HATCHERY POND

WOULD BE CHASED OFF.

IT'S A DEMONSTRATION, TOO,

OF SPEED AND AGILITY --

THE MANEUVERS WERE REMARKABL
THROUGH THE BRANCHES,

AND THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS

THAT HAS ALWAYS JUST SURPRISED
ME ABO THIS SPECIES --

HOW FAST THEY ARE.

Abraham: ALL WINTER,

EVEN AS TEMPERATURES DIPPED
TO 20� BELOW,

THE PAIR HAS WORKED TOGETHER,
REFURBISHING THE NEST.

Rettig: I THINK A LOT OF
THE NEST BUILDING ACTIVITY

IS PART OF PAIR BONDING,

BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO
GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER

AS A MATTER OF SURVIVAL.

Abraham: IT'S NOW
THE END OF MARCH,

AND THE FEMALE
SETTLES INTO THE NEST

WITH A TELLTALE WAGGLE.

Rettig: BALD EAGLES NORMALLY LAY
TWO TO THREE EGGS.

BUT THIS SPRING,

THE ONE-EYED FEMALE
ONLY LAID ONE EGG.

Abraham: THE COUPLE BEGINS
A DAILY ROUTINE.

FOR FIVE LONG WEEKS,

THEY'LL TAKE TURNS
INCUBATING THE EGG.

AS WINTER EBBS,

THE WELL-PRACTICED TEAM
SEEMS TO BE HEADED FOR SUCCESS,

BUT SPRING IS A FICKLE SEASON.

Rettig: IN MID-APRIL,

THERE WAS A FREAK SNOWSTORM --
I'LL NEVER FORGET IT.

THE NEST WAS BEING BLOWN AROUND
BY THIS VIOLENT WIND,

THE SNOW WAS GOING
ABSOLUTE HORIZONTAL.

AND IT JUST KEPT REMINDING ME

OF WHAT THESE BIRDS ARE FACING
IN EVERYDAY LIFE.

THEY WERE WELL INTO INCUBATION,

SO THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD
WAS ALWAYS QUICK.

BECAUSE YOU GOTTA REMEMBER,

THEY HAVE DELICATE EGGS
THAT THEY'RE PROTECTING

AND KEEPING WARM.

THERE SEEMED TO BE SHIFTS OF
AN HOUR, HOUR AND A HALF,

WHERE ONE EAGLE
WOULD SIT ON THE EGG

WHILE THE OTHER WAS OUT
FORAGING FOR FOOD.

THROUGH THIS STORM,

THE MALE SAT, WAITING FOR
THE FEMALE TO RETURN.

TRAGICALLY,

SOMETHING HAPPENED TO HER --
WE'RE NOT SURE WHAT.

THERE'S SO MANY THINGS OUT THERE

THAT CAN WORK AGAINST
THE SURVIVAL

OF THESE MAGNIFICENT BIRDS,

AND IT MAKES YOU REALIZE

HOW FRAGILE THEIR EXISTENCE
ACTUALLY IS.

Abraham: COLD AND HUNGRY,

THE FATHER ABANDONS HIS EGG.

NOW HE HAS LOST
ALMOST EVERYTHING.

HE MAY FIND ANOTHER MATE
AND START ALL OVER AGAIN.

BUT UNTIL THEN, HE MUST DEFEND
HIS TERRITORY...ALONE.

WHEN EUROPEANS ARRIVED

IN NORTH AMERICA,

THE CONTINENT TEEMED WITH
AS MANY AS

HALF A MILLION BALD EAGLES.

BUT AS SETTLERS ADVANCED,

THE RAPTORS BECAME TARGETS,

AND THEIR NESTING TREES
FELL TO THE BLADE.

FOR RAPTOR SPECIALIST

BOB ANDERSON,
THE PIONEERS' ATTITUDE

WAS SIMPLY ARROGANT --

AND IGNORANT.

Anderson: ALL BIRDS OF PREY
WERE JUST CONSIDERED VERMIN.

I MEAN,
THEY WERE ALL CHICKEN HAWKS,

THEY WERE ALL BAD BIRDS.

BE IT A BALD EAGLE,
A GOLDEN EAGLE,

A RED-TAILED HAWK,
THEY WERE ALL SHOT.

Abraham: AT THE START
OF THE 20th CENTURY,

BALD EAGLES WERE UNDER
SIEGE ACROSS THE LOWER 48.

ALASKA SEEMED LIKE
THE LAST WILD PLACE.

AND THERE,

THE BALD EAGLE THRIVED.

BUT IN 1917,

THE TERRITORY INTRODUCED
A CASH BOUNTY.

BY MID-CENTURY,

OVER 120,000 EAGLES
HAD BEEN SHOT...

