All language subtitles for NOVA.S47E08.Eagle.Power.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DDP.2.0.H.264-GNOME_track3_[eng]

af Afrikaans
ak Akan
sq Albanian
am Amharic
ar Arabic
hy Armenian
az Azerbaijani
eu Basque
be Belarusian
bem Bemba
bn Bengali
bh Bihari
bs Bosnian
br Breton
bg Bulgarian
km Cambodian
ca Catalan
ceb Cebuano
chr Cherokee
ny Chichewa
zh-CN Chinese (Simplified)
zh-TW Chinese (Traditional)
co Corsican
hr Croatian
cs Czech
da Danish
nl Dutch
en English
eo Esperanto
et Estonian
ee Ewe
fo Faroese
tl Filipino
fi Finnish
fr French
fy Frisian
gaa Ga
gl Galician
ka Georgian
de German
gn Guarani
gu Gujarati
ht Haitian Creole
ha Hausa
haw Hawaiian
iw Hebrew
hi Hindi
hmn Hmong
hu Hungarian
is Icelandic
ig Igbo
id Indonesian
ia Interlingua
ga Irish
it Italian
ja Japanese
jw Javanese
kn Kannada
kk Kazakh
rw Kinyarwanda
rn Kirundi
kg Kongo
ko Korean
kri Krio (Sierra Leone)
ku Kurdish
ckb Kurdish (Soranî)
ky Kyrgyz
lo Laothian
la Latin
lv Latvian
ln Lingala
lt Lithuanian
loz Lozi
lg Luganda
ach Luo
lb Luxembourgish
mk Macedonian
mg Malagasy
ms Malay
ml Malayalam
mt Maltese
mi Maori
mr Marathi
mfe Mauritian Creole
mo Moldavian
mn Mongolian
my Myanmar (Burmese)
sr-ME Montenegrin
ne Nepali
pcm Nigerian Pidgin
nso Northern Sotho
no Norwegian
nn Norwegian (Nynorsk)
oc Occitan
or Oriya
om Oromo
ps Pashto
fa Persian
pl Polish
pt-BR Portuguese (Brazil)
pt Portuguese (Portugal)
pa Punjabi
qu Quechua
ro Romanian
rm Romansh
nyn Runyakitara
ru Russian
sm Samoan
gd Scots Gaelic
sr Serbian
sh Serbo-Croatian
st Sesotho
tn Setswana
crs Seychellois Creole
sn Shona
sd Sindhi
si Sinhalese
sk Slovak
sl Slovenian
so Somali
es Spanish
es-419 Spanish (Latin American)
su Sundanese
sw Swahili
sv Swedish
tg Tajik
ta Tamil
tt Tatar
te Telugu
th Thai
ti Tigrinya
to Tonga
lua Tshiluba
tum Tumbuka
tr Turkish
tk Turkmen
tw Twi
ug Uighur
uk Ukrainian
ur Urdu
uz Uzbek
vi Vietnamese
cy Welsh
wo Wolof
xh Xhosa
yi Yiddish
yo Yoruba
zu Zulu
Would you like to inspect the original subtitles? These are the user uploaded subtitles that are being translated: 1 00:00:09,423 --> 00:00:10,803 High-flying... 2 00:00:10,838 --> 00:00:14,048 sharp-eyed... 3 00:00:14,083 --> 00:00:16,602 and deadly. 4 00:00:17,776 --> 00:00:19,778 From mountaintops 5 00:00:19,812 --> 00:00:21,711 to river valleys, 6 00:00:21,745 --> 00:00:23,747 eagles rule the skies. 7 00:00:25,473 --> 00:00:28,718 Strong enough to take down enormous quarry, 8 00:00:28,752 --> 00:00:32,066 they are the ultimate bird of prey. 9 00:00:33,861 --> 00:00:37,830 By following a family of bald eagles... 10 00:00:37,865 --> 00:00:39,108 This is our national symbol. 11 00:00:39,142 --> 00:00:40,074 These are powerful birds. 12 00:00:41,282 --> 00:00:43,181 Witnessing eagles in action... 13 00:00:43,215 --> 00:00:44,699 She's doing 14 00:00:44,734 --> 00:00:46,494 eight, nine, ten miles an hour... up! 15 00:00:46,529 --> 00:00:48,634 And that's fast. 16 00:00:48,669 --> 00:00:52,569 And by joining one man and his feathered friend, 17 00:00:52,604 --> 00:00:55,538 these icons of the air will be put to the test... 18 00:00:57,885 --> 00:01:00,267 What a girl! 19 00:01:00,301 --> 00:01:01,440 That is actually very, very impressive. 20 00:01:01,475 --> 00:01:04,064 To reveal what it takes 21 00:01:04,098 --> 00:01:07,619 and even what it feels like... 22 00:01:07,653 --> 00:01:08,999 Wow. 23 00:01:09,034 --> 00:01:11,899 We're flying with a golden eagle. 24 00:01:11,933 --> 00:01:14,936 To be the most powerful bird in the sky. 25 00:01:17,180 --> 00:01:18,319 "Eagle Power." 26 00:01:18,354 --> 00:01:21,253 Right now, on "NOVA." 27 00:01:41,135 --> 00:01:44,690 It's late winter in Iowa. 28 00:01:50,593 --> 00:01:52,422 Under the most recent snowfall, 29 00:01:52,457 --> 00:01:55,425 this bald eagle is trying to protect 30 00:01:55,460 --> 00:01:58,497 her most precious possessions. 31 00:02:03,709 --> 00:02:08,162 These two eggs must be kept at around 99 degrees Fahrenheit 32 00:02:08,197 --> 00:02:11,131 to hatch successfully. 33 00:02:13,926 --> 00:02:18,034 At night, temperatures plummet to minus 13. 34 00:02:22,694 --> 00:02:26,663 By day, it's cold enough to freeze her eyelashes. 35 00:02:28,803 --> 00:02:35,293 But she'll do whatever she can to keep her eggs safe. 36 00:02:38,330 --> 00:02:41,195 This nest has been rigged with cameras 37 00:02:41,230 --> 00:02:43,818 to reveal what it takes for these eggs 38 00:02:43,853 --> 00:02:47,374 to develop into top aerial predators. 39 00:02:57,246 --> 00:03:02,320 Bald eagles are just one of around 70 different species 40 00:03:02,354 --> 00:03:05,254 in the eagle world, 41 00:03:05,288 --> 00:03:10,707 every one a mesmerizing blend of power and beauty. 42 00:03:12,744 --> 00:03:18,094 They've conquered a huge range of habitats across the planet, 43 00:03:18,128 --> 00:03:22,719 from harpy eagles in the rain forests of South America 44 00:03:22,754 --> 00:03:27,724 to Steller's sea eagles in the icy North Pacific 45 00:03:27,759 --> 00:03:32,350 and fish eagles in the great lakes of Africa. 46 00:03:33,834 --> 00:03:37,320 They live at the top of the food chain. 47 00:03:37,355 --> 00:03:39,115 But to dominate their world, 48 00:03:39,149 --> 00:03:42,636 they must overcome three major challenges. 49 00:03:44,948 --> 00:03:48,952 They have to cover hundreds of miles on the wing, 50 00:03:48,987 --> 00:03:51,714 spot their prey at vast distances, 51 00:03:51,748 --> 00:03:55,890 and tackle the largest quarry 52 00:03:55,925 --> 00:03:58,238 of any bird species. 53 00:04:00,964 --> 00:04:04,623 To reveal exactly how eagles achieve this... 54 00:04:07,108 --> 00:04:13,045 We need access to a remarkable bird. 55 00:04:21,537 --> 00:04:26,196 This is Tilly, a golden eagle 56 00:04:26,231 --> 00:04:31,029 with a wingspan of almost six-and-a-half feet. 57 00:04:31,063 --> 00:04:33,169 Similar in size to a bald eagle, 58 00:04:33,203 --> 00:04:37,138 golden eagles range across much of the Northern Hemisphere, 59 00:04:37,173 --> 00:04:40,625 including Asia, Europe, and North America. 60 00:04:40,659 --> 00:04:44,594 But what makes her special is the relationship she has 61 00:04:44,629 --> 00:04:46,320 with her lifelong partner, 62 00:04:46,355 --> 00:04:49,150 Lloyd Buck. 63 00:04:52,740 --> 00:04:55,053 Hello! 64 00:04:55,087 --> 00:04:56,330 Hello, my love. 65 00:04:56,365 --> 00:04:58,953 You enjoying yourself, eh? 66 00:04:58,988 --> 00:05:00,610 You're the best, ain't you? 67 00:05:00,645 --> 00:05:03,579 You're a once-in-a-lifetime bird, you are, eh? 68 00:05:03,613 --> 00:05:07,272 I'll never have another birdlike you ever, will I? 69 00:05:08,515 --> 00:05:10,275 Since he was a child, 70 00:05:10,310 --> 00:05:13,485 Lloyd Buck has been obsessed with birds. 