All language subtitles for Outback Pelicans PBS Nature 2011 720p MVGroup EN Sub

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.