Original subtitles

THE VAST GRASSLAND OF THE COLOMBIAN LLANOS

IS A FICKLE AND UNFORGIVING ARENA...

♪

A DUSTBOWL OF SAVAGE HEAT AND PITILESS DROUGHT

THAT GIVES WAY TO TORRENTIAL RAIN AND FLOOD.

JUST TO SURVIVE IS A RELENTLESS BATTLE

WITH NO SECOND CHANCES.

♪

ONLY NATURE’S MOST DETERMINED WARRIORS

CAN COMBAT THESE BRUTAL EXTREMES

AND SURVIVE A YEAR IN THE LLANOS.

[THUNDER]

[CHIRPING]

♪

♪

♪

IT’S FEBRUARY, THE HEIGHT OF THE DRY SEASON IN COLOMBIA.

AT 95 DEGREES, THE LAND HAS BEEN LAID WASTE.

WINDS BLOW HOT AND DRY ACROSS THE PLAINS.

THERE’S BEEN NO RAIN HERE FOR THREE MONTHS.

MOST OF THE LAGOONS HAVE DRIED UP,

WHICH IS BAD NEWS FOR THIS HERD OF CAPYBARA,

WHO NEED DEEP WATER TO SURVIVE THE HEAT.

♪

THEIR HOME IS AN ENDLESS BELT OF OPEN TROPICAL GRASSLANDS

KNOWN AS THE LLANOS,

WHICH HARBORS MORE THAN 100 SPECIES OF MAMMAL

AND AROUND 700 SPECIES OF BIRD.

IT STRETCHES ACROSS 700 MILES, FROM COLOMBIA TO VENEZUELA,

AND LIES SANDWICHED BETWEEN THE ANDES MOUNTAINS IN THE WEST

AND THE ORINOCO RIVER TO THE EAST.

BUT IT’S THE SEASONS THAT REALLY SHAPE THE LLANOS,

AND THEY COME IN TWO DRAMATIC EXTREMES:

[THUNDER]

A TORRENTIAL WET SEASON THAT RUNS FROM APRIL TO NOVEMBER,

AND A BRUTAL DRY SEASON FROM DECEMBER TO MARCH.

TO LIVE HERE, ANY INHABITANT MUST BE TOUGH ENOUGH

TO COPE WITH THE TWO EXTREMES OF FLOOD AND DROUGHT.

HOW WELL THEY CAN HANDLE THESE TWIN STRESSES

DETERMINES THEIR SUCCESS.

♪

♪

CAPYBARAS ARE THE WORLD’S LARGEST RODENTS.

THEY’RE CLOSELY RELATED TO GUINEA PIGS,

YET AT 140 POUNDS, THEY CAN GROW AS LARGE AS A LABRADOR DOG.

THEY’RE SOCIAL CREATURES,

AND THIS ALPHA MALE LEADS A MIXED-SEX GROUP

OF 15 ADULTS, PLUS THEIR YOUNG.

♪

HE’S LED THEM TO A LAGOON IN SEARCH OF WATER.

BUT IT’S BONE DRY.

♪

CAPYBARA HERDS ARE TERRITORIAL,

AND THEIR TERRITORIES NEED SCRUBBY HIGHER GROUND

FOR FORAGING,

AND A LAGOON FOR DRINKING

AND SEEKING REFUGE FROM THE HEAT.

THE HERD TYPICALLY NEEDS TO WALLOW FOR FOUR HOURS EVERY DAY

TO MAINTAIN A HEALTHY BODY TEMPERATURE

OF AROUND 100 DEGREES.

WITHOUT WATER AND WITH FEW SWEAT GLANDS,

THEY CAN QUICKLY OVERHEAT.

♪

THEY MUST FIND WATER THAT’S DEEP ENOUGH

TO SUBMERGE THEIR TWO-FOOT-TALL BODIES.

THEY HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO MOVE ON.

THE DOMINANT MALE LEADS THEM THROUGH THEIR TERRITORY,

ACROSS THEIR GRAZING FIELDS,

AND OVER THEIR HIGHER BUSHY BANKS

THAT PROVIDE FOOD AND SHELTER DURING THE FLOODS.

♪

FOR SOME, THE DRY SEASON HAS ALREADY TAKEN ITS TOLL.

