Original subtitles

.

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]