Original subtitles

Narrator: THE PELICAN HAS ALWAYS BEEN

AN APPEALING AND COMICAL CHARACTER.

BUT DESPITE ITS FAMILIAR FACE,

WE REALLY DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT IT.

HERE IN AUSTRALIA, PELICANS DO THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY THING --

EVERY DECADE OR SO,

SOME OF THEM ABANDON THE SEA

AND JOURNEY MORE THAN 1,000 MILES INLAND,

TO ONE OF THE MOST INHOSPITABLE PLACES ON EARTH.

MUCH ABOUT THEIR LIVES IS A MYSTERY.

WHAT TRIGGERS THEIR REMARKABLE JOURNEY?

HOW DO THEY NAVIGATE?

AND WHERE DO THESE LONG-DISTANCE NOMADS GO

WHEN THEY LEAVE THEIR SANCTUARY

DEEP IN THE HEART

OF THE AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK?

Narrator: THE AUSTRALIAN PELICAN IS BIG BY PELICAN STANDARDS.

JUST TO STAY ALIVE, A MATURE BIRD NEEDS

FOUR POUNDS OF FISH A DAY.

SO, IT COMES AS NO SURPRISE

THAT PELICANS ARE FOUND NEAR THE HARBOR.

BUT WHAT IS SURPRISING IS THAT

SOME ARE ABOUT TO LEAVE THE SEA BEHIND

AND FLY INLAND.

AN UNKNOWN FORCE IS DRAWING THEM TO A PLACE

THAT COMES ALIVE MAYBE ONCE EVERY DECADE --

AN INCREDIBLE JOURNEY

ACROSS COUNTRY THAT IS SHORT ON WATER, LET ALONE FISH.

SO, WHY WOULD A WATER BIRD ABANDON AN EASY LIFE BY THE SEA

AND HEAD INTO THE PARCHED INTERIOR OF AUSTRALIA,

OVER 1,000 MILES FROM THE COAST?

THEY'RE WELL DESIGNED FOR THEIR JOURNEY.

WITH A WINGSPAN OF EIGHT FEET,

THEY CAN SOAR ON THERMALS AS WELL AS FLAP THEIR WINGS --

PERFECT FOR LONG DISTANCE TRAVEL.

AND THEY DON'T TRAVEL ALONE --

MANY BIRDS JOURNEY TOGETHER IN LOOSE FLOCKS.

THEY SPIRAL UP, SOMETIMES AS HIGH AS

10,000 FEET...

AND THEN THEY GLIDE TO THE NEXT LANDMARK,

TRAVELING HUNDREDS OF MILES

OVER SOME OF THE MOST HOSTILE TERRITORY

ON THE PLANET.

THEY CAN BE AIRBORNE ALL THROUGH THE DAY AND INTO THE NIGHT.

THE AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK IS THE DRIEST PLACE

ON THE HOTTEST AND DRIEST CONTINENT ON THE PLANET.

RAIN HERE IS AT BEST SPORADIC, AND AT WORST NON-EXISTENT.

IT'S THE LAST EE TH

YOU'D EXPECT TO FIND A WATER BIRD.

BUT THE PELICANS ARE HERE,

AND THEY'RE SEEKING THE OUTBACK'S

MOST SOUGHT AFTER COMMODITY.

[ THUNDER CRACKLING ]

IT'S THE FIRST CLUE THAT BEGINS TO EXPLAIN THEIR EPIC JOURNEY.

MAYBE THEY CAN SENSE DISTANT WEATHER SYSTEMS,

OR MAYBE IT'S JUST BY CHANCE, BUT THEY ARRIVE WITH THE RAIN.

[ THUNDER ROLLING ]

THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR IN SUCCESSION

THAT THE DRY RIVERBEDS HAVE TURNED INTO RIVERS,

FOLLOWING THE SAME

SEMI-SATURATED ROUTE AND FILLING QUICKLY.

BUT THESE WATERWAYS

FLOW NOT THE SHORT DISTANCE TO THE SEA,

BUT HUNDREDS OF MILES INLAND,

TOWARD THE LOWEST POINT IN AUSTRALIA.

IT'S THIS WATER THAT DREW ALL THE PELICANS HERE.

THE FLOODED RIVERS ARE THOUGHT TO BE A KIND OF ROUTE MAP

REMEMBERED FROM JOURNEYS PAST,

WHICH GUIDE THEM TO THEIR FINAL DESTINATION.

PELICANS FOLLOW A SUCCESSION

OF TEMPORARY WATERWAYS,

EACH WITH ITS OWN COLOR SIGNATURE

THAT CAN BE READ LIKE A COLOR CHART

FROM HIGH IN THE SKY.

LIKE ALL LONG-DISTANCE MIGRANTS, THEY NEED TO STOP AND REFUEL.

SO ALTHOUGH THEY'LL PAUSE AT THESE TEMPORARY BILLABONGS,

THEY'LL NOT STAY LONG.

THERE'S SOMETHING FAR MORE ENTICING IN THE DESERT

TO THE SOUTHWEST.

BUT FOR NOW, THEY KNOW THAT WHERE THERE'S OPEN WATER,

THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE OF FISH.

ARMED WITH THE LONGEST BILL OF ANY BIRD IN THE WORLD,

THE AUSTRALIAN PELICAN IS A SKILLFUL HUNTER.

THE BILL IS ALSO SENSITIVE TO VIBRATIONS,

WHICH HELPS TO LOCATE FISH EVEN IN MURKY WATER.

A HOOK AT THE TIP OF THE BILL

GIVES THE BIRD A GOOD GRIP ON SLIPPERY PREY.

AND TO INCREASE THE CHANCES OF CATCHING FOOD,

PELICANS WORK TOGETHER.

THEY DRIVE FISH AHEAD OF THEM INTO THE SHALLOWS

AND THEN PLUNGE THEIR BILLS INTO THE WATER,

LIKE A TEAM OF SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMERS.

IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE THAT THERE WAS NO WATER HERE

JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO.

WITH THE DROUGHT-BREAKING RAINS CAME NOT ONLY BIRDS,

BUSOINGO FAMILY.

[ PUPS WHINING ]

IT'S SUCH A SPORADIC EVENT, THE PUPS EXPERIENCE

RUNNING WATER FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME.

MANY TYPES OF BIRDS ARE DRAWN TO THESE WATERHOLES,

BUT WHATEVER THE SPECIES, THEY'D BETTER BEWARE...

FOR SOME WON'T BE LEAVING.

OUTSTAYING A WELCOME HERE COULD BE FATAL,

SO THE PELICANS ARE ON THEIR WAY AGAIN,

TO A PLACE THAT'S MORE IMPORTANT TO THEM ALL.

THIS YEAR'S RAINS HAVE BEEN

UNUSUALLY LONG LASTING AND WIDESPREAD,

SO INLAND RIVERS HAVE PENETRATED DEEP INTO THE DESERT.

IT MEANS THE FLOCK CAN FOLLOW THE WATER

TO WHERE SOME OF THE BIRDS HAVEN'T BEEN FOR A DECADE

AND OTHERS HAVE NEVER BEEN BEFORE.

AND THERE'S STILL ANOTHER 300 MILES TO GO.

IT'S TAKING THEM TO

ONE OF THE TOUGHEST PLACES ON THE PLANET --

INTO AUSTRALIA'S FIERY CENTER.

HEADING INTO THIS DESOLATE WILDERNESS

IN THE LAKE EYRE DRAINAGE BASIN

IS DR. GREG JOHNSTON.

Johnston: HERE WE ARE IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

OUT HERE, EVEN THOUGH

IT'S COMPLETELY DRY, YOU GET AN AMAZING SIGHT OF PELICANS,

WHICH WE NORMALLY THINK OF AS SEA BIRDS.

BUT THEY COME UP HERE AND THEY BREED.

ONE REALLY INTERESTING QUESTION

IS HOW ON EARTH

THE PELICANS FIND THEIR WAY TO LAKE EYRE,

AND WHY DO THEY COME TO THIS PARTICULAR AREA?

AND THERE ARE A LOT OF STORIES AROUND

ABOUT THE PELICANS KNOWING EXACTLY WHERE THEY ARE GOING,

AND KNOWING EXACTLY WHEN THE WATER IS ARRIVING

AND KNOWING EXACTLY WHEN THE FOOD IS AVAILABLE.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S TRUE.

I THINK THEY PROBABLY USE THE RIVERS AS HIGHWAYS.

THEY LOOK LIKE HIGHWAYS

WHEN YOU SEE THEM FROM THE SKY.

THEY'RE LINES OF GREEN TREES IN THE RED DESERT

AND THE PELICANS CAN FIND THEIR WAY AROUND.

THESE PELICANS ARE MOVING 600 KILOMETERS A DAY QUITE EASILY.

THEY'RE VERY LONG LIVED BIRDS,

AND SO THESE BIRDS ARE THINKING ABOUT THIS LANDSCAPE

AT A SCALE THAT WE'RE NOT.

Narrator: BUT WHY WOULD THESE BIRDS

WANT TO BE THINKING ABOUT THIS PLACE AT ALL,

WHEN SURELY ALL THEY NEED IS AT THE COAST?

TO UNDERSTAND WHY,

SCIENTISTS ARE ALSO LOOKING AT THEIR STAY-AT-HOME COUSINS

BY THE SEA.

MANY OF AUSTRALIA'S PELICANS DON'T MIGRATE INLAND.

IN THIS BUSY HARBOR NORTH OF SYDNEY,

THEY LIVE CHEEK-BY-JOWL WITH PEOPLE.

AN OFFSHORE ISLAND PROVIDES SOME SANCTUARY TO RAISE A FAMILY.

MANY PAIRS ARE BREEDING,

WITH THE FIRST CHICKS ALREADY HATCHED.

SOME OF THEIR FOOD IS EASY TO COME BY.

AT 3:30 EVERY DAY, COME RAIN OR SHINE,

THERE'S A FREE HANDOUT

AT THE ENTRANCE MEMORIAL PARK.

THE LOCAL PELICANS ARE A TOURIST ATTRACTION.

WHO NEEDS TO GO FISHING WHEN ALL THE WORK IS DONE FOR YOU?

[ PELICANS CALLING ]

PELICANS ARE HIGHLY ADAPTABLE AND EAGER OPPORTUNISTS,

SO THIS WELL-FED POPULATION CAN STAY HERE ALL YEAR ROUND.

THEY SEEM TO HAVE LITTLE NEED TO MIGRATE INLAND.

YET HUGE NUMBERS OF COASTAL BIRDS

ABANDON THE EASY LIFE

AND EMBARK ON PERILOUS JOURNEYS INTO THE DESERT.

THEIR DESTINATION, LAKE EYRE,

IS THE BIGGEST SALTPAN IN THE WORLD.

THE SALT IS A FOOT AND A HALF THICK,

AND AT 50 FEET BELOW SEA LEVEL

IT'S THE LOWEST POINT IN AUSTRALIA.

IT'S BLISTERINGLY HOT,

AND FOR 90 OF THE PAST 100 YEARS

NOT A DROP OF RAIN HAS FALLEN HERE.

IT'S A HELL ON EARTH.

AN UNLIKELY PLACE FOR A WATER BIRD.

BUT LAKE EYRE IS ALSO AT THE CENTER

OF A VAST DRAINAGE BASIN THAT COVERS AN AREA

THE SIZE OF TEXAS, OKLAHOMA,

AND NEW MEXICO COMBINED.

