Original subtitles

(pensive music)

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- [Narrator] Everyone loves the beach,

Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX

sun kissed,

exciting surf,

cute chicks.

To us, it's one giant playground,

but to wildlife, it's so much more.

It's a place to live, to find food,

to raise their young,

sandcastles and fish and chips.

No, the beach is full of surprises.

(thoughtful music)

A giant, usually at home

roaming the deep oceans of the world is in the shallows.

She has a special destination in mind.

(hopeful music)

This is a scene unchanged for over 200 million years.

It's an epic struggle to drag a huge, heavy body

perfectly designed for swimming, but cumbersome on land.

But the reward will be worth it.

(turtle grunts)

She manages to climb beyond the tide line,

but now the hard work really begins.

She's here to build a sandcastle,

a fortress to guard her legacy

about 100 ping pong ball sized eggs

(exciting music)

With the clutch laid, she tenderly covers the precious nest.

This is what her mother did and her grandmother,

and all female sea turtles through the ages.

With the eggs secured, she'll return to the sea,

knowing that she's left the next generation

with the best possible chance for survival,

a place that offers ideal temperatures, humidity,

and proximity to the sea.

The success of all sea turtles depends on this one thing:

The beach.

(waves crashing gently)

(upbeat music)

The first thought the word conjures for us

is of summer vacations.

Sand castles, volleyball,

crunchy sandwiches,

donkey rides,

and ice cream.

(jazzy music)

Beaches first started drawing summer visitors

back in the 1700s.

It was the birthplace of tourism.

During the 1800s, beach side resorts sprung up

and became places where city folk

could escape the hustle and bustle, relax and have fun.

Most of us see beaches as giant playgrounds.

It's easy to forget that they are also vital habitats,

homes to myriads of animals.

(playful music)

In Iceland, Arctic foxes scavenge,

never knowing what treats the sea might wash up.

Australia's tropical beaches,

when not covered in sun worshipers,

are patrolled by cassowaries,

using the sand as a place to hang out and hookup.

And there's plenty of monkey business

on the warmer beaches in Japan.

And apart from their importance to animals,

features are landscapes that influence weather,

erosion and water quality.

We need beaches for more than just R&R.

And so do many other species.

(thoughtful music)

When we think of beaches, we picture summer sun.

But it's in winter when the crowds have gone,

that it's easiest to see its important to nature.

(wind howling)

Though storm battered and ice blasted,

the beaches of the North Atlantic are once again

witnessing the start of life.

Gray seals have a rude arrival.

(bright chiming)

Born into a windswept winter,

the wind helps dry the wet fur.

(pensive music)

Once they're fluffy and white,

the downy fur protects them from the cold.

But their real winter warmer is a thick layer of blubber.

(seals calling)

Their body wraps of fat are fueled

by their mother's rich milk.

Cow's milk is about 3% fat.

The seal's milkshake diet is 50% fat.

The pups will gain two kilos in just three weeks.

That's calorie loading.

Most of us try to lose weight

to have the perfect beach body.

Seals do the opposite.

And they're not the only ones.

(thoughtful music)

Winter beaches the world over attract birds

and not just a few, but vast flocks.

(birds squawking)

Wild fowl and waders leave their breeding grounds

in the polar regions to find shelter over winter.

(mystical music)

Many waders weigh less than a golf ball,

but that doesn't stop them from being world travelers.

Some fly more than 10,000 kilometers nonstop.

Journeys can be as far as New Zealands to Alaska

with perhaps a quick break on the beach.

Some just use the beaches as fueling stations

and places to rest.

For others, this is their winter residence,

and it's all because of the abundant life at the beach.

(mystical music)

Winter beach might appear desolate, but don't be fooled.

Every meter of sand might host millions of animals.

It's just that most of them are out of sight.

Worms,

crustaceans,

and tiny shell fish live under the sand.

Some are so tiny that they can even inhabit the spaces

between grains of sand.

They might not look very impressive,

but these tiny creatures

are some of the toughest on the planet.

For while we might think of the beach

as a place to relax and to play,

for wildlife, it's one of the hardest places

to make a living.

Several times a day their home is flooded

by the incoming tide.

They have to cope with the deluge,

salt water,

and the turbulence of the waves.

(chomping)

And when the sea retreats

and they're left high and dry

at risk of desiccation

it's a tough life.

But for those who master it, the rewards are rich.