AND THE GRAVEST THREAT
WAS STILL TO COME.

AFTER WORLD WAR II,
DDT CAME INTO WIDESPREAD USE

TO CONTROL INSECT PESTS.

BALD EAGLE NUMBERS
WENT FROM DECLINE

TO FREE FALL.

Anderson: WHEN I WAS A KID,

JUST TO SEE A BALD EAGLE

WAS JUST A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME
EXPERIENCE --

THE PHONES WOULD RING IF
A BALD EAGLE WAS SEEN ANYWHERE.

I MEAN, EVERYBODY WOULD CALL --
IT WOULD BE ON

THE FRONT PAGE OF THE PAPER,
"A BALD EAGLE WAS SEEN."

Abraham: DDT MADE EGGSHELLS
THIN AND FRAGILE,

SHARPLY REDUCING THE NUMBER
OF HATCHING CHICKS.

Anderson: THE CRASH WAS
TAKING PLACE SO RAPIDLY.

I WAS JUST CONVINCED

WHATEVER EAGLE I SAW
WAS JUST GOING TO BE A DINOSAUR,

IN MY LIFETIME,
THEY WERE GOING TO BE EXTINCT.

Abraham: IN THE 1960s,

JUST OVER
400 NESTING PAIRS

REMAINED IN
THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES.

IN THE '70s,

TWO CENTURIES AFTER EMBRACING
AN ICON OF WILDNESS,

THE U.S. DECLARED
THE BALD EAGLE "ENDANGERED."

AMERICA'S SYMBOL OF STRENGTH

HAD BECOME AN EMBLEM OF
ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION.

BUT AMERICA WAS NOT ABOUT TO
FORSAKE ITS TROUBLED SYMBOL.

RESEARCHERS FINALLY
PERSUADED CONGRESS

TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST DDT.

BY 1973, GENERAL USE
OF THE PESTICIDE WAS BANNED.

ALMOST IMMEDIATELY,
BALD EAGLES STARTED TO REBOUND.

IN 2007, THE AMERICAN EAGLE
WAS REMOVED FROM

THE ENDANGERED SPECIES LIST.

BY TAPPING
OUR OWN BETTER NATURES,

WE HAD GIVEN PRIMAL NATURE
A SECOND CHANCE.

Rettig: IT WAS LATE SUMMER
AND THE EAGLE HAD LEFT THE NEST.

IT WAS A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY
TO CLIMB

THE 80 FEET UP AND INVESTIGATE.

BOB AND I WANTED TO HAVE A LOOK

TO SEE JUST WHAT WAS ON
THE NEST.

WOW!
WOW, LOOK AT THE FOOD UP HERE!

AMAZING.

HERE'S A SKULL OF SOME MAMMAL --

THE TOP PART OF THE BRAIN
OF SOME MAMMAL.

AND HERE WE'VE GOT
THE REMAINS OF A...

THIS IS A RABBIT FOOT HERE,

YOU SEE A LITTLE BIT OF
THE FEMUR.

BONES HERE.

AND HERE'S A FEATHER.

A DARK FEATHER THAT ALMOST
LOOKS LIKE

IT MIGHT BE FROM A CROW,
POSSIBLY A DUCK.

Abraham: BOB AND NEIL
DECIDE TO LOOK FOR

POSSIBLE POSITIONS
TO PUT CAMERAS.

BOB IS A NEST-CAM EXPERT.

ONE THING THAT WE
WE'RE REALLY HOPING TO INSTALL

HERE IN THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO
ARE MULTIPLE CAMERAS --

YOU KNOW, ONE ON THIS LIMB,
MAYBE ONE OF THIS LIMB,

PERHAPS ONE ON THE OTHER LIMB,

ALL POINTING INTO
THIS GENERAL AREA,

THE BOWL OF THE NEST.

YOU'VE HEARD OF "SEA LEGS"?

WE HAVE TO HAVE TREE LEGS
WHEN YOU'RE WORKING THIS JOB.

Abraham:
BOB WILL HAVE A BIRD'S-EYE VIEW

IN THE COMING NESTING SEASON,
NO MATTER WHETHER

THE SINGLE MALE SUCCEEDS
OR FAILS.

[ THUNDER RUMBLING ]

OCTOBER IN
THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.

THE FALL WEATHER IS MILD

AND EAGLES ARE FREE FROM
THE BURDENS OF THE NEST.

WATER BIRDS, SOON TO DEPART

FOR WARMER HAVENS,
ARE BRIEFLY ABUNDANT.

JOINING THE EAGLES
THAT LIVE HERE YEAR-ROUND

ARE BALD EAGLE MIGRANTS

FLYING SOUTH FROM CANADA.

SOME HAVE FLOWN 1,400 MILES
TO FIND OPEN WATER.