71 00:05:16,143 --> 00:05:18,352 At his home in North Somerset, England, 72 00:05:18,387 --> 00:05:21,182 he has special licenses to keep and train 73 00:05:21,217 --> 00:05:24,393 many different species. 74 00:05:24,427 --> 00:05:29,432 But one particular bird stands out... Tilly. 75 00:05:29,467 --> 00:05:33,609 They have been together for 20 years 76 00:05:33,643 --> 00:05:37,647 and have forged an exceptionally close bond. 77 00:05:41,513 --> 00:05:46,691 Tilly behaves as if Lloyd is her mate for life. 78 00:05:46,725 --> 00:05:50,177 Go on, go and enjoy yourself, my love. 79 00:05:50,211 --> 00:05:51,799 I wish I was you. 80 00:05:51,834 --> 00:05:53,974 I wish I was you! 81 00:05:55,941 --> 00:05:58,427 Thanks to Lloyd's dedicated work with Tilly, 82 00:05:58,461 --> 00:06:03,052 she acts just like a wild eagle, but is also comfortable 83 00:06:03,086 --> 00:06:06,124 around scientific equipment and cameras. 84 00:06:06,158 --> 00:06:09,127 Their unique bond provides a special opportunity 85 00:06:09,161 --> 00:06:13,718 to learn more about these remarkable predators. 86 00:06:13,752 --> 00:06:16,030 Eagles are such inspirational birds. 87 00:06:17,963 --> 00:06:19,068 There's so much, I think, 88 00:06:19,102 --> 00:06:21,173 that we don't understand about them, 89 00:06:21,208 --> 00:06:23,693 and that's what I'm hoping to learn here, 90 00:06:23,728 --> 00:06:25,626 a little window into her world, 91 00:06:25,661 --> 00:06:27,110 into the world of eagles. 92 00:06:29,458 --> 00:06:32,392 Together, Lloyd and Tilly 93 00:06:32,426 --> 00:06:35,636 will take on a series of tests that will unlock 94 00:06:35,671 --> 00:06:38,812 the science of eagle power. 95 00:06:46,923 --> 00:06:50,064 In Iowa, it's the first week of April, 96 00:06:50,099 --> 00:06:52,308 and the female seems restless. 97 00:06:55,380 --> 00:06:59,902 One of the chicks is starting to hatch. 98 00:07:06,218 --> 00:07:09,256 After 37 days of incubation, 99 00:07:09,290 --> 00:07:12,742 it uses a tiny egg tooth on top of its beak 100 00:07:12,777 --> 00:07:15,987 to crack the shell in a bid for freedom. 101 00:07:41,702 --> 00:07:47,294 Three days later, it's joined by its sibling. 102 00:07:50,608 --> 00:07:53,127 Even at this young age, they need to eat 103 00:07:53,162 --> 00:07:56,130 almost half their body weight in meat 104 00:07:56,165 --> 00:07:57,373 every day. 105 00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:01,550 Thankfully, 106 00:08:01,584 --> 00:08:05,726 help is on hand to bring in fresh supplies. 107 00:08:09,143 --> 00:08:11,214 This is the male, 108 00:08:11,249 --> 00:08:14,114 and as with all bald eagles, 109 00:08:14,148 --> 00:08:16,910 he's about 20% smaller than his mate. 110 00:08:16,944 --> 00:08:19,326 It's thought she might be bigger 111 00:08:19,360 --> 00:08:22,709 to help produce and incubate the eggs. 112 00:08:25,056 --> 00:08:28,438 Bald eagles normally pair for life, 113 00:08:28,473 --> 00:08:29,612 but the female's previous partner 114 00:08:29,647 --> 00:08:31,649 has disappeared, 115 00:08:31,683 --> 00:08:34,548 so this male is new. 116 00:08:36,688 --> 00:08:40,520 The breeding season can last around ten months, 117 00:08:40,554 --> 00:08:42,832 so rearing the chicks will be a real test 118 00:08:42,867 --> 00:08:45,145 of their new relationship. 119 00:08:48,113 --> 00:08:51,600 The chicks' weight can increase by a staggering 500% 120 00:08:51,634 --> 00:08:54,982 in their first week. 121 00:08:55,017 --> 00:08:58,192 So the adults spend much of the time hunting. 122 00:09:10,308 --> 00:09:14,657 Bald eagles are masters of hunting fish. 123 00:09:14,692 --> 00:09:17,867 They can make up to 90% of their diet. 124 00:09:24,391 --> 00:09:28,015 They are able to pluck their prey from the water surface 125 00:09:28,050 --> 00:09:30,673 with incredible precision. 126 00:09:43,928 --> 00:09:49,623 But rabbits and squirrels are also brought to the nest. 127 00:09:49,658 --> 00:09:50,728 For now, 128 00:09:50,762 --> 00:09:53,593 the partnership of the mother and her mate 129 00:09:53,627 --> 00:09:57,217 is providing all the food the chicks need. 130 00:10:05,087 --> 00:10:10,126 Eagles around the world catch a huge variety of prey, 131 00:10:10,161 --> 00:10:12,542 so they have a range of hunting techniques. 132 00:10:15,304 --> 00:10:19,239 In the mountains of Oman, this Verreaux's eagle 133 00:10:19,273 --> 00:10:22,829 is after a terrestrial target. 134 00:10:24,071 --> 00:10:27,834 Rock hyrax. 135 00:10:27,868 --> 00:10:30,630 These small mammals are equipped with special vision: 136 00:10:30,664 --> 00:10:33,563 a shield on their iris 137 00:10:33,598 --> 00:10:36,118 that cuts out glare, 138 00:10:36,152 --> 00:10:40,260 helping them spot the predator, even in bright sunlight. 139 00:10:42,193 --> 00:10:46,093 But this eagle is just a decoy. 140 00:10:46,128 --> 00:10:50,719 Verreaux's eagles hunt in pairs. 141 00:10:51,961 --> 00:10:54,619 One flies in plain sight, 142 00:10:54,654 --> 00:10:56,621 distracting the hyrax. 143 00:10:59,279 --> 00:11:03,007 While the second eagle hugs the contours of the land, 144 00:11:03,041 --> 00:11:04,353 staying hidden... 145 00:11:06,562 --> 00:11:09,427 Until the last moment. 146 00:11:17,124 --> 00:11:18,712 Catching quarry like this 147 00:11:18,747 --> 00:11:22,612 is a dangerous task. 148 00:11:22,647 --> 00:11:26,444 There is no room for error. 149 00:11:29,792 --> 00:11:34,728 When eagles hunt airborne prey, if something goes wrong, 150 00:11:34,763 --> 00:11:38,698 they have more space and time to get out of trouble. 151 00:11:38,732 --> 00:11:43,703 They can even escape a glancing blow with the water surface. 152 00:11:43,737 --> 00:11:49,881 But when the prey is on hard ground, it's a different story. 153 00:11:49,916 --> 00:11:54,265 One wrong move could result in a deadly collision. 154 00:11:58,407 --> 00:12:01,721 Especially with large, heavy prey. 155 00:12:05,863 --> 00:12:08,797 There is no margin for error. 156 00:12:08,831 --> 00:12:13,318 They must capture their victim without mistake. 157 00:12:17,978 --> 00:12:23,743 So exactly how do eagles catch prey on land? 158 00:12:25,227 --> 00:12:29,334 To find out, Lloyd has come to Scotland 159 00:12:29,369 --> 00:12:33,718 to put his golden eagle, Tilly, to the test. 160 00:12:36,169 --> 00:12:41,691 But first, he needs something for her to hunt. 161 00:12:41,726 --> 00:12:47,042 This is robo-bunny. 162 00:12:49,976 --> 00:12:53,703 Designed and created by tech wizard Chris Watts, 163 00:12:53,738 --> 00:12:56,534 with a fake fur coat and high-speed motors, 164 00:12:56,568 --> 00:12:58,743 it can blend into the undergrowth 165 00:12:58,778 --> 00:13:01,228 or flash across the open. 166 00:13:01,263 --> 00:13:05,060 It's fitted with an onboard 360 camera 167 00:13:05,094 --> 00:13:07,338 to help capture all of the action, 168 00:13:07,372 --> 00:13:10,030 and a bit of bait to get Tilly's attention. 