Original subtitles

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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 EVERYONE, I'M DYLAN DREYER.

WE ARE ABOUT TO SET OFF ON AN AMAZING ADVENTURE ON

"EARTH ODYSSEY".

TODAY, WE TAKE TO THE SKIES OF AFRICA FOR A LOOK AT SOME OF THE

WORLD'S MOST AMAZING AVIANS,

LIKE THIS LIGHTWEIGHT WEAVER WHO

PREFERS A HEAVYWEIGHT NEST.

WHEN IT COMES TO FISHING SKILLS, ONE SPECIES IS KING.

AND LATER, WE'LL SEE HOW FAR SOME BIRDS GO TO KEEP CLEAN AT

ALL COSTS.

BUT FIRST, WE MEET A HERON SO BIG, IT CONFIDENTLY STANDS UP TO

ONE OF AFRICA'S MOST FORMIDABLE PREDATORS.

THIS AND SO MUCH MORE COMING UP ON TODAY'S EPISODE OF

"EARTH ODYSSEY".

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THROUGHOUT THE SKIES, TREES, AND RIVERBANKS OF THE

AFRICAN SAVANNAH, SOME OF THE WORLD'S MOST STRIKING AND UNIQUE

BIRDS MAKE THEIR HOMES.

THESE FASCINATING FEATHERED CREATURES ARE AS VERSATILE AS

THEY ARE PLENTIFUL, POPULATING THE REGION WITH THEIR BEAUTIFUL

PLUMAGE, CURIOUS BEHAVIORS.

EACH HAS THEIR OWN WAY OF DOING THINGS, AND NO TASK IS MORE

INDIVIDUAL THAN THE BUILDING OF A NEST.

THESE STORKS ARE BUSY GATHERING BUILDING MATERIALS FOR

THEIR NESTS.

IT'S A TASK THAT TAKES TIME AND DEDICATION.

MALE OR FEMALE, DEPENDING ON THE SPECIES, BIRDS SHOW DIFFERENT

DEGREES OF INTEREST IN BUILDING THE NESTS.

WITH THESE VULTURES, BOTH MEMBERS OF THE COUPLE TAKE PART

IN THE BUILDING PROJECT, BUT THEIR NEST IS RUDIMENTARY,

CONSISTING OF A ROUGH FRAMEWORK OF TWIGS AND BRANCHES, WHICH

WILL PROBABLY BE HOME TO A SOLITARY EGG.

THESE GREAT BIRDS WITH THEIR FIVE-FOOT WINGSPAN ALWAYS BUILD

THEIR NESTS HIGH UP IN THE TREETOPS SO THAT THEY CAN EASILY

TAKE FLIGHT.

NEARBY, THERE NESTS A BIRD WHO REFUSES TO GO TO SUCH TROUBLE.

IT BELONGS TO A SPECIES THAT RATHER THAN BUILD ITS OWN NEST,

PREFERS TO MOVE INTO SOMEONE ELSE'S.

THIS IS THE GIANT EAGLE OWL,

AND THE HUGE NEST IT HAS TAKEN OVER

USED TO BELONG TO A HAMERKOP.

THE HAMERKOP IS A SMALL, UNUSUAL-LOOKING MEMBER OF THE

HERON FAMILY, QUITE DIFFERENT FROM ITS RELATIVES, IN

PARTICULAR, THE LARGEST OF THEM, THE GOLIATH HERON.

THIS WADER IS COMPLETELY UNCONCERNED BY THE ARRIVAL ON

THE RIVERBANK OF AN ENORMOUS CROCODILE, AS IN FACT, IT HAS

LITTLE REASON TO FEAR IT.

THE HERON IS FIXATED ON ITS GOAL OF CATCHING A FISH TO FEED ITS

TWO CHICKS, WHO ARE BEING CARED FOR BY ITS MATE IN THE NEST

THEY'VE BUILT A LITTLE FARTHER ALONG THE RIVERBANK.

THE HERON CHICKS ARE LESS THAN TWO WEEKS OLD.

EACH ONE HATCHED FROM AN EGG THE SAME SIZE AS A CHICKEN'S, AND

THEIR PARENTS TOOK TURNS TO SIT ON THEM FOR A MONTH.

THEY WILL NOT STAY IN THE NEST FOR LONG.

WITHIN THREE WEEKS, THEY'LL BE OUT AND ABOUT.

IT'S NEARLY TIME FOR THESE TWO GRAY HERONS TO LEAVE THE NEST.

THEY NEED JUST A FEW MORE DAYS.

THE ONLY PREREQUISITE FOR LEAVING IS BEING ABLE TO FLY.

BIRDS' NESTS ARE PURELY TEMPORARY DWELLINGS.

