Original subtitles

.

NARRATOR: WHEN YOU SEE THIS SYMBOL, YOU KNOW YOU'RE WATCHING

TELEVISION THAT IS EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL.

THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

DYLAN: HI, EVERYBODY, I'M DYLAN DREYER AND THIS IS "EARTH

ODYSSEY".

TODAY, WE'LL SOAR ACROSS OUR PLANET TO FIND THE MOST

INCREDIBLE BIRDS FLYING IN THE SKY.

WE'LL HEAD TO THE FROZEN TUNDRA OF SIBERIA WHERE THESE GRAY OWLS

ARE ALWAYS ON THE LOOKOUT.

AND WE'LL FLOCK TO FAR EAST ASIA TO HEAR THESE SWANS HAVE A

HONKING GOOD TIME.

PLUS, THESE CRANES WILL TRAVEL FAR AND HIGH FOR THEIR ANNUAL

MIGRATION.

BUT FIRST, WE HEAD TO TURKEY WHERE THESE PINK AND PECKISH

BIRDS ARE ON THE PROWL.

ALL OF THIS AND MORE TODAY ON "EARTH ODYSSEY".

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: FOR MILLIONS OF YEARS BIRDS HAVE BEEN THRIVING ON OUR

PLANET; DIVERSIFYING AND ADAPTING.

TODAY, THERE ARE MORE THAN 10,000 SPECIES ON EARTH AND WE

ARE HEADING INTO THE SKIES TO FIND SOME OF THE MOST

FASCINATING FEATHERED FLIERS IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM.

AND WHERE BETTER TO BEGIN THAN THE NATION OF TURKEY.

THIS IS A LAND FULL OF WONDER.

A COUNTRY OF EXTREME CONTRASTS

WHERE EAST MEETS WEST.

SOME OF THE WORLD'S MOST SPECTACULAR LANDSCAPES HAVE

FORMED.

DENSE FORESTS.

VAST WETLANDS.

AND RUGGED MOUNTAINS.

SURROUNDED BY COLORFUL SEAS.

THIS STAGGERING ARRAY OF ENVIRONMENT HAS RESULTED IN A

MELTING POT OF LIFE.

BUT THIS COUNTRY'S FRAGILE ECOSYSTEMS AND THE WILDLIFE THAT

INHABITS THEM ARE NOW BEING PUSHED TO THE VERY BRINK.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: CLIMATE CHANGE IS FORCING SOME OF THE WORLD'S MOST

ICONIC SPECIES TO FIGHT HARDER THAN EVER TO SURVIVE.

WELCOME TO THE WILD EDEN OF TURKEY.

AT THE FOOT OF TURKEY'S ANTI-TAURUS MOUNTAINS, COMPLEX

WETLANDS AT THE BASE OF THE MOUNTAIN STRETCH FOR NEARLY 100

SQUARE MILES; RESULTING IN ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S MOST PRECIOUS

HABITATS.

REED BEDS DOMINATE THE LANDSCAPE, PROVIDING A HAVEN FOR

A VAST ARRAY OF BIRD LIFE.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: INCLUDING A COLONY OF TURKEY'S QUIRKIEST CREATURES

THE GREATER FLAMINGO.

THESE COLORFUL CHARACTERS OFTEN CONGREGATE IN FLOCKS REACHING

THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS.

HERE ON THE FLATS OF SULTIN SASSLEI

AROUND 80 INDIVIDUALS MAKE UP THIS RELATIVELY SMALL COLONY ALL

YEAR ROUND.

THEY REMAIN HERE THANKS TO THE ABUNDANCE OF FOOD IN THESE SALTY

WATERS.

IN SEARCH OF A GOOD MEAL, IT'S EASY TO STEP ON EACH OTHERS'

TOES.

BUT THE REAL COMPETITION IS A MUCH MORE ELEGANT AFFAIR.

THIS SYNCHRONIZED MARCH HELPS INDIVIDUALS DETERMINE WHO IS IN

THE BEST SHAPE FOR MATING.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: ONCE A SUITABLE PARTNER IS FOUND, CHICKS ARE SOON TO

FOLLOW.

