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: WELCOME, EVERYONE.

I'M DYLAN DREYER, AND WE'RE ABOUT TO WIND OUR WAY THROUGH

THE WESTERN EUROPEAN WILD.

THIS IS "EARTH ODYSSEY".

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

AND WONDEROUS WILDLIFE OF THE LOIRE...

...LIKE THESE MOUNTAINTOP MAMMALS KEEPING AN EYE OUT FOR

DANGER AND SOME BRAVE BIRDS WHO MAKE THEIR NESTS IN THE HEART OF

THE ACTION.

LATER, WE'LL MEET THE RIVER'S MOST MASSIVE MONSTER.

BUT FIRST, IT'S TIME TO RISE AND SHINE FOR THESE EAGLE-EYED

AVIANS.

THERE'S SO MUCH TO SEE RIGHT HERE ON "EARTH ODYSSEY".

[MUSIC]

RIVERS ARE ONE OF OUR PLANET'S MOST VERSATILE NATURAL

ENVIRONMENTS, A PLACE WHERE TWO WORLDS COLLIDE.

THEY CAN SUPPORT BOTH AQUATIC AND TERRESTRIAL LIFE AS WELL AS

MANY SPECIES THAT CAN LIVE IN BETWEEN.

AS RIVERS CARVE THEIR WAY THROUGH VARIOUS LANDSCAPES, THEY

CONNECT ECOSYSTEMS, CREATING HABITATS WITH INCREDIBLE

BIODIVERSITY.

IT'S NO WONDER THESE WATERWAYS MAKE THE PERFECT HOME FOR SUCH

AN INCREDIBLE COLLECTION OF CREATURES.

THE LOIRE VALLEY IN FRANCE IS A VERSATILE HABITAT, CREATING

HOMES FOR ANIMALS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE, LIKE HERE, WHERE A

FEMALE SANDPIPER IS HUNTING.

SHE HAS BUILT HER NEST ON THIS LITTLE GRASSY ISLAND MIDSTREAM.

THE LOIRE PROTECTS HER EGGS FROM PREDATORS, BUT ALSO PROVIDES A

MAJOR THREAT.

THE NEST COULD BE DESTROYED SHOULD THE RIVER FLOOD.

JUST NEARBY IN THIS POOL, THE TADPOLES OF THE MIDWIFE TOAD ARE

INDIFFERENT TO THE FATE OF THE CHICKS.

ONLY THE MALE TOAD LOOKS AFTER THE EGGS, WHICH ARE ATTACHED IN

A CLUSTER TO HIS HIND LEGS.

HE HAS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE EGGS DO NOT DRY OUT.

HE REGULARLY TAKES TO THE WATER AND SPENDS THE DAY HIDING IN A

HOLE.

THIS SLOW WORM IS ALSO SEEKING SHELTER FROM THE HEAT.

HE'S HUNTING.

THIS LEGLESS LIZARD SEEKS OUT UNDERGROUND WORMS AND SMALL

INSECTS.

MID-AFTERNOON, AND THE SUN IS ALREADY SETTING BEHIND THE

CLIFFS OF SOLIGNAC-SUR-LOIRE.

TWO YOUNG EURASIAN EAGLE OWLS EMERGE FROM THE BUSH WHERE THEY

WERE SHELTERING FROM THE SUN TO RETURN TO THEIR NEST, A SIMPLE

ROCKY PLATFORM.

THEY KNOW THAT AT NIGHTFALL, THEIR PARENTS WILL FLY OUT TO

CATCH FOOD FOR THEM.

THIS IS THE TIME WHEN THE LOIRE BECOMES A HUNTING GROUND FOR

NOCTURNAL PREDATORS.

A MARTEN BRAVES THE CURRENT TO REACH A MEADOW TEEMING WITH

SMALL RODENTS.

FURTHER DOWNSTREAM, GANGES CASTLE WATCHES OVER THE LOIRE.

IT'S HOME TO A COLONY OF WESTERN JACKDAWS.

THREE HUNDRED MILES AWAY FROM ITS SOURCE, THE LOIRE IS NOW A

GREAT MAJESTIC RIVER.

THE LOIRE ISLANDS, BUT WHEN BAD WEATHER TAKES A HOLD, THE RIVER

CAN SWARM OVER THE LANDSCAPE, FLOODING ANIMAL DENS AND

SHELTERS, REMINDING ALL INHABITANTS OF THE POWER THIS

MIGHTY RIVER HOLDS.

AFTER THE BREAK, WE'LL MEET A RIVER RODENT WITH AN IMPRESSIVE

WARNING WHISTLE...

[MARMOT WHISTLING]

...AND A SEABIRD THAT'S SETTLING DOWN FOR NESTING

SEASON.

PLUS, A WHISKERY WATER WANDERER SEARCHING FOR A MEAL WHEN "EARTH

ODYSSEY" RETURNS.

.

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

DYLAN: LIFE ALONG THE LOIRE ISN'T ALWAYS ABOUT SURVIVAL.

SOMETIMES IT'S ALL FUN AND GAMES.

THESE FOX KITS ARE CERTAINLY TAKING FULL ADVANTAGE.

THIS IS, IN FACT, ESSENTIAL TRAINING WHICH WILL IMPROVE

THEIR REFLEXES AND STAMINA.

THEY SHARE THEIR PLAYGROUND WITH THE MARMOTS.

