All language subtitles for Earth.Odyssey.With.Dylan.Dreyer.S05E17.1080p.WEB.h264-DiRT_track3_[eng]

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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.

COME JOIN US FOR AN INCREDIBLE
JOURNEY ON "EARTH ODYSSEY".

TODAY, WE'RE TREKKING ALONG THE
RIVER'S EDGE TO SEE THE UNIQUE

AND WONDROUS WILDLIFE OF THE
LOIRE.

ON THE WATERY BANKS, WE SEE A
ROYAL FISHERMAN LOOKING FOR THE

PERFECT CATCH.

A NEW MOTHER RISKS THE RUNNING
RIVER WATERS TO GET TO A

FRUITFUL FEEDING GROUND.

AND LATER, A SOUTH AMERICAN
MAMMAL THAT'S MADE A NEW

HOME IN FRANCE.

BUT FIRST, WE DIVE BENEATH THE
SURFACE TO SEE A WHISKERED

WONDER OF THE DEEP.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: IN THE HEART OF WESTERN
EUROPE LIES AN

UNEXPECTED WILDERNESS.

STRETCHING 625 MILES ACROSS THE
FRENCH LANDSCAPE, THE LOIRE

RIVER IS HOME TO HUNDREDS OF
ANIMAL SPECIES.

SOME, LIKE FOXES, ROE DEER, AND
GOLDEN EAGLES, ARE ICONS OF THE

REGION, FAMOUS AMONG EUROPE'S
ANIMAL ELITE.

OTHERS PREFER TO STAY OUT OF THE
SPOTLIGHT, LIKE ONE FISH THAT'S

UNCOMMONLY COY FOR BEING THE
RIVER'S LARGEST PREDATOR.

AFTER THE FLOODS OF THE RAINY
SEASON, THE LOIRE OFFERS

ALL NEW TERRITORY.

THIS MOTHER ROE DEER AND HER
FAWN CAN FINALLY RETURN NOW THAT

THE WATER HAS RECEDED.

THE LUSH GRASS WHICH IS NOW
ACCESSIBLE WAS UNDERWATER JUST

DAYS AGO.

THE LOIRE FERTILIZES THE SOIL,
WHICH ALLOWS A VARIETY OF FLORA

TO BLOOM BRILLIANTLY.

THIS ATTRACTS ALL KINDS OF
INCREDIBLE ANIMALS.

IN A COUNTRY AS DENSELY
POPULATED AS FRANCE, IT SEEMS

ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR A RIVER TO
HARVEST SUCH A VAST ARRAY OF

WILDLIFE, BUT THE LOIRE REMAINS
WILD AND UNTAMED.

ITS COURSE IS FAR LESS
CANALIZED, OR CUT OFF BY DAMS,

THAN OTHER BIG RIVERS.

BECAUSE OF THIS, AN EXCEPTIONAL
COMMUNITY OF ANIMALS HAS MADE

ITS HOME ON THESE BANKS,
PREDATOR AND PREY ALIKE.

BENEATH THE WATER'S SURFACE
THERE SLEEPS THE MONSTER

OF THE LOIRE.

IT'S THE RIVER'S BIGGEST
PREDATOR, THE CATFISH.

ORIGINALLY FROM EASTERN EUROPE,
IT APPEARED HERE

A FEW DECADES AGO.

CATFISH LIVE IN GROUPS, SPENDING
THEIR DAYS UNDER THE SHELTER OF

TREE TRUNKS.

THE BIGGEST OF THEM IS OVER SIX
FEET LONG AND IS AROUND

40 YEARS OLD.

THEY ARE FEARSOME HUNTERS
CAPABLE OF ATTACKING ANY NUMBER

OF OTHER CREATURES, LIKE FISH,
DUCKS, AND COYPU, BUT THEY ARE

NO THREAT TO HUMANS.

SOME HAVENS ON THE LOIRE ARE
LESS AFFECTED BY THE RIVER'S

TWISTS AND TURNS.

THESE YOUNG FALCONS HAVE HAD
AMPLE TIME TO GROW, AND IT'S

NEARLY TIME FOR THEM TO TAKE
FLIGHT.

THEIR FATHER STILL BRINGS THEM
FOOD, MAINLY SMALL RODENTS.

JUST A FEW DAYS OF THIS MEAL
SERVICE REMAIN BEFORE THEY HAVE

TO HUNT FOR THEMSELVES.

DOWNSTREAM, A LITTLE TASTE OF
AFRICA INVADES THE HOLES IN THE

BANKS, WHICH HAVE BEEN DUG BY
THE CURRENT AND THE FLOODING.

