All language subtitles for Earth.Odyssey.With.Dylan.Dreyer.S06E14.1080p.WEB-DL.AAC2.0.H.264-BTN_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.

WE ARE ABOUT TO SET OFF ON AN
AMAZING ADVENTURE ON "EARTH

ODYSSEY."

TODAY, WE'RE TURNING OUR EYES TO
THE SKY TO SEE THE HIGH-FLYING

AVIANS OF AFRICA.

LIKE THIS WATERBIRD WITH A
RAZOR-SHARP BEAK AND EVEN

SHARPER FISHING SKILLS.

AND TAILS NEVER FAILS FOR THESE
BIRDS WHEN ATTRACTING A MATE.

LATER, WE'LL MEET A COLONY OF
ASTOUNDING AVIAN ARCHITECTS.

BUT FIRST, WE'RE TAKING A CLOSER
LOOK AT ONE OF AFRICA'S MOST

PROLIFIC PREDATORS.

THERE'S A WHOLE LOT IN STORE FOR
YOU HERE ON "EARTH ODYSSEY."

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: BIRDS LIVE A LIFE OF
CONSTANT STRUGGLE.

FIGHTING THE ELEMENTS TO KEEP
WARM, QUARRELLING WITH RIVALS,

PROTECTING THEIR NESTS, AND
DEFENDING THEMSELVES AGAINST A

WIDE VARIETY OF PREDATORS.

YET DESPITE THIS EXHAUSTING
BATTLE FOR SURVIVAL, THE FIERCE

FLIERS OF THE AFRICAN SAVANNA
ARE NEVER AFRAID TO PUT UP A

FIGHT.

WHEN IT COMES TO BIRDS,
OFTENTIMES THEIR MAIN PREDATORS

ARE, WELL, OTHER BIRDS.

HARRIER HAWKS LIKE THIS ONE ARE
A LETHAL EXAMPLE; INVESTIGATING

A DEAD TREE FOR POTENTIAL PREY.

SOME BLUE-EARED STARLINGS ARE
USING A HOLLOW TREE TRUNK TO

SHELTER THEIR BROOD AND ARE
READY TO DEFEND IT AT ALL COSTS.

IF A PREDATOR DOES POKE ITS HEAD
IN, THEY WON'T HESITATE TO

ATTACK.

BUT THE HARRIER HAS A CUNNING
APPROACH.

SPECIAL JOINTS ALLOW IT TO CLING
TO BRANCHES FROM ANY POSITION

FOR A POTENTIAL SURPRISE ATTACK.

HOWEVER, IT'S NOT JUST BIRDS
THAT ENTICE THE APPETITES OF

WINGED PREDATORS.

SMALL MAMMALS AND REPTILES KNOW
ALL TOO WELL TO KEEP AN EYE ON

THE SKY.

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 8 TO 9 HOURS A DAY
COVERING MORE THAN 150 MILES OF

SAVANNA 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.

SOME KEEP TO DRY LAND WHILE
OTHERS ARE CLOSELY LINKED TO

WATER.

THIS MALACHITE KINGFISHER,
MEASURING LESS THAN 6 INCHES, IS

ONE OF THE SMALLEST.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: 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.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: 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, ONE OF AFRICA'S
GREATEST SPEAR-FISHER IS ON THE

HUNT.

AND IT TAKES SOME IMPRESSIVE
PLUMAGE FOR THIS YOUNG LOVEBIRD

TO FIND A MATE.

PLUS, CONSTRUCTION IS FINALLY
COMPLETE ON THESE AVIAN

APARTMENTS.

THIS AND MORE WHEN "EARTH
ODYSSEY" RETURNS.

.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: WHEN IT COMES TO
WATERFRONT HUNTERS, FISHING

BIRDS ARE AN IMPRESSIVE AND
RATHER UNIQUE COLLECTION.

CHASING PREY UNDER THE WATER'S
SURFACE NORMALLY REQUIRES

PLUMAGE THAT'S ALMOST ENTIRELY
WATERPROOF.

HOWEVER, FOR MANY YEARS, EXPERTS
BELIEVED THAT NOT TO BE THE CASE

FOR THE AFRICAN DARTER.

BUT WHY?

AFTER IT HAS BEEN IN THE WATER,
THE DARTER HAS TO DRY ITS

FEATHERS; OTHERWISE, IT HAS A
RATHER SHABBY LOOK TO IT.

BUT LOOKS ASIDE, THIS ODD
AVIAN'S PLUMAGE IS IN FACT

IMPERMEABLE.

