Original subtitles

Narrator: WE'VE KNOWN THEM FROM CHILDHOOD...

CHARMING, FUNNY BİRDS

THAT FLOAT İN THE TUB.

BUT DUCKS ARE FULL OF SURPRIİISES.

OLDER THAN WHALES, THEY WERE ONE OF

THE FİRST CREATURES TO RETURN FROM LAND TO THE SEA.

SUPREMELY ADAPTABLE,

THEY HAVE CONOUERED EVERY KIND OF WATER.

INTENSELY SOCLUİAL,

THEY HAVE RITUALS THAT REACH BACK MILLIONS OF YEARS.

PROVEN SURVIİVORS,

THEY'RE A PERFECT BLEND OF WINGS

AND WIND

AND WATER.

INTRODUCİNG DUCKS,

A COLORFUL CAST OF TRUE ORİĞİNALS.

Narrator: FOR 32 DAYS, THEY'VE BEEN DEVELOPİNG,

GROWIİNG, TRANSFORMİNG.

NOW, THEİR TIİME HAS COME.

URGENTLY, THEY BEĞİN KNOCKIİNG ON THE DOOR TO THE OUTSİDE WORLD...

READY TO BREAK THROUGH.

İN THEİR FİRST MOMENTS OF LİFE,

YOU CAN TELL THAT THEY ARE ANCIENT CREATURES.

THERE ARE SHADES OF DINOSAUR

OR MINIATURE DRAGON ABOUT THEM.

BUT AS SOON AS THEY'VE HAD A CHANCE TO DRY

AND FLUFF UPALİTTLE, TS EASY TO SEE

WHAT THEY REALLY ARE --

BRIGHT EYED, DOWNY DUCKLINGS.

EACH EGĞG WAS LAID A DAY APART,

BUT THEY ALLHATCH TOGETHER WITHIN 24 HOURS.

THEY WILL FACE THE WORLD ASA FAMILY.

THEY RECOGNIİZE THEİR MOTHER BY HER FAMILIAR VOICE.

SHE'S BEEN SOFTLY COOIİNG TO THEM THROUGH THEİR SHELLS

FOR THE LAST FEW WEEKS.

THEY İMPRİNT ON HER

THEMOMENT İTHEY SEE HER -

SEALING A BOND THAT'S THE KEY TO THEİR SURVİVAL.

BUT EVEN AS THEY NESTLE INTO HER FEATHERS,

BUT EVEN AS THEY NESTLE INTO HER FEATHERS,

A COMBINATION OF EXCİTEMENT AND HUNGER

MAKES THEM EAGER TO LEAVE THE NEST.

MAKES THEM EAGER TO LEAVE THE NEST.

AND AT DAWN THE VERY NEXT MORNIİNG

AND AT DAWN THE VERY NEXT MORNIİNG

AFTER THEY HATCH, THEİR MOTHER LEAVES

AND BEGĞIİNS TO CALL TO THEM.

I CALLING l

SHE'S CALLING THEM OUT OF THENEST.

THEY DON'T HESİTATE.

WIİTH SMALL, SHARP CLAWS ON THE ENDS OF THEİR WEBBED TOES,

THEY CLIMB THE SIDES OF THE NEST.

A DAUNTIİNG REALİTY IS WAİTİING FOR EACH OF THEM.

THEİR SAFE AND COZY HOME IS SOME 70 FEET UP

IN THE HOLLOW OF

AN OAK TREE.

İTS JUST THE SECOND DAY OF HER LİFE.

SHE CAN'I FLY.

AT THIS STAGE, SHE DOESN'T REALLY HAVE

ANY WINGS TO SPEAK OF.

BUT SHE CAN SEE THE GROUND FAR BELOW...

AND HEAR HER MOTHER'S CALLS.

( DUCK CALLING l

MAYBE COURAGE COMES FROM NECESSİTY...

MAYBE İT COMES İN KNOWIİNG FROM BIRTH EXACTILY WHAT TO DO.

SHE WEİGHS LESS THAN AN OUNCE,

AND LANDS SOFTLY AND SAFELY

IN THE LEAF LİTTER BELOW.,

AND OÖNE BY OÖNE,

DUCKLİNGS RAİN DOWN

FROM THE TALL OAK TİREE.

THE SIBLİNGS RALLY TOGETHER ON THE FOREST FLOOR.

I CALLING l

THEİR MOTHER CONTİNUES CALLING

FROM THE MIDDLE OF A NEARBY POND,

AND WIİTH SİNGLE-MİNDED PURPOSE AND SURPRIİSİNG SPEED,

HER BROOD SETS OFF TOWARDS HER.

THE TİNY DUCKLİNGS

ARE UNSTOPPABLE.

JUST AHEAD LİIES THE WORLD THEY WERE MADE FOR.

AND THEY TAKE TO THEPONDLİKE...

WELL, DUCKS TO WATER.

OUT ON THE POND, A VİSİON AWAİTS THEM.