[FLIES BUZZING]

IN THE 95-DEGREE HEAT,

A CAPYBARA CARCASS HAS BAKED DRY.

THE HERD MUST FIND WATER SOON OR THEY WILL ALL SHARE HIS FATE.

AMONG THE STRESSES OF THE DRY SEASON,

OTHER LLANOS RESIDENTS SEE A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY.

[CHIRPING]

ON A BANK OVERLOOKING THE DRIED-OUT LAGOON,

AN OWL KEEPS WATCH OVER THE PLAINS.

♪

UNUSUALLY FOR AN OWL, THIS MALE IS ACTIVE BOTH NIGHT AND DAY.

AT ONLY 10 INCHES TALL HE’S VULNERABLE TO PREDATORS,

SO HE’S ON HIGH ALERT.

♪

HE’S MADE HIS HOME ON AN AREA OF HIGHER GROUND

WITH LITTLE VEGETATION...

GIVING HIM CLEAR VIEWS OF APPROACHING PREDATORS

LIKE SNAKES AND RAPTORS.

WITH NO TREES TO NEST IN, THIS MIGHT SEEM LIKE A STRANGE HOME.

BUT THIS IS NO ORDINARY BIRD.

HE’S A BURROWING OWL...

♪

THE ONLY OWL SPECIES IN THE WORLD TO LIVE UNDERGROUND.

THEY CAN DIG THEIR BURROWS FROM SCRATCH,

BUT THIS MALE HAS MOVED INTO AN ABANDONED ARMADILLO BURROW,

WHILE MAKING A FEW ALTERATIONS OF HIS OWN.

HIS BURROW IS MORE THAN JUST A SAFE PLACE

TO REST AND SHELTER.

BENEATH HIM, HIS MATE HAS SPENT ALMOST A MONTH

INCUBATING THEIR FOUR EGGS.

NESTING UNDERGROUND KEEPS THE EGGS AT A CONSTANT TEMPERATURE.

♪

BUT THE CLOCK IS TICKING.

RAINS WILL ARRIVE IN EIGHT WEEKS.

BEFORE THEN, THE BROOD MUST HATCH, FLEDGE,

AND BE STRONG ENOUGH TO FLY IN CASE THIS BURROW FLOODS.

TO BEAT THE COMING DELUGE,

THE EGGS NEED TO HATCH ANY DAY NOW.

♪

[CHIRPING]

♪

IN THE RELENTLESS HEAT,

THE CAPYBARA HERD CONTINUES ITS SEARCH FOR WATER.

THEY ARE DESPERATE FOR THE RESPITE OF A DEEP LAGOON.

[SPLASH]

WITH HIS ACUTE HEARING, THE DOMINANT MALE PICKS UP THE SOUND

OF SPLASHING WATER JUST A FEW HUNDRED YARDS AWAY.

IT’S A LIFELINE FOR OTHER THIRSTY RESIDENTS.

BUT THIS LAGOON ISN’T THE SALVATION

THE HERD IS HOPING FOR.

IT’S FULL OF SPECTACLED CAIMANS.

AS LAGOONS DRY OUT, FISH BECOME CONCENTRATED

IN THE REMAINING POOLS, LIKE THIS ONE.

CAIMANS GATHER TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE EASY PICKINGS.

THEY CAN GROW UP TO EIGHT FEET LONG.

ALTHOUGH THE CAIMANS COULDN’T TACKLE

THE MALE CAPYBARA’S 140-POUND HEFT,

THEY WOULD MAKE SHORT WORK OF HIS OFFSPRING.

THE MALE CAN’T RISK TAKING HIS HERD INTO THIS POOL.

THEY MUST MOVE ON ONCE AGAIN.

AFTER TWO HOURS IN THE HEAT,

THEIR SEARCH FOR A SAFE LAGOON IS GETTING DESPERATE.

[BIRD SQUAWKING]

OUT ON THE LLANOS,

THE CAPYBARAS CONTINUE THEIR SEARCH FOR WATER.

♪

THE MALE HEARS SOMETHING

AND GOES AHEAD TO CHECK IF IT’S SAFE.

♪

♪

FINALLY, SALVATION FOR THE EXHAUSTED HERD.

BUT THEY’RE NOT THE ONLY CAPYBARAS HERE.