169 00:13:10,065 --> 00:13:12,170 Okay, she's gonna rouse. 170 00:13:12,205 --> 00:13:13,896 Get ready. 171 00:13:13,931 --> 00:13:15,070 Okay, go, go, go, go, fast, fast! 172 00:13:17,313 --> 00:13:20,730 In a matter of seconds, Tilly locks on to her target. 173 00:13:22,215 --> 00:13:23,803 Ooh! 174 00:13:23,837 --> 00:13:27,254 She's got him, she's done it... thank you very much, Tilly. 175 00:13:27,289 --> 00:13:29,360 Good girl. 176 00:13:29,394 --> 00:13:31,949 To challenge Tilly's hunting ability, 177 00:13:31,983 --> 00:13:35,849 they repeat the test in different conditions. 178 00:13:35,884 --> 00:13:38,438 Go! 179 00:13:38,472 --> 00:13:42,131 From strong winds and overcast skies 180 00:13:42,166 --> 00:13:43,546 to bright sunlight. 181 00:13:46,929 --> 00:13:51,002 But the outcome is the same. 182 00:13:51,037 --> 00:13:52,383 Tilly wins. 183 00:13:56,490 --> 00:13:59,562 To reveal the secret to her success, 184 00:13:59,597 --> 00:14:02,358 the team needs to go through the footage 185 00:14:02,393 --> 00:14:03,877 frame by frame. 186 00:14:06,224 --> 00:14:10,573 First, Tilly keeps a constant lock on robo-bunny's position. 187 00:14:13,887 --> 00:14:18,409 Next, she uses her wings to adjust her trajectory 188 00:14:18,443 --> 00:14:21,688 as the wind changes or the target moves. 189 00:14:25,450 --> 00:14:30,628 She keeps her legs tucked in to stay aerodynamic. 190 00:14:30,662 --> 00:14:33,976 Then, just a quarter of a second before impact, 191 00:14:34,011 --> 00:14:36,461 she swings her feet forwards 192 00:14:36,496 --> 00:14:40,534 so both eyes can see robo-bunny and her talons. 193 00:14:40,569 --> 00:14:45,401 And she makes perfect contact. 194 00:14:47,645 --> 00:14:48,991 But there is one more element... 195 00:14:49,026 --> 00:14:50,544 Okay, get ready, Chris. 196 00:14:50,579 --> 00:14:52,615 To Tilly's hunting ability. 197 00:15:01,624 --> 00:15:05,559 Robo-bunny weighs about 13 pounds, 198 00:15:05,594 --> 00:15:08,804 one-and-a-half times more than Tilly. 199 00:15:15,949 --> 00:15:21,092 Remarkably, not only can she strike robo-bunny... 200 00:15:23,267 --> 00:15:26,270 She can lift it into the air. 201 00:15:28,272 --> 00:15:34,036 She even has the strength to pick it up with one foot... 202 00:15:34,071 --> 00:15:35,865 an amazing achievement for a load 203 00:15:35,900 --> 00:15:41,457 weighing 150% of her own body weight. 204 00:15:41,492 --> 00:15:43,287 Yes! 205 00:15:43,321 --> 00:15:46,255 What a girl! 206 00:15:46,290 --> 00:15:47,774 Good bird, there's a good eagle. 207 00:15:50,052 --> 00:15:51,709 Tilly's abilities have exceeded 208 00:15:51,743 --> 00:15:56,127 all of Lloyd's expectations. 209 00:15:56,162 --> 00:15:59,544 She's able to do this thanks to the most important weapon 210 00:15:59,579 --> 00:16:01,029 for any eagle... 211 00:16:01,063 --> 00:16:04,687 talons. 212 00:16:04,722 --> 00:16:08,105 As veterinarian Michael Jones explains. 213 00:16:08,139 --> 00:16:10,866 Eagle talons are very well adapted for killing prey. 214 00:16:10,900 --> 00:16:13,696 Not only do you have the strength in their feet, 215 00:16:13,731 --> 00:16:16,113 but you also have this talon size, as well. 216 00:16:18,529 --> 00:16:20,876 The harpy eagle has some of the largest talons 217 00:16:20,910 --> 00:16:22,395 in the world, 218 00:16:22,429 --> 00:16:26,537 measuring nearly five inches. 219 00:16:26,571 --> 00:16:28,297 The talons are largest on digit one and digit two, 220 00:16:28,332 --> 00:16:30,955 and those are the ones that typically hold the prey. 221 00:16:30,990 --> 00:16:34,579 Unfortunately for the prey, because they are so powerful, 222 00:16:34,614 --> 00:16:36,167 the prey is usually going to succumb 223 00:16:36,202 --> 00:16:38,894 to either extreme pressure, 224 00:16:38,928 --> 00:16:41,448 multiple puncture wounds to the body and vital organs, 225 00:16:41,483 --> 00:16:42,449 or blood loss. 226 00:16:44,382 --> 00:16:48,800 To do this, eagles have to grip with enormous force. 227 00:16:48,835 --> 00:16:50,457 But what is most impressive is, 228 00:16:50,492 --> 00:16:53,322 they can hold this crushing pressure 229 00:16:53,357 --> 00:16:57,257 for a long time with little effort, 230 00:16:57,292 --> 00:17:02,262 and it's all thanks to some impressive mechanics. 231 00:17:04,368 --> 00:17:07,819 Their feet have an in-built ratchet system. 232 00:17:10,581 --> 00:17:13,653 The tendons in their toes are ridged, 233 00:17:13,687 --> 00:17:17,036 and so is the tissue around them. 234 00:17:17,070 --> 00:17:20,004 This creates a simple locking mechanism, 235 00:17:20,039 --> 00:17:22,800 so the surrounding muscles can relax 236 00:17:22,834 --> 00:17:27,080 without losing any grip force. 237 00:17:27,115 --> 00:17:29,876 Many bird species have this adaptation, 238 00:17:29,910 --> 00:17:30,877 but in eagles, 239 00:17:30,911 --> 00:17:34,018 the ridges are particularly large 240 00:17:34,053 --> 00:17:36,952 to cope with the enormous power. 241 00:17:39,955 --> 00:17:43,441 Creating and maintaining such a high force 242 00:17:43,476 --> 00:17:46,237 is a critical part of an eagle's armory. 243 00:17:49,413 --> 00:17:53,831 And it helps them hunt even the largest prey. 244 00:17:57,179 --> 00:18:01,045 But these super-strong weapons 245 00:18:01,080 --> 00:18:04,359 have a second, essential, purpose: 246 00:18:04,393 --> 00:18:06,602 to fight. 247 00:18:15,128 --> 00:18:19,857 Winter in the Alps is desperately bleak. 248 00:18:19,891 --> 00:18:25,518 Golden eagles soar above the snowy peaks in search of prey, 249 00:18:25,552 --> 00:18:27,278 but food is so scarce here, 250 00:18:27,313 --> 00:18:30,592 they frequently turn to scavenging. 251 00:18:41,603 --> 00:18:45,089 A dead fox. 252 00:18:45,124 --> 00:18:48,644 It could support this female eagle for days. 253 00:18:50,198 --> 00:18:52,338 Such a prized meal is in demand, 254 00:18:52,372 --> 00:18:55,030 and a devious mob of crows will try anything 255 00:18:55,064 --> 00:18:58,102 to steal a mouthful. 256 00:19:01,243 --> 00:19:03,866 A flash of talons seems enough to remind them 257 00:19:03,901 --> 00:19:06,214 who's at the top of the food chain. 258 00:19:14,049 --> 00:19:18,329 But these annoying crows are the least of her worries. 259 00:19:18,364 --> 00:19:22,057 The biggest threat comes from her own kind. 260 00:19:51,500 --> 00:19:56,333 A meal like this attracts eagles from miles around, 261 00:19:56,367 --> 00:19:59,474 and, if needed, they'll fight for the food. 262 00:19:59,508 --> 00:20:05,204 In battle, talons are their weapons of choice. 263 00:20:05,238 --> 00:20:08,137 They use their long legs to keep their head, 264 00:20:08,172 --> 00:20:09,760 and, importantly, their eyes, 265 00:20:09,794 --> 00:20:12,659 away from danger. 