RESPLENDENT İN FEATHERS OF GREEN AND CHESTNUT,

ORNATELY PATTERNED AND TRIİMMED IN WHİTE,

WIİTH BİLL AND EYES OF BLAZING RED.

THE DUCKLIİNGS' PARENTS ARE NORTH AMERIİCAN WOOD DUCKS,

DAZZLING MEMBERS OF A REMARKABLE GROUP OF WATERFOWL.

DUCKS ARE COMPLEX CHARACTERS...

FASCINATING AND FUNNY...

SOPHISTICATED...

AND SILLY.

AND SILLY.

MUCH OF THEİR LİVES WE NEVER SEE,

MUCH OF THEİR LİVES WE NEVER SEE,

YET THEY SEEM AS FAMILIAR AS A NURSERY RHYME.

THERE ARE PINTAILS AND BUFFLEHEADS,

EİDERS, WIDGEONS,

CANVASBACKS,

AND GREEN-WIİNGED TEALS.

MORE THAN 120 DİFFERENT SPECİES İN ALL.

ON THE LAND THEY WADDLE.

A COMICAL COMBO OF STOUT BODIES, SHORT LEGS,

WEBBED FEET, ANDA GUACK.

I OUACKING l

BUT İN THE WATER, THEY GLIDE,

EACH ONE A SEA-WORTHY LİTTLE SHIP

IN WATERTİĞHT FEATHERS.

IN THE AİR, DUCKS ARE POWERFUL FLYERS.

WINGING THEİR WAY ACROSS CONTİNENTS,

SOME TRAVELİNG THOUSANDS OF MİLES İN A SİNGLE YEAR.

BUT NO MATTER WHERE THEY'RE HEADED,

ALL DUCKS COME HOME TO WATER.

TS IN WATER THAT THEY MAKEALIVING.

OUR WOOD DUCKLİNGS WERE BORN KNOWİING THIİS.

NO PARENT PROVIİDES FOR THEM.

THEY START FEEDİNG ALL ON THEİR OWN

THE MINUTE THEY ENTER THE WATER.

THEİR POND İN SPRİNG 15 BRİMMİNG WIİTH GOOD THIİNGS TO EAT.

TINY CRUSTACEANS

AND THE LARVAE OF AOUATIC INSECTS

CLOUD THE WATER,

TURNIİNG THE PONDİNTO A VERİTABLE DUCK SOUP.

ALTHOUGH WOOD DUCKS DİNE ON MANY PLANTS,

LİTTLE WOODIES NEED MORE PROTEİN IN THEİR FİRST WEEKS OF LİFE

WHIİLE THEY'RE BULDİING THEİR BODİES.

THEY SIFT THROUGH THE GOOEY PONDWEED,

HARVESTİNG TİNY İNVERTEBRATES FROM THE GREENERY.

THEİR MOTHER 1S NEVER FAR AWAY.

BUT THEY DON'T NEED HER TO TEACH THEM THE ROPES -

THEY NEED HER TO PROTECT THEM.

FOR, LİKE ALL DUCKLINGS,

THE WOODIES HAVE ENTERED THE FOOD CHAIN

SMACK İN THE MİDDLE.

THEİR POND MAY BE SMALL, BUT 1T'S COMPLETE.

HAWKS,

FOXES,

EVEN NEİGHBORHOOD CATS

TAKE A TERRİBLE TOLL ON LİTTLE DUCKLİNGS.

LARGE MOUTHED BASS AND HUNGRY SNAPPİNG TURTLES

LURK İN THE MURKY WATERS.

İN SOME YEARS, 9 OUT OF 10 WOOD DUCKLIİNGS FALL TO PREDATORS

WIİTHIİN THEİR FIRST TWO WEEKS.

AND THEY ARE VULNERABLE EVEN WHEN FULL GROWN.

THOUĞH THE DUCKLINGS MAY LOOK UP TO THEİR PARENTS,

THE ADULTIS ARE ONLY

SIX OR SEVEN İNCHES TALL

AND WEİGH ONLY ABOUT A POUNDANDAHALF.

CANADA GEESE TOWER OVER THEM.

I GEESE HONKING l

I GEESE HONKING l

SO FAR THIS SEASON,

SO FAR THIS SEASON,

OUR WOOD DUCK FAMILY HAS BEEN LUCKY.

THEİR POND HAS BEEN A REMARKABLY SAFE PLACE.

THEİR POND HAS BEEN A REMARKABLY SAFE PLACE.

AT THE END OF THE DAY,

AT THE END OF THE DAY,

THE MOTHER SHEPHERDS HER BROOD TOASECLUDED SPOT

THAT OFFERS COVER AND PROTECTİON.

A MALE WOOD DUCKS TAKES NO PART IN RAİISİING THE FAMİLY.

A MALE WOOD DUCKS TAKES NO PART IN RAİISİING THE FAMİLY.