ON THE VERY RARE OCCASIONS

WHEN IT FLOODS TO ITS FULLEST EXTENT,

WHAT WAS ONCE AN ANCIENT INLAND SEA

BECOMES THE LARGEST LAKE IN AUSTRALIA.

IN A TYPICAL FLOOD YEAR, 100,000 PELICANS ARRIVE HERE,

A THIRD OF AUSTRALIA'S TOTAL POPULATION,

AND IT BECOMES PELICAN HEAVEN.

SO IMPORTANT IS THE LAKE EYRE POPULATION

THAT SCIENTISTS SUCH AS GREG JOHNSTON

CLOSELY MONITOR THE BIRDS THE MOMENT THEY ARRIVE.

THE REASON WHY WE WANT TO FIND OUT

WHAT THE PELICANS ARE DOING UP HERE

IS SO THAT WE CAN KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THE DESERTS WORK

AND IN PARTICULAR THAT'S IMPORTANT

IF WE'RE GOING TO MANAGE

THE WATER RESOURCES IN THE DESERT.

WE'RE HERE IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA,

IT'S THE DRIEST STATE

IN THE DRIEST CONTINENT ON THE PLANET.

AND WE'RE STILL LEARNING HOW TO MANAGE OUR WATER IN THIS AREA

AND NATURE GIVES US THE ANSWERS,

BECAUSE PELICANS HAVE BEEN FINDING WATER

AND MAKING GOOD USE OF IT FOR MANY GENERATIONS.

Narrator: LAKE EYRE FLOODS TO ABOUT 13 FEET DEEP

EVERY DECADE OR SO.

THIS IS A DECADE YEAR,

AND THE SURVEY AREA IS SO VAST,

GREG IS FORCED TO TAKE TO THE AIR HIMSELF.

GOOD, THANKS, GREAT. YOURSELF?

GOOD! EXCELLENT.

Johnston: IT'S GREAT TO HAVE A CHANCE

TO COME OUT HERE ON THE HELICOPTER

BECAUSE IT REALLY GIVES YOU A PELICAN'S EYE VIEW

OF THE LANDSCAPE.

Pilot: SO, ANYWHERE IN PARTICULAR WE WANT TO LOOK AT?

THERE'S -- CURRENTLY THIS IS

WHERE THE WATER IS AT THE MOMENT, ALL THROUGH HERE.

Johnston: WE'VE GOT TO CHECK OUT SOME OF THE ISLANDS

ON THE SOUTH COAST OF LAKE EYRE, SOUTH, AS WELL.

THAT'LL BE A GOOD PLACE TO GO FIRST IF WE CAN.

THERE'S THREE LITTLE ISLANDS

JUST OFF THE TIP OF THAT PENINSULA,

AND THAT'S WHERE WE KNOW THEY'RE BREAKING FOR.

Pilot: WELL, WE'LL GET OUT THERE AND SEE WHAT WE CAN FIND.

Johnston: SO THE WATER HASN'T

QUITE FILLED THE LAKE YET.

FILLING THE LAKE ONLY OCCURS EVERY 3,000 YEARS OR SO.

NORMALLY THE LAKE IS NOWHERE NEAR FULL,

EVEN IN THOSE YEARS WHEN THERE'S A LOT OF WATER HERE

AND PELICANS DO BREED.

SO THESE ARE THE ISLANDS WE'RE AFTER.

THAT LOOKS LIKE IT, DOESN'T IT?

YEAH, IT CERTAINLY DOES.

AND THEN YOU GOT YOUR LITTLE ISLAND DOWN HERE.

YEAH.

Narrator: WITH THE FLOODING HERE

SUCH A RARE AND RANDOM OCCURRENCE,

IT'S A MYSTERY HOW THE BIRDS KNOW WHEN TO COME,

ESPECIALLY FROM HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY.

THE BIRDS MAY FOLLOW THE WATERWAYS TO LAKE EYRE,

BUT HOW DO THEY KNOW THAT

THE RAINS HAVE FALLEN IN THE FIRST PLACE?

GREG IS DETERMINED TO FIND SOME ANSWERS.

THE FUTURE OF THE AUSTRALIAN PELICAN MAY DEPEND ON IT.

FOR MANY OF THESE PELICAN MIGRANTS,

THIS PLACE HOLDS A SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE.

IT'S WHERE THEY WERE BORN A DECADE AGO

AT THE TIME OF THE LAST BIG FLOOD,

AND NOW IT'S WHERE THEY'LL TRY TO RAISE THEIR OWN FAMILIES.

IT'S WHY THEY'VE ALL COME, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PELICANS,

ARRIVING FROM ALL OVER AUSTRALIA TO BREED.

AND HERE AT LAKE EYRE,

CONDITIONS ARE JUST RIGHT FOR A BUMPER BREEDING SEASON.

THIS IS RARE SIGHT.

THE LAST TIME THAT BIRDS GATHERED HERE

IN SUCH LARGE NUMBERS WAS AT THE START OF THE MILLENNIUM.

AT TOUCHDOWN THE FIRST PRIORITY IS TO FIND A NEW PARTNER.

PELICANS DON'T MATE FOR LIFE.

AT THIS TIME, POUCHES TAKE ON A BRIGHT PINK HUE

THAT'S MEANT TO ATTRACT

THE ATTENTION OF POTENTIAL MATES.

[ PELICAN SQUAWKING, WARBLING ]

THEN BOTH SEXES ENGAGE IN A SERIOUS BOUT OF

POUCH RIPPLING AND BILL CLAPPING.

A FEMALE MIGHT HAVE SEVERAL MALES IN TOW,

AND SHE LEADS THEM ON A COURTSHIP PROCESSION

AROUND THE COLONY.

THE MALE WITH THE GREATEST STAMINA

BECOMES THE CHOSEN PARTNER.