IN THE PARCHED LANDSCAPE, SEVERAL CAPYBARA HERDS

HAVE ABANDONED THEIR USUAL TERRITORIES

TO SEEK REFUGE IN THIS LIFESAVING LAGOON.

THERE ARE MORE THAN A HUNDRED ANIMALS HERE,

AND THEY ALL SEEM TO BE IGNORING ONE ANOTHER.

♪

CAPYBARA HERDS ARE FIERCELY TERRITORIAL

AND WOULD NEVER NORMALLY TOLERATE

THEIR NEIGHBORS GETTING THIS CLOSE.

BUT IN THE DESPERATE DRY SEASON, AN UNSPOKEN TRUCE BREAKS OUT,

AND THESE PUGNACIOUS RODENTS TOLERATE OTHERS

INVADING THEIR PERSONAL SPACE.

THEY MUST ALL NOW RELY ON THIS LAGOON TO KEEP THEM COOL.

AND THEY MAKE THE MOST OF THE WATER...

AND THE MUD.

WITH FINE HAIR, CAPYBARAS’ SKIN BURNS EASILY

IN THE POWERFUL SUN,

SO A THICK COATING OF MUD IS COOLING AND PROTECTIVE.

♪

ALL THESE ANIMALS WILL NOW STAY CLOSE

TO THE SAFETY OF THE LAGOON,

UNTIL THE FIRST SIGNS THAT THE WET SEASON IS ON ITS WAY.

♪

[CHIRPING]

BELOW THE GROUND, THE OWLS’ EGGS REMAIN COOL.

A TINY CRACK MARKS THE BEGINNING OF A NEW LIFE.

♪

♪

IN THEIR FIRST HOURS,

THE CHICKS ARE COMPLETELY HELPLESS IN THE BURROW.

♪

MEANWHILE, THEIR FATHER IS HARD AT WORK,

TIRELESSLY BRINGING FOOD FOR THE MOTHER

AND THEIR FOUR HUNGRY CHICKS.

THE CHICKS MUST BE STRONG ENOUGH TO LEAVE THE NEST

WITHIN TWO WEEKS SO THEY CAN FLEDGE BEFORE THE RAINS COME.

BUT FOOD IS SCARCE IN THE DRY SEASON,

AND THE EFFORTS OF A LONE HUNTER MAY NOT BE ENOUGH

TO KEEP THEM ALL ALIVE.

HE WILL HAVE HIS WORK CUT OUT FOR HIM.

♪

BY MARCH THE CAIMANS’ LAGOON HAS RAPIDLY DRIED OUT.

♪

ONLY A FEW MUDDY PUDDLES LINGER.

♪

THEY’VE EATEN THE LAST OF THE FISH.

SO, RATHER THAN BATTLING THE ELEMENTS--

A FIGHT THAT CAN’T BE WON--

THIS CAIMAN HAS SURRENDERED HIMSELF TO THE DRY SEASON.

HE BURIES HIMSELF IN THE MUD

AND ENTERS A STANDBY MODE CALLED ESTIVATION.

HE LOWERS HIS METABOLISM TO COPE WITH THE LACK OF FOOD,

AND THE MUD HELPS HIM CONSERVE WATER AND KEEP COOL.

UNLIKE HIBERNATION, ESTIVATION CAN QUICKLY BE REVERSED...

SO ANY ANIMAL IN THE LLANOS MUST WATCH WHERE IT TREADS.

♪

BUT FOR NOW, THE ONLY WAY FOR THIS CAIMAN TO SURVIVE

IS TO LIE DORMANT.

♪

IT’S BEEN FOUR WEEKS SINCE THE BURROWING OWL CHICKS HATCHED.

[SCREECH]

♪

TO STAY ON SCHEDULE AND BEAT THE RAINS,

THEY’RE STARTING TO EXPLORE

BEYOND THE SAFETY OF THEIR BURROW.

♪

THE PARENTS STAND GUARD OVER THE NEST ENTRANCE.

♪

THE COAST IS CLEAR.

[SCREECHING]

THEY SIGNAL FOR THE CHICKS TO EMERGE.

[SCREECHING]

ONE BY ONE THEY APPEAR.

BUT TWO ARE MISSING.

[SCREECH]

[SCREECH]

DESPITE THEIR FATHER’S BEST EFFORTS,

ONLY TWO CHICKS HAVE SURVIVED THE DEATH OF THE DRY SEASON.