HE WIİLL REST AFLOAT IN THE CENTER OF THEPOND..

HE WIİLL REST AFLOAT IN THE CENTER OF THEPOND..

OR, TRUE TO HİS NAME,

FLY UP INTO THE SAFETY OF THE TREES

TO ROOST FOR THE NİGHT.

A DUCK'SİDENTİTY

LİIES İN MORE THAN TS NAME.

İT ALLSTARTS WITH HOW AND WHERE İT EATS.

THERE'S THE WATER'S SURFACE,

WHERE "DABBLERS" FLOAT ALONG...

SCOOPİNG UP ALL KINDS OF PLANTIS AND CREATURES

THAT CONVENIİENTLY COLLECT AND GROW THERE.

( THUNDER RUMBLING l

BUT THERE'S OFTEN SOMETHİNG WORTH EATING

A LİTTLE BİT DEEPER...

A LİTTLE BİT DEEPER...

AND WIİTH HEAD DOWN AND BOTTOMS UP,

THEY CAN JUST REACHİT.

OTHER DUCKS

GO DEEPER.

THEY'RE "DİVERS,"

FINDING FOOD ALONG ROCKY AND SANDY FLOORS

THAT DABBLİNG DUCKS CAN'T REACH.

UP AND DOWN THEY GO,

BRINGIİNG UP THE DAIİLY CATCH.

OF COURSE, İTHERE'S ALWAYS SOMEONE WHO WANTS IT BOTH WAYS.

OF COURSE, İTHERE'S ALWAYS SOMEONE WHO WANTS IT BOTH WAYS.

BUFFLEHEADS ARE DIİVİNG DUCKS,

BUT THIS LİTTLE FEMALE

HAS SPIED SOMETHİNG DELİCİOUS JUST BENEATH THE SURFACE.

SHE'S NOT GOOD AT DABBLİNG, BUT SHE CAN'TI RESİST.

SHE GETS NO POİNTS FOR STYLE,

BUT SHE DOES GET HER PRİZE.

DUCKLİINGS KNOW

İF THEY ARE DİVERS OR DABBLERS RIGHT FROM THE START.

AND THESE LİTTLE RUDDY DUCKS WERE BORN TO DIİVE --

AND THESE LİTTLE RUDDY DUCKS WERE BORN TO DIİVE --

JUST LİKE THEİR DAD.

THE DUCKLINGS USE THEİR ENORMOUS FEET TO PROPEL THEM DOWN.

İT MAY BE SIİX WEEKS

BEFORE THE LİTTLE RUDDİES TAKE TO THEAİR...

BUT IN WATER, THEY ALREADY SEEM TOFLY.

GROWING UP TO BE JUST LİKE THEİR PARENTS

IS TRICKIER FOR OTHER CHICKS.

THIS DEVOTED MOTHER AND HER BRIGHT YELLOW DUCKLİNGS

ARE ACTUALLY NOT RELATEDAT ALL.

SHE'S A FEMALE LESSER SCAUP,

SHE'S A FEMALE LESSER SCAUP,

AND ON CLOSE İNSPECTİON,

THE LİTTLE YELLOW CHIİCKS ARE REDHEAD DUCKLIİNGS.

THEY WILL DEVELOP İNTO ADULTS THAT LOOK LİKE THİS.

THEY WILL DEVELOP İNTO ADULTS THAT LOOK LİKE THİS.

REDHEAD FEMALES MAKE A PRACTICE OF LAYING SOME EGGS

REDHEAD FEMALES MAKE A PRACTICE OF LAYING SOME EGGS

İN ANOTHER DUCK'S NEST,

LEAVING THE RAİISING

AND PROTECTİNG OF THE HATCHLİNGS TO SOMEONE ELSE.

AND PROTECTİNG OF THE HATCHLİNGS TO SOMEONE ELSE.

THE DUCKLİNGS İMPRİNT ON THEİR FOSTER MOTHER,

THE DUCKLİNGS İMPRİNT ON THEİR FOSTER MOTHER,

AND SHE DOESN'T SEEM TO NOTİCE THAT THEY'RE DİFFERENT.

THE YELLOW CHICKS TAG ALONG

WIİTH THE DARK SCAUP CHİICKS

IN ÖONE BİG BLENDED FAMIİLY.

IN ÖONE BİG BLENDED FAMIİLY.

BUT WHEN THE ADOPTED CHICKS

BUT WHEN THE ADOPTED CHICKS

GROW UP, THEY İN TURN

WILL LAY EĞGGS İN ANOTHER DUCK'S NEST.

İTS A HEDGE AĞAINST BAD LUCK,

AND SHOULD A PREDATOR RAID THEİR OWN NESTS,

HAVING SOME EGGS

"İN ANOTHER BASKET" ISAPRETİY GOOD BACKUP PLAN.

OF ALL THE THİNGS THAT SHAPE A DUCK'S CHARACTER,

WATER IS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL.