ONLY THE OUTER LAYER OF FEATHERS
SOAKS UP THE WATER, MAKING IT

EASIER TO DIVE.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE AFRICAN DARTER IS A
SORT OF CORMORANT, OR LARGE

WATERBIRD, WITH ONE PECULIARITY
- ITS EXPERTISE IN SPEARFISHING.

IT USES ITS BEAK TO SPEARFISH
ONCE IT HAS DIVED UNDER THE

WATER.

IT'S AN EFFECTIVE TECHNIQUE THAT
WOULD HAVE EVEN A CROCODILE

JEALOUS.

THEIR HUNTING SKILL MAY SEEM
FAR-FETCHED WHEN YOU SEE HOW

AWKWARDLY THEY GO INTO THE
WATER.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: HOWEVER, THE DARTER'S
PROWESS IS ONLY ON SHOW ONCE

IT'S IN THE WATER AND DIVES DOWN
DEEP.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: THIS BIRD HUNTS 10 TO 15
FEET BELOW THE SURFACE, WHICH

MEANS IT CAN HUNT FOR PREY THAT
OTHER BIRDS SIMPLY CAN'T REACH.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: ITS CATCH IS THE ENVY OF
ALL ITS AVIAN COMPATRIOTS WHO

ARE WATCHING ALONG THE SHORE.

WHEN IT COMES BACK TO ITS PERCH,
THE DARTER LOOKS AS ORDINARY AS

EVER ONCE AGAIN.

THIS FISH SEEMS LIKE IT CAN BE
TOO BIG.

MAYBE THE BIRD'S EYES WERE
BIGGER THAN ITS STOMACH.

HOWEVER, THIS EXPERT FISH-FINDER
HAS A PLAN.

IN ORDER TO ENJOY ITS RATHER
ROBUST MEAL, THE DARTER WILL

THROW THE FISH UP IN THE AIR TO
CATCH IT HEAD-FIRST AND SWALLOW

IT WHOLE.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: GUESS THERE'S NO MEAL TOO
MASSIVE FOR THIS INNOVATIVE

EATER.

FOR A BIRD THAT HAS A RATHER
HUMBLE LOOK, IT CERTAINLY HAS A

SPECTACULAR SET OF SKILLS THAT
MAKE IT STAND OUT FROM THE

CROWD.

WHEN WE COME BACK, WE'LL GET A
LESSON IN THE BEST WAY TO SHAKE

THOSE TAIL FEATHERS.

AND WEAVING A PERFECT NEST COMES
NATURALLY TO THESE BIRD

BUILDERS.

STAY TUNED FOR MORE "EARTH
ODYSSEY."

.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: EVEN IN THE ANIMAL
KINGDOM, APPEARANCES AREN'T

EVERYTHING.

HOWEVER, APPEARANCES CAN PLAY A
PIVOTAL ROLE FOR SOME SPECIES

WHEN IT COMES TIME TO FIND A
PARTNER.

FOR BIRDS, THIS MEANS VIBRANT
DISPLAYS OF THEIR FEATHERS OR

BEAKS.

WHILE FOR OTHERS, MORE OF A
DANCE ROUTINE.

BUT ONE SPECIES TAKES THEIR
APPEARANCE TO THE EXTREME;

CHANGING THEIR ENTIRE LOOK TO
ATTRACT THE RIGHT MATE.

THIS ODD AVIAN IS A VERITABLE
ONE-BIRD SHOW UNTO ITSELF.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE LONG-TAILED
WIDOWBIRD.

ITS BEAUTIFUL LONG TRAIN THAT
DRAGS BEHIND IT LOOKS A LITTLE

LIKE A VEIL.

SO, IT'S ALSO CALLED THE BLACK
WIDOWBIRD.

THE LONG-TAILED WIDOWBIRD
DOESN'T ALWAYS HAVE THIS

PLUMAGE.

USUALLY, IT'S A SIMPLE LITTLE
BIRD; LESS NOTICEABLE THAN THE

HIGH GRASS IT STANDS ON.

IT LOOKS MORE LIKE A SORT OF
BEIGE SPARROW.

BUT DURING THE MATING SEASON THE
MALE MOLTS IN ONE OF THE MOST

INCREDIBLE WAYS IMAGINABLE.

IT BECOMES COMPLETELY BLACK BUT
FOR RED AND WHITE EPAULETTES ON

ITS WINGS, AND IT GROWS LONG
TAIL FEATHERS.

DECKED IN SUCH FINERY, THE BIRD
FLIES OVER ITS TERRITORY WITH A

SINGLE OBJECTIVE - SEDUCING
FEMALES.