THIS SURGE OF EAGLES
NOW TURNS TO HUNTING.

BALD EAGLES WILL
SOMETIMES CHASE MALLARDS.

BUT THE RIVER OFFERS
MUCH EASIER PREY.

COOTS RAFT TOGETHER
BY THE THOUSANDS,

AND THESE CALM BIRDS
ARE A FAVORITE MEAL.

A STRONG WIND ALLOWS AN EAGLE
THE RARE CHANCE

TO HOVER LIKE A SMALLER RAPTOR,
THE KITE.

THERE'S MORE THAN ENOUGH PREY
FOR EVERY EAGLE,

BUT THIEVERY
IS IN THEIR NATURE.

AS ONE HUNTER LANDS AT
A MUSKRAT HUT,

OTHER EAGLES IMMEDIATELY
TRY TO STEAL HIS PRIZE.

THIS AUTUMN BOUNTY

IS A RETURNING GLIMMER
OF THE OLD DAYS.

IN NOVEMBER, WHEN THE EAGLES
ARE STAGING

ON THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI,

THERE IS ONE PLACE
FAR TO THE NORTH

THAT IS ALMOST PRIMEVAL --

AN UNTOUCHED WILDERNESS.

THIS IS THE CHILKAT RIVER
IN ALASKA,

WHERE GREAT RUNS OF SALMON
BRING EAGLES FROM AS FAR AS

A THOUSAND MILES AWAY.

THE SALMON HAVE MADE
THEIR OWN EPIC JOURNEY

IN FROM THE SEA
TO SPAWN.

THEY WILL DIE SOON AFTERWARDS,
BUT THEY WILL SUSTAIN

THIS GREAT GATHERING OF EAGLES,

AS THEY HAVE DONE EACH AUTUMN
FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

Rettig: I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO GO

TO THE CHILKAT,
AND IT WAS NOT A LETDOWN.

I HAVE NEVER SEEN SO MANY EAGLES
IN ONE PLACE.

THERE CAN BE AS MANY AS 2,000
IN ONE SMALL AREA OF THE RIVER.

IT'S LIKE GOING BACK INTO TIME
BEING THERE.

BECAUSE BALD EAGLES
DO SPECIALIZE

OFTEN IN FISH, THEIR FEET

ARE MODIFIED,
WITH TINY PROJECTIONS

ON THE BOTTOM OF THE TOES,

AND THE PADS OF THE FEET,

WHICH ACTUALLY MAKE IT
EASY FOR THEM TO GRIP FISH.

THEIR BEAKS
ARE INCREDIBLY EFFICIENT

AT RIPPING THE FLESH OF FISH
AND OTHER PREY THAT THEY CATCH.

EAGLES GENERALLY CAN GO FAIRLY
LONG PERIODS WITHOUT EATING.

THEY HAVE WHAT'S CALLED
A "CROP,"

WHICH IS AN EXTENSION
OF THE ESOPHAGUS,

WHICH IS A STORAGE BAG FOR FOOD.

WHEN THERE'S
PLENTY OF FOOD AROUND,

THEY'LL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT
BY GORGING THEMSELVES.

AND THEY CAN ACTUALLY GO,
AFTER A GORGE,

FOR A WEEK TO TEN DAYS
WITHOUT FEEDING IF THEY HAVE TO.

BUT AS SOON AS A BALD EAGLE
CATCHES SOMETHING,

YOU CAN BET THAT WITHIN SECONDS,

ANOTHER ONE'S GONNA COME IN
AND HASSLE IT.

Abraham:
BACK ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI,

AUTUMN IS ON THE WANE.

WINTER MAKES A GENTLE ENTRANCE.

BALD EAGLES CAN NOW
WALK ON THE RIVER,

ALTHOUGH SOME
SEEM TO PREFER SKATING.

GIZZARD SHAD
CAN STILL BE PLUCKED UP,

BUT THEY WILL SOON BE
ENTOMBED IN ICE.

AS OPEN WATER FREEZES OVER,

AN EAGLE MUST BE

EVER MORE PRECISE.

AT THE HATCHERY NEST,

BOB ANDERSON HAS BEEN KEEPING
AN EYE ON THE WIDOWED MALE.

Anderson: THE MALE

WILL ALWAYS MAKE OCCASIONAL
VISITS TO THE NEST.

HE STILL MAINTAINS
THE TERRITORY.

HE'S WORKING ON HIS NEST,
ADDING LITTLE TRINKETS

THAT MIGHT MAKE IT
MORE ATTRACTIVE.

THIS PARTICULAR NEST
IS PRIME PROPERTY --

IT'S LOCATED SO CLOSE
TO A PRIME FOOD SOURCE.