WATER IS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL.

FROM HIĞGH ENERGY WATERS LİIKE THIS

COMES A VERY DİFFERENT DUCK.

COMES A VERY DİFFERENT DUCK.

TORRENT DUCKS REVELİN THE TUMULTUOUS MOUNTAİN RİVERS

TORRENT DUCKS REVELİN THE TUMULTUOUS MOUNTAİN RİVERS

OF THE ANDES IN SOUTH AMERİCA.

THEY'RE THE WHİTEWATER ADRENALINE JUNKIES

OF THE DUCK WORLD,

FEARLESSLY LEAPING IİNTO THE FASTEST WATER THEY CAN FIND.

EVERYTHING ABOUT THEM IS DESİĞNED FOR THİS,

FROM THEİR EXTRA THİCK RUBBERY FEET,

TO THEİR LONG, STİFF, RUDDER-LİKE TALL.

TO THEİR LONG, STİFF, RUDDER-LİKE TALL.

THIS COLD, CLEAR WATER, HOWEVER, IS NOT RICH İN FOOD,

THIS COLD, CLEAR WATER, HOWEVER, IS NOT RICH İN FOOD,

SO EACH PAIİR OF TORRENTS STAKES OUT A SIİRETCH OF RİVER

SO EACH PAIİR OF TORRENTS STAKES OUT A SIİRETCH OF RİVER

AND DEFENDS İT FOR ALL THEY'RE WORTH.

AND DEFENDS İT FOR ALL THEY'RE WORTH.

THEY ARE ONE OF THE VERY FEW DUCKS

TO REOUİRE THEİR OWN TERRİTORİES.

TO REOUİRE THEİR OWN TERRİTORİES.

İT'S ALLABOUT SECURİNG ENOUGĞGH FOOD TO RAİSE A FAMİLY,

İT'S ALLABOUT SECURİNG ENOUGĞGH FOOD TO RAİSE A FAMİLY,

AND TO TAKE CARE OF HERS,

THE ORANGE-BREASTED FEMALE

SETS OFF ON A SURPRIİSİNG CLİMB.

SHE'S SITTING ON EGGS

ON A CLIİFFHANGER OFANEST.

İT'S A HOME MADE OF MOSS COVERED WIİTH A GUllLT OF DOWN.

AND IT'S PERCHED SOME 60 FEET ABOVE THE RİVER.

AND IT'S PERCHED SOME 60 FEET ABOVE THE RİVER.

LONG BEFORE THEY'RE BORN, TORRENT DUCKLINGS ARE ACCUSTOMED

LONG BEFORE THEY'RE BORN, TORRENT DUCKLINGS ARE ACCUSTOMED

TOTHECONSTANT ROAR OF WHİTEWATER.

THEİR FATHER, İN STRIİKİNG BLACK AND WHIİTE PLUMAĞGE,

REMAINS ON PATROL,

WATCHING OVER THEİR TERRİTORY.

THE DUCKLİINGS ARE STRONG SWIİMMERS FROM THE GET-GO.

THESE ROUGH WATERS ARE THEİR WORLD,

AND THEY'RE BORN READY FOR İT.

THE WOODIES TAKE THEİR MORNİNG SWIM İN MUCH CALMER WATERS.

DUCKLINGS GROW UP FAST,

AND OURS HAVE ALREADY TURNED İNTO TEENAGERS.

THEY STIİLL HANG OUT TOGETHER,

ABSORBED WIİTH TAKING CARE OF THEİR SLEEK NEW FEATHERS.

THEY WON'T NEED THEİR MOTHER MUCH LONGER.

THEY WON'T NEED THEİR MOTHER MUCH LONGER.

THE YOUNG WOODIES HAVE ALREADY TAKEN A MOMENTOUS STEP,

THE YOUNG WOODIES HAVE ALREADY TAKEN A MOMENTOUS STEP,

ONE THAT WILL CHANGE THEİR LİVES.

THEY HAVE FINALLY LEARNED HOW TOFLY.

GETTİNG UP İNTO THEAİR IS A COMPLİICATED EXERCİSE,

ESPECİALLY FOR DUCKS.

THEY HAVE RELATİVELY SMALL AND POİNTY WINGS,

AND TWO VERY DİFFERENT FLIĞHT PLANS.

AND TWO VERY DİFFERENT FLIĞHT PLANS.

SURFACE DABBLING DUCKS,

WIİTH SMALL, LIGHT BODIES,

CAN RIİSE STRAİGHT UP,

ASCENDİNG ALMOST VERTIİCALLY INTO THE AİR.

HEAVIER BODIED DIVING DUCKS

NEED A LONG WATERY RUNWAY

TO GET ENOUGHLİFT TO TAKE OFF...

AND İT TAKESALOT OF FLAPPIİNG

TO GET A CHUBBYLİTTLE BUFFLEHEAD AİRBORNE.

ÖNCE İN THE AİR,

DUCKS MAINTAIN A FAST PACE.