A COLONY OF BEE-EATERS IS
SETTLING IN AGAIN.

THE LOIRE FLOODED THEIR NESTS,
BUT NOW THAT THE WATERS HAVE

RECEDED, LIFE HAS RETURNED.

THE MATING SEASON IS WELL
UNDERWAY, AND THIS MALE NEEDS TO

HURRY IF HE WANTS TO FIND A MATE
THIS YEAR.

IN ORDER TO ATTRACT A FEMALE, HE
HAS TO BRING HER

OFFERINGS OF FOOD.

HE HOPES THAT THIS WASP WILL
FINALLY WIN HER OVER.

SUCCESS.

THIS IS THEIR DEN, WHICH THEY
HAVE DUG TOGETHER.

IT CAN BE MORE THAN THREE FEET
DEEP.

THE MALE WAS BORN HERE ON THE
BANKS OF THE LOIRE, BUT IT WAS

IN WESTERN AFRICA THAT HE MET
HIS MATE.

SHE CAME FROM ANOTHER EUROPEAN
COLONY.

COUPLES ALWAYS GO TO LAY THEIR
EGGS IN THE MALE'S NATIVE LAND.

THE BEE-EATERS LEAVE FRANCE
EVERY WINTER WHEN THE WASPS DIE

OFF AND THE BEES SPEND MONTHS
HIDING INSIDE THEIR HIVES.

BELOW GROUND, THE NEW GENERATION
IS DEVELOPING.

IT CAN ONLY BE HOPED THAT THE
LOIRE WILL REMAIN AT A LOW LEVEL

AND PROTECT THESE NEW HATCHLINGS
UNTIL IT'S THEIR TIME TO FLY.

COMING UP, THIS RIVERBANK ROMEO
USES HIS FISHING SKILLS TO

IMPRESS A POTENTIAL PARTNER.

AND UNDER THE GRASS OF THE
VALLEY, A MINISCULE MOTHER IS

NURSING HER NEWBORNS.

PLUS, A RODENT RELATIVE OF THE
BEAVER THAT'S MOVING IN AND

BRINGING THE WHOLE FAMILY.

THIS AND MORE WHEN "EARTH
ODYSSEY" RETURNS.

.

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

DYLAN: ALONG THE RIVERBANKS,
THE WEATHER BECOMES HEAVY IN THE

HEAT OF THE AFTERNOON, AND THE
LOIRE BECOMES MORE LIKE A

TROPICAL RIVER WINDING ITS WAY
THROUGH DENSE JUNGLE.

FOR SEVERAL HOURS, HEAVY RAIN
HAMMERS DOWN ON THE LOIRE.

THE RAINFALL UPSTREAM CAUSES A
NEW FLOOD.

THE LOIRE CAN RISE MORE THAN TEN
INCHES IN JUST A FEW HOURS.

THIS RISE IN THE WATER LEVEL IS
A SEVERE DANGER FOR TERNS, OR

SEA SWALLOWS.

A RISE OF JUST A FEW INCHES IS
ENOUGH TO DESTROY THEIR NESTS.

THEY LAY THEIR EGGS ON SANDBANKS
IN MIDRIVER TO

PROTECT THEM FROM PREDATORS.

TERNS ARE MIGRATORY AND SPEND
MOST OF THE YEAR AT SEA.

THEY CROSS THE ATLANTIC AS FAR
AS MEXICO, BUT RETURN HERE EACH

YEAR TO NEST ON THESE SANDBANKS.

SMALL ANTS HAVE BUILT A NEST IN
A HOLLOW BRANCH WHICH SEEMED

PERFECT, BUT IS FAR TOO CLOSE TO
THE WATER.

THE LOIRE'S MOODS ARE
UNPREDICTABLE.

ITS SUDDEN RISE IN LEVEL CAN BE
DEADLY.

BUT THIS EVER-CHANGING
ENVIRONMENT IS WHAT ALLOWS MANY

ANIMALS TO THRIVE.

THE KINGFISHER IS ANOTHER LOCAL
LIVING AT THE MERCY

OF THE LOIRE.

IT'S MATING SEASON, AND THE MALE
IS TRYING TO CONVINCE HIS

PARTNER TO START THEIR OWN
FAMILY.

FIRST, HE DIGS A NEW BURROW IN
WHAT HE DEEMS TO BE

AN IDEAL PLACE.

THE FEMALE INSPECTS THE WORK.

WILL THE LOVE NEST PASS HER
TEST?