HE STICKS TO HER LIKE GLUE,

AND IF ALL GOES WELL, SHE'LL LEAD HIM

TO HER CHOSEN NEST SITE.

THE LAKE IS POPULAR BECAUSE FOOD IS SURPRISINGLY PLENTIFUL.

IT'S ONE OF MOTHER NATURE'S MIRACLES.

BEFORE THE FLOOD, IT WAS BARREN, DESOLATE,

JUST SALT AND SAND.

BUT AS THE BASIN FILLS,

THE EGGS OF TINY ORGANISMS

THAT HAVE LAIN ENTOMBED IN THE SALT FOR MANY YEARS

SUDDENLY STIR.

BRINE SHRIMP DEVELOP, GROW,

AND REPRODUCE IN JUST A FEW DAYS.

ALL THAT WAS NEEDED WAS WATER,

AND AN ENTIRE ECOSYSTEM BURSTS INTO LIFE.

THE LAKE HOLDS FRESH WATER,

BUT AS THE SALT CRUST ON THE LAKE BED DISSOLVES,

IT GRADUALLY BECOMES SALTIER.

FOR NOW, THOUGH, THE SHRIMP ARE FOOD FOR FISH,

SOME OF THEM UNIQUE TO LAKE EYRE.

THE PULSE OF WATER NOW SURGING

THROUGH THE STREAMS PRODUCES FAR MORE FISH

THAN IF THE RIVERS WERE RUNNING FULL THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

IT'S THIS SUPER-ABUNDANCE OF FOOD THAT ATTRACTS PELICANS.

THAT'S WHY THEY CAME ALL THIS WAY TO BREED.

BIRDS ON THE COAST HAVE VERY DIFFERENT TASTES.

THE HARBOR BIRDS ARE TURNING TO LESS CONVENTIONAL FOODS

TO MAKE UP FOR A LOCAL SHORTAGE

OF WILD CAUGHT FISH,

AND THEIR DIET

IS BEING MONITORED BY A RESEARCH TEAM

FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY IN SYDNEY.

THE TASK IS MADE EASIER BECAUSE PELICANS

REGURGITATE FOOD FOR THEIR CHICKS.

BIRDS IN THE OUTBACK FEED

ON FISH CAUGHT STRAIGHT FROM THE LAKE.

BUT HERE,

NEARLY HALF OF THE PELICAN'S DIET IS JUNK FOOD

FED TO THEM BY PEOPLE,

AND MUCH OF THE REST IS FREE HANDOUTS.

HERE PELICANS LINE UP ALONGSIDE OTHER BIRDS

WHEN THE GARBAGE TRUCK ARRIVES.

PROFESSOR RICHARD KINGSFORD

OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES

IS LOOKING AT HOW THE DESERT AND HARBOR BIRDS COMPARE.

Kingsford: IT SEEMS THAT THEY'RE REALLY HIGHLY RELIANT

ON HAVING ARTIFICIAL FOOD SUPPLIES.

THEY'RE NOT GETTING ALL OF THEIR FOOD

FROM THE SEA AND THE ESTUARY.

THEY'RE HAVING TO GO INTO THESE LANDFILL AREAS

AND PICK OUT PROTEIN THERE,

WHICH OBVIOUSLY HELPS THEM GET THROUGH

SOME FAIRLY LEAN PATCHES,

BUT THEY'RE OBVIOUSLY MORE AND MORE RELIANT

ON THOSE SORTS OF FOOD ITEMS.

Narrator: AND THESE SCAVENGING PELICANS

DON'T DEPEND SOLELY ON OUR WASTE.

Kingsford: LOOK, THEY'RE HIGHLY ADAPTABLE.

I MEAN, THEY'LL EAT INVERTEBRATES,

SOME OF THEM WILL EVEN EAT OTHER PELICAN YOUNG

OR ANY OTHER BIRDS THAT ARE AROUND.

AND THERE'S EVEN A RECORD OF ONE OF THEM

MUNCHING ON A DOG AT SOME STAGE --

A SMALL CHIHUAHUA, SO...

SO THOSE THINGS SHOW JUST HOW ADAPTABLE THESE ANIMALS ARE.

Narrator: BUT THIS KIND OF ADAPTABILITY HAS ITS PRICE,

AND PREMATURE DEATHS ON THE COAST ARE COMMON.

THE SEASIDE MIGHT NOT BE THE PERFECT PLACE

TO LIVE AND RAISE A FAMILY AFTER ALL.

AT LAKE EYRE, THE PELICANS HAVE ESTABLISHED THEIR NEST SITES.

WHILE THE FEMALE STANDS GUARD,

THE MALE COLLECTS AS MUCH NEST MATERIAL AS HE CAN FIND.

SOMEHOW, HE MUST FIND HIS MATE AGAIN

IN THE CROWDED MASS OF PINK AND WHITE.

BUT THEY ALL LOOK SO ALIKE.

PILFERING IS COMMON.

JUST A FEW BLADES OF GRASS

CAN TRIGGER A FLURRY OF RUFFLED FEATHERS.

WITH THE NEST READY FOR ITS NEW OCCUPANTS,

THE FIRST EGG IS LAID.

A SECOND WILL FOLLOW IN A FEW DAYS.

BOTH MALE AND FEMALE SHARE INCUBATION DUTIES

FOR ABOUT A MONTH.

WHILE STILL IN THEIR EGGS,

THE CHICKS CHIRP CONTINUALLY TO THE INCUBATING PARENT,

TELLING MUM OR DAD

IF THEY'RE AT A COMFORTABLE TEMPERATURE OR NOT.

THEN IT'S TIME FOR THE FIRST CHICK TO CHIP ITS WAY OUT.

FOR THE PARENTS,

THERE'S A PRESSURE TO GET ON WITH CHICK REARING.

THERE'S NO TELLING HOW LONG THE LAKE WILL HAVE WATER,

AND, THEREFORE, HOW LONG THE FOOD WILL LAST.

WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT PELICANS HAVE BEEN FACED WITH

THE SAME RACE TO BREED AT LAKE EYRE

FOR MILLIONS OF YEARS.

GREG JOHNSTON SEARCHES FOR OLD NEST SITES

TO COLLECT EGGS AND BONES,

AND SOME HE'S FOUND POINT TO AN ANCIENT LINEAGE.

FROM JUST EAST OF LAKE EYRE WHICH ARE 30 MILLION YEARS OLD,

SO WE KNOW THAT PELICANS HAVE BEEN

AROUND HERE FOR A LONG TIME.

AND PROBABLY THEY'VE BEEN DOING MUCH THE SAME THING

FOR ALL OF THAT 30 MILLION YEARS.

Narrator: BY STUDYING THE DNA IN BONE AND EGG FRAGMENTS,

HE HOPES TO WORK OUT THE HISTORY OF THE LAKE EYRE BIRDS.

Johnston: WHAT WE'RE DOING IS COMING TO LAKE EYRE

AND WE'RE GOING TO ISLANDS

WHERE WE KNOW THE PELICANS HAVE BRED

AND WHEN THEY'VE BRED,

AND THEN WE'RE ABLE TO TAKE BONE SAMPLES

AND DEVELOP A GENETIC FINGERPRINT

FOR THOSE POPULATIONS.

AND WE CAN EVEN TEST WHETHER

IT'S THE SAME BIRDS THAT ARE BREEDING

IN LAKE EYRE EACH TIME THERE'S A BREEDING EVENT HERE.

Narrator: INITIAL RESULTS FROM DR. JOHNSTON'S WORK

INDICATE THAT BIRDS DO INDEED RETURN HERE TIME AND TIME AGAIN.

Johnston: ON THE COAST,

A LOT OF THE BREEDING COLONIES ARE IN TROUBLE.

SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN DELIBERATELY DESTROYED BY PEOPLE

WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT PELICANS COMPETING WITH THEM FOR FISH.

SOME OF THEM ARE SUBJECT TO POLLUTION AND SO ON.

BUT UP HERE IN THE CENTER

YOU'RE DEALING WITH MUCH MORE PRISTINE HABITATS.

AND SO WHEN THE WATER COMES INTO LAKE EYRE

AND THE FISH BREED UP,

THEN THERE'S PRETTY MUCH NOTHING TO STOP THE PELICANS,

BUT THEY REALLY DO RELY ON THAT WATER.

Narrator: WATER MANAGEMENT IN AUSTRALIA'S DRIEST STATE

IS CURRENTLY A HOT TOPIC IN CONSERVATION CIRCLES.

AND THE FUTURE OF AT LEAST ONE-THIRD OF THE COUNTRY'S

PELICAN POPULATION VERY MUCH DEPENDS ON IT.

IT'S BECOMING CLEAR

THAT GREG JOHNSTON'S WORK AT LAKE EYRE IS IMPORTANT

FOR THE LONG-TERM PROTECTION OF PELICANS, NOT ONLY HERE,

BUT THROUGHOUT AUSTRALIA, AND MAYBE BEYOND.

IN THE BREEDING COLONY,

THE PELICANS SETTLE INTO PARENTHOOD.

CHICKS HAVE HATCHED,

ONE CHICK IN A BROOD A COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE THE OTHER.

COMPARED TO OTHER SPECIES,

THE PELICAN CHICK IS SLOW TO GROW PHYSICALLY,

BUT ITS BRAIN AND EYES DEVELOP RAPIDLY.

MAYBE IT'S THEIR WELL-DEVELOPED VISUAL SENSE

THAT WILL HELP THESE CHICKS

TO OBSERVE AND REMEMBER THEIR SURROUNDINGS,

CREATING A MENTAL MAP OF WHERE THEY'VE BEEN.

WHEN THEY GROW UP, MAYBE IT'S THIS ABILITY

THAT WILL HELP THEM FIND THEIR WAY BACK HERE.

AT FIRST THE CHICKS ARE FED

REGURGITATED SLURRY OF DIGESTED FISH

THAT DRIBBLES FROM THEIR PARENT'S BILL.

AFTER A COUPLE OF WEEKS, THEY MOVE ON TO PRE-DIGESTED SOLIDS.

AND THEY'VE HEALTHY APPETITES.

THEY DEMAND TO BE FED AT LEAST EIGHT TIMES A DAY.

BUT, WHILE THE PARENTS ARE AWAY, UNGUARDED CHICKS ARE IN DANGER.

SCAVENGING SILVER GULLS CAN EASILY TURN VICIOUS,

ROAMING BREEDING COLONIES

IN RAUCOUS GANGS,

SEIZING ANY OPPORTUNITY TO GRAB AN UNGUARDED YOUNGSTER.

[ SQUAWKING ]

PLUMP, YOUNG CHICKS PROVE IRRESISTIBLE,

FOR EVEN THESE KILLERS HAVE THEIR OWN YOUNG TO FEED.

WHEN A PARENT RETURNS WITH FOOD, IT CAN RECOGNIZE ITS YOUNG

BECAUSE EACH CHICK HAS ITS OWN SKIN MARKINGS,

AS WELL AS DIFFERENT EYE COLORS

THAT VARY FROM DARK BROWN TO WHITE.

EACH CHICK INSTINCTIVELY REACHES AS HIGH AS IT CAN

IN ORDER TO SNATCH THE CHOICE PIECES OF FOOD.

THEY'LL REMAIN IN THE NEST UNTIL THEY ACQUIRE

THEIR FIRST COVERING OF SILKY, SOFT, WHITE DOWN,

BUT ONLY IF THE LAKE AND ITS FISH LAST UNTIL THEY'RE FLEDGED.