Every tide washes in a soup of nutrients,

The animals are literally swimming in food.

And living a life buried in the sand

offers protection from most predators.

But not all.

Wading birds have developed huge variations in beak length

and shape to probe into the mud.

Shorter beaked species pick over the surface.

But others have long beaks,

godwits and striking oyster catches

have sword-like snouts for probing deep into the sand.

On Australian beaches the birds could be a lot bigger

Pelicans drop in to feed.

(thoughtful music)

Swimming in a row and using their throat pouches like nets.

They can drive fish into each other's beaks.

And while they are not feeding on the beach itself,

once they've eaten the sandbags offer a perfect place

to dry off and preen their plumage,

displacing the cormorants already trying to do the same.

(birds squawking)

Beaches provide the birds with rich pickings year round,

and especially while they try to weather the winter.

(dramatic music)

(waves crashing)

At this time of year, the sea is at its most turbulent.

Huge storms whip up giant waves that pound the beach.

It's a landscape for only the brain...

or foolhardy.

Beaches are in constant flux.

(playfully suspenseful music)

During the summer, waves constantly lap gently at the shore.

(waves crashing)

And as they do, they carry sand off the beach

and dump it into the deeper water.

As their erosion action eats into sandbanks,

it creates mini cliffs,

the ideal place for sand martins to nest.

(happy music)

These sparrow sized birds fly from Africa to Europe to nest

using their tiny legs to dig into the sand.

The steep soft substrate makes their colonies

almost impenetrable to would be predators.

But they are only temporary.

Over winter, the cliffs will be washed away.

And the next season, the martins will have to start again.

The constant eroding sand is washed off the beach,

gradually forming sandbars.

(pensive music)

Now those bars protect the beach itself.

Some of the potentially devastating force of the waves

is absorbed by the sand bars before it hits the beach.

In this way, beaches protect the coastline

and human developments by taking the brunt of storms

and through their sand, absorbing the eroding waves.

Nonetheless, the action of waves and wind over the winter

will gradually shift sand back up the beach

piling it high in mounds, called dunes

that can even engulf buildings.

These are mountains of sand on the move.

Though many are gradually locked into place

by the roots of plants,

only coastal specialists can tolerate the dunes.

They have to cope with strong winds,

salt and water that sinks quickly through the dunes

and out of reach.

Grasses like marram are especially important.

As sand is piled on top, the grass keeps pushing through,

increasing the height of the dune

and cementing it in place with a network of roots.

(thoughtful music)

Over time, the stabilized ground can be colonized

by other species

and gradually transforms to heathland.

Within dune systems, damp depressions might harbor orchids,

unusual insets and rare reptiles and amphibians

and eventually even creatures usually found further inland.

The dunes are a natural sea defense, protecting the land

from the forces of the sea

and sheltering the creatures at the beach.

The banks of sand and nurseries

where the gray seal pups can hang out.

Though they're only a few weeks old,

the comfortable life of sitting around

drinking milk is over.

Their mothers have a new agenda.

It's time for them to mate again.

Getting pregnant now to deliver next winter.

Huge bull seals come ashore.

At around 300 kilos they're 1/3 bigger than the mothers.

Each lays claim to a stretch of beach.

The better one's waterfront property,

the more appealing it will be to females.

The bull's aim is to round up as many mates

onto their patch of beach as they can.

(dramatic music)

(seals roaring)

Of course, when the stakes are so high,

when the results make the difference

between getting sex or not getting sex,

a good bit of beaches worth fighting for.

The bulls tear at each other's thick throats

with canine teeth that would make a lion jealous.

Often, it doesn't take long for a smaller male

to realize it's up against a loaded bull.

Sensible males will retreat before getting hurt.

But when the big boys clash, the fights can be savage.

The bulls rival lions with their big skull,

long canines and powerful bites.

(dramatic music)

(howling)

The overthrown, torn apart by war,

will have to stand aside as the victors claim their prize.

Mating can happen on the beach,

but it's usually more successful when the bulky bodies

are supported by the waves.

The pups are left high and dry.

Lonely and confused, they begin to explore and make friends.

They cannot leave the beach in their white fur coats.

This is baby fur, to keep them warm on the beach.

It's not very waterproof.

It doesn't stop a few pups from a paddling.

(playful music)

Curiosity drives their exploration.

Fortunately they have thick blubber to keep out the cold.