THEY DON'T HAVE THE WIİNGS FOR SOARING.

A BALD EAGLE LOOKS EFFORTLESS ALONGSİDE HARDWORKİNG PINTALİLS.

BUT EVEN FOR AN EAGLE,

DUCKS ARE HARD TO KEEP UP WITH.

GİVEN THEİR BODY-TO-WIİNG RATIO,

DUCKS NEED TOFLYAT HIGH SPEEDS TOFLYATALL.

REMARKABLY,

DELİCATE LİTTLE GREEN-WIİNGED TEALS

HAVE BEEN CLOCKED AT ALMOST

100 MİLES AN HOUR.

BY MID-SUMMER, IN DUCK WATERS EVERYWHERE,

ALL THE DUCKS HAVE VANISHED.

I OUACKING l

BUT THEY HAVEN'İ FLOWN AWAY.

( DUCKS OUACKINCG l

YOU CAN STILL HEAR THE UNMISTAKABLE SOUND

OF 10,000 DUCKS CHATTING ACROSS THE EMPTY WATER.

THEY'RE HIDING...

RELYİNG ON THE TALL REEDS FOR COVER.

ALL BIRDS GO THROUGH MOLT,

REPLACING WORN AND TATTERED FEAİTHERS

WIİTH NEW ONES.

USUALLY, THEY REPLACE FLİIĞHT FEATHERS ONEATA TİME

SO THEY CAN CONTİNUE TOFLY.

BUT, IN A BOLD MOVE,

DUCKS DROP ALL THEİR FLİIĞHT FEATHERS AT ONCE.

THEY ARE TEMPORARILY GROUNDED.

SURROUNDED BY PLENTY TO EAT,

THEY DON'T NEED TO TAKE TO THE AİR.

YET FOR THENEXT THREE OR FOUR WEEKS,

WIİTH NO WAY TO FLY FROM DANGER,

THEY ARE ALL "SİTTİNG DÜUCKS."

I OUACKING l

BY LATE SUMMER, WHEN THE MOLT 1S OVER,

ALL THE DAMAGĞED, WORN OUT FEATHERS

HAVE BEEN REPLACED WIİTH STRONG, FLEXİBLE NEW ONES.

AND THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL --

INTRICATELY PATTERNED

AND SHİMMERIİNG WIİTH COLOR.

SOME FEATHERS ARE RİCH İN DARK PİGMENTS

THAT HELP MAKE THEM STRONG AND RESİSTANT TO WEAR AND TEAR.

BUT THE MOST DAZZLING HUES

COME FROM TİNY CRYSTALS IN THE STRUCTURE OF THE FEATHER

THAT SCATTER LIGHT IN SPECİFİC WAYS.

TS NATURE'S NANOTECHNOLOGY

THAT MAKES THE İRIİDESCENT PURPLES AND BLUES,

AND THE BRIİLLİANT GREENS, THAT MANY DUCKS SEEM TO FAVOR.

STAYING BRİGHT AND SHİNY USUALLY STARTS WIİTH A BATH.

THERE'S DUST ANDDIRIT AND PARASİITES TO DEAL WIiTH.

EVERY FEATHER MUST BE COMBED OUT NICE AND FLAT...

AND THEN WATERPROOFED.

FROMAGLANDAT THE BASE OF THE TALL,

DUCKS SPREAD A WAXY OİNTMENT ALL ÖOVER THEİR PLUMAĞGE.

THE WHOLE ROUTİNE

TAKES HOURS OF NIBBLİNG AND STROKING,

AND ATHLETİC CONTORTİONS

SEVERAL TIMES A DAY.

İT ALLCONCLUDES WIİTH A SATISFYING STRETCH,

WIİTH EVERY FEATHER BACK IN PLACE.

BY THE END OF SUMMER,

A YOUNG WOOD DUCK 1S SHOWIİNG

THE FİRST SIĞNS OF HİS TRUE COLORS.

HE'S ON HIS WAY TO BEİNG A BEAUTIİFULLY FEATHERED MALE,

BUT IT WILL BE ANOTHER YEAR YET

BEFORE HE'LL BE READY TO PUT HIS PLUMAGE TO THE İEST.

IN THE GÖLDEN LİGHT OF OCTOBER,

WIİTH İRİDESCENT FEATHERS AT THEİR BEST,

WOOD DUCKS GO COURTING.

WOOD DUCKS PAIR UP

MONTHS BEFORE THE BREEDIİNG SEASON.

THEY GATHER İN LİTTLE GROUPS OF THEİR OWN.

İ SHRILL SOUAWKING l

MALES TO SHOW OFF AND OUTDO EACH OTHER...

AND FEMALES TO PİCKA NEW PARITINER.

WOOD DUCK FIDELİTY ONLY LASTS A SİNGLE SEASON.

BUT ÖONCE İTHEY HAVE BECOME A COUPLE,

THEY WILL SPEND THE WİNTER PERFECTİNG THEİR BOND.