[SCREECH]

BUT THE SURVIVING SIBLINGS ARE QUICKLY GAINING CONFIDENCE

IN THIS EXCITING NEW WORLD.

♪

ON THESE FIRST STEPS TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE,

ADULT FEATHERS ARE STARTING TO APPEAR ON THEIR WINGS,

AND THEY CAN EVEN FLY IN SHORT BURSTS.

♪

[SCREECH]

AS THEIR FATHER RETURNS FROM A HUNTING TRIP,

THE CHICKS DASH OVER IN HOPE OF A MEAL.

[SCREECHING]

BUT THERE’S NOTHING THIS TIME.

[SCREECHING]

LEAVING THEIR MOTHER TO STAND GUARD,

HE HEADS OFF AGAIN, AND THE CHICKS WATCH HIM GO.

♪

THERE’S MORE TO THIS HEAD BOBBING

THAN JUST PLAYFULNESS AND CURIOSITY.

[SCREECH]

OWLS CAN’T MOVE THEIR EYES IN THEIR SOCKETS;

THEY’RE FIXED IN POSITION.

SO TO BUILD AN ACCURATE PICTURE OF THEIR SURROUNDINGS

THEY MUST MOVE THEIR HEADS.

AS THEY WAIT FOR THEIR FATHER,

A SLIGHT MOVEMENT IN THE GRASS CATCHES THEIR EYE.

[SCREECH]

♪

IT’S A CHANCE TO PRACTICE THEIR HUNTING SKILLS.

♪

GOT IT!

♪

NO, THAT’S A TWIG.

♪

HOW ABOUT THIS?

♪

PERHAPS NOT.

♪

MAYBE THIS TIME?

NO, THAT’S A PIECE OF DUNG.

THESE EARLY ATTEMPTS TO HUNT MAY SEEM HOPELESS,

BUT THESE ARE IMPORTANT STEPS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

AND IN THE WEEKS TO COME THEY’LL LEARN A SECRET

THAT’S HIDING IN THE DUNG.

BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON THESE LITTLE BIRDS

NEED TO LEARN RIGHT NOW

IS TO ALWAYS BE VIGILANT.

THERE ARE MANY ANIMALS HERE

THAT WOULD ENJOY A BURROWING OWL FOR BREAKFAST.

AND CHICKS THAT CAN’T FLY YET ARE AT EVEN GREATER RISK.

♪

THE APLOMADO FALCON LIVES THROUGHOUT SOUTH AMERICA,

INCLUDING ON THE FLAT PLAINS OF THE LLANOS.

PERCHED IN A TREE MORE THAN A MILE AWAY,

THIS FEMALE’S EXCELLENT EYESIGHT CAN SPOT THE SMALLEST MOVEMENTS

FROM GREAT DISTANCES, BOTH IN THE AIR AND ON THE GROUND.

♪

[SQUAWKING]

♪

THE BURROWING OWL PARENTS RAISE THEIR ALARM CALL,

SENDING THE CHICKS DUCKING FOR COVER.

[CHIRPING]

THE FALCON’S BEEN RUMBLED,

AND ALL THE OWLS ARE SAFELY UNDERGROUND.

SO SHE FOCUSES HER EFFORTS ELSEWHERE.

THIS CRESTED BOBWHITE QUAIL IS COMPLETELY OBLIVIOUS

AND HAS NOWHERE TO HIDE.

♪

IT’S A LUCKY ESCAPE FOR THE OWL CHICKS

AND A WIN FOR THE FALCON.

THE QUAIL IS A BIGGER PRIZE THAN A BURROWING OWL.

♪

ANY TIME SPENT ABOVE GROUND IS FRAUGHT WITH DANGER

FOR THE OWL CHICKS,

BUT WITH EACH DAY THEY GROW A LITTLE STRONGER

AND ARE MORE PREPARED FOR THE RAINS THAT WILL SOON ARRIVE.

[SCREECH]

BAKED MUD BEARS THE SCARS OF FIVE MONTHS WITHOUT RAIN.

GRASSES HAVE WITHERED.

THOUGH THE CAPYBARAS ARE SAFE IN THEIR LAGOON, THEY’RE HUNGRY,

AND THEIR FOOD SUPPLIES ARE RUNNING DANGEROUSLY LOW.