After about a month on their own,

they begin a radical change.

Their first molt.

The white down replaced with shorter, darker,

and more tightly packed hair.

No longer wooly, it's not such a good wind break,

but it will trap air when they dive,

helping to keep them warm during their future life,

most of which would be spent in the water.

(thoughtful music)

Gradually, both the young seals

and the huge flocks of wading birds

depart from the beaches

and winter gently loosens its grip.

Not all of the waders go and new birds soon arrive

because once again, the beach is expecting babies.

Beaches are vital for the breeding success of many species:

birds, mammals, invertebrates

and fish all need the rolling sand.

Many like the Caspian terns will nest nowhere else.

They're not great nest builders,

but on sand, they don't need to be.

Its surface is covered with gently sloping,

soft craters that can support their precious eggs.

And because many species of fish use the sandy beaches

as places to lay their eggs or hide in the sandy shallows,

when the terns' chicks hatch,

the parents don't have to go far to find food.

The few lonely human visitors to the beach,

willing to brave it before things warm up

might stumble on signs of spring along the strand line.

Beachcombers are used to

the chalky white shells of cuttlefish.

The intelligent mollusks normally live

in a few hundred meters of water,

but in spring, move into the shallows,

close to the beaches to spawn.

(mystical music)

Males, compete over females,

flashing pulses of color all over their bodies,

hoping to look sexy to the girls

or intimidating to their rivals.

They try to guard the most appealing egg laying sites:

structures on the seabed that can be used to anchor eggs.

Once a male has attracted a female's attention,

he grabs her and he wrestles her around

until they are tentacles to tentacles.

He'll use a modified tentacle

to plant a sperm sac into an opening on her face.

Then he'll stand guard over her for a few hours

until she's laid her clutch:

dozens of grape-like eggs.

Soon after mating, most of the adults will die,

their soft bodies quickly deteriorating.

Only the pen, the white rod

that supported their flesh if left

and washes onto the beach.

(waves crashing)

The eggs and hatching cuttlefish

are another draw for the birds.

(thoughtful music)

Terns and gulls gather in huge colonies to nest,

their safety in numbers, more pairs of eyes to spot danger.

Some of the beach birds take the opposite approach.

It can be hard to see what's right under your feet.

Instead of gathering in big noisy mobs,

they nest discreetly, alone,

hoping no one will spot their well camouflaged young.

(playful music)

The ringed plover chick knows to lie motionless

while his parents are away.

(thoughtful music)

Both parents will dash in to find it, but don't linger.

They don't want to draw attention.

All of these ground nesting birds are incredibly vulnerable

and susceptible to disturbance.

They need to get their chicks fledged and independent

as soon as possible

because summer is rapidly approaching

and things are going to change in the beach community.

(upbeat music)

Hundreds of thousands of people

will head to the beach in summer.

Each meter will be visited, trampled, covered in towels

and splashed with suncream.

There isn't much space left here for wildlife.

Not that we give much thought to that.

The beach becomes a giant playground.

(thoughtful music)

Animals still flock,

but only if they can find a quiet stretch

or the shores of an island

where there's a chance of some peace.

Deer often visit beaches.

On the wild coasts of Russia a group of sika deer

are venturing out of the forest.

Their leafy diet is low in minerals and salts.

But the beach offers a solution: seaweed.

A delicious treat washed up daily by the tide,

rich in nutrients.

The deer are nervous and with good reason,

they are not the only Beachcombers.

A rare Siberian tiger has decided to have

a picnic on the beach, a sika deer its favorite fast food.

Though there are only around 500 Siberian tigers left,

they have a huge range and can find food in forests,

mountains, or along the coast.

Vultures and ravens watch him take every bite.

And once he's full, move in for leftovers.

(thoughtful music)

You never know who might decide to visit the beach.

On the Pacific Coast of North America a black bear

is looking for a snack.

And he's got a neat way of finding it:

flipping rocks.

When the tide goes out,

little creatures must find safe hiding places,

Though it turns out with a bear around nowhere is safe.

Using his ingenuity he can feast on crab.

And on that same Pacific Coast

giants gather to hunt little crabs and their cousins.

(thoughtful music)

Gray whales spend winter in the warm waters

off Baja, California,

but travel north in the summer

to exploit the riches of the beach.