MANY, MANY EAGLES HAVE BEEN
VYING TO GET INTO THE TERRITORY.

NOW THAT HE'S ALONE,

AN APPROACHING FEMALE
WOULD BE COURTED.

Abraham: AFTER REARRANGING
HIS CORN HUSKS,

THE MALE SETS OFF
TO COVER HIS TERRITORY.

BUT NOW ANOTHER EAGLE
BUZZES THE NEST.

IT'S A FEMALE.

AN AERIAL DUET MAY BE A CHANCE
FOR THE PROSPECTIVE COUPLE

TO SIZE-UP
EACH OTHER'S CONDITION.

A HEALTHY EAGLE CAN CRUISE AT

40 MILES AN HOUR
IN LEVEL FLIGHT

AND HIT 100 IN A DIVE.

AFTER A FEW MINUTES
WITH THEIR HEADS IN THE CLOUDS,

THE COURTSHIP IS OVER.

ROMANCE IS A LUXURY --

THERE'S WORK TO BE DONE.

Anderson: WHEN THE EAGLES
FIRST LAND TOGETHER ON THE NEST,

THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT
APPREHENSIVE,

AND I THINK THE MOVING AROUND
OF STICKS TOGETHER

AND GRASS TOGETHER
JUST KIND OF CEMENTS THE BOND,

IT KIND OF CREATES THE MARRIAGE

THAT WILL ONLY GET
DEEPER AND DEEPER

AS THE WEEKS PROGRESS.

BUT IRONICALLY,
IN THIS SITUATION,

THE MALE HAS THE FINAL SAY --

EVEN THOUGH SHE BRINGS A STICK

AND TRIES TO PUT IT
IN SOMEPLACE,

THE MALE WILL GRAB HER STICK
AND PUT IT SOMEPLACE ELSE.

WE THINK SHE'S A FOUR-YEAR-OLD,

THOUGH SHE DOES HAVE SPECKLES
ON HER HEAD,

BUT YOU CAN SEE A LITTLE
DARK STREAK ON TOP OF HER BEAK.

THAT DARK STREAK TELLS US THAT
MAYBE SHE'S A FOUR-YEAR-OLD.

HE'S GOT A YOUNG BRIDE,

PROBABLY COMING INTO
HER FIRST BREEDING SEASON.

Abraham: WINTER DRAINS
THE LAST WARMTH FROM THE RIVER.

FRESH PERILS APPEAR

FOR ALL THE CREATURES
ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI.

AND NOW THE MOST BRUTAL SEASON
TIPTOES IN.

AT THE FISH HATCHERY,
THE MALE HAS WAITED OUT

THE FIRST SNOWFALL
OF THE SEASON.

EACH STORM WILL TEST HIS NEST
AGAINST THE WIND

AND THE EXTRA WEIGHT
OF SNOW AND ICE.

ND
NEIL RETTIG FINDS THAT
EAGLES PAY A HUGE PRICE

FOR THESE STORMS EVERY YEAR.

WHAT WE'VE GOT SCATTERED
ALL OVER THE GROUND HERE

IS THE REMAINS
OF THIS EAGLE NEST,

WHICH JUST FELL A COUPLE NIGHTS
AGO IN A WINDSTORM.

IT WAS IN A CROTCH OF
A SILVER MAPLE UP ABOVE ME HERE.

AND THIS IS
THE NEST BOWL ITSELF.

ENCRUSTED IN THIS NEST BOWL

IS THE CENTER OF THE NEST --
THE NEST BOWL IS RIGHT HERE --

IS ALL THESE COOT FEATHERS
AND PREY REMAINS.

THERE'S SCALES OF FISH ON HERE,
ON THE TOP OF THE NEST.

THERE'S A CHUNK OF ICE,

WHICH IS TYPICAL
THIS TIME OF THE YEAR,

AND THE EAGLES
ARE DEALING WITH ICE

IN PREPARATION OF EGG LAYING,
BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S SUCH A SHAME.

THESE EAGLES WORKED HARD
SINCE OCTOBER,

AND IN ONE VIOLENT WINDSTORM
A COUPLE DAYS AGO,

THE WHOLE THING IS OVER
FOR THE SEASON.

Abraham:
NATURE ISN'T THE ONLY CHALLENGE

FOR BALD EAGLES.

DEER CARCASSES ARE A CONSISTENT
MEAL THROUGH THE WINTER.

BUT NOT ALL THESE DEER
DIE A NATURAL DEATH.

HUNTERS LEAVE
MANY OF THESE REMAINS,

AND THEIR BULLETS ARE OFTEN MADE
OF LEAD --

A POWERFUL NERVE TOXIN

THAT CAN KILL.