[THUNDER]

BUT BY APRIL THE AIR IS HEAVY,

AND THE WINDS FROM THE SOUTH BRING MOISTURE TO THE LLANOS.

RAIN IS ALREADY FALLING

IN THE HIGH ANDES MOUNTAINS TO THE WEST.

WATER FROM THESE PEAKS DRAINS EASTWARDS IN MOUNTAIN STREAMS.

THESE GATHER PACE AND VOLUME,

BEFORE BURSTING ONTO THE PLAINS OF THE LLANOS.

AS THE SWOLLEN RIVERS REACH THE GRASSLANDS,

FINALLY THE RAINS ALSO ARRIVE.

[THUNDER]

THE DELUGE SEES THESE RIVERS BURST THEIR BANKS.

[THUNDER]

WATER INUNDATES THE LOWLAND PLAINS,

DRENCHES THE SHRUBLAND, AND REPLENISHES THE LAGOONS.

♪

THE GRASSLANDS FLUSH GREEN WITH NEW GROWTH,

AND WATER HYACINTHS BLANKET THE SURFACE OF SEASONAL PONDS.

THE LLANOS IS REJUVENATED.

CAIMAN EMERGE FROM THE MUD REVITALIZED.

THEY NOW CRUISE THE FLOOD LANDS WITH RENEWED VIGOR.

BUT FOR THE NEXT SEVEN MONTHS

THERE WILL BE NEW CHALLENGES TO FACE,

BOTH FOR SEASONAL VISITORS WHO ARRIVE

TO MAKE THE MOST OF THIS ABUNDANCE

AND FOR HARDY RESIDENTS LIKE THE CAPYBARA

WHO HAVE SURVIVED THE DRY SEASON.

THE RAINS HAVE TRANSFORMED THEIR WORLD.

THE SMALL HERD HAS LEFT THE LARGE LAGOON

AND RETURNED TO RECLAIM ITS OWN TERRITORY,

WHERE A BOUNTY OF FOOD IS NOW AVAILABLE.

THEY ROAM HALF A MILE EVERY DAY,

EACH CHOMPING ITS WAY

THROUGH AS MUCH AS SIX POUNDS OF FRESH FOLIAGE.

SO MUCH CHEWING TAKES A HUGE TOLL ON THEIR TEETH,

BUT THEY GROW CONTINUOUSLY TO MAKE UP FOR THE WEAR AND TEAR.

THE FEMALES HAVE GIVEN BIRTH TO NEW LITTERS,

TIMED TO COINCIDE WITH THE GLUT OF FRESH FOOD.

THE ADULTS IN THE HERD ALL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE YOUNG,

LOOKING OUT FOR PREDATORS

AND CORRALLING THEM AWAY FROM DANGER.

THIS MOTHER SUCKLES HER OWN LITTER OF FOUR,

BUT ALSO NURSES OTHER BABIES BELONGING TO HER HERD-MATES.

THIS ALLOWS EACH FEMALE UNINTERRUPTED TIME TO GRAZE,

WHILE ENSURING ALL THE BABIES ARE FED.

A ROAMING BACHELOR TRIES TO SURREPTITIOUSLY EASE HIMSELF

INTO THE HERD TO PROCURE SOME FEMALES.

BUT THE ALPHA IS WISE TO HIS TRICKS

AND IS HAVING NONE OF IT.

[BARKS]

THE CHASE IS ON.

WITH A SHORT BURST UP TO 20 MILES PER HOUR,

HE DRIVES THE INTRUDER OFF.

♪

THE BACHELOR WILL HAVE TO TRY HIS LUCK WITH ANOTHER HERD.

HIDDEN NOW AMONG THE GREENERY,

THE OWL PARENTS’ BURROW STANDS SILENT AND EMPTY.

BUT NOT FAR AWAY,

THE TWO FULLY FLEDGED CHICKS HAVE MADE IT.

♪

THEY’VE GROWN LARGE ENOUGH AND STRONG ENOUGH

TO FLY AWAY FROM ANY FLASH FLOOD.

AND THEY’VE FOUND THEIR OWN BURROW

IN THEIR NEXT STEPS TO INDEPENDENCE.

BUT THEY WILL SOON NEED TO EXPLORE FURTHER AFIELD,

BEYOND THEIR PARENTS’ FAMILIAR TERRITORY AND ITS EASY PICKINGS,

IN SEARCH OF PARTNERS OF THEIR OWN.