THEIR FUNCTION IS TO BE A HOME FOR THE EGGS AND THE CHICKS

DURING THEIR EARLY DAYS.

THEY'RE NEVER INTENDED TO BE PERMANENT HOMES.

WHEN IN TIMES OF BAD WEATHER, THE BIRDS DO NOT TAKE TO THEIR

NESTS, BUT PERCH LIKE THESE WATTLED STARLINGS EXPOSED

TO THE ELEMENTS.

CLINGING TO ITS BRANCH, THIS CATTLE EGRET IS CARRYING OUT

SOME RUNNING REPAIRS TO ITS PLUMAGE RUFFLED BY THE RAIN.

DOWN ON THE GROUND, THIS BLACK-BELLIED BUSTARD'S HABITS

NEVER CHANGE.

SHE CALLS, ANNOUNCING THAT THIS IS HER TERRITORY, PROUD,

PROTECTIVE, AND VOCAL YEAR-ROUND.

[BIRD SQUAWKING]

COMING UP, A SMALL SAVANNAH NATIVE SHOWS US THEIR

HEAVYWEIGHT CONSTRUCTION SKILLS.

AND WE GET AN ANGLING LESSON FROM THE FISHING KING

OF THE SAVANNAH.

PLUS, THE MOST DEDICATED BIRD BATHERS SHOW THEIR

SHOWERING SKILLS.

THIS AND MORE WHEN "EARTH ODYSSEY" RETURNS.

.

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

DYLAN: WHEN THE WIND STARTS TO BLOW ACROSS THE SAVANNAH, BIRDS

HAVE LITTLE TROUBLE HOLDING ONTO THE BRANCHES AND KEEPING

THEIR BALANCE.

THEIR TAILS ACT AS COUNTERBALANCES, AND THEIR CLAWS

GIVE THEM A STRONG GRIP.

THE STRONG WIND HASN'T HINDERED THIS ROLLER'S HUNTING...

...AND WON'T PREVENT THIS YOUNG AFRICAN FISH EAGLE FROM

TAKING OFF.

BUT FLIGHT REQUIRES BIRDS TO EXPEND VAST AMOUNTS OF ENERGY,

AND THIS CAN EVENTUALLY OUTWEIGH THE BENEFITS OF

CATCHING ITS PREY.

IN FACT, RAIN, WIND, AND THE COLD ARE THE MAIN CAUSES OF THE

HIGH MORTALITY RATE AMONG BIRDS.

JUST TO MAINTAIN THEIR CORE BODY TEMPERATURE, BIRDS CAN EXPEND UP

TO 20 PERCENT OF THEIR ENERGY.

IN ORDER TO IMPROVE ITS CHANCES OF SURVIVAL, THE SOCIABLE WEAVER

HAS DECIDED TO BECOME THE EXCEPTION TO THE RULE AND MAKE

USE OF THEIR NEST FAR BEYOND THAT OF OTHERS.

IT OFTEN SPENDS A YEAR LIVING IN THE REMARKABLE NEST IT BUILDS.

SOME BIRDS CHOOSE TO LIVE IN REGIONS WHERE THE CONDITIONS ARE

EXTREME, WHERE FOOD AND WATER ARE SCARCE, THE DAYS ARE BLAZING

HOT, AND THE NIGHTS ARE COLD.

ENERGY MUST BE CONSERVED.

RATHER THAN WASTE THEIR ENERGY REGULATING BODY TEMPERATURE,

THESE BIRDS USE THEIR NEST AS A COOL COVER FROM THE SUN.

THIS SPECTACULAR TANGLE OF DRY GRASS HAS REMARKABLE

INSULATING PROPERTIES.

THESE NESTS, WHICH ARE KNOWN TO BE THE LARGEST ON THE PLANET,

CAN BE HOME TO SEVERAL HUNDRED BIRDS, BUT EACH PAIR HAS ITS OWN

ROOM AND PRIVATE ENTRANCE.

CONTINUALLY MAINTAINED BY THE ENTIRE COLONY, THESE NESTS CAN

BE USED FOR DECADES,

WHILE THE SPOTTED-BACKED WEAVER'S NESTS

ARE USED FOR JUST ONE SEASON.

THESE BIRDS ARE FIENDISHLY SKILLFUL.

CONSTRUCTION BEGINS WITH A RING FASHIONED AT THE END OF A TWIG,

AND THE BIRD THEN USES UP TO SEVEN DIFFERENT KNOTS ALL TIED

WITH ITS BEAK.

THE METHOD IS TRIED AND TESTED.

BEGINNING WITH THE RING, THE BIRD THEN WEAVES FROM TOP TO

BOTTOM TO ACHIEVE A SORT OF PEAR-SHAPED POUCH.

THE ENTRANCE TO THE FINISHED NEST IS AN OPENING

AT THE BOTTOM.

CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES VARY FROM ONE SPECIES OF WEAVER BIRD

TO ANOTHER.

THESE BRANCHES, A FAVORITE OF LOCAL GIRAFFES WITH THEIR LONG,

SHARP THORNS, ARE AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF THE RED-BILLED

BUFFALO WEAVER'S NEST.

WHILE THEY MAY ONLY MEASURE A MERE EIGHT INCHES, THE

RED-BILLED BUFFALO WEAVER'S NESTS ARE ENORMOUS, SOME

WEIGHING SEVERAL HUNDRED POUNDS; HOWEVER, THEIR SIZE AND

DURABILITY IS ESSENTIAL FOR THEIR PROLONGED USE.

THESE NESTS HAVE A LONG LIFESPAN.

YEAR AFTER YEAR, THE BIRDS MAINTAIN THEM, CONSTANTLY ADDING

TWIGS, PERFECTING THEIR IMPRESSIVE CRAFTMANSHIP.

WHEN WE RETURN, WE MEET A SKILLED SPECIES OF FLYERS

CONSIDERED AFRICA'S FISHING ROYALTY.

AND LATER, FIND OUT HOW PROPER PLUMAGE PLAYS AN INTEGRAL PART

OF THESE BIRDS' LIVES.

ALL OF THIS COMING UP ON "EARTH ODYSSEY".

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

DYLAN: BIRDS LIVE A LIFE OF CONSTANT STRUGGLE, FIGHTING THE

ELEMENTS TO KEEP WARM, QUARRELING WITH RIVALS,

PROTECTING THEIR NESTS, AND DEFENDING THEMSELVES AGAINST A

WIDE VARIETY OF PREDATORS.

YET DESPITE THIS EXHAUSTING BATTLE FOR SURVIVAL, THE FIERCE

FLYERS OF THE AFRICAN SAVANNAH ARE NEVER AFRAID TO PUT

UP A FIGHT.

THIS VERY DISTINCTIVE AFRICAN HARRIER HAWK IS SYSTEMATICALLY

INVESTIGATING THIS DEAD TREE IN THE HOPE OF FINDING ITS

NEXT MEAL.

THE TRUTH IS BIRDS' MAIN PREDATORS ARE BIRDS.

THESE BLUE-EARED STARLINGS HAVE SHELTERED THEIR BROOD IN THE

HOLLOWS OF THIS TREE TRUNK AND HAVE NO HESITATION IN ATTACKING

THE PREDATOR TO MAKE IT GO AND LOOK ELSEWHERE.

THE HARRIER IS EQUIPPED WITH SPECIAL JOINTS IN ITS FEET,

WHICH ENABLE IT TO CLING ONTO BRANCHES IN ANY POSITION.

BUT BIRDS OF PREY WILL ALSO ATTACK ALL MANNER OF

REPTILES AND MAMMALS.

SOME ANIMALS KNOW ONLY TOO WELL TO KEEP AN EYE TO THE SKIES.

THESE DWARF MONGOOSES HAVE SPOTTED THE PRESENCE

OF A BATELEUR...

...A BIRD ALL THE MORE FEARSOME BECAUSE IT SPENDS THE MAJORITY

OF ITS LIFE IN THE AIR.

IT FLIES FOR EIGHT TO NINE HOURS A DAY, COVERING MORE THAN 150

MILES OF SAVANNAH, AND IT PATROLS AT A LOW ALTITUDE.

CARNIVORES ASIDE, BIRDS HAVE A WHOLE RANGE OF DIFFERENT DIETS.

THESE AFRICAN GREEN PIGEONS ARE FRUIT-EATERS ENJOYING THE

DELIGHTS OF THIS FIG TREE.

THIS BROWN-HOODED KINGFISHER IS GIVING THIS SPIDER

A WIDE BERTH...

...MAYBE BECAUSE OF THE FEAR OF ITS VENOM, OR MORE LIKELY,

BECAUSE IT DOESN'T WANT TO GET THE WEB IN ITS FEATHERS.

THIS TIME, IT HAS MANAGED TO CATCH YET ANOTHER CRICKET.

THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF KINGFISHERS.

SOME KEEP TO DRY LAND, WHILE OTHERS ARE CLOSELY

LINKED TO WATER.

THIS MALACHITE KINGFISHER, MEASURING LESS THAN SIX INCHES,

IS ONE OF THE SMALLEST.

IT HAS A VARIED DIET, HUNTING FOR SMALL FISH AS WELL AS LARGE

AQUATIC INVERTEBRATES AND ALWAYS UNDER THE WATCHFUL GAZE

OF ITS YOUNG.