266 00:20:15,179 --> 00:20:17,975 They must fight to survive. 267 00:20:37,512 --> 00:20:38,685 In Iowa... 268 00:20:41,378 --> 00:20:46,279 Our bald eagle youngsters are now one-and-a-half weeks old, 269 00:20:46,314 --> 00:20:48,108 and still defenseless. 270 00:20:48,143 --> 00:20:52,389 Even the slightest thing can pose a threat. 271 00:20:56,496 --> 00:21:01,536 Somehow, one has become tangled in the female's feathers, 272 00:21:01,570 --> 00:21:03,641 and it's at risk of choking. 273 00:21:09,164 --> 00:21:13,962 It's hard to know how this has happened. 274 00:21:13,996 --> 00:21:17,103 Even the mother seems confused and stressed. 275 00:21:34,845 --> 00:21:37,296 The more she moves around, 276 00:21:37,330 --> 00:21:39,850 the more she pulls on the chick's neck. 277 00:21:57,350 --> 00:22:00,526 It's a lucky escape. 278 00:22:00,560 --> 00:22:03,874 But now it's stuck on its back. 279 00:22:03,908 --> 00:22:06,773 Dad's busy looking after the other chick, 280 00:22:06,808 --> 00:22:08,672 and doesn't seem to want to help. 281 00:22:10,294 --> 00:22:12,469 Less than half of all bald eagle chicks 282 00:22:12,503 --> 00:22:16,231 will survive their first year. 283 00:22:17,646 --> 00:22:19,752 The odds may be against it, 284 00:22:19,786 --> 00:22:25,447 but those powerful talons come to the rescue. 285 00:22:29,589 --> 00:22:31,108 Over the next few weeks, 286 00:22:31,142 --> 00:22:34,905 the parents will bring in around five fish a day 287 00:22:34,939 --> 00:22:38,874 to help the chicks grow. 288 00:22:38,909 --> 00:22:40,359 And by a month old, 289 00:22:40,393 --> 00:22:44,535 some obvious changes start to show. 290 00:22:46,468 --> 00:22:48,332 Their fluffy thermal down, 291 00:22:48,367 --> 00:22:51,128 which has kept them warm all this time, 292 00:22:51,162 --> 00:22:54,131 is slowly being covered by juvenile flight feathers. 293 00:22:55,684 --> 00:22:57,065 These will continue to grow 294 00:22:57,099 --> 00:22:59,585 until they reach their maximum length, 295 00:22:59,619 --> 00:23:01,932 around the time they fledge. 296 00:23:04,244 --> 00:23:09,595 But perhaps the most important change is in their vision. 297 00:23:09,629 --> 00:23:12,667 Their eyes open within hours of hatching, 298 00:23:12,701 --> 00:23:14,462 but much like a human baby, 299 00:23:14,496 --> 00:23:18,776 it's thought they're born with poor sight. 300 00:23:18,811 --> 00:23:22,504 It takes a few weeks for their eyesight to sharpen 301 00:23:22,539 --> 00:23:24,541 and become one of the most powerful senses 302 00:23:24,575 --> 00:23:27,854 in the animal world. 303 00:23:30,616 --> 00:23:32,514 Eagles' vision is phenomenal. 304 00:23:32,549 --> 00:23:34,551 They have different areas in their retina 305 00:23:34,585 --> 00:23:36,760 that allow them to have increased visual acuity. 306 00:23:36,794 --> 00:23:39,797 It's very important that they have that visual acuity 307 00:23:39,832 --> 00:23:45,285 to be able to capture their prey and be successful in the hunt. 308 00:23:46,770 --> 00:23:49,773 We describe anyone with exceptional sight 309 00:23:49,807 --> 00:23:52,741 as "eagle-eyed." 310 00:23:54,536 --> 00:23:57,953 But just how good is it? 311 00:24:00,404 --> 00:24:01,957 To find out, 312 00:24:01,992 --> 00:24:05,478 Lloyd Buck has brought his golden eagle, Tilly, 313 00:24:05,513 --> 00:24:08,826 to a remote part of Scotland. 314 00:24:18,008 --> 00:24:21,460 They're joined by Professor Graham Martin, 315 00:24:21,494 --> 00:24:24,324 an expert in avian vision. 316 00:24:27,120 --> 00:24:29,053 I'm intrigued to learn more 317 00:24:29,088 --> 00:24:31,090 about just how good her eyesight is. 318 00:24:31,124 --> 00:24:33,161 Okay, well, I think we can set something up. 319 00:24:33,195 --> 00:24:35,266 A sort of game of hide and seek, perhaps? 320 00:24:36,923 --> 00:24:41,065 Tilly must find Lloyd somewhere in this landscape. 321 00:24:41,100 --> 00:24:45,518 Her cage has been covered, so she can't cheat. 322 00:24:45,553 --> 00:24:49,522 Lloyd has found a position one-and-a-half miles away 323 00:24:49,557 --> 00:24:51,869 on the other side of the glen, 324 00:24:51,904 --> 00:24:55,528 and weather conditions are not ideal. 325 00:24:55,563 --> 00:24:58,566 Even with a powerful telephoto lens, 326 00:24:58,600 --> 00:25:01,327 it's hard to pick out Graham and Tilly. 327 00:25:01,361 --> 00:25:02,984 It's a long way. 328 00:25:03,018 --> 00:25:06,228 I cannot see you without a pair of binoculars, 329 00:25:06,263 --> 00:25:07,436 and even with the binoculars, 330 00:25:07,471 --> 00:25:10,094 there's that much moisture in the air, so... 331 00:25:10,129 --> 00:25:12,890 Let's see what she does now... this is the big test. 332 00:25:12,925 --> 00:25:16,169 Okay, then, well, I'll, I'll release her now, okay? 333 00:25:16,204 --> 00:25:18,758 Okay, good luck... come on, Tilly. 334 00:25:18,793 --> 00:25:19,759 Come on, Tills. 335 00:25:22,279 --> 00:25:24,212 She's off. 336 00:25:24,246 --> 00:25:27,353 She's looking very hard. 337 00:25:27,387 --> 00:25:30,252 I'm sure she's trying to find you. 338 00:25:30,287 --> 00:25:33,497 Tilly has never faced a challenge like this, 339 00:25:33,532 --> 00:25:36,500 but she appears to spot Lloyd almost immediately 340 00:25:36,535 --> 00:25:39,365 and makes her way to the other side of the glen. 341 00:25:39,399 --> 00:25:42,644 Come on, Tilly, come on! 342 00:25:45,682 --> 00:25:48,512 Tilly takes an indirect route, 343 00:25:48,547 --> 00:25:51,170 riding a series of strong air currents 344 00:25:51,204 --> 00:25:54,173 to reach Lloyd more efficiently 345 00:25:54,207 --> 00:25:56,727 and much faster. 346 00:25:56,762 --> 00:26:00,628 She's coming in, she's coming in fast, whoo-hoo! 347 00:26:00,662 --> 00:26:02,043 She's done it, Graham. 348 00:26:02,077 --> 00:26:03,596 Absolutely hammering across the valley. 349 00:26:05,943 --> 00:26:08,014 What a bird she is. 350 00:26:14,503 --> 00:26:17,817 You clever bird. 351 00:26:17,852 --> 00:26:19,612 Whoo-hoo! 352 00:26:19,647 --> 00:26:21,787 What an eagle you are, eh? 353 00:26:21,821 --> 00:26:23,167 Hello! 354 00:26:24,962 --> 00:26:26,964 Graham, she's on my arm. 355 00:26:26,999 --> 00:26:30,416 That is absolutely incredible... I'm so pleased with her. 356 00:26:30,450 --> 00:26:33,005 I've never asked her to find me like that. 357 00:26:33,039 --> 00:26:35,490 That is actually very, very impressive 358 00:26:35,524 --> 00:26:37,803 because it took really very little time at all. 359 00:26:39,459 --> 00:26:42,531 Tilly spotted Lloyd in this enormous landscape 360 00:26:42,566 --> 00:26:45,258 from a mile and a half away, 361 00:26:45,293 --> 00:26:49,711 a feat so impressive, it seems almost super powered. 