THE SIBLINGS SPEND A LARGE PART OF THEIR DAY FIGHTING.

THEY NEED TO BE WELL-TRAINED BEFORE THEY LEAVE THE FAMILY

MEADOW TO GO AND ESTABLISH THEIR OWN TERRITORY NEXT SPRING.

[MARMOT HISSING]

A COMMON BUZZARD HUNTS ABOVE THE FIELD.

FACE TO THE WIND, HOVERING MOTIONLESS, SHE FOCUSES ON HER

PREY.

A MARMOT IS FAR TOO BIG FOR A BUZZARD, BUT NOT FOR A GOLDEN

EAGLE.

[MARMOT WHISTLING]

A SENTRY SOUNDS THE ALARM WITH A WHISTLE THAT CAN BE HEARD

SEVERAL MILES AWAY.

[MARMOT WHISTLING]

SOME DISTANCE AWAY, BENEATH MOUNT GERBIER, THE LITTLE

STREAMS COME TOGETHER.

THE LOIRE IS ALREADY A THREE-FOOT-WIDE BROOK.

IT SWELLS, WIDENS, AND GROWS BEFORE OUR VERY EYES.

IT TUMBLES DOWN FOR ANOTHER SEVERAL DOZEN MILES.

BY THE TIME IT REACHES LE PUY-EN-VELAY IN AUVERGNE, THE

LOIRE IS OVER 70 FEET WIDE.

OVER MILLENNIA IT HAS DUG VAST GORGES SURROUNDED BY HIGH

CLIFFS.

THESE ROCK FACES ARE WHERE THE WHITE-THROATED DIPPERS CHOOSE TO

MAKE THEIR NESTS OF MOSS.

THE PARENTS HAVE THEIR WORK CUT OUT.

THEIR CHICKS ARE BIG ALREADY AND DEMAND FOOD CONSTANTLY.

THE WHITE-THROATED DIPPER CATCHES ITS PREY BENEATH THE

SURFACE OF THE WATER.

IT DIVES LOOKING FOR INSECT LARVAE.

IN SPRING, MILLIONS OF LARVAE SIMULTANEOUSLY METAMORPHOSE INTO

ADULT INSECTS, WHICH MATE OVER THE WATER IN A FRENETIC AERIAL

BALLET.

THIS IS A GODSEND FOR THE TROUT WAITING TO GOBBLE UP ANY THAT

LAND IN THE WATER.

THE DIPPER, HOWEVER, PREFERS THE LARVAE HIDDEN UNDER THE STONES.

TODAY, IT'S THE TURN OF THIS CHICK TO LEAVE THE NEST, BUT A

WATERFALL BUBBLES BENEATH.

WHEN A DIPPER LEAVES THE NEST, IT CAN NEVER RETURN.

THE YOUNGSTER IS HESITANT.

[BIRD CHIRPING]

HIS BROTHER, WHO FLEW THE NEST THE DAY BEFORE, WAITS.

THE YOUNGSTER CANNOT FLY YET, AND IT IS NOT USED TO WALKING.

ONE CHICK REMAINS IN THE NEST, RELUCTANT TO TAKE THE PLUNGE.

MAYBE TOMORROW WILL BE THE DAY.

WHEN WE COME BACK, A SEA SWALLOW THAT'S PLAYING WITH FIRE,

NESTING SO CLOSE TO THE WATER.

AND THIS RIVER MONSTER HAS CAT-LIKE REFLEXES WHEN ON THE

HUNT UP NEXT ON "EARTH ODYSSEY".

.

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

DYLAN: LIFE ALONG THE RIVER IS IN A CONSTANT STATE OF CHANGE,

AND THE ANIMALS MAKING THEIR HOMES HERE MUST LEARN TO ADAPT

ALONGSIDE IT.

A MILD WINTER CAN MEAN A DRY SUMMER, DECREASED WATER LEVELS,

AND THEREFORE, FEWER RESOURCES.

BUT NATURE'S PENDULUM CAN SWING THE OTHER WAY.

WHILE RAIN MAY BE WELCOMED MOST OF THE TIME, EVEN ON THE RIVER,

THERE CAN BE TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING.

TAKE A LOOK.

WHEN THE RAINY SEASON REACHES FRANCE, EVERY WILD HABITAT FEELS

THE EFFECTS, AND THE LOIRE BECOMES MORE LIKE A TROPICAL

RIVER WINDING ITS WAY THROUGH THE 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.

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

WHEN WE COME BACK, MEET THE LOIRE'S BIGGEST PREDATOR, A FISH

WITH A FELINE REPUTATION.

THIS AND MORE COMING UP ON "EARTH ODYSSEY".

.

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

DYLAN: 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.

THANKS FOR JOINING US ON OUR RIVER CRUISE TO SEE THE ANIMALS

THAT LOVE LIFE ALONG THE LOIRE.

WHETHER UNDER THE RUSHING WATERS, ON THE RIVERBANKS, OR IN

THE LUSH LANDSCAPES AROUND THEM, THE ANIMALS HERE ARE TREATED TO

A BEVY OF RESOURCES WHICH KEEP THIS REMARKABLE ECOSYSTEM

BRIMMING WITH LIFE.

IT'S AN IMPRESSIVE AND BEAUTIFUL DISPLAY OF NATURE'S UNMATCHED

VERSATILITY.

WE'LL SEE YOU ON THE NEXT EPISODE OF "EARTH ODYSSEY".

[MUSIC]