AT THE HARBOR,

PELICAN PARENTS ARE KEPT EQUALLY BUSY

BY THE DEMANDS OF THEIR OWN BROODS.

BUT THINGS ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT HERE.

FEMALES BREED HERE EVERY YEAR INSTEAD OF EVERY DECADE.

THEY ALSO PRODUCE TWO EGGS,

BUT GENERALLY ONLY ONE CHICK SURVIVES.

LIKE THE LAKE EYRE BIRDS,

ONE EGG HATCHES SHORTLY BEFORE THE OTHER.

BUT GARBAGE AND FREE HANDOUTS

ARE JUST NOT ENOUGH TO SATISFY THE COLONY OF GROWING FAMILIES.

WHEN FOOD IS LIMITED, THE OLDER, STRONGER CHICK HOGS IT ALL,

AND EVENTUALLY IT'LL KILL ITS WEAKER SIBLING.

THIS BEHAVIOR IS RARE AT LAKE EYRE,

BUT AS PROFESSOR KINGSFORD EXPLAINS,

IT'S COMMON ON THE COAST.

Kingsford: ONE OF THE PROBLEMS OF THESE FRINGE DWELLERS

THAT NEST ON THE COAST AND FEED ON THE COAST

IS THAT WHEN THEY START BREEDING,

IF THERE'S NOT ENOUGH FOOD,

IT'S REALLY HIGHLY COMPETITIVE

AND OBVIOUSLY HAVING TO SHARE THAT WITH YOUR SIBLING

IS GOING TO IMPACT ON YOUR ABILITY

TO SURVIVE, AND YOU CAN GET,

ONE OF THE CHICKS WILL ACTUALLY KILL THE OTHER CHICK

THAT HAS JUST HATCHED OUT.

AND WE GENERALLY TEND TO SEE THAT MORE

ALONG THESE COASTAL AREAS WHERE WE DON'T HAVE AS MUCH FOOD.

WHEREAS IN THE INLAND RIVER SYSTEMS,

YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT MORE PRODUCTIVE, THOSE LAKES,

BECAUSE THERE'S CONSTANT AND REALLY PROLIFIC FISH SUPPLY

AND IT'S JUST A CASE OF THEN

SORT OF POPPING OFF TO THE LARDER

AND GETTING ANOTHER BILLFUL OF FISH FOR YOUR CHICKS.

Narrator: ALTHOUGH SPORADIC,

THE RICH FOOD SUPPLY AT LAKE EYRE

MAKES THE MONUMENTAL EFFORT TO REACH A TRANSITORY LAKE

IN THE MIDDLE OF A DESERT WORTHWHILE.

EVEN WITH SO MANY BIRDS,

THERE'S LITTLE COMPETITION FOR FOOD.

THE WATER'S BRIMMING WITH LIFE,

AND IT'S NOT ONLY PELICANS THAT ARE HERE TO EXPLOIT IT.

IT'S A COMPLEX AND LIVELY WILDLIFE COMMUNITY.

BANDED STILTS ARRIVED EVEN BEFORE THE PELICANS.

THEY FEAST ON THE BRINE SHRIMP

AND FEED THEM TO THEIR OWN CHICKS.

CASPIAN TERNS ARE THE LAST TO ESTABLISH THEIR BREEDING COLONY.

THEY NEST WHEN THE FISH POPULATION IS FLOURISHING.

BREEDING AT LAKE EYRE

FINALLY REACHES ITS PEAK.

MOST PELICAN CHICKS ARE NOW ONE MONTH OLD,

BUT THEY STILL DEPEND ON BOTH PARENTS FOR FOOD.

HAVING GROWN SUBSTANTIALLY BIGGER,

THEY'RE EVEN MORE DEMANDING.

OLDER YOUNGSTERS REACH RIGHT DOWN THEIR PARENT'S GULLET,

EACH SIBLING TRYING TO BEAT THE OTHER

TO ANY FOOD DOWN THERE.

WHEN THE MOTHER FINALLY BREAKS FREE,

HER CHICK THROWS A TANTRUM.

IT'S EITHER SHORT ON OXYGEN AFTER ALL THAT EXERTION,

OR IT'S DRAWING ATTENTION TO ITSELF

AND AWAY FROM ITS SIBLING.

NOBODY REALLY KNOWS WHY,

BUT THEY ALL DO IT.

[ SQUAWKING ]

WHILE THE PARENTS ARE AWAY FISHING,

THE ADOLESCENTS GATHER TOGETHER

INTO A LARGE CRECHE.

THERE'S SAFETY IN NUMBERS.

THERE ARE MORE THAN 100 BIRDS IN EACH NURSERY.

AND WHILE THEY WALK, THEY TONE UP THEIR FLIGHT MUSCLES

AND TRY OUT NEW FEATHERS.

BUT WHEN THEY FLEDGE,

WHERE WILL THESE BIRDS GO?

DO ONLY THE BIRDS BORN HERE RETURN?

DO SOME OF THEM NEVER RETURN?

THESE ARE QUESTIONS RESEARCHERS FROM ALL OVER AUSTRALIA

ARE TRYING TO ANSWER.

Woman: THAT'S IT.

Narrator: AT OUTER HARBOR IN ADELAIDE,

JENNIFER HAYES IS ONE OF GREG JOHNSTON'S FIELD TEAM.

Hayes: THIS'LL BE MY TENTH YEAR

FOR HELPING OUT WITH THE PELICANS.

WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY IS CATCHING THESE BABIES

TO WING TAG THEM.

WE GRAB THEM BY THE BEAK FIRST,

BECAUSE AS YOU CAN SEE THEY'VE GOT QUITE A NASTY HOOK

THAT CAN DO US A BIT OF DAMAGE,

SO IF WE JUST HOLD THEIR BEAK FIRST

THEN PICK THEM UP UNDERNEATH,

GRAB HOLD OF THE THEIR FEET,

AND THEN JUST CONTROL THEIR BEAK SO THAT THEY CAN'T BITE US.