When the tide comes in and covers mud flats,

the whales can roam the waterlogged beach,

sifting crustaceans from the sand.

On many beaches around the world.

Humans become the dominant species for the summer.

But there are a few far-flung corners

where humans are scarce and animals rule the beach.

The skeleton coast in Namibia

is famed as a wrecker of ships.

Their caucuses litter the shore.

The fierce storms might put people off picnicking here,

but the beaches offer open space for breeding wildlife.

Gannet colonies clinging to the more rugged tips.

While the bays are chock full of blubber,

capped fur seals.

Chaos reigns on the crowded beaches,

bulls to secure mates

and cows trying to keep their cubs from being trampled.

Of course, with so much weight

being thrown around accidents happen,

(ominous tones)

A cunning opportunist,

the jackal knows its worth a visit.

It's a dangerous undertaking.

Angry bulls and protected mothers make their feelings clear.

Being on the receiving end of a 300 kilo bull

could have fatal consequences,

but boldness is rewarded.

A stillborn pup.

Valuable treasure in a hostile beach.

(pensive music)

Most of us seek easier treats on our trips to the beach.

Ice cream,

souvenirs, and of course, fish and chips.

So the demand for seafood might take its toll

on the creatures living on the edge of the beach.

Having humans around makes life hard

for just about all the animals of the coast,

Only a few have learned to make the most

of their seasonal neighbors.

(birds squawking)

Sadly, our love of the beach is destroying it.

Waterfront property is in high demand.

Development everywhere needs sand for cement.

And there's an ever growing pressure for ports to grow

to support a vast fleet of cargo ships.

There's another insidious threat:

(water splattering)

Climate change.

As ice caps melt, sea levels rise.

And disruptions of the atmosphere

is resulting in more dramatic storms.

(thunder crashing)

The coastlines are being pounded.

(sad music)

Storms, hurricanes and tornadoes

do millions of dollars worth of damage every year

and claim human lives.

Yet we continue to build on and destroy the sandy beaches

that can help absorb some of the forces of nature.

Some efforts are made to build up beaches,

both to ensure bathing spots for tourists,

but also to bolster sea defenses.

But the sand shifted, is packed with tiny animals,

creatures that have taken millions of years

to perfectly adapt to the water's edge

are hoisted up the beach to totally different levels

of temperature and humidity.

For most, it will prove fatal.

Left alone, these creatures help us in everyday life

by filtering water and cycling nutrients

that will feed their way up the food chain.

(thoughtful music)

And any changes disrupt the breeding sites

of everything from crabs and mollusks

to birds

and seals.

Eventually the crowds will desert the beach,

but their presence will remain.

Unlike animals, humans are not good

at keeping their environments tidy.

The coastline has a new wave of litter.

Pieces of plastic can greatly endanger wildlife,

anything and everything can find itself tangled.

For most, it's a death sentence.

The plastic will eventually break down into tiny fragments.

It becomes invisible and easy to forget.

But even these minuscule pieces are deadly.

From the small animals in the sea

the plastic particles are consumed.

Creatures higher in the food chain eat the smaller animals

and the plastic is passed on up.

And we humans are at the top of the food chain

eating the same poisoning plastics

that we left on the beach.

(thoughtful music)

Is the destruction too much?

Slowly but surely people are starting to see the importance

of protecting beaches and their animal inhabitants.

Here on the coast of Turkey,

like many other traditional turtle nesting beaches,

the nests are trampled by people during the day.

But conservationists cover nests

to stop them from being crushed

and help turtles out of compacted sand.

(hopeful music)

With a helping hand and better still a bit of space

where they're left alone, hundreds of baby turtles

begin their journeys.

The long lived turtles will be ocean wanderers.

But when they are ready in perhaps 20 years,

they will return to the beaches where they hatched

as long as there's still space for them.

It's a relationship they've had with the coast for eons.

(waves crashing)

By dawn there's no sign of the little ones.

The beach is ready for the tourists to return.

(peaceful music)

Beaches are wonderful places.

To nature they are safe havens to raise their young

and to find abundant food resources.

To land masses they are natural sea defenses,

helping to reduce the impact of storms

that can wreak havoc and threaten life.

And to humans, they are playgrounds where we can relax,

play, reconnect with each other.

And the great outdoors.

And as long as we respect the beaches of the world

and look after them and remember to take our litter home,

they'll be our playgrounds for generations to come.

(peaceful music)