♪

DURING EACH FLOOD CYCLE,

THE RIVERS DEPOSIT VAST AMOUNTS OF SEDIMENT ALONG THEIR BANKS.

OVER TIME, NATURAL LEVEES BUILD,

WHICH PROVIDE IDEAL CONDITIONS FOR TREES TO TAKE ROOT,

RESULTING IN RIVERS FRINGED BY LONG, THIN GALLERY FORESTS.

EACH YEAR THE FOREST FLOOR FLOODS WITH RAINWATER

AND SPILLOVER FROM THE RIVERS.

ABOVE, A FLUSH OF PINK AND WHITE ARRIVES IN THE FOREST CANOPY.

THREE SPECIES OF EGRETS

THAT WERE DISPERSED ACROSS THE PLAINS IN THE DRY SEASON

NOW CONGREGATE AMONG THE BRANCHES.

THEY’RE JOINED BY A SQUADRON OF PECULIAR-LOOKING ANHINGAS,

SPOONBILLS,

IBIS, AND HERONS...

CREATING DENSE COLONIES HERE TO BREED.

WHEN PARENTS AREN’T BUILDING NESTS OR INCUBATING EGGS,

THEY FORAGE IN THE GRASSLANDS SEARCHING FOR FISH AND FROGS

TO FEED THEIR DEMANDING BROODS.

THESE GREAT EGRET CHICKS EAGERLY WAIT

FOR THEIR PARENTS TO RETURN.

THE MOTHER REGURGITATES HER CATCH.

WITH SO MUCH FOOD AVAILABLE,

THESE VORACIOUS YOUNGSTERS WILL GROW

TO MORE THAN SEVEN TIMES THEIR HATCHING WEIGHT

IN FEWER THAN TWO WEEKS.

LEFT ALONE FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME,

THE CHICKS HAVE THEIR OWN STRATEGY

FOR ENSURING THEY GET THE BEST OF THE FOOD ON OFFER.

GREAT EGRETS LAY THEIR EGGS OVER THE COURSE OF A WEEK OR SO,

SO NEST-MATES ARE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT AGES

AND DIFFERENT SIZES.

THE OLDER CHICKS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEIR SIZE

TO PICK ON THEIR YOUNGER SIBLINGS.

FEWER BEAKS TO COMPETE WITH

MEANS THEY’RE FIRST IN LINE FOR FOOD

AND RECEIVE A GREATER SHARE.

BUT WHEN THEIR MOTHER RETURNS,

SHE MAKES NO EFFORT TO INTERVENE.

FOR THE YOUNGEST,

ITS BULLYING SIBLINGS HAVE CUT ITS LITTLE LIFE SHORT,

AND IT JOINS THE SCATTERED REMAINS OF THE FALLEN BELOW.

[THUNDER]

THROUGHOUT WET SEASON,

MORE THAN 70 INCHES OF RAIN CAN FALL...

AND BY JULY, THE FLOODPLAINS LIE

UNDER NEARLY EIGHT INCHES OF WATER.

THEY’RE NOW COVERED IN VAST, FLOATING CARPETS

OF WATER LETTUCE THAT ATTRACTS SWARMS OF NEWLY EMERGED INSECTS.

THEY’RE A NUTRITIOUS FEAST FOR THOSE ABLE TO WALK ON WATER.

WATTLED JACANA ARE PERFECTLY EQUIPPED.

THIS 10-INCH MALE HAS TOES THAT SPAN OVER 7 INCHES.

THEY DISTRIBUTE HIS WEIGHT EVENLY,

ALLOWING HIM TO ELEGANTLY CRUISE

THE FLOATING VEGETATION WITHOUT SINKING.

UNLIKE MANY ANIMALS WHERE MALES ARE TERRITORIAL,

IT’S FEMALE JACANAS THAT STAKE OUT A PATCH AMONG THE WETLANDS.

THIS FEMALE WILL PROVIDE EGGS

FOR UP TO FIVE DIFFERENT MALES THAT MATE WITH HER.

BUT HER CHILDCARE RESPONSIBILITIES

END WITH LAYING.

