Original subtitles

(CHIRPING AS MUSIC BUILDS)

Animals have taken to the air in ways we can only dream of...

Animals have taken to the air in ways we can only dream of...

(BUZZING)

(MUSIC FLOURISHES)

..and conquered the skies!

..and conquered the skies!

With determination and courage,

they've dared to defy gravity...

they've dared to defy gravity...

(WARBLING)

..opening up a whole new world of opportunity...

..and danger.

(CHIRPING)

(CHIRPING)

(MUSIC CONTINUES)

(BOTH CHIRPING)

Whether it's to forge new paths...

(SQUAWKS)

..reach new heights...

..or secure the next generation...

(SQUAWKING)

..every flying creature hopes to gain the advantage

..every flying creature hopes to gain the advantage

by reaching skyward!

(MUSIC CLIMAXES)

(MUSIC CLIMAXES)

(CRIES)

One fundamental reason animals get airborne is to find food.

One fundamental reason animals get airborne is to find food.

(ALL SQUAWKING)

From agile acrobats that catch prey mid-flight...

From agile acrobats that catch prey mid-flight...

..to aerial ambush predators...

..to aerial ambush predators...

(CLICKING)

(CALLING)

..and canny opportunists...

..who can pull a meal out of thin air!

(SQUAWKING)

Meet the remarkable creatures with the ultimate superpower!

Meet the remarkable creatures with the ultimate superpower!

(MUSIC BUILDS AND FADES)

(MUSIC BUILDS AND FADES)

(WIND SWIRLING SOFTLY)

(WIND SWIRLING SOFTLY)

A carmine bee-eater is a master of agility.

An aerial hunter...

..quite capable of snatching insects in mid-air.

..quite capable of snatching insects in mid-air.

Today, he's got a problem.

These African grasslands might host a wealth of tasty bugs...

..but he can only catch them if THEY are flying too!

Unable to flush them out on his own...

(CHIRPING)

(CHIRPING)

..he needs help.

One of the world's heaviest flying birds

could be the answer!

could be the answer!

A Kori bustard!

As she moves,

she disturbs the insects from their hiding place.

(CALLING)

And the clever bee-eater spots his opportunity...

(CHIRPING)

(CHIRPING)

The insects move erratically

The insects move erratically

in a desperate attempt to evade capture.

But the nimble carmine has the aerial flexibility to match.

Although his wingman turns out to be short-lived!

The Kori bustard's laid-back style isn't stirring up enough bugs.

A perch on the move is required.

(CALLING AND CHIRPING)

(CALLING AND CHIRPING)

Ostrich are the biggest birds on earth

Ostrich are the biggest birds on earth

and they walk up to 20 kilometres a day!

(CALLING)

Despite being flightless,

these birds are flighty

and not too keen on hitchhikers!

and not too keen on hitchhikers!

Time for a rethink!

(GRUNTING)

(GRUNTING)

(ATMOSPHERIC BEAT)

African elephants walk almost constantly

in their never-ending search for fresh grass...

..kicking up a flying feast!

(TRUMPETS)

THIS is what the carmine has been searching for!

THIS is what the carmine has been searching for!

His long, pointed wings make him fast...

..while his aerodynamic tail enables him to change direction

..while his aerodynamic tail enables him to change direction

at high speed.

Hovering for a moment...

..he pinpoints his target.

(CHIRPS)

(BUZZING)

(BUZZING)

With his exceptional mid-air capability,

With his exceptional mid-air capability,

he can bag over a hundred insects a day!

Every one an in-flight meal!

(MUSIC CONTINUES)

(MUSIC CONTINUES)

(FADES)

(SQUAWKING)

(RUSTLING)

(PLEASANT BIRDSONG)

For some, aerial agility is less about FINDING food...

For some, aerial agility is less about FINDING food...

..and more about NOT being on the menu!

(GENTLE CHIRPING AND SQUAWKING)

(GENTLE CHIRPING AND SQUAWKING)

Under a quiet lake in the west of England...

Under a quiet lake in the west of England...

..this nymph's final feast fuels an extraordinary transformation!

..this nymph's final feast fuels an extraordinary transformation!

After two years underwater,

he emerges...

..as an emperor dragonfly.

His ancestors were some of the first creatures to take to the air

over 300 million years ago.

over 300 million years ago.

Perfecting their flight ever since.

In order to get airborne,

he pumps fluid into the network of veins

in his new wings...

in his new wings...

..and vibrates his flight muscles to warm them up...

..and vibrates his flight muscles to warm them up...

..ready for liftoff for the very first time.

..ready for liftoff for the very first time.

Soon, he'll become one of nature's deadliest aerial assassins.

But first, he must practise moving his four wings independently...

..so he can fly in EVERY direction!