THE YOUNG MALE IS EAGER TO BE NOTİCED.

HE ATTEMPTS TO CHAT UP SOME FEMALES...

BUT HE DOESN'Tİ FIND THE RİIGHT THİNG TO SAY.

I CALLING l

ALL HIS ATTEMPTS TO WOO

GO THE WRONG WAY.

HE'S LEARNING THE PAİNFUL TRUTH --

THAT THIS GAME ISNOT UP TOHİM.

İT'S THE FEMALE WHO DECİDES WHO GETS TO MATE.

ALL THE MALES ARE BEAUTIFUL.

WHAT ELSE IS SHE LOOKİNG FOR?

ONLY SHE KNOWS FOR SURE --

AND SUDDENLY,

SHE FINDS 1T.

OÖNCE HE'S BEEN CHOSEN,

HE'LL HAVE TO BE MORE THAN PRETTY.

HE'LL NEED TO WORK HARD TO PROTECT HER

FROM ALL OTHER MALES.

IF HE DOESN'T,

SHE'LL HAVE ALL WİNTER TO CHANGE HER MIND.

THEN, AS THE HOURS OF DAYLIĞHT DWINDLE,

THEİR FOOD SOURCES DIİMİNİSH

AND IT'S TİME TO HEAD SOUTH.

ALL ACROSS THE NORTH,

TENS OF MILLIONS OF DUCKS TAKE TO THE AİR.

THEY WILLFLYFOR MANY THOUSANDS OF MİLES,

FOLLOWİNG ANCIENT ROUTES.

TAKING TURNS FLYING "POIİNT,"

DUCKS OFTEN FORM UP INTOA'V."

ALL BUT THE LEAD BIRD FLİES İN THE SLİPSTREAM

OF THE ÖNEİN FRONT OF İT, SAVING ENERCY.

PRECİSELY HOW THEY NAVIĞATE IS A MARVEL AND A MYSTERY.

THEY FOLLOW LANDMARKS,

USE THE SUN ASA COMPASS,

AND TRACK ALONG LİNES OF THE EARTIH'S MAGNETİC FİELD.

OFTEN, THEY DEPART AT DUSK,

RISING WIİTH THE SETTİNG SUN,

WINGIİNG THEİR WAY INTO THE NİGHT

A MILE OR MORE ABOVE THE GROUND.

A MAP OF STARS NOW SPARKLES ABOVE THEM,

GUİDİNG THEM ON THEİR WAY.

İT SEEMS THAT FROM THE FİRST - FROM THE VERY EGG --

DUCKS KNOW

WHERE THEY ARE GOIİNG.

THEY LAND TO REST AND REFUEL ALONG TRADITIONAL FLYWAYS.

DUCKS CAN'TI CARRY

RESERVES OF BODY FAT ON MIGRATION,

AND THEİR HIĞGH SPEED AND HİGH METABOLİSM

BURN RIĞGHT THROUGH THEİR LAST MEAL.

THE LOCATION OF GOOD RE-SUPPLY STOPS

IS WHAT ULTIİMATELY DETERMIİNES

THE ROUTE THEY CAN TAKE.

BUT İN THE FRENZY TO FEED,

THEY ARE VULNERABLE.

REDHEADS GATHER IN TIGHT GROUPS,

TAKING TURNS AS LOOKOUTS WHIİLE THE OTHERS FEED.

GREEN-WINGED TEALS OFTEN WORK İN PAİRS --

ONE HEAD UP, THE OTHER HEAD DOWN.

SHOVELERS SWIM IN CLOSE CİRCLES,

CONCENTRATING İNVERTEBRATES FOR EASIER CAPTURE.

BUT THAT LEAVES THEM WIiTH NO EYES ON İTHE SKIES.

A NORTHERN HARRIER HUNTS OVER THE WETLANDS,

LOOKİING FOR AN EXHAUSTED OR İNJURED BİRD.

BUT ÖNCE ON THE WING,

DUCKS ARE TOO FAST FOR THE HAWK TO CATCH.

PREDATORS OR NOT,

DUCKS DARE NOT LİNGER

TOOLONG ON A STOPOVER.

AS THE SHOVELERS KEEP FEEDING, A SNOW SOUALL

CATCHES UP WITH THEM.

THERE ARE A FEW DUCKS THAT DEFY WIİNTER.

IN SPİTE OF THE COLD,

COMMON GOLDENEYES STAY FAR TO THENORTH

İN THE FOOD-RICH ARCTIC OCEAN,

WHEREVER THERE'S OPEN WATER.

EVEN İN THE DEPTHS OF WIİNTER, DUCKS STAY A TOASTIY

1059 İNSİDE THEİR DENSE FEATHERS.

THEİR CHALLENGE IS TO PREVENT ALL THAT WARMTH FROM ESCAPING

INTO THE İCY WATER THROUGH THEİR NAKED LEGS AND BİG WEBBED FEET.