THE MALE THEN GOES OFF TO CATCH
A SMALL FISH FOR HER.

SHE IS STILL NOT CONVINCED.

BUT THIS MALE IS NOT SO EASILY
DEFEATED AND REMAINS VIGILANT.

[BIRD CHIRPING]

THE MALE KINGFISHER ARRIVES
WITH A GIFT OF FISH.

[BIRD CHIRPING]

THE FEMALE ACCEPTS IT.

THE THOUGHTFUL GIFT AND A
WELL-BUILT NEST IS THE PERFECT

RECIPE FOR WINNING THIS
LOVEBIRD'S HEART.

[BIRD CHIRPING]

WHEN WE RETURN, A YOUNG MOTHER
BRAVES THE RUSHING WATER TO FIND

FOOD FOR HER BROOD.

AND LATER, WE MEET A FAMILY OF
SOME MARSHLAND MAMMALS THAT

WON'T STOP GROWING.

ALL OF THIS COMING UP ON "EARTH
ODYSSEY".

.

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

DYLAN: IN THE EXPANSIVE
ENVIRONMENT OF WESTERN EUROPE,

THERE ARE A MYRIAD OF CREATURES
THAT GO UNSEEN BY MOST.

THESE HIDDEN GEMS HAVE LEARNED
TO USE THEIR SMALL STATURE TO

THEIR STRENGTH, MAKING STEALTH
THEIR ALLY.

LIFE FOR THE MINI-MAMMALS OF THE
LOIRE RIVER CAN BE DANGEROUS,

ESPECIALLY WHEN WEIGHING IN AT
LESS THAN ONE OUNCE.

BUT FOR ONE EUROPEAN VOLE, THE
RISK IS WORTH THE REWARD.

HIDDEN AMONG THE LUSH GRASS,
THIS VOLE MOTHER IS GETTING

READY TO LEAVE THE COMFORTABLE
MOSS BED SHE HAS BUILT AT THE

BOTTOM OF HER BURROW AND HEAD
OUTSIDE.

EVEN THOUGH SHE DOESN'T HAVE
THE COVER OF NIGHT, SHE'S

ALREADY HEADING OFF IN SEARCH OF
FOOD.

BECAUSE OF THE UNUSUALLY HIGH
WATER LEVEL, SHE HAS TO SWIM A

LITTLE TO REACH HER FAVORITE
FORAGING GROUNDS.

THE FEMALE VOLE CONTINUES WITH
HER FRANTIC ACTIVITY,

AND THIS IS THE REASON FOR HER
NERVOUS ENERGY.

SHE HAS JUST GIVEN BIRTH TO FOUR
TINY BABIES, PINK AND BLIND.

SHE NEEDS TO EAT A LOT OF GRASS
AND SEEDS TO PROVIDE MILK FOR

HER LITTER, BUT TO RAISE HAPPY
AND HEALTHY BABIES, THE WORK IS

ALWAYS WORTH IT.

THREE HUNDRED MILES DOWNRIVER,
THE ESTUARY BETWEEN NANTES AND

SAINT-NAZAIRE IS HOME TO AN
IMPRESSIVE AVIAN FAMILY.

STORKS HAD ONCE LEFT THE REGION,
BUT HERE IN THIS ESTUARY, THEY

HAVE FOUND THE PERFECT PLACE TO
REESTABLISH THEMSELVES.

SINCE THE FIRST BIRDS WERE
SPOTTED AROUND 30 YEARS AGO,

THEIR NUMBERS HAVE KEPT ON
GROWING.

THIS SPRING, THERE ARE MORE THAN
A HUNDRED MATING PAIRS NESTING

AROUND THE ESTUARY.

STORKS HAVE MANY RULES THAT THEY
MUST OBSERVE.

WHEN AN ADULT RETURNS TO THE
NEST, THEY BRING THEIR PARTNER A

GIFT IN THE FORM OF TWIGS.

THE PARTNER IN TURN WELCOMES
THEM BACK BY

CLACKING THEIR BEAK.

THESE SMALL COURTESIES HELP TO
STRENGTHEN THE BOND

BETWEEN THE COUPLE.

BUT THERE'S NO TIME TO WASTE.

THE YOUNG ARE HUNGRY, AND THE
PARENTS MUST

SPEND THE DAY HUNTING.

THE FIELDS BY THE LOIRE OFFER A
VARIED MENU OF SMALL

CRUSTACEANS, INSECTS, AND FROGS.

THE YOUNG ALSO TRY OUT THEIR
GOOD MANNERS WHEN THEY GREET

THEIR MOTHER AS SHE COMES TO
FEED THEM.

