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.

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]