THEİR SOLUTTON 1S TO KEEP THEİR FEET

ALMOST AS COLD AS THE WATER.

SPECİAL BLOOD VESSELS

COOL THE BLOOD FLOWING TO THEİR TOES

AND THEN WARM IT ON THE WAY BACK UP.

THEİR CIİRCULATION STAYS STRONG,

WIİTH NO HEAT LOST TO THE WATER.

BUT NOW AND THEN, İT MUST BE NİCE

TOTUCKACOLDFOOTİNTO SOME NİCE WARM FEATHERS.

İT'S THE FİSHİNG IN THESE ARCTIC WATERS

THAT MAKES ADAPTING TO THE COLD WORTHWHİLE.

AND THERE'S NOTHİNG LİKE A LİTTLE SUCCESS

TOATTRACIT ATTENTİON.

A PAIİR OF RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS

HAS FLOWN IN TO TEST THEİR LUCK.

THEİR LONG, SHARP, SERRATED BİLLS

ARE PERFECTLY DESİĞGNED

FOR SEİZİNG A SLİPPERY MEAL.

AS WIİNTER DEEPENS,

DENSE FLOCKS OF COMMON EİDERS

CONVERGE ON RARE PATCHES OF OPEN WATER

IN THE POLAR İCE.

IN TEMPERATURES REACHIİNG 40 BELOW,

İT'S SOMETİMES JUST THE TİIGHTLY PACKED PRESENCE

OF THE DUCKS THEMSELVES THAT STOPS THIS

LAST OCEAN PATCH FROM FREEZIİNG OVER.

WHAT COULD POSSIİBLY KEEP EIDERS IN THİS İMPOSSİBLE PLACE

THROUGH THE WIİNTER?

THE ANSWER LIES JUST BENEATH THE İCE.

FİGHTİNG A HEADWIND OF SWIFT CURRENT,

EİDERS USE THEİR POWERFUL WINGS TO REACHA SEA FLOOR

COVERED WITH HIĞH PROTEİN CLAMS,

MUSSELS, AND URCHİNS.

THIS REMARKABLE FOOTAGE IS UNİOUE,

THE FİRST GLİMPSE OF DÜCKS FLYING THROUGH THE OCEAN.

İT ALSO SHOWS THEİR DİFFİCULT

AND DANGEROUS WORK.

EİDERS HAVE ONLY AMINUTE OR SO

BEFORE RUNNIİNG OUT OF AİR, AND ALARGE FLOCK

CAN EASILY DEPLETE THE REACHABLE SEABED.

ALL WİNTER, THEY RELY ON THE CONSTANITLY SHIİFTİNG İCE

TO OPEN UP NEW FEEDİNG GROUNDS.

ÖNCE THEY'VE PRIED A CLAM LOOSE,

THEY SIİMPLY RELAX,

AND THE AİR İN THEİR FEATHERS BRINGS THEM

BACK TO THE SURFACE.

THEY SWALLOW THE CATCH WHOLE.

THE CALCIUM-RİICH SHELL

WILL BE GROUND UP IN THE BİRD'S GİZZARD

AND DİGESTED.

IN THIS WAY,

SEASHELLS WILL RECYCLE INTO EGGSHELLS

COME THE ARCTIC SPRİNG.

MOST DUCKS HANDLE WIİNTER BY SIMPLY LEAVING 1T BEHIİND.

IN WETLANDS ACROSS THE AMERICAN SOUTH,

DUCKS HAVE TAKEN REFUGE IN BAYOUS, BAYS, AND CREEKS

ALL THROUGH THE LOW COUNTRY.

OUR WOOD DUCK PAİR HAS LANDED ON A POND İN FLORİDA,

WHICH IS TURNING OUT TO BE A POPULAR SPOT.

THE COUPLE STAYS SIDE BY SİDE,

ESPECİALLY NOW THAT OTHER WOOD DUCKS

HAVE GATHERED ON İTHE WATER.

THERE APPEAR TO BE GUİNE A FEW BACHELORS IN THE GROUP,

AND THOUGHİTT'S NOT MATING SEASON YET,

THEY'RE ALLLOOKING TO SECURE A PARTNER.

THE MALE IS ON GÜUARD DÜUTY EVERY WAKING MOMENT.

MALES OFTEN OUTNUMBER FEMALES,

SO THE OTHERS WILL STEAL HER IF THEY CAN,

OR AT THE VERYLEAST HARASS HER CONSTANILY.

THAT'S WHY SHE CHOSE

A PROTECTOR ANDA COMPANION LONG BEFORE THEY ARRIVED.

WIİTHOUT A BODYGUARD,

A FEMALE IS İN PHYSICAL DANGER

FROM AGGRESSİVE AND UNWANTED ATTENTİONS.

( THUNDER CRASHING l

BUT OUR MALE IS PROVIİNG HİMSELF A WORTHY PARTNER.