THIS DIET WILL ALLOW THE CHICKS
TO REACH THE SAME SIZE AS THEIR

PARENTS IN JUST A FEW WEEKS.

THE YOUNGSTERS DO THEIR PART
HELPING TO MAINTAIN AND CLEAN

THE NEST.

EACH YEAR, THIS NEST IS USED BY
A PAIR OF STORKS, AND EACH YEAR,

IT IS REINFORCED WITH NEW
BRANCHES.

THIS ONE ALREADY WEIGHS NEARLY
1,000 POUNDS.

HERE IN THE LOIRE ESTUARY,
STORKS HAVE FOUND A HOME TO

THRIVE IN, FROM THE TOP FLOOR TO
THE BOTTOM.

COMING UP NEXT, THIS IS NO
BEAVER, BUT A BOISTEROUS,

BURROWING LOCAL ALONG THE
RIVER'S EDGE.

THIS AND MORE WHEN "EARTH
ODYSSEY" RETURNS.

.

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

DYLAN: AS WE JOURNEY FARTHER
DOWN THE LOIRE, THE RIVER STILL

HAS SURPRISES TO REVEAL.

THIS IS A COYPU.

IT MAY LOOK LIKE A BEAVER, BUT
IT IS A COUSIN FROM

SOUTH AMERICA.

THIS PARTICULAR SPECIES IS FAR
FROM ENDANGERED.

IT HAS FOUND THE RICH VEGETATION
OF THE LOIRE MARSHES TO BE THE

PERFECT PLACE TO PROSPER.

THIS FAMILY'S YOUNG WERE BORN
THREE WEEKS AGO AND ARE JUST

BEGINNING TO LEAVE THE BURROW.

WHEN THE COYPU TIRES OF ITS
VEGETARIAN DIET, IT TREATS

ITSELF TO THESE YELLOW
SHELLFISH, WHICH IT FINDS BURIED

IN THE SEDIMENT.

CORBICULA CLAMS FEED BY
FILTERING THE RIVER WATER.

CLOSER TO THE OCEAN, THE LOIRE
ESTUARY TURNS INTO AN AMAZING

MOSAIC OF NATURE AND INDUSTRIAL
ZONES.

THIS CONCEALS AN ENVIRONMENT
RICHER THAN ONE WOULD THINK.

VAST QUANTITIES OF SAND WERE
SHIFTED WHEN THE LOIRE WAS

DREDGED TO BUILD THE PORT OF
NANTES.

THE SAND WHICH WAS DEPOSITED
ALONG THE BANKS FORMED NEW

MEADOWS WHICH ARE TEEMING WITH
LIFE.

NEAR A SMALL POND, THIS MALE
ADDER IS SOAKING UP THE LAST FEW

RAYS OF SUNSHINE.

HE ABSORBS AS MUCH HEAT AS HE
CAN BEFORE LEAVING AT NIGHTFALL

TO CATCH THE MEADOW'S SMALL
MAMMALS.

THIS FOX HAS RECENTLY BECOME
INDEPENDENT.

HE IS STILL TOO YOUNG TO BE AN
ACCOMPLISHED HUNTER.

IDEALLY, HE'S ON THE LOOKOUT FOR
A PARTICULARLY CARELESS RABBIT.

GOOD LUCK.

RABBITS ARE PERMANENTLY ON
HIGH-ALERT, AND THEIR 360-DEGREE

FIELD OF VISION ALLOWS THEM TO
SEE ALL AROUND AND ABOVE THEM.

THEIR LARGE EARS ARE SENSITIVE
TO THE SLIGHTEST SOUND, SO THE

YOUNG FOX WILL FIND IT DIFFICULT
TO SNEAK UP ON THEM.

EVEN AMONG THE LUSH RIVERBANKS
OF THE LOIRE, AMONG THE DIVERSE

POPULATION OF PLANTS AND
ANIMALS, THERE'S NO SUCH THING

AS A FREE LUNCH.

THE LOIRE RIVER IS ANCIENT,
BEAUTIFUL, AND CRITICAL TO BOTH

FRENCH SOCIETY AND EUROPE'S
WILDLIFE.

IT MAY NOT BE AS WELL-KNOWN AS
THE EIFFEL TOWER, BUT THIS

600-MILE STRETCH OF WATER IS A
BIG PART OF WHAT MAKES

FRANCE SO MAGNIFIQUE.

THANKS FOR JOINING US TODAY.

I HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT TIME ON

"EARTH ODYSSEY".

[MUSIC]