Rettig: WATCHING AN EAGLE DYING
FROM LEAD-POISONING,

SUFFERING, IS ONE OF THE MOST
SADDENING AND MOVING EXPERIENCES

I CAN REMEMBER SEEING.

I COULD HARDLY BEAR TO FILM IT.

THE LUCKY ONES ARE THE ONES THAT
ARE DISCOVERED BY HUMANS.

AND WITH THE KIND HELP
OF ANIMAL REHABILITATORS,

THESE BIRDS CAN BE SAVED.

SHH!

IT'S A COSTLY
AND VERY TIME-CONSUMING

AND DIFFICULT PROCESS,

BUT SOMETIMES
THE BIRDS WILL RECOVER

AND CAN BE RELEASED
INTO THE WILD.

IT'S OKAY, SHH...

SHH...

Abraham: IN A WORKSHOP BENEATH
THE IOWA HATCHERY NEST,

BOB ANDERSON

CHECKS ON HIS REALITY SHOW.

Anderson: WHAT A VIEW!

WHAT AN INCREDIBLE ANGLE

OF LOOKING AT
THE AMERICAN BALD EAGLE.

AND THERE SHE IS, ALSO.

AND HE'S THE BOSS, BOY --
THIS IS HIS NEST.

I MEAN,
HE CALLS THE SHOTS.

HE'S IN CHARGE OF
ALL CONSTRUCTION.

NO MATTER WHAT SHE DOES,

HE COMES BACK
AND REARRANGES IT.

AND -- 100% OF THE TIME!

NOW, SHE BROUGHT IN
A LITTLE BIT OF GRASS,

AND IF SHE FLIES OFF NOW,

HE WILL GO TAKE THAT GRASS
AND PUT IT SOMEPLACE ELSE.

Abraham:
DESPITE SQUABBLES OVER DECOR,

THE NEW COUPLE
IS STARTING TO EMBRACE

THEIR COMMON PURPOSE.

Anderson:
YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE THEM,

THEY'RE BUMPING EACH OTHER,
THEY'RE INTERAING,

THERE'S NO AGGRESSIVENESS
AT ALL.

A MONTH AGO, THEY WOULD HAVE
NEVER TOLERATED

BEING THIS CLOSE TO EACH OTHER.

IT'S LIKE,
NOW THEY'RE A TEAM.

WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE GETTING
CLOSE TO LAYING THEIR EGGS

WHEN YOU START SEEING
THIS BEHAVIOR.

Abraham: THE YOUNG FEMALE
LAYS HER QUARTER-POUND EGG

BEFORE DAWN.

EXPOSED, AN EGG CAN FREEZE
IN A MINUTE.

AND SO THE FATHER WILL NEED TO
MOVE IN FOR HIS FIRST SHIFT.

Anderson: THE FIRST EGG WAS LAID
EARLY IN THE MORNING.

WE ACTUALLY MISSED IT.

WE SAW THE BIRDS
SITTING IN THE BOWL,

WE KNEW THAT IT WOULD BE SOON.

BUT WE WERE KIND OF SURPRISED
TO SEE THIS FIT EGG.

BUT WE CAN SEE HIM,

HOW CAREFUL HE IS
WITH HIS FEET.

HIS FEET ARE BALLED-UP,

AND HE'S TRYING TO HIDE
HIS TALONS.

HE DOESN'T WANT THOSE NAILS TO
POKE A HOLE IN THAT FRAGILE EGG.

IT'S TOUCHING TO WATCH
THAT SENSITIVITY

THAT THIS OLD GUY HAS HAD,
YOU KNOW,

WITH MANY, MANY EGGS,
PROBABLY, IN HIS LIFETIME.

Abraham:
IF A SECOND EGG IS COMING,

IT'S DUE
TWO DAYS AFTER THE FIRST.

COME ON, STAND UP.

SHE LOOKS LIKE SHE'S ABOUT READY
TO STAND UP, BUT...

WHAT DO WE HAVE?
WE HAVE TWO EGGS!

WE'VE GOT TWO EGGS, SEE THIS?
SEE 'EM BOTH?

[ CHUCKLES ]

Rettig:
SO, DO YOU FEEL LIKE A PAPA?

WHEN THEY HATCH
I'LL FEEL LIKE A PAPA.

NOW WE JUST HAVE TO WAIT
35 DAYS FROM TODAY

TO SEE OUR FIRST BABY.

Abraham: IF EAGLES CAN FEEL
PRIDE OR JOY,

THE NEW PARENTS MUST BE
BRIMMING OVER.

THEY WILL NOW WORK
NEARLY UNBROKEN SHIFTS,

BUT EVEN SUCH AN EFFORT
CAN'T GUARANTEE

THAT THE EGGS
WILL HATCH SAFELY,

ESPECIALLY SINCE
THEY MUST SURVIVE

ONE OF THE LONGEST INCUBATIONS

OF ANY BIRD ALONG
THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI.