SHE ABANDONS THE MALES, WHO WILL INCUBATE HER EGGS FOR A MONTH,

AND THEN RAISE THE CHICKS ALONE AS SINGLE FATHERS.

[SQUAWKING]

[PEEPING]

STRAIGHT FROM THE EGG,

THE CHICKS FOLLOW THEIR FATHER OUT ONTO THE WETLANDS.

[PEEPING]

HE TEACHES THEM WHERE TO FIND THE TASTIEST INSECTS,

BUT EVEN THE BEST STUDENTS SOMETIMES STRAY.

♪

[PEEPING]

♪

THIS FATHER HAS LOST HIS BROOD.

♪

THE LONG GRASS OF THE LLANOS

IS NO PLACE FOR VULNERABLE YOUNGSTERS.

[SQUAWKING]

AS EVER, HUNGRY CAIMANS LURK NEARBY.

[SQUAWKING]

THE FATHER FRANTICALLY CALLS TO HIS CHICKS.

[SQUAWKING]

IN DESPERATION, HE TAKES TO THE AIR FOR A BETTER VIEW.

♪

[SQUAWKING]

STILL NOTHING.

♪

[PEEPING]

AT LAST, ONE CHICK RETURNS HIS FATHER’S CALLS.

THE FATHER HOMES IN,

AND THE CHICKS HEAD STRAIGHT FOR THE SAFETY OF HIS FEATHERS.

♪

[THUNDER]

MIDWAY THROUGH THE WET SEASON, FLOODING IS AT ITS PEAK.

[THUNDER]

BY LATE JULY, THE EGRET CHICKS HAVE BEGUN TO TEST THEIR WINGS;

THEIR PARENTS WON’T SUPPORT THEM MUCH LONGER.

[SQUAWKING]

BUT WHEN YOU LIVE ABOVE WATER,

LEARNING TO FLY IS FRAUGHT WITH PERIL.

THE THICK FOLIAGE THAT WAS PERFECT FOR NESTING IN

IS HAZARDOUS FOR AN UNSTEADY JUVENILE

LOOKING FOR A CLEAR FLIGHT PATH.

♪

BUT THE WATER BENEATH HOLDS EVEN GREATER DANGERS

FOR THESE NOVICE FLYERS.

♪

♪

[SQUAWKING]

FOR CAIMAN WHO ENDURED THE DRY SEASON ENTOMBED IN MUD,

THE FLEDGING MONTHS OF JULY AND AUGUST

ARE THE BOOM THAT FOLLOWS THE BUST.

YOUNG CAIMAN MAKE THE MOST OF A SEASONAL BOUNTY

OF SMALL FISH AND AQUATIC INSECTS.

BUT ONCE THE REPTILES GROW MORE THAN SIX FEET LONG,

THEIR NINE-INCH JAWS CAN FEAST ON EGRET CHICKS.

AND THERE ARE PLENTY TO GO AROUND.

[SQUAWKING]

♪

NOTHING GOES TO WASTE ON A CAIMAN’S DINNER PLATE.

♪

ANOTHER EGRET CHICK FALLS AND IS QUICKLY SPOTTED.

♪

THE CAIMAN IS FAR MORE STREAMLINED IN THE WATER

THAN THIS TANGLE OF WINGS AND LEGS.

♪

WITH ALL THE STRENGTH IT CAN MUSTER,

THE CHICK HAULS OUT TO HIGHER GROUND...

♪

JUST IN TIME.

♪

[SQUAWKING]

BY AUGUST, THE HEAT AND DAMP OF THE WET SEASON

BRINGS THE PERFECT CONDITIONS

FOR INSECTS TO MULTIPLY IN THEIR MILLIONS.

♪

FOR ONE ANIMAL IN THE GALLERY FOREST,

THIS EXPLOSION IS BOTH A BLESSING AND A CURSE.

♪

A SOLITARY CREATURE SNOOZES IN THE SHADE.

♪

BUT SOMETHING IS INTERRUPTING HIS NAP.

♪

THIS IS A GIANT ANTEATER...

♪

AND HE’S COVERED IN TICKS.

♪

THEY’RE A HAZARD ALL OVER THE LLANOS,

AND A WARM, SLEEPING TARGET IS ASKING FOR TROUBLE.

♪

TICKS ARE ATTRACTED TO THE BODY TEMPERATURE OF THEIR HOST.