362 00:26:51,299 --> 00:26:53,128 So how does she achieve this? 363 00:26:54,889 --> 00:26:58,237 Much like a human's eye, images are projected 364 00:26:58,271 --> 00:27:03,242 onto the retina at the back of the eagle's eye. 365 00:27:03,276 --> 00:27:08,178 This area is covered with light sensitive cells known as cones. 366 00:27:08,212 --> 00:27:12,009 The more cones, the sharper the eyesight. 367 00:27:12,044 --> 00:27:16,911 A human eye may have 200,000 cones per square millimeter. 368 00:27:16,945 --> 00:27:20,673 But eagles can have over twice as many, 369 00:27:20,708 --> 00:27:22,848 giving them the sharpest eyesight 370 00:27:22,882 --> 00:27:25,609 of any vertebrate animal. 371 00:27:27,922 --> 00:27:31,788 The eagles' supreme visual acuity 372 00:27:31,822 --> 00:27:35,446 gives them a huge advantage. 373 00:27:35,481 --> 00:27:39,554 It means they can quickly pick out prey in a vast landscape. 374 00:27:40,969 --> 00:27:43,178 But there's an unexpected downside 375 00:27:43,213 --> 00:27:46,078 to having such sharp vision. 376 00:27:46,112 --> 00:27:50,392 The problem is you don't want to get the sun in your eyes. 377 00:27:50,427 --> 00:27:53,533 It would destroy all the very high acuity it's got. 378 00:27:53,568 --> 00:27:54,776 So they have these big eyebrows, 379 00:27:54,811 --> 00:27:55,984 it's like wearing a baseball cap. 380 00:27:56,019 --> 00:27:57,365 Yeah. That's all designed 381 00:27:57,399 --> 00:27:58,711 to keep the sun out of their eyes 382 00:27:58,746 --> 00:28:00,955 so they don't actually ever image the sun. 383 00:28:00,989 --> 00:28:04,786 This brow ridge is what gives eagles 384 00:28:04,821 --> 00:28:06,581 their fearsome stare. 385 00:28:08,065 --> 00:28:11,275 But it has a serious drawback. 386 00:28:11,310 --> 00:28:13,036 Of course, if you've got... keeping the sun 387 00:28:13,070 --> 00:28:15,901 out of your eyes, you can't actually see what's up there. 388 00:28:15,935 --> 00:28:18,248 What an eagle wants to do is patrol 389 00:28:18,282 --> 00:28:20,733 and look down at the big terrain below it, 390 00:28:20,768 --> 00:28:22,390 and it's bending its head forward, 391 00:28:22,424 --> 00:28:24,772 it's tipping its head down to have a look. 392 00:28:24,806 --> 00:28:26,601 And that means that this blind area 393 00:28:26,635 --> 00:28:28,637 which is designed to keep the sun out of their eyes 394 00:28:28,672 --> 00:28:30,363 is stopping them actually looking where they're going. 395 00:28:32,365 --> 00:28:36,300 This blind spot is not normally a problem. 396 00:28:36,335 --> 00:28:42,444 In their natural environment, they soar high above the trees. 397 00:28:42,479 --> 00:28:47,864 But in a modern landscape, it can be a fatal flaw. 398 00:28:47,898 --> 00:28:49,106 Across the world, 399 00:28:49,141 --> 00:28:53,766 eagles are colliding with man-made structures. 400 00:28:53,801 --> 00:28:56,286 Wind turbines, which are often built 401 00:28:56,320 --> 00:29:00,497 in wild landscapes, are a particular problem. 402 00:29:00,531 --> 00:29:03,258 So, at this wind farm in Wyoming, 403 00:29:03,293 --> 00:29:06,296 environmental scientists like Misti Sporer 404 00:29:06,330 --> 00:29:09,644 are trying to protect the eagles. 405 00:29:09,678 --> 00:29:11,853 This is the eagle observation tower. 406 00:29:11,888 --> 00:29:15,339 So when they see an eagle enter into the area 407 00:29:15,374 --> 00:29:17,341 where the turbine blade would pass through, 408 00:29:17,376 --> 00:29:18,998 they will shut that turbine down 409 00:29:19,033 --> 00:29:23,106 and the eagle is able to pass through the area going unharmed. 410 00:29:23,140 --> 00:29:25,280 And then once that eagle has left, 411 00:29:25,315 --> 00:29:26,557 they start the turbine back up, 412 00:29:26,592 --> 00:29:29,181 so we can continue generating electricity. 413 00:29:29,215 --> 00:29:32,667 So, we do lose a little bit of energy throughout the process 414 00:29:32,701 --> 00:29:34,151 but it's worth it to save an eagle. 415 00:29:36,050 --> 00:29:39,605 But human eyesight isn't always reliable. 416 00:29:39,639 --> 00:29:42,297 When an eagle flies against the sunlight, 417 00:29:42,332 --> 00:29:43,712 it can be hard to spot. 418 00:29:45,059 --> 00:29:48,131 So this wind farm is now using artificial intelligence 419 00:29:48,165 --> 00:29:52,791 to improve their odds. 420 00:29:52,825 --> 00:29:55,034 Identi-Flight utilizes eight cameras around the bottom, 421 00:29:55,069 --> 00:29:58,693 so it can see in 360 degrees. 422 00:29:58,727 --> 00:29:59,901 There are two cameras up top 423 00:29:59,936 --> 00:30:01,938 that are capable of tracking an object 424 00:30:01,972 --> 00:30:03,836 as it flies through an area. 425 00:30:03,871 --> 00:30:08,392 In just one second, the system can figure out 426 00:30:08,427 --> 00:30:11,499 if a flying object is an eagle or not, 427 00:30:11,533 --> 00:30:13,397 and only if it flies too close 428 00:30:13,432 --> 00:30:18,678 will it temporarily shut down any turbines in its path. 429 00:30:18,713 --> 00:30:20,715 It's over five times more effective 430 00:30:20,749 --> 00:30:22,130 at seeing birds than humans, 431 00:30:22,165 --> 00:30:27,101 meaning the eagles here are now much safer. 432 00:30:34,108 --> 00:30:37,525 But across the world, the biggest threats 433 00:30:37,559 --> 00:30:40,977 to eagles are still humans. 434 00:30:44,981 --> 00:30:47,638 In areas around the tropics, 435 00:30:47,673 --> 00:30:50,365 deforestation is threatening jungle species 436 00:30:50,400 --> 00:30:52,298 like the Philippine eagle... 437 00:30:55,232 --> 00:30:57,579 And the harpy eagle. 438 00:30:59,443 --> 00:31:01,894 There are fewer trees for them to nest in... 439 00:31:04,448 --> 00:31:07,417 And far less prey for them to hunt. 440 00:31:09,937 --> 00:31:14,251 Many eagles are also dying from lead poisoning, 441 00:31:14,286 --> 00:31:19,636 as hunting ammunition contaminates leftover carcasses. 442 00:31:19,670 --> 00:31:23,674 In total, more than a third of all eagle species 443 00:31:23,709 --> 00:31:26,988 are considered to be endangered or vulnerable. 444 00:31:28,472 --> 00:31:31,717 In the past, conservationists have been forced 445 00:31:31,751 --> 00:31:34,168 to take drastic action to save eagles 446 00:31:34,202 --> 00:31:37,999 on the brink of extinction. 447 00:31:41,520 --> 00:31:46,732 During the 1940s, DDT, a potent insecticide, 448 00:31:46,766 --> 00:31:49,148 was sprayed widely across the U.S. 449 00:31:49,183 --> 00:31:53,601 to treat pest problems, large or small. 450 00:31:53,635 --> 00:31:58,399 It was even sprayed on humans to rid them of parasites. 