THE LONG-TAILED WIDOWBIRD IS
POLYGAMIST; IT CAN HAVE UP TO 4

MATES WHO ARE ESPECIALLY
ATTRACTED TO MALES WITH LONG

TAIL FEATHERS.

BUT THE LONGER THE FEATHERS, THE
MORE DIFFICULT AND TIRING IT IS

TO FLY.

SO, ANY BIRD STRONG ENOUGH TO
OVERCOME THIS SEASONAL HINDRANCE

IS BOUND TO BE A GOOD POTENTIAL
PARTNER.

IN THE BIRD WORLD, AS SOON AS
THE MATING SEASON IS OVER, THE

MALE RETURNS TO HIS DULLER
PLUMAGE, HIS EVERYDAY COLORS.

MOLTING IS UNDERWAY FOR THE
SOUTHERN RED BISHOPS.

THEY WILL LOSE THEIR SCARLET
LIVERY TO TAKE ON THE BEIGE

PLUMAGE OF THE FEMALES.

BEIGE IS THE STANDARD COLOR FOR
ANIMALS IN THE SAVANNA.

MORE OR LESS DULL, MORE OR LESS
DARK; IT'S THE SHADE OF MOST

CREATURES' COATS.

PLUMAGES FOR MOST ANIMALS ARE
MORE OFTEN THAN NOT MILD AND

DISCREET.

BUT IN THE BIRD WORLD, WE CAN
SEE AN INCREDIBLE ARRAY OF

COLORS THAT ARE FOREIGN TO THE
WORLD OF MAMMALS.

NOT ALL ANIMALS STAND OUT FOR
THEIR FIGHTING SKILLS.

SOME ARE MORE WELL-KNOWN FOR
THEIR UNIQUE STYLE.

THE WATTLED LAPWING PROUDLY
DISPLAYS ITS LONG WATTLES.

THE AFRICAN COMB DUCK DOES THE
SAME WITH THE IMPRESSIVE GROWTH

IT HAS ON ITS BEAK.

WHILE OTHERS STAND OUT FOR THEIR
UNEXPECTEDLY NASTY BEHAVIOR.

IN THE NESTS, HATCHLINGS ARE
TAKING CENTER STAGE.

SOME OF THE YOUNG ARE ALREADY
ATTEMPTING TO FLY.

UNLIKE MOST BIRDS IN THE NEST,
THESE PRECOCIOUS CHICKS ARE

ODDLY ROUGH WITH THEIR LOVING
PARENTS.

YOU CAN SEE STRAIGHTAWAY THAT
THE YOUNG ARE NOT GENTLE WHEN

THEIR PARENTS COME BACK WITH
SOME FISH.

YOU CAN IMAGINE JUST HOW FAR THE
COMPETITIVE SPIRIT CAN GO.

AFTER THE BREAK, WE'LL MEET A
LIGHTWEIGHT WEAVER WITH A

HEAVYWEIGHT HOME.

THERE'S MORE "EARTH ODYSSEY"
RIGHT AFTER THIS.

.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: BEING ABLE TO FLY COMES
WITH ITS SHARE OF DIFFICULTIES.

SO, BIRDS MUST BE EQUIPPED WITH
SPECIAL TACTICS TO COMBAT THE

ELEMENTS.

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.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: 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 NESTS FAR
BEYOND THAT OF OTHERS.

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

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: 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
WEAVERS' 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 7
DIFFERENT KNOTS, ALL TIED WITH

ITS BEAK.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: 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.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: 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 8 INCHES, THE RED-BILLED

BUFFALO WEAVERS' NESTS ARE
ENORMOUS.

SOME WEIGHING SEVERAL HUNDRED
POUNDS.

HOWEVER, THEIR SIZE AND
DURABILITY IS ESSENTIAL FOR

THEIR PROLONGED USE.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: LIKE THESE REMARKABLE
NESTS, BIRDS THEMSELVES ARE JUST

AS IMPRESSIVE AND INGENUITIVE;
EACH BRINGING THEIR OWN STYLE OF

SURVIVAL TO THE WILD.

ON EVERY CONTINENT BIRDS OFFER
US A VIVID DISPLAY OF LIFE AND

COLOR.

THE BEAUTY AND VIBRANCE OF THEIR
FEATHERS AND FEATURES PLAY AN

INTEGRAL ROLE IN HOW THEY HUNT,
MATE AND LIVE.

THANKS FOR JOINING US ON TODAY'S
ADVENTURE.

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

[MUSIC]