Beating his wings over 40 times a second...

..he adjusts to this new realm of air...

(PLEASANT MUSIC)

..but his brand-new flight skills are about to be tested to the limit.

..but his brand-new flight skills are about to be tested to the limit.

(MUSIC BUILDING)

(MUSIC BUILDING)

He shares the lake with a Eurasian hobby.

A specialist in catching dragonflies.

A specialist in catching dragonflies.

(OMINOUS BEAT)

This new hunter is about to become the HUNTED!

This new hunter is about to become the HUNTED!

(BEAT BUILDING)

(FADES)

The miniature flying ace has passed a crucial test...

..and shown that four wings can be better than two!

..and shown that four wings can be better than two!

(CALLING AND CHIRPING)

(SQUAWKING)

In finding food mid-air,

In finding food mid-air,

it pays to be quick and nimble...

..but when prey is on the ground...

..a completely different strategy is needed.

Surprise!

(SQUAWKING)

It's winter in the English countryside.

Most creatures are sheltering from the cold.

Most creatures are sheltering from the cold.

But not all...

Barn owls like to hunt around twilight...

Barn owls like to hunt around twilight...

(CALLS)

..but at this time of year, prey is scarce.

She hasn't eaten for two days...

..and hunger has forced her into the daylight.

(DETERMINED MUSIC)

Voles and mice are top of her list.

Voles and mice are top of her list.

But they're hunkering down in the grass.

To find them,

she has one of the most specialised stealth toolkits around.

she has one of the most specialised stealth toolkits around.

Super smooth feathers allow air to glide easily over them.

Which means she's one of the quietest fliers in the world!

Which means she's one of the quietest fliers in the world!

Her facial disc funnels sound waves towards her asymmetric ears,

one higher than the other...

..allowing her to triangulate the exact position of her prey.

The part of her brain that controls hearing

is much more complex than in other birds.

is much more complex than in other birds.

(SQUEAKING)

(SQUEAKING)

A near miss.

(WARM MUSIC)

(WARM MUSIC)

This silent hunter has a mental map of her home patch,

detailing the best hunting places.

detailing the best hunting places.

She waits and listens...

Her metre-wide wingspan allows her to slow her flight

almost to a standstill.

almost to a standstill.

The mouse has no idea she's even there.

(MAGICAL MUSIC)

(MAGICAL MUSIC)

(SQUEAKING)

(SQUEAKING)

Her extraordinary airborne prowess

Her extraordinary airborne prowess

should see her through the long winter ahead.

Animals without such sensory abilities

must rely on more covert tactics to launch aerial attacks...

must rely on more covert tactics to launch aerial attacks...

..especially those hunters without wings.

(GRUNTS)

Namibia.

One of the driest countries south of the Sahara.

One of the driest countries south of the Sahara.

(WARBLING)

And now it's gripped by drought...

Daily temperatures peak at 42 degrees Celsius.

(YELPS)

It's a difficult time for this black-backed jackal pair

It's a difficult time for this black-backed jackal pair

with a young family to look after.

(CALLING)

(CALLING)

(CONTINUES)

At only three months old,

their hungry pups still rely on them for food.

(BARKS)

(BARKS)

..and mum has neither meat nor milk to offer them.

Less than half of pups make it through their first year

Less than half of pups make it through their first year

so their survival is touch and go.

Leaving the pups at the den,

the parents split up to search for food.

(CRYING)

(CRYING)

There's such fierce competition...

(SNARLING)

..mum can't even scavenge scraps!

And challenging a hyena twice her size could be fatal!

And challenging a hyena twice her size could be fatal!

(YELPS)

She's going to have to hunt for herself.

(HISSES)

One of the last remaining water holes offers her a chance.

One of the last remaining water holes offers her a chance.

Most visitors here are too big to tackle...

(SNORTS)

..but these African ring-necked doves

are small enough and plentiful.

The problem is they're always on high alert...

..ready to take to the wing at the slightest hint of danger!

If she can get airborne even for a second

she might just get a meal for her family!

she might just get a meal for her family!

(ATMOSPHERIC BEAT)

(ATMOSPHERIC BEAT)

With strong legs to accelerate quickly...

..and weighing just six kilos...

..she explodes into the air!

(SQUAWKING)

She's just millimetres from success...

She's just millimetres from success...

(BEAT CONTINUES)

..but she gets no more for her efforts

than a mouthful of feathers!

than a mouthful of feathers!

Back at the den,

Back at the den,

her pups are starving and need to eat...

Today.

This tenacious mum must find an alternative.

(CLUCKING)

Helmeted guineafowl.

They're feisty and strong...

(SQUAWKING)

..with an almost vertical takeoff!

She'll need her best ever leap to succeed!

She'll need her best ever leap