451 00:32:01,264 --> 00:32:04,853 But DDT seeped into the ecosystems 452 00:32:04,888 --> 00:32:08,616 and passed from prey to predator, 453 00:32:08,650 --> 00:32:10,273 so those at the top, 454 00:32:10,307 --> 00:32:13,862 especially eagles, were hit hard. 455 00:32:15,312 --> 00:32:18,108 It caused a thinning in eagle eggs, 456 00:32:18,143 --> 00:32:21,353 so they often cracked during incubation, 457 00:32:21,387 --> 00:32:26,151 and it almost wiped them out from parts of the U.S.A. 458 00:32:29,223 --> 00:32:33,434 In 1972, DDT was banned in the U.S., 459 00:32:33,468 --> 00:32:38,715 and some extreme conservation measures were launched. 460 00:32:38,749 --> 00:32:40,510 Eggs were taken from the wild, 461 00:32:40,544 --> 00:32:44,134 hatched safely in captivity, 462 00:32:46,723 --> 00:32:49,139 and the chicks were returned to the nest 463 00:32:49,174 --> 00:32:51,072 to be reared naturally. 464 00:32:52,556 --> 00:32:54,973 And it worked. 465 00:32:58,977 --> 00:33:05,190 There are now thought to be over 140,000 bald eagles in the U.S. 466 00:33:05,224 --> 00:33:08,779 It's a truly remarkable comeback. 467 00:33:17,478 --> 00:33:18,582 In Iowa, 468 00:33:18,617 --> 00:33:22,276 the eaglets have their own dangers to deal with. 469 00:33:24,933 --> 00:33:27,212 They're now eight weeks old, 470 00:33:27,246 --> 00:33:31,457 and have undergone some remarkable changes. 471 00:33:31,492 --> 00:33:34,840 They're nearly fully grown, 472 00:33:34,874 --> 00:33:38,809 and their feathers are almost entirely black. 473 00:33:38,844 --> 00:33:43,400 But something seems to be bothering them. 474 00:33:43,435 --> 00:33:46,265 A wet spring has created ideal conditions 475 00:33:46,300 --> 00:33:50,062 for an infestation of blood-sucking black flies, 476 00:33:50,097 --> 00:33:53,790 and they're attacking the eaglets. 477 00:33:53,824 --> 00:33:55,585 Black flies, which are also called buffalo gnats, 478 00:33:55,619 --> 00:33:57,690 pose a problem for young chicks, 479 00:33:57,725 --> 00:33:59,899 not necessarily because of a single bite 480 00:33:59,934 --> 00:34:02,626 but because they often attack the chicks in large swarms 481 00:34:02,661 --> 00:34:04,249 and you get multiple bite wounds. 482 00:34:04,283 --> 00:34:06,423 And typically chicks will succumb 483 00:34:06,458 --> 00:34:09,668 to either blood loss or even anaphylactic shock 484 00:34:09,702 --> 00:34:10,772 related to the bite. 485 00:34:13,189 --> 00:34:16,295 As weather patterns change year after year, 486 00:34:16,330 --> 00:34:18,608 the number of black flies seems to be 487 00:34:18,642 --> 00:34:20,782 getting higher in this region, 488 00:34:20,817 --> 00:34:23,820 and this season is especially bad. 489 00:34:25,856 --> 00:34:28,204 It's almost certainly making the chicks weaker, 490 00:34:28,238 --> 00:34:32,691 but worse still, the constant biting 491 00:34:32,725 --> 00:34:34,382 is making them restless. 492 00:34:42,839 --> 00:34:45,462 One youngster becomes so uncomfortable, 493 00:34:45,497 --> 00:34:50,226 it climbs the tree to get away. 494 00:34:50,260 --> 00:34:55,714 70 feet up, this is a risky move. 495 00:34:58,544 --> 00:35:01,202 It's too young to fledge, 496 00:35:01,237 --> 00:35:05,448 and too weak to deal with the strong wind. 497 00:35:05,482 --> 00:35:09,590 In desperation, it leaps... 498 00:35:09,624 --> 00:35:13,387 and falls to the ground. 499 00:35:13,421 --> 00:35:17,149 The team monitoring the nest raise the alarm 500 00:35:17,184 --> 00:35:18,978 and send out a search party. 501 00:35:24,191 --> 00:35:26,503 But, in the meantime, the youngest chick 502 00:35:26,538 --> 00:35:30,024 is also driven from the nest by the flies. 503 00:35:43,658 --> 00:35:49,077 It still doesn't have full control of those big talons, 504 00:35:49,112 --> 00:35:52,943 and one mistake is all it takes. 505 00:36:02,263 --> 00:36:05,473 It's a catastrophe. 506 00:36:07,441 --> 00:36:11,479 Somehow, the search team find it alive, 507 00:36:11,514 --> 00:36:15,276 covered in black fly bites. 508 00:36:15,311 --> 00:36:16,519 But, unfortunately, 509 00:36:16,553 --> 00:36:19,763 the eldest chick is still nowhere to be seen. 510 00:36:23,215 --> 00:36:25,286 If the chicks were older, 511 00:36:25,321 --> 00:36:28,807 they could have flown to safety. 512 00:36:28,841 --> 00:36:30,360 But they didn't have time to develop 513 00:36:30,395 --> 00:36:34,192 the strength and coordination required 514 00:36:34,226 --> 00:36:37,367 for one of the eagle's most essential skills... 515 00:36:37,402 --> 00:36:40,474 flight. 516 00:36:40,508 --> 00:36:41,751 If you have the opportunity, 517 00:36:41,785 --> 00:36:44,443 just watch an eagle fly, you can certainly appreciate 518 00:36:44,478 --> 00:36:47,860 their majesty, their grandeur, their ability. 519 00:36:47,895 --> 00:36:50,863 Watching an eagle soar is freeing, 520 00:36:50,898 --> 00:36:54,764 it's gratifying, it lifts you up. 521 00:36:57,076 --> 00:36:59,734 Eagles dominate the sky. 522 00:37:02,220 --> 00:37:06,465 They can dive at around 150 miles per hour. 523 00:37:06,500 --> 00:37:10,849 And perform surprising aerobatics when they fight 524 00:37:10,883 --> 00:37:13,748 or display to a mate. 525 00:37:13,783 --> 00:37:17,649 And one of their greatest aerial abilities 526 00:37:17,683 --> 00:37:19,409 is soaring. 527 00:37:22,550 --> 00:37:24,518 Golden eagles can have a home range 528 00:37:24,552 --> 00:37:28,591 of over 1,000 square miles. 529 00:37:28,625 --> 00:37:30,248 To cover such vast distances, 530 00:37:30,282 --> 00:37:35,701 they use air currents to push them high into the air 531 00:37:35,736 --> 00:37:40,258 without flapping their wings, saving them precious energy. 532 00:37:47,126 --> 00:37:49,025 It's something Lloyd Buck has always 533 00:37:49,059 --> 00:37:51,614 wanted to know more about. 534 00:37:53,926 --> 00:37:57,827 So he's come to California, where paragliding expert 535 00:37:57,861 --> 00:38:03,764 Michael Vergalla often flies alongside wild birds of prey. 536 00:38:03,798 --> 00:38:06,905 By learning what it takes to fly a paraglider, 537 00:38:06,939 --> 00:38:10,426 Lloyd hopes he will understand more about how eagles soar. 538 00:38:10,460 --> 00:38:14,257 Bring the wing up in three, two, one. 539 00:38:14,292 --> 00:38:15,948 Wing's coming up. 540 00:38:18,675 --> 00:38:21,368 Okay, walk, walk, walk, walk. 541 00:38:21,402 --> 00:38:24,716 Start running... run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run! 542 00:38:29,721 --> 00:38:30,687 All right, Lloyd. 543 00:38:30,722 --> 00:38:34,035 Okay, here we go. 544 00:38:34,070 --> 00:38:36,106 We're flying. We're flying Mike. 545 00:38:38,350 --> 00:38:41,491 Wow! 546 00:38:46,945 --> 00:38:49,844 I've seen Tilly do this so many times 547 00:38:49,879 --> 00:38:53,331 and now I'm doing it. 548 00:38:53,365 --> 00:38:55,056 Just like an eagle, 549 00:38:55,091 --> 00:38:56,748 Mike is trying to gain altitude 550 00:38:56,782 --> 00:38:59,992 by harnessing two common air currents. 