FLAMINGOS FEED THEIR YOUNG BY SECRETING NUTRITIOUS MILK FROM

THEIR DIGESTIVE SYSTEM.

AND THIS CHICK WILL HAVE PLENTY OF SUPPORT.

FLAMINGOS LOOK AFTER ONE ANOTHER'S OFFSPRING.

THIS COMMUNAL PARENTING ENSURES THE NEXT GENERATION WILL GROW UP

STRONG ENOUGH AND GIVE THEM THE BEST POSSIBLE CHANCE WHEN IT'S

TIME TO MOVE ON.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THESE BIRDS AREN'T TYPICALLY MIGRATORY; PREFERRING

TO STICK CLOSE TO RELIABLE FOOD AND OF COURSE, WATER SOURCES.

COMING UP, THESE CRANES PROVE THAT BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK

TOGETHER.

THEN, THESE GEESE MIGRATE SUCCESSFULLY ON MORE THAN JUST A

WING AND A PRAYER.

PLUS, THIS RARE AND ELUSIVE SIBERIAN OWL IS ON THE PROWL.

ALL OF THIS AND MORE COMING UP ON "EARTH ODYSSEY."

.

NARRATOR: WE NOW RETURN TO THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE HIMALAYAS STRETCH FOR 1,500 MILES ACROSS ASIA.

THE TALLEST PEAK RISES ALMOST 5 MILES ABOVE SEA LEVEL.

EVEREST.

EVEREST IS KNOWN IN TIBET AS THE MOUNTAIN SO HIGH NO BIRD CAN FLY

OVER IT.

BUT ONE REMARKABLE SPECIES HAS PROVEN OTHERWISE;

THE DEMOISELLE CRANE.

TO ESCAPE ASIA'S BITTER WINTERS, THE CRANES TAKE ON THE PLANET'S

ULTIMATE MOUNTAIN CHALLENGE.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THESE DELICATE-LOOKING BIRDS FIND THE STRENGTH TO

BATTLE FREEZING WINDS AND AIR SO THIN, THEY ARE LITERALLY STARVED

OF OXYGEN.

FLYING ALONGSIDE THEIR PARENTS ARE JUVENILES WHOSE FEATHERS

HAVE ONLY RECENTLY APPEARED.

BUT THEIR PARENTS CAN'T PROTECT THEM FROM MASTERFUL MOUNTAIN

PREDATORS.

THE FLOCKS FLY 2,000 MILES NONSTOP IN JUST 7 DAYS TO GET

HERE; THE TINY DESERT TOWN OF KHICHAN.

THE TOWNSPEOPLE ARE HONORED TO WELCOME THE SURVIVORS AND FEED

THEM THROUGHOUT THEIR 6-MONTH STAY.

THEIR GENEROSITY IS A MARK OF THEIR RESPECT FOR THE CRANES AND

IT IS JUSTLY REWARDED.

9,000 CRANES FLOCK TO KHICHAN, ONE OF THE LARGEST CONGREGATIONS

IN THE WORLD.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: IT'S A SAFE, WARM PLACE TO WINTER, AND THERE'S ENOUGH

FOOD TO RECOVER FROM THEIR ARDUOUS TRIP.

THE PEOPLE OF KHICHAN CONSIDER IT A PRIVILEGE TO HOST THESE

BRAVE TRAVELERS DURING THEIR INCREDIBLE MIGRATION THROUGH ONE

OF THE WORLD'S MOST ICONIC LANDSCAPES, THE THAR DESERT.

JUST LIKE ITS AVIAN VISITOR, TEMPERATURES SOAR HERE, REACHING

MORE THAN 120 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.

LESS THAN 2 INCHES OF RAIN FALLS EACH YEAR.