SO IT DOESN'T HURT THEM AT ALL.

[ PELICAN SQUAWKS ]

NO, HEY, THAT WASN'T BEING GOOD.

JUST SIT HERE LIKE A GOOD BOY.

THERE YOU ARE, GOOD BOY.

[ PELICANS SQUAWKING ]

Narrator: THESE JUVENILES ARE FROM THIS YEAR'S BROOD,

AND A TODDLER'S PLAYPEN IS A HANDY WAY TO CONTAIN THEM,

READY FOR PROCESSING.

HEY, GUY! GRACIOUS!

YOU GROWL AT ME, I'M NOT GOING TO...

HEY? GROWL AT ME AND YOU'LL GET A WING TAG!

[ HAYES IMITATES SQUAWK ]

Narrator: EVEN AT THIS AGE THEY'RE HEFTY BIRDS,

AND WITH THAT STABBING BILL THEY'RE HANDLED CAREFULLY.

ONCE IN THE PEN, THEY SETTLE DOWN.

AND THEN, ONE AT A TIME,

THEIR VITAL STATISTICS CAN BE RECORDED.

Hayes: WHO'S THE GRUMPY ONE? EH?

OH, YOU'RE THE GRUMPY ONE! OKAY.

NO, NO, NO...

NO, NO, NO. HERE WE GO.

YOU'RE NEXT.

OKAY, OKAY, COME ON.

Narrator: EACH BIRD IS GIVEN A WING TAG

WITH ITS OWN UNIQUE NUMBER, SO ANYWHERE IT GOES,

IT WILL BE INSTANTLY RECOGNIZED.

BEAKS ARE MEASURED TO CHECK RATE OF GROWTH.

IT TELLS WHETHER THEY'RE GETTING SUFFICIENT FOOD.

BLOOD SAMPLES CHECK FOR DISEASES AND SIGNS OF POLLUTANTS.

Hayes: GOOD BOY. EH? GOOD BOY.

Narrator: AND A DNA ANALYSIS DETERMINES WHETHER

THEY'RE RELATED TO THE LAKE EYRE PELICANS,

BUT RESULTS SO FAR

SUGGEST MANY WILL STAY RIGHT HERE IN ADELAIDE.

THAT'S IT! GOOD BOY.

COME ON, HEY! DON'T DO THAT.

THAT'S NOT NICE. COME ON, OFF YOU GO.

GO ON, OFF YOU GO.

BYE-BYE! GO ON.

GO ON, OFF YOU GO.

GO AND TELL YOUR MATES, WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK.

HEY? TELL THEM.

Narrator: AT LAKE EYRE,

THE FIRST BROOD IS THREE MONTHS OLD

AND FLIGHT TRAINING HAS BEGUN.

A SHORT BUT SUCCESSFUL TEST FLIGHT.

ONCE THE BIRDS ARE PROPERLY AIRBORNE,

THEY TAKE NOTE OF THE LANDSCAPE AND LOCAL LANDMARKS,

DEVELOPING A GPS-LIKE SENSE

THAT WILL ENABLE THEM TO FIND THEIR WAY BACK HERE AGAIN.

AND IT'LL HELP THEM JOURNEY FROM ONE WATER SOURCE TO THE NEXT

AS THEY RANGE ACROSS THE OUTBACK.

WHEN THE YOUNGSTERS LEAVE HOME,

THEIR PARENTS TRY FOR A SECOND BROOD AND MAYBE EVEN A THIRD,

AS LONG AS THE WATER REMAINS AND FOOD IS STILL PLENTIFUL.

DOWN AT THE COAST,

THE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY TEAM, LED BY DR. URSULA MUNRO,

IS CHECKING ON THE HEALTH OF THE HARBOR BIRDS.

THEY'RE MEASURING CHICKS AND COUNTING EGGS.

Munro: AH, IT'S A ONE-DAY-OLD ONE.

OKAY, GOOD.

19.1.

Narrator: THE DATA INDICATES

THAT COASTAL BIRDS ARE NOT DOING AS WELL AS YOU'D EXPECT.

Kingsford: EVERYBODY EQUATES PELICANS WITH A COASTAL BIRD.

BUT IN FACT THE PELICANS THAT ARE DOING BEST OF ALL

ARE THOSE ONES

IN THE DESERT, SO THESE ARE THE FRINGE DWELLERS,

AND I GUESS THEY DON'T GET

NEARLY AS MUCH REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS,

NUMBER OF CHICKS OFF,

AS YOU WOULD ON SOME OF THE INLAND SYSTEMS,

GENERALLY BECAUSE THE FOOD IS JUST NOT THERE

IN THE SORT OF ABUNDANCE THAT WE'RE SEEING

FROM OUR INLAND RIVERS.

Narrator: AND A LACK OF FOOD

IS JUST ONE OF THE DRAWBACKS TO LIVING WITH PEOPLE.

OIL SPILLS CAN BE DEADLY.

A BIRD SMEARED WITH OIL HAS LOST MUCH OF ITS WATERPROOFING,

SO THE PARENT AND ITS OFFSPRING

ARE UNLIKELY TO SURVIVE FOR LONG.

AT LAKE EYRE, TIME IS RUNNING OUT

FOR THE SECOND BROOD.

THE CHICKS HAVE BEEN DOING WELL SO FAR,

BUT THEY HAVE TO GET TO FLIGHT STAGE

BEFORE THE LAKE DISAPPEARS.

RIVERS NO LONGER FEED THE LAKE,

AND IN THE INTENSE HEAT, EVAPORATION IS CAUSING

THE SHORELINE TO RECEDE AT A STAGGERING 10 FEET EVERY DAY.

AS THE WATER LEVEL DROPS,

SALT IS CONCENTRATED AND THE SALINITY RISES.