551 00:39:02,788 --> 00:39:06,620 Thermals form as the sun heats the earth, 552 00:39:06,654 --> 00:39:10,727 which in turn warms the air above it, 553 00:39:10,762 --> 00:39:13,005 creating a rising column of air. 554 00:39:16,250 --> 00:39:19,253 Updrafts are created when horizontal winds 555 00:39:19,287 --> 00:39:22,187 are deflected skywards by a ridge. 556 00:39:24,638 --> 00:39:26,847 Mike searches for tiny clues 557 00:39:26,881 --> 00:39:30,747 to help find these air currents and climb higher. 558 00:39:30,782 --> 00:39:33,440 You're looking for changes, you're smelling, 559 00:39:33,474 --> 00:39:36,857 you're listening, you're trying to use all of your senses 560 00:39:36,891 --> 00:39:39,100 to figure out what's happening. 561 00:39:39,135 --> 00:39:40,999 This is what Tilly feels, this is what Tilly does, 562 00:39:41,033 --> 00:39:42,345 this is what eagles do. Uh-huh. 563 00:39:44,243 --> 00:39:46,142 One of Mike's favorite ways 564 00:39:46,176 --> 00:39:47,592 to find a good thermal 565 00:39:47,626 --> 00:39:51,527 is to watch and follow the local birds. 566 00:39:51,561 --> 00:39:53,977 We've got another bird on this ridge here 567 00:39:54,012 --> 00:39:55,565 that we can try to join. 568 00:39:57,498 --> 00:40:00,052 Mike can tell how strong a thermal is 569 00:40:00,087 --> 00:40:04,229 by seeing how quickly the birds climb. 570 00:40:04,263 --> 00:40:07,957 And it's not long before they spot a special species. 571 00:40:07,991 --> 00:40:10,304 Look out at the end of the ridge. 572 00:40:10,338 --> 00:40:11,754 Do you see the birds? 573 00:40:13,721 --> 00:40:15,240 That's a goldie. 574 00:40:15,274 --> 00:40:16,931 That's a golden eagle. Yep. 575 00:40:16,966 --> 00:40:18,381 Let's get it, let's go. 576 00:40:18,416 --> 00:40:20,176 We're flying with a golden eagle. 577 00:40:20,210 --> 00:40:21,177 Wow! 578 00:40:26,458 --> 00:40:28,322 I've waited my whole life for this, Mike. 579 00:40:48,135 --> 00:40:51,966 This is the thing that I've dreamt about since I was a boy. 580 00:40:55,038 --> 00:40:57,972 And my whole life I've experienced it through my birds. 581 00:40:58,007 --> 00:40:59,698 Uh-huh. 582 00:40:59,733 --> 00:41:01,976 But now I've experienced it for myself for real with you 583 00:41:02,011 --> 00:41:04,427 and this is just... 584 00:41:04,462 --> 00:41:05,566 I can't put that into words, 585 00:41:05,601 --> 00:41:07,534 it's really quite moving I would say, 586 00:41:07,568 --> 00:41:09,121 it's quite emotional. 587 00:41:10,675 --> 00:41:12,608 It's okay, you can cry. I've cried. 588 00:41:12,642 --> 00:41:14,195 I feel quite... 589 00:41:14,230 --> 00:41:17,509 I feel very emotional actually. 590 00:41:20,339 --> 00:41:22,928 This is something, Mike, I'm never going to forget 591 00:41:22,963 --> 00:41:24,620 for the rest of my life. 592 00:41:27,277 --> 00:41:32,662 For Lloyd, soaring on the air currents is pure joy. 593 00:41:32,697 --> 00:41:37,909 But for eagles, it's a critical component of their daily lives. 594 00:41:40,394 --> 00:41:42,914 To be a dominant predator of the sky, 595 00:41:42,948 --> 00:41:47,401 they must harness the wind to cover their territory, 596 00:41:47,435 --> 00:41:49,783 and they make it look easy. 597 00:41:57,584 --> 00:42:02,071 To find out just how good eagles are at soaring, 598 00:42:02,105 --> 00:42:07,490 Lloyd wants to put Tilly to the test. 599 00:42:07,525 --> 00:42:10,562 He's fitting her with a highly accurate GPS tracker, 600 00:42:10,597 --> 00:42:14,462 to measure how fast she can gain altitude. 601 00:42:14,497 --> 00:42:18,121 And a 360-degree camera to see how her wings 602 00:42:18,156 --> 00:42:22,850 are adapted to soaring. 603 00:42:22,885 --> 00:42:27,303 We'll know exactly what you get up to, eh? 604 00:42:27,337 --> 00:42:29,305 You're a good girl, yes. 605 00:42:31,756 --> 00:42:34,759 Go on, off you go. Go on. 606 00:42:39,073 --> 00:42:42,594 Tilly quickly finds an updraft 607 00:42:42,629 --> 00:42:45,321 and soars high above the glen. 608 00:42:46,978 --> 00:42:49,912 You make it look so easy, eh? 609 00:42:51,603 --> 00:42:54,502 The 360 camera provides a wonderful opportunity 610 00:42:54,537 --> 00:42:59,093 to see the world from an eagle's perspective. 611 00:43:28,778 --> 00:43:29,745 Throughout the flight, 612 00:43:29,779 --> 00:43:32,471 the GPS tracker and accelerometer 613 00:43:32,506 --> 00:43:36,268 on her back have been collecting vital information. 614 00:43:44,104 --> 00:43:45,864 Good girl, clever eagle! 615 00:43:53,147 --> 00:43:55,149 Professor Jim Usherwood, 616 00:43:55,184 --> 00:43:59,913 a locomotion specialist, can help interpret the findings. 617 00:43:59,947 --> 00:44:01,500 Well, it's really exciting, 618 00:44:01,535 --> 00:44:02,950 especially to having the video next to her, 619 00:44:02,985 --> 00:44:04,331 you can really see what's happening all the way through. 620 00:44:04,365 --> 00:44:09,129 We can see her climbing, circling seven times, 621 00:44:09,163 --> 00:44:12,201 and then reaching quite a height really very quickly. 622 00:44:12,235 --> 00:44:15,238 She's doing... ooh, three, four, five meters a second up. 623 00:44:15,273 --> 00:44:16,861 Wow. 624 00:44:16,895 --> 00:44:18,379 - And that's fast. - Yeah. 625 00:44:18,414 --> 00:44:21,037 That's sort of eight, nine, ten miles an hour up. 626 00:44:21,072 --> 00:44:22,176 Imagine running up a ladder that fast. 627 00:44:22,211 --> 00:44:23,833 So she's climbing quickly? 628 00:44:23,868 --> 00:44:25,110 Really fast, 629 00:44:25,145 --> 00:44:27,423 while hardly traveling across the ground at all. 630 00:44:28,666 --> 00:44:30,253 Tilly climbs at this rate 631 00:44:30,288 --> 00:44:35,811 without flapping her wings, saving huge amounts of energy. 632 00:44:37,191 --> 00:44:40,263 Eagles are able to ride the aircurrents effectively 633 00:44:40,298 --> 00:44:43,750 thanks to their large wing area, 634 00:44:43,784 --> 00:44:46,476 but the shape of their wing is different compared 635 00:44:46,511 --> 00:44:50,170 to many soaring specialists. 636 00:44:53,967 --> 00:44:59,075 Albatross have narrow wings up to 11 feet long, 637 00:44:59,110 --> 00:45:00,594 which generate a lot of lift 638 00:45:00,628 --> 00:45:03,217 for relatively small amounts of drag. 639 00:45:06,117 --> 00:45:09,741 This wing shape is perfect for gliding, 640 00:45:09,776 --> 00:45:11,709 but it's no good to eagles. 641 00:45:14,573 --> 00:45:16,921 Long wings are very good for gliding and soaring, 642 00:45:16,955 --> 00:45:19,647 but they're horrible for flapping 643 00:45:19,682 --> 00:45:21,097 and of course this thing, at some point, 644 00:45:21,132 --> 00:45:23,341 will need to flap. Yeah. 645 00:45:23,375 --> 00:45:24,860 She'll need to flap to take off, 646 00:45:24,894 --> 00:45:26,344 carry the weaponry to kill something, 647 00:45:26,378 --> 00:45:27,794 and then carry that food back home, 648 00:45:27,828 --> 00:45:30,797 at which point you don't actually want super-long wings. 