IT'S ONE OF THE HARSHEST ENVIRONMENTS ON THE PLANET, BUT

SOMEHOW LIFE HAS EXISTED HERE FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

BEYOND THE DUNES LIES A TAPESTRY OF LANDSCAPES; WOODLANDS,

DESERT SCRUB, SALT PANS,

GRASSY PLAINS, DRY FORESTS

AND EVEN CITIES.

THESE HABITATS PROVIDE HOMES FOR AN INCREDIBLE ARRAY OF ANIMALS.

EXPLORING INDIA'S GREAT DESERT REVEALS ITS HIDDEN SECRETS AND

THE UNIQUE SPIRITUAL RELATIONSHIPS THAT EXIST HERE.

ON THESE DESERT SANDS, THE LIVES OF MAN AND BEAST ARE SO CLOSELY

CONNECTED THAT THEY OWE THEIR SURVIVAL TO EACH OTHER.

ONE OF THE MANY REASONS WHY THE LOCAL KHICHAN PEOPLE WELCOME THE

VISITING CRANES WITH OPEN ARMS.

COMING UP, FIND OUT HOW THESE GEESE MAKE THEIR NESTS IN THE

FAR, FAR EAST.

PLUS, WE'LL DISCOVER WHO IS OUT AND ABOUT IN ONE OF THE PLANET'S

MOST DANGEROUS REGIONS.

.

NARRATOR: WE NOW RETURN TO THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: MORE THAN 700 SPECIES OF BIRDS CAN BE FOUND IN JAPAN.

BUT VERY FEW ARE NATIVE TO THE ISLAND.

MOST BIRDS MIGRATE THERE, USING IT AS A TEMPORARY HOME FOR THE

WINTER SEASON.

AND WHILE IT MAY NOT BE THEIR FINAL STOP ON THE JOURNEY, JAPAN

IS A PERFECT PLACE TO NEST AND REST, ESPECIALLY FOR THE

MAJESTIC BIRD YOU'RE ABOUT TO MEET.

WELCOME TO THE FAR EAST OF ASIA.

THE FAR EAST INCLUDES SOME PRISTINE HABITATS, STRETCHING AS

FAR NORTH AS THE ARCTIC CIRCLE.

NORTH OF JAPAN LIES THE SEA OF OKHOTSK.

IN WINTER, AIR TEMPERATURES DIP TO MINUS 9 DEGREES.

AND ICE CLOAKS THE COAST.

WITH THE REGION'S RIVERS GRADUALLY FREEZING, JUVENILE FAR

EASTERN SALMON HEAD TOWARDS THE NORTH PACIFIC THROUGH THE SEA OF

OKHOTSK TO ESCAPE THE SEA ICE.

BUT ONE SPECIES HAS FOUND ANOTHER WAY TO SURVIVE THIS

REGION'S BRUTAL CLIMATE.

WHILE MANY OF JAPAN'S RIVERS AND LAKES ARE STILL FROZEN, LAKE

KUSSHARO IN EASTERN HOKKAIDO IS A FAR EASTERN REFUGE.

VOLCANIC WATERS HAVE KEPT PART OF THIS LAKE ICE-FREE ALL

WINTER.

ATTRACTING THESE DEAFENING WHOOPER SWANS.

NAMED AFTER THEIR LOUD, HONKING CALLS, HUNDREDS WILL SPEND THE

WINTER HERE AT THE LAKE IN PAIRS THAT WILL MATE FOR LIFE.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THEIR HONKING CALLS ARE USED AS SIGNALS TO THE REST OF

THE FLOCK; COORDINATING THE MASSES SO THAT THEY WILL ALL

TAKE OFF TOGETHER.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: BUT WITH SO MANY BIRDS, ACCESS TO THE WARM WATER IS

LIMITED.

SO, SQUABBLES ARE FREQUENT.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: HE MAY HAVE WON THIS BATTLE, BUT AS SPRING

APPROACHES, TEMPERATURES ARE RISING AND IT'S ALMOST TIME TO

MOVE ON.

TRAVELING THOUSANDS OF MILES BACK TO THEIR BREEDING GROUNDS

IN SIBERIA.