EGG THIEVES ABOUND.

RACCOONS AND CROWS
ARE EVERYWHERE.

SO EACH PARENT

IS HIGHLY ATTUNED

TO ANY SIGHT OR SOUND
OF MENACE.

[ CROWING ]

AND THEN...

ANOTHER STORM.

Anderson: WE KNEW A STORM
WAS COMING,

AND WE REALLY WANTED TO SEE

THE FIRST REACTION
OF THE BIRDS WAKING UP,

COVERED IN SNOW.

SO WE MADE SURE
WE HAD OUR RECORDERS RUNNING

LONG BEFORE DAYLIGHT.

I WAS AT FIRST DISAPPOINTED
WE HAD SNOW ON THE LENS,

BUT IT JUST SHOWS HOW UGLY
THE CONDITIONS

REALLY, REALLY ARE -- I MEAN,
THIS BIRD'S COVERED IN SNOW.

[ CALLING ]

AND SHE'S SCREAMING RIGHT NOW,
AT THE MALE,

GOING, "COME AND RELIEVE ME,
COME AND TAKE MY PLACE."

[ CALLING ]

AND HE DOES.

Abraham: THE SPECKLE-HEADED
FEMALE FINALLY PROVES HERSELF,

AND THE DEVOTED FATHER
KNOWS HIS JOB.

WITH A LITTLE LUCK,

THE EGGS WILL HATCH
IN ANOTHER WEEK.

ON A MINNESOTA FARM
40 MILES AWAY,

ANOTHER FAMILY
IS FURTHER ALONG.

THEIR TWO EAGLETS
HAVE ALREADY HATCHED.

THE MOTHER FEEDS
HER FOUR-DAY-OLD DAUGHTER.

THE TWO-DAY-OLD MALE,

HARDLY ABLE
TO HOLD HIS HEAD UP,

DOESN'T SEEM TO BE GETTING
A FAIR SHARE.

ALTHOUGH BOTH PARENTS
ARE DEDICATED,

THEY HAVE A BLIND SPOT
FOR ONE PARTICULAR PERIL,

ONE WITHIN THE FAMILY.

SIBLING RIVALRY.

IT'S NOT UNUSUAL
FOR THE OLDER EAGLET

TO TURN ON
THE YOUNGER AND SMALLER.

IN NATURE'S COLD CALCULATION,

WHY SHARE YOUR MEALS WHEN YOU
CAN EAT MORE ALONE?

NEIL HAS BEEN DOCUMENTING
THE STORY

FROM A STIFLING BLIND

JUST A STONE'S THROW
FROM THE NEST.

THE DYNAMICS
OF THIS WHOLE SYNDROME

IS THAT THE CHICK THAT'S BEAT UP

BECOMES WEAKER AND WEAKER,

COWERS, IS KIND OF AFRAID
TO EVEN STAND UPRIGHT,

AND THE FEMALE WILL ALWAYS FEED
THE CHICK THAT'S MORE ROBUST.

AND IT'S CALLED
THE "CAIN AND ABEL SYNDROME."

THE FEEDINGS GO ON FOR ABOUT,
OH, FIVE TO EIGHT MINUTES,

SOMETIMES MAYBE 12 MINUTES.

THE BIGGER CHICK IS GETTING

UP TO 30 OR 40 PIECES OF FOOD
PER FEEDING.

THE LITTLE ONE WOULD GET
ABOUT SIX TO EIGHT PIECES.

THE LAST FEW DAYS
WE'VE BEEN WORRIED --

A LOT -- ABOUT WHETHER
THE YOUNGER, SMALLER CHICK

IS GOING TO SURVIVE OR NOT.

SO WE'VE GOT OUR FINGERS CROSSED
THAT LITTLE U.D. --

WE CALL HIM "UNDERDOG" --
IS GOING TO BE OKAY.

Abraham:
THE BATTLE WILL RESOLVE,

ONE WAY OR ANOTHER --

AND SOON.

WATER FLOWS AGAIN AT LAST.

SPRING HAS COME
TO THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI.

THINGS ARE LOOKING UP

FOR ALL OF THE CREATURES
ALONG E RIVER.

EAGLES VISITING FROM CANADA

NOW RETURN NORTH
TO THEIR NESTING TERRITORIES.

FOR YEAR-ROUND RESIDENTS
LIKE THE HATCHERY COUPLE,

SPRING MEANS
GETTING READY FOR EAGLETS.

Anderson: THE FIRST BABY'S
HATCHED NOW,

AND YOU CAN SEE HOW KIND OF

INEPT AND CLUMSY
THIS YOUNG BIRD IS.