649 00:45:32,591 --> 00:45:35,940 Eagles have to deal with some competing priorities. 650 00:45:37,493 --> 00:45:41,014 To soar well, they need to be lightweight, 651 00:45:41,048 --> 00:45:44,431 with extremely long wings. 652 00:45:45,915 --> 00:45:47,986 But to hunt large prey, 653 00:45:48,021 --> 00:45:50,644 they need to be powerful and heavy, 654 00:45:50,678 --> 00:45:52,577 with shorter, broad wings 655 00:45:52,611 --> 00:45:55,442 that aid maneuverability and takeoff. 656 00:45:57,685 --> 00:46:00,240 Eagles achieve both... 657 00:46:00,274 --> 00:46:04,658 they manage to create lots of lift with limited wing length. 658 00:46:04,692 --> 00:46:07,903 So how do they do it? 659 00:46:07,937 --> 00:46:13,253 A key secret is at the end of their wings. 660 00:46:13,287 --> 00:46:16,497 From Tilly's 360 camera, it's possible to see 661 00:46:16,532 --> 00:46:19,811 that the feathers on her wingtips are separated. 662 00:46:23,159 --> 00:46:25,748 Each one of these primary feathers 663 00:46:25,783 --> 00:46:28,440 acts like a tiny airfoil, 664 00:46:28,475 --> 00:46:32,479 helping air hug the upper surface of the wing. 665 00:46:32,513 --> 00:46:34,550 It means eagles can tilt their wings 666 00:46:34,584 --> 00:46:37,415 at very steep angles on takeoff, 667 00:46:37,449 --> 00:46:42,144 generating lots of lift to support a heavy load. 668 00:46:45,354 --> 00:46:47,563 It's also thought these slotted wingtips 669 00:46:47,597 --> 00:46:50,393 can reduce elements of drag, 670 00:46:50,428 --> 00:46:54,156 helping them soar with greater efficiency. 671 00:46:57,228 --> 00:46:59,126 It's a powerful solution for a wing 672 00:46:59,161 --> 00:47:02,405 that has to perform so many tasks. 673 00:47:07,065 --> 00:47:09,516 The eagles' dominance of the sky 674 00:47:09,550 --> 00:47:13,589 is partly what has made them such iconic creatures. 675 00:47:15,349 --> 00:47:17,765 And why they feature so prominently 676 00:47:17,800 --> 00:47:20,941 in cultures around the world, including many 677 00:47:20,976 --> 00:47:24,013 Native American tribes. 678 00:47:24,048 --> 00:47:26,119 Only the eagle 679 00:47:26,153 --> 00:47:28,431 can fly high enough and far enough 680 00:47:28,466 --> 00:47:32,539 to actually see the face of God. 681 00:47:32,573 --> 00:47:35,473 We are truly a people of the eagle, 682 00:47:35,507 --> 00:47:37,509 and it comes out in our dress 683 00:47:37,544 --> 00:47:41,203 and everything about our ceremonial presence. 684 00:47:45,379 --> 00:47:47,554 William Voelker 685 00:47:47,588 --> 00:47:50,695 is a member of the Comanche tribe in Oklahoma 686 00:47:50,729 --> 00:47:53,905 and has set up a special eagle sanctuary 687 00:47:53,940 --> 00:47:57,046 to help support their traditions. 688 00:47:57,081 --> 00:47:58,289 So to take an eagle feather 689 00:47:58,323 --> 00:48:02,189 and to call on the energy of this messenger bird, 690 00:48:02,224 --> 00:48:05,192 it's our direct link with the almighty. 691 00:48:05,227 --> 00:48:08,057 So the eagle is essential in our spiritual way of life. 692 00:48:09,714 --> 00:48:11,819 Historically, eagles and their feathers 693 00:48:11,854 --> 00:48:15,685 have been taken from the wild to supply these traditions, 694 00:48:15,720 --> 00:48:19,620 often resulting in the death of the birds. 695 00:48:19,655 --> 00:48:22,969 But times are changing. 696 00:48:23,003 --> 00:48:24,902 An eagle can no longer 697 00:48:24,936 --> 00:48:29,147 forfeit its life to benefit culture, anybody's culture. 698 00:48:29,182 --> 00:48:31,770 Those days are gone. 699 00:48:31,805 --> 00:48:34,601 In today's world we have a cultural responsibility 700 00:48:34,635 --> 00:48:39,019 to doing everything we can to enhance eagle populations. 701 00:48:41,573 --> 00:48:43,196 At his sanctuary, 702 00:48:43,230 --> 00:48:46,026 William has successfully raised and released 703 00:48:46,061 --> 00:48:49,409 over 400 eagles and hawks into the wild. 704 00:48:49,443 --> 00:48:53,413 He also cares for many more in captivity. 705 00:48:53,447 --> 00:48:56,623 And as these birds naturally molt their feathers, 706 00:48:56,657 --> 00:48:59,833 William passes them on to Native American tribes 707 00:48:59,867 --> 00:49:03,699 so the wild populations can be left unharmed. 708 00:49:12,742 --> 00:49:16,539 Back in Iowa, the nest remains empty. 709 00:49:16,574 --> 00:49:18,196 But remarkably, 710 00:49:18,231 --> 00:49:22,821 the eldest eaglet has also been found alive. 711 00:49:31,347 --> 00:49:36,111 It was discovered washed up downriver with a broken leg, 712 00:49:36,145 --> 00:49:39,183 five days after it fell from the nest. 713 00:49:49,503 --> 00:49:50,780 Both eaglets were taken 714 00:49:50,815 --> 00:49:54,646 to a raptor rehabilitation center for treatment. 715 00:49:54,681 --> 00:49:58,857 It's a reminder that although eagles are an apex predator, 716 00:49:58,892 --> 00:50:02,827 they sometimes need our help. 717 00:50:04,311 --> 00:50:06,969 Over the next several months, 718 00:50:07,004 --> 00:50:10,179 the eldest eagle's leg gradually heals. 719 00:50:12,699 --> 00:50:17,048 With care and support from the raptor center's staff, 720 00:50:17,083 --> 00:50:20,258 both eagles grow stronger. 721 00:50:24,297 --> 00:50:29,060 They're given space to develop their powerful flight muscles. 722 00:50:35,480 --> 00:50:39,001 Finally, the youngest eagle is ready to be released. 723 00:50:42,901 --> 00:50:47,458 At last it has its own freedom and independence. 724 00:50:50,392 --> 00:50:54,327 Almost six months later, its sibling's leg is healed... 725 00:50:55,742 --> 00:50:58,641 and it, too, returns to the wild. 726 00:51:03,439 --> 00:51:06,304 By following the journey from egg to eaglet, 727 00:51:06,339 --> 00:51:09,963 we've seen what challenges an eagle must overcome 728 00:51:09,997 --> 00:51:12,586 to survive its first year. 729 00:51:15,279 --> 00:51:17,867 And a very special eagle, called Tilly, 730 00:51:17,902 --> 00:51:22,976 has helped reveal the secrets behind their greatest abilities, 731 00:51:23,010 --> 00:51:25,634 like their unrivaled vision... 732 00:51:25,668 --> 00:51:29,086 And she's coming in fast, whoo-hoo! 733 00:51:30,225 --> 00:51:33,780 Their hunting techniques... 734 00:51:33,814 --> 00:51:35,920 and their remarkable soaring... 735 00:51:39,648 --> 00:51:42,789 strength... 736 00:51:42,823 --> 00:51:45,619 agility... 737 00:51:45,654 --> 00:51:49,002 and skill. 738 00:51:49,036 --> 00:51:53,731 Revered around the world, these stunning raptors can't help 739 00:51:53,765 --> 00:51:57,804 but inspire with their magnificent eagle power. 56499

Can't find what you're looking for?
Get subtitles in any language from opensubtitles.com, and translate them here.