MANY BIRDS ARE MOVING ON.

PELICANS HAVE SPECIAL GLANDS

IN THEIR BILLS TO GET RID OF SALT,

SO SOME STAY, AT LEAST FOR THE TIME BEING.

BUT AS THE LAKE DISAPPEARS, SO DOES THE FOOD.

PARENTS ARE NOW FLYING UP TO 60 MILES

ROUND TRIP TO FIND FISH AT OTHER WATERWAYS.

THEY NEED ANOTHER FEW WEEKS OF FOOD AND WATER

FOR THEIR BROODS TO FLEDGE SUCCESSFULLY.

BUT IT'S A RISK FOR THEM TO STAY FOR MUCH LONGER.

THE AIR TEMPERATURE IS SOARING

TO WELL OVER 104° FAHRENHEIT,

AND PARENTS WITH YOUNGER CHICKS

ARE STRUGGLING TO KEEP THEM ALIVE.

THEY SHADE THE YOUNGSTERS AS BEST THEY CAN

DURING THE HOTTEST PART OF THE DAY,

BUT CONDITIONS ARE WORSENING.

AND RIGHT ON CUE ARE THE OMENS OF DEATH.

BLACK KITES TIME THEIR OWN BREEDING CYCLE

TO COINCIDE WITH

THE GLUT OF PELICAN CASUALTIES.

[ KITE CALLING ]

ABANDONED NESTS

MEAN THERE ARE RICH PICKINGS FOR ALL THE SCAVENGERS.

SOME WILL NEVER MAKE THE FLIGHT OUT.

AT MOMENTS LIKE THIS, LAKE EYRE MIGHT NOT SEEM

THE BEST PLACE TO RAISE A FAMILY,

BUT GENERALLY, PELICAN PARENTS HERE DO WELL,

AND THEIR BREEDING SUCCESS, OR FAILURE,

IS AN IMPORTANT LITMUS TEST

FOR THE HEALTH OF THIS ENVIRONMENT.

Kingsford: ONE OF THE REALLY INTERESTING ASPECTS

OF WATER BIRD ECOLOGY

IS THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WATER BIRDS NEED WATER.

THEY UNDERSTAND THAT IF YOU HAVE LOTS OF WATER BIRDS,

IF YOU HAVE LOTS OF PELICANS IN A PLACE,

AND THEY CONTINUE TO INCREASE IN NUMBERS,

THEN THERE'S SOME REFLECTION

THAT THE ENVIRONMENT IS DOING OKAY.

AS SOON AS YOU SEE

NUMBERS STARTING TO DECLINE,

THEN YOU GET A VERY GOOD IDEA

THAT THE ENVIRONMENT IS PROBABLY IN TROUBLE,

AND USUALLY IT'S BECAUSE,

IN THE WATER WORLD -- IN AUSTRALIA IN PARTICULAR --

THAT WE ARE DENYING THE PRODUCTIVE WETLAND HABITAT

OF THE WATER IT NEEDS

TO GENERATE THE PRODUCTIVITY AND THE FISH,

THAT INEVITABLY FLOW THROUGH TO THE PELICANS.

Johnston: IN AUSTRALIA, WE DON'T HAVE A VERY GOOD RECORD

OF MANAGING OUR WATER PARTICULARLY WELL.

AND PELICAN POPULATIONS

RIGHT ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST OF AUSTRALIA

HAVE GONE DOWN MEASURABLY OVER THE LAST

30 YEARS OR SO.

AND THAT'S GOT A LOT TO DO WITH

THE WAY WE'RE MANAGING THOSE RIVERS

IN THAT PART OF THE COUNTRY.

UNFORTUNATELY NOW,

WE'RE MOVING OUR FOCUS TO THE INLAND RIVERS,

AND THESE ARE THE LAST BASTION

OF A LOT OF THESE INLAND BREEDING BIRDS.

AND IF WE WRECK THESE RIVERS THAT FLOW INTO LAKE EYRE,

THEN THE WHOLE SYSTEM WILL PRETTY MUCH BE GONE.

Narrator: WHEN THE WATER'S GONE, SO ARE THE BIRDS --

AND SO MUCH MORE.

AUSTRALIA'S INLAND WATERWAYS

ARE AMONG THE WORLD'S LAST UNTAMED RIVER SYSTEMS,

VITAL ARTERIES

THAT PULSE LIFE-GIVING WATERS INTO THE ARID INTERIOR.

THE SURVIVORS OF THE SECOND BROOD ARE FINALLY AIRBORNE,

AND THEY CAN ALL LEAVE LAKE EYRE TOGETHER.

IT'S A CLASSIC CASE OF BOOM-AND-BUST ECOLOGY --

HERE TODAY,

AND GONE TOMORROW.

SOME OF THESE PELICANS

EVEN LEAVE AUSTRALIA.

LAKE EYRE BIRDS HAVE BEEN FOUND

AS FAR AWAY AS FIJI, IN THE PACIFIC.

DO THEY ALL HEAD FOR THE SEA?

OR DO SOME BECOME PERPETUAL DESERT NOMADS,

SEARCHING FOR WHERE THE RAINS ARE FALLING

AND THE WATER FLOWS?

IT COULD BE MANY YEARS

BEFORE THE FLOODWATERS RETURN TO LAKE EYRE,

SO PELICANS MAY NOT BREED HERE AGAIN

FOR ANOTHER DECADE OR MORE.

BUT WITH THEIR INCREDIBLE MEMORY,

THEIR SKILL AT RIDING THE THERMALS,

AND THEIR ABILITY TO SEEK OUT WATER

IN THIS UNFORGIVING LANDSCAPE, THEY'LL BE BACK...

WHENEVER THE WATER IS THERE TO MEET THEM.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE SEEN

ON THIS "NATURE" PROGRAM, VISIT pbs.org.