SHE DOESN'T QUITE KNOW
WHAT TO DO.

THAT BABY'S BEGGING FOR FOOD,

AND YET SHE'S NOT FULLY
RESPONDING TO IT.

THERE'S FOOD OFF TO THE RIGHT
IN THE NEST.

AND THESE FIRST FEW DAYS
WERE SO PAINFUL FOR US.

IF IT WASN'T FOR THE MALE,

I DON'T THINK THE BABIES
WOULD HAVE SURVIVED.

Abraham: THE EAGLET
IS TOO EXHAUSTED TO BEG.

AND NOW THE MOTHER
STARTS TO FEED HERSELF.

PARENT AND YOUNG
ARE FAILING TO CONNECT.

SUDAS IF SEEING ITER
FOR THE FIRST TIME.

Anderson: SHE DOESN'T KNOW
HOW TO APPROACH,

AND SHE'S KIND OF...

SHE'S TRYING TO
BALL UP HER FEET.

SHE JUST STEPPED ON
THE BABY THERE.

IT'S A LOT DIFFERENT
THAN A HARD EGG.

Anderson: THIS SHOT HERE
REALLY JUST SURPRISED US.

SHE HAD HER TAIL
FACING INTO THE WIND.

THE WINDS GUSTED
TO 40 MILES AN HOUR.

THE WIND ACTUALLY LITERALLY
BLEW HER OUT OF THE NEST,

AND SHE ALMOST TOOK
THE BABY WITH HER --

SOMETHING AN EXPERIENCED BIRD
WOULD NEVER DO.

Abraham:
IT'S BEEN A TRYING DAY

AND THE STAKES
ARE ONLY GOING UP.

Anderson: HERE'S OUR YOUNG
FEMALE JUST STANDING UP,

AND, AS YOU CAN SEE,
WE'VE GOT OUR SECOND BABY --

IT DID HATCH.

AND AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE THAT

SHE'S GETTING A LITTLE BIT
BETTER WITH HER FEET.

ALREADY THERE'S BEEN
A LITTLE BIT OF LEARNING,

I GUESS, THAT'S TAKEN PLACE.

AND NOW THE OLD MAN
WILL COME IN,

THE GUY THAT'S SO PROVEN.

THAT'S HIM ON THE RIGHT.

SHE'S STEPPING OFF NOW.

HERE'S THE ADULT MALE --
HE'S CLEARLY FED BABIES BEFORE.

HE JUST WALKS IN AND JUST...

HE'LL PUT THE FOOD
RIGHT IN THAT BABY'S BEAK

AFTER ONE OR TWO TRIES.

HE'S VERY EXPERIENCED.

Abraham: AND PATIENT.

IT WILL TAKE THE EAGLET
A LITTLE PRACTICE

TO ACTUALLY GET
SOMETHING TO EAT.

AT LEAST IN THIS NEST,

THERE'S NO SIGN OF
SIBLING RIVALRY.

AT THE MINNESOTA FARM,

NEIL WAITS FOR THE OUTCOME

OF THE SIBLING BATTLE.

THE SISTER IS ALIVE AND SASSY,

BUT WHAT ABOUT UNDERDOG?

Rettig: FINALLY, I COULD SEE
THAT UNDERDOG WAS COMPETING.

HE WAS ACTUALLY GETTING FOOD
OFFERED BY THE FEMALE

AND GAINING STRENGTH.

TODAY HE DOES LOOK BETTER.

I THINK LITTLE UNDERDOG
MIGHT HAVE A CHANCE.

ONCE THE EAGLES WERE
SIX TO SEVEN WEEKS OLD,

THE CAIN AND ABEL SYNDROME
WAS LONG PAST,

AND THEY WERE BOTH
HEALTHY AND VIGOROUS.

EACH DAY, THESE LITTLE GUYS
WILL EAT

THE EQUIVALENT OF ABOUT A HALF
A POUND TO A POUND OF FISH.

THE DEMAND ON THE PARENTS
IS INCREASING,

AND THEY'LL PROBABLY BRING
FOUR OR FIVE KILLS TO THE NEST

DURING THE COURSE OF A DAY.

Abraham: SOMETIMES THEIR PREY
IS KILLED FOR THEM.

BUT THIS KIND OF MEAL
IS NO FREE LUNCH.

EVERY YEAR,
COUNTLESS BALD EAGLES

ARE STRUCK BY VEHICLES.

LOSING EITHER PARENT

MAY HURT THE YOUNG EAGLES'
CHANCES OF FLEDGING.

AT THE AGE OF 10 WEEKS,

7,000 FEATHERS HAVE REPLACED
THE DOWNY COAT OF YOUTH,

ALLOWING NEW SKILLS TO EMERGE.