HE'S BEEN BY HER SIDE THROUGH THİCK AND THİN,

RAİN OR SHİNE, FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE.

AT LONG LAST, SPRING 1S ON THE WAY.

THE WOODIES' WORLD IS TURNİNG GREEN.

WIİTH FOOD SOURCES DUE TO BLOOMİN THE NORTH,

DUCKS EVERYWHERE ARE GETTİNG READY FOR SPRİNG MIGRATİION.

AND FOR MOST DUCKS,

THAT CUES THE MOST SIĞNIFICANT EVENT

OF THE YEAR -

THE ANNUAL SONG AND DANCE

OF COURTSHIP.

MALES DECKED OUT

İN THEİR FİNEST FEATHERS BEĞİN DOİNG JUST ABOUT ANYIHİNG

TO GET NOTİCED.

I CALLING l

FEMALES ALL ACROSS THE DUCK WORLD

SIT AND WATCH, JUDGİNG.

EVERY PERFORMER FOLLOWS FİNELY TUNED CHOREOGRAPHY

SELECTED AND HONED OVER THOUSANDS OF YEARS

BY THEİR FEMALES,

AS THEY PİICK THE SHOW THAT PLEASES THEMMOST.

OF COURSE,

MALES GET DISTRACTED AND JEALOUS

OF ANOTHER'S DISPLAY.

THE MALES GET SO WORKED UP, THEİR FRUSTRATION SPİLLS OVER

INTO VİOLENT ABUSE OF THE FEMALES.

DUCKS ARE ONE OF THE FEW BİRDS

THAT SUFFER FORCED COPULATIONS.

BUT MOSTLY, 1T'S THE FEMALES WHO CHOOSE THEIİR PARTNERS.

İT'S THE DRAB, CAMOUFLAGĞGED MOTHERS-TO-BE

WHO ARE ACTUALLY RESPONSIİBLE FOR THE DASHING COLORS,

THE SPLENDOR OF THE MALES.

THEN THERE'S THE STRANGE CASE OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSK DUCK.

İT SEEMS THAT THESE FEMALES

HAVE A VERY DİFFERENT IİDEA OF GOOD LOOKS.

THEY'VE CULTIVATED MALES THAT LOOK MUCH LİKE THEMSELVES,

ONLY MUCH LARGER,

AND WIİTH AN ODD, LEATHERY LOBE BENEATH THEİR BİLLS.

THE MUSK DUCK FANS HİS TALL, STRIKES A POSE, AND WHIİSTLES.

I CALLING l

TO TOP İT OFF, HE RELEASES

A MUSKY SCENT.

IF HE GETS İT RİGHT,

THE FEMALE WILL FİND HİM İRRESİSTİBLE.

OUR FEMALE WOODİE, LİKE ALL OF HER KIND,

HAS CHOSEN A BEAULY.

HE'S BEEN A FAİTHFUL GUARDIAN ALL WIİNTER,

AND FINALLY, SHE APPROACHES HIM AS A PARTNER İN THE DANCE.

SHE PERFORMS A SERIES OF HEAD BOBS,

SPLASHING WATER WITH HER BİLL.

HE DELİBERATELY TURNS AWAY

TOSHOWHER THE BRİGHT WHIİTE STRIPES

ON THE BACK OF HIS CREST.

THEN SHE FLATTENS HERSELF AĞAINST THE WATER...

A SIĞNAL TO HIM THAT SHE'S READY TO MATE.

AND SO THE STORY BEĞİNS ANEW.

THE WOOD DUCKS HAVE CHICKS ON THE WAY.

SHE FİNDS A PROTECTED NEST SİTE HIĞH UP İN A TALL OAK TREE,

IN A CAVITY WHERE A TREE BRANCH ONCE GREW.,

DOWN IN THE NEST, SHE MAKES EVERYİTHING READY.

SHE PLUCKS THE FEATHERS FROM HER BREAST,

SPREADING OUT THE PERFECT DOWN BLANKET FOR EGĞGGS AND CHICKS.

HE STANDS GUARD,

KEEPİNG PREDATORS AWAY FROM THE NEST

AND COMPETİTORS AWAY FROM HiS FEMALE.

SHE LAYS HER EGGS,

ONE PER DAY, AND KEEPS THEM WARM,

TURNING THEM,

TALKING TO THEM, PATIENTLY WAJİTING...

UNTIL THAT MAGIC MOMENT WHEN EGGS

TURN İNTO DUCKLİNCS.

SOON, THEİR MOTHER WILL CALL THEM -

CALL THEM OUT TO A WAİTING WORLD.

(MOTHER DUCK CALLING l

THEY WERE BORN TO MASTER THE WIİND AND THE WATER,

AND PLUCKING UP THEİR NEWBORN COURAGE,

THEY ANSWER THE CALL.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE SEEN ON THİS "NATÜRE" PROGRAM,

VISİT pbs.org.