MARKING THE END OF WINTER AT THIS VERY NORTHERN EDGE OF THE

FAR EAST.

IN ITS FORESTS AND COASTLINE,

ANIMALS HAVE ADAPTED TO THE FAR

EAST'S RICH VARIETY OF HABITATS AND HARNESSED NEW SKILLS.

IN THESE TROPICAL LANDS SHROUDED IN MYSTERY, SOME OF NATURE'S

STRANGEST CREATURES CONTINUE TO THRIVE.

ALL FIGHTING FOR SURVIVAL

HERE AT THE VERY EDGE OF THE EARTH.

COMING UP, HOW DOES THIS SPECIES SURVIVE IN SIBERIA'S BRUTAL

CLIMATE?

WE'LL TELL YOU OWL YOU'LL NEED TO KNOW WHEN WE RETURN ON "EARTH

ODYSSEY."

.

NARRATOR: WE NOW RETURN TO THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: STRETCHING MORE THAN 6,000 MILES FROM EAST TO WEST,

THIS IS THE BIGGEST COUNTRY ON OUR PLANET.

BUT IT'S ALSO A LAND OF MYSTERY.

WITH SOME OF THE MOST EXTREME HABITATS ANYWHERE ON EARTH.

WELCOME TO THE WILD EDEN OF RUSSIA.

ENCOMPASSING MORE THAN THREE-QUARTERS OF ITS TOTAL LAND

MASS, SIBERIA IS A BRUTAL BUT FRAGILE WILDERNESS.

THE MAJORITY OF ITS 5 MILLION SQUARE MILES ARE COVERED IN SOME

OF THE PLANET'S MOST IMPORTANT FORESTS.

CO2 EMISSIONS ARE THE MAIN CAUSE OF GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE AND

SIBERIA HOLDS MOST OF RUSSIA'S 640 BILLION TREES THAT REMOVE

HALF A BILLION TONS OF CO2 FROM THE ATMOSPHERE AND HARBORS SOME

OF RUSSIA'S DEADLIEST AND MOST ELUSIVE PREDATORS.

INCLUDING THE LARGEST SPECIES OF OWL IN THE WORLD.

FOUND IN FORESTS RIGHT ACROSS THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE, GREAT

GRAY OWLS HAVE EVEN ADAPTED TO THE PUNISHING WINTERS OF

SIBERIA.

THIS FEMALE NESTS IN THE DENSE SIBERIAN FOREST.

BUT WHEN SHE NEEDS TO HUNT, SHE MOVES INTO POSITION ON THE EDGE

OF THE TREE LINE.

THE OWL'S SUPER-POWERED HEARING CAN DETECT PREY UNDER 2 FEET OF

SNOW.

BUT IN SUMMER, SHE ALSO USES HER POWERFUL BINOCULAR VISION TO

SCAN THE MEADOW FOR ANY SIGNS OF LIFE.

A LEMMING VENTURING OUT OF ITS BURROUGH.

HE'S SEARCHING FOR FRESH GRASS.

INITIALLY, THE CAUTIOUS LEMMING STAYS CLOSE TO THE COVER OF ITS

BURROUGH.

BUT GROWING IN CONFIDENCE, GRADUALLY HE VENTURES FARTHER

FROM SAFETY.

MORE THAN 150 FEET AWAY, THE OWL WAITS FOR THE PERFECT MOMENT.

EVENTUALLY, THE LEMMING WANDERS TOO FAR AND THE OWL MAKES HER

MOVE.

AFTER CRUSHING THE LEMMING IN HER TALONS, SHE SIMPLY SWALLOWS

IT WHOLE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY AS WE TOOK TO THE SKIES TO MEET

SOME AMAZING AVIANS.

THIS CLASS OF ANIMALS HAS LEARNED HOW TO USE ENTIRE

CONTINENTS AS THEIR HABITAT, TRAVELING THOUSANDS OF MILES TO

FIND THE PERFECT PLACE TO CALL HOME.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME FOR ANOTHER "EARTH ODYSSEY".

[MUSIC]