♪

THEY SINK THEIR SHARP JAWS INTO THE ANIMAL’S FLESH,

BEFORE SUCKING ITS NUTRITIOUS BLOOD.

THEY CAN CLING ON FOR WEEKS.

AS THEY GORGE ON BLOOD,

THEIR BODIES EXPAND UP TO 600 TIMES IN SIZE.

AND THEY’RE REALLY IRRITATING!

ROUSED FROM HIS SLUMBER, HE SETS OFF IN SEARCH OF A MEAL.

HIS SENSITIVE NOSE LEADS HIM STRAIGHT TO AN ANTS’ NEST.

WITH FOUR-INCH-LONG CLAWS,

HE CAREFULLY BREAKS A SMALL HOLE IN THE MOUND,

REVEALING THE ANTS BENEATH.

BUT WHEN YOU CAN’T OPEN YOUR MOUTH WIDER THAN A STRAW,

YOU NEED TO HAVE ANOTHER STRATEGY TO REACH YOUR MEAL.

SO THE ANTEATER HAS A TWO-FOOT-LONG STICKY TONGUE

THAT PROBES DEEP INTO THE NEST AND DRAWS UP ANTS.

HE HAS NO TEETH, SO HIS STOMACH IS SIMILAR TO A BIRD’S GIZZARD.

IT HAS HARDENED FOLDS THAT CONTRACT TO GRIND UP HIS MEAL.

BUT HE HAS TO BE QUICK; THESE ANTS PACK A PAINFUL BITE!

WALKING ON HIS KNUCKLES TO KEEP HIS CLAWS SHARP,

HE VENTURES OUT INTO THE WET SAVANNA

IN SEARCH OF MORE THAN 35,000 ANTS AND TERMITES

HE NEEDS TO EAT EVERY DAY.

♪

AT SIX MONTHS OLD, THE JUVENILE BURROWING OWLS HAVE REALIZED

THAT LIVING NEXT DOOR TO THEIR PARENTS ISN’T IDEAL.

THEY’RE NOW THREE MILES FROM THE BURROW

IN WHICH THEY WERE BORN.

ON A HIGH BANK THEY’VE JOINED OTHER JUVENILE OWLS

WHO WILL SOON LOOK FOR THEIR OWN TERRITORIES.

AWAY FROM THEIR PARENTS, IN UNCHARTERED TERRITORY,

THE SIBLINGS APPEAR NERVOUS AND HYPERVIGILANT.

SO FOR NOW THEY SEEK SAFETY IN NUMBERS AT A COMMUNAL BURROW,

AND THEIR NEW ALLIES JOIN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH.

[SCREECHING]

♪

THEY WILL SOON BE OLD ENOUGH TO BREED,

WHICH MEANS THEY’LL NEED A BURROW.

THEY USE THE SECURITY OF EXTRA EYES

TO PRACTICE THEIR RENOVATION SKILLS...

♪

TAKING IT IN TURNS TO BE THE LOOKOUT.

BUT IT CAN BE UNPLEASANT IN THE KICKBACK OF AN EXCAVATING OWL.

♪

DOING THE DIGGING IS DEFINITELY THE BEST OPTION.

♪

♪

AND THIS SENTRY HAS HAD ENOUGH.

♪

♪

BY NOVEMBER, THE RAINS HAVE BLOWN THROUGH

AND THE WET SEASON DRAWS TO A CLOSE.

IT WILL BE ANOTHER THREE MONTHS

BEFORE THE LAKES BEGIN TO DRY OUT

AND THE CAPYBARA ARE FORCED TO MOVE AGAIN.

FOR NOW, THE HERD GROWS FAT IN THE SAFETY OF ITS LAGOON.

[CHIRPING]

AND THE OWL SIBLINGS HAVE FINALLY PARTED WAYS

IN SEARCH OF THEIR OWN TERRITORIES.

ONE HAS SECURED A BURROW AND IS COURTING A MATE,

READY FOR ITS FIRST ATTEMPT TO BREED.

THE TRIALS OF THE DRY SEASON

WILL EVENTUALLY RETURN ONCE MORE.

ONLY THOSE WHO HAVE REAPED THE BENEFITS OF THE RAINS

AND FATTENED UP WHILE THE GOING IS GOOD

WILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO ENDURE THE COMING YEAR.

[CHIRPING]