LIKE MOST BIRDS, THE KINGFISHER HAS TO CONSUME A LOT OF FOOD

RELATIVE TO ITS BODY WEIGHT, SO IT KEEPS A CLOSE EYE ON THE

SWAMP, PATIENTLY WAITING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY.

THIS TIME IT'S JUST AN INSECT, A SMALL CATCH NOT WORTH SHARING.

A FISH IS QUITE ANOTHER MATTER.

THE CHICK WOULD QUITE LIKE TO SHARE THIS ONE.

DOUBTLESS DISAPPOINTED BY THIS TURN OF EVENTS, IT CAN ONLY WAIT

FOR THE RETURN OF THE NEXT FISHING EXPEDITION.

BUT THE PARENT HAS OBVIOUSLY DECIDED THAT IT'S HIGH TIME ITS

CHICK STARTED FENDING FOR ITSELF.

COMING UP NEXT, FOR BIRDS, THE ART OF STAYING CLEAN IS AS

UNIQUE AS THE BIRDS THEMSELVES.

THIS AND MORE WHEN "EARTH ODYSSEY" RETURNS.

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

DYLAN: IT'S BREEDING SEASON FOR THESE PIED KINGFISHERS, AND THE

BIRDS ARE BITTERLY DEFENDING THEIR PURCHASE.

THESE BIRDS FLY VERY FAST, SKIMMING THE SURFACE OF THE

WATER, OFTEN FLITTING FROM ONE FISHING SPOT TO ANOTHER, BECAUSE

THEY EAT NOTHING BUT FISH.

WHEN THE KINGFISHER THRASHES ITS PREY TO MAKE IT EASIER TO

SWALLOW, THE BIRD'S FEATHERS GET COVERED IN MUCOUS.

SO, ONCE IT HAS FINISHED ITS MEAL, IT AUTOMATICALLY RETURNS

TO THE WATER TO TAKE A BATH.

THE SAME PLUMAGE CONCERNS AND THE SAME BEHAVIOR APPLY TO THE

WOODLAND KINGFISHER, WHICH DIVES TIME AND TIME AGAIN.

BIRDS ARE GREAT BATHERS.

IT'S A WAY FOR THEM TO KEEP COOL AND HELP KEEP THEIR

FEATHERS CLEAN.

KEEPING THEIR FEATHERS IN GOOD CONDITION IS SO IMPORTANT FOR

BIRDS, THAT THEY DEVOTE A LARGE PROPORTION OF THEIR TIME TO IT.

EACH SPECIES HAS ITS OWN WAY OF GOING ABOUT THIS.

FRANCOLINS FAVOR DUST BATHS.

THIS MARABOU STORK IS DOING SOMETHING THAT ALL THE BIRDS DO.

IT IS METICULOUSLY PUTTING ITS FEATHERS ONE BY ONE

BACK IN PLACE.

YELLOW-BILLED STORKS GO AS FAR AS TAKING CARE OF ONE

ANOTHER'S PLUMAGE.

TO GET THOSE HARDER-TO-REACH FEATHERS, ONE NEEDS THE HELP OF

A FRIEND.

THESE BIRDS USE THEIR LONG BEAKS WITH REMARKABLE SKILL.

THIS MUTUAL COOPERATION IS ALSO SEEN AMONG SPECKLED MOUSEBIRDS.

THEY LIVE IN SMALL FAMILY GROUPS, WHERE THE BIRDS ARE

PHYSICALLY VERY CLOSE TO EACH OTHER.

THEY ALSO DISPLAY AN UNUSUAL RITUAL.

THE BIRDS FEED EACH OTHER WITHOUT ANY CONTEXT OF SEDUCTION

OR FEEDING OF CHICKS.

AS THE SUN RISES, BIRDS ARE ALWAYS THE FIRST TO

BECOME ACTIVE.

THE MARABOU STORK LEAVES ITS PERCH.

THE BLACKSMITH PLOVERS STRETCH THEIR WINGS WITH A

WARMUP FLIGHT.

THIS FAMILY OF EGYPTIAN GEESE HAS SPENT THE NIGHT TOGETHER.

IT'S TIME FOR THE CHICKS TO WAKE UP AND LEAVE THE WARMTH OF THEIR

MOTHER'S FEATHERS, READY FOR ANOTHER DAY IN THE WILD OF THE

AFRICAN SAVANNAH.

MORE THAN 2,000 SPECIES OF BIRDS CALL AFRICA HOME.

BEAUTIFUL, UNIQUE, AND INGENIOUS, THE FEATHERED FLYERS

OF AFRICA KEEP US LOOKING UP AND OUR SPIRITS HIGH.

THANK YOU FOR COMING WITH US ON TODAY'S JOURNEY INTO AFRICA.

I HOPE TO SEE YOU FOR THE NEXT ONE ON "EARTH ODYSSEY".

[MUSIC]