UNDERDOG STARTS
BUILDING UP STRENGTH

WITH SHORT FLIGHTS TO NOWHERE.

ONLY TWO WEEKS REMAIN BEFORE
THE CHICKS' MAIDEN FLIGHTS.

SUMMER ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI
SEEMS LIKE A CAREFREE SEASON,

BUT W CHALLENGES LIE AHEAD.

AT THE HATCHERY NEST,

THE EAGLETS ARE STILL GROWING
THEIR FLIGHT FEATHERS.

UNDERDOG AND HIS SISTER
ARE CLOSER TO INDEPENDENCE.

AND NO ONE DECLARES INDEPENDENCE

WITHOUT TAKING RISKS.

Rettig: THIS NEST IS ABOUT
60 FEET OFF THE GROUND.

BOTH EAGLETS
ARE JUMPING UP AND DOWN

AND WING-EXERCISING

AND GETTING READY TO MAKE
THAT FIRST JUMP OFF THE NEST,

THE FIRST JOURNEY INTO THE SKY.

Abraham:
NEARBY, OTHER YOUNG EAGLES

ARE ALREADY ON THE WING.

Rettig: IT MUST FEEL
REALLY WONDERFUL

TO HAVE
YOUR FIRST FLIGHT UNDERWAY

AND FEEL THE WIND RUSHING BY.

THE LANDING IS THE TRICKY PART.

Abraham: UNDERDOG TESTS
HIS ENGINES AT FULL POWER.

HIS SISTER
SEEMS TO HAVE COLD FEET.

THE WIND PICKS UP,

AND UNDERDOG LEANS INTO IT.

Rettig: THERE ARE MISCONCEPTIONS
THAT BIRDS ARE TAUGHT TO FLY,

BUT REALLY
IT'S TOTALLY INSTINCTIVE.

THEY DO CHASE
THEIR PARENTS AROUND, HOWEVER,

POSSIBLY TO STEAL FISH,

AND ALSO BECAUSE
THEY'RE BALD EAGLES --

THEY'RE SOCIAL.

Abraham: AT THE FISH HATCHERY,

AN EMPTY NEST IS NO LONGER
A SIGN OF LOSS.

IT IS A SIGN OF
TWO SUCCESSFUL FLEDGLINGS

WHO WILL SOON JOIN
A HUNTING FREE-FOR-ALL.

AS FALL ARRIVES,

A CYCLE OF SEASONS IS COMPLETED.

ONCE AGAIN
THE MISSISSIPPI BECOMES

A CROSSROADS FOR WATER BIRDS.

FOR THIS YEAR'S
FLEDGLING EAGLES,

THE TIME HAS COME
FOR THE NEXT BIG TEST.

IT'S A BIG MOMENT

FOR A YOUNG BALD EAGLE
TO BAG HIS FIRST COOT.

Rettig: THE BALD EAGLE
IS A SURVIVOR.

IT'S GONE THROUGH
REALLY BAD TIMES,

AND NOW IS PREVAILING.

IT'S AN ILLUSTRATION

THAT WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE,

AND WE CAN BE
STEWARDS OF THIS PLANET.

Abraham: WITH FOOD SO PLENTIFUL,
BALD EAGLES -- YOUNG AND OLD --

SWITCH FROM HUNTING
TO SOMETHING MORE LIKE RUGBY.

ONLY ONE HUMAN GENERATION AGO,

SUCH A CELEBRATION OF EAGLES

COULD NOT HAVE BEEN WITNESSED
ON THE MISSISSIPPI.

Rettig: I THINK THE STORY
OF THE AMERICAN EAGLE

IS A GREAT PARALLEL
TO THE TRIUMPH

AND TRIBULATIONS OF OUR COUNTRY.

AND IF WE LOOK AT THE EAGLE

AS A ROLE MODEL,

I THINK THESE BIRDS ARE KIND OF
LIVING A STRUGGLE

FOR EXISTENCE AND FREEDOM,
JUST LIKE OUR COUNTRY.

AND I CAN'T THINK OF
A BETTER NATIONAL SYMBOL

THAN THE BALD EAGLE.

FOR $19.99 PLUS SHIPPING.M
IS AVAILABLE ON DVD

TO ORDER, CALL 1-800-336-1917.

NEXT TIME ON "NATURE,"

ERNEST SETON WAS HIRED
TO KILL AN OUTLAW --

A LEGENDARY WOLF
NAMED "LOBO."

BUT WHAT BEGAN AS
A ROUTINE JOB

WOULD HAVE
AN UNEXPECTED IMPACT.

Man as Seton: COMING OUT WEST
WAS AN IMPULSE THING --

I NEVER IMAGINED IT WOULD
CHANGE MY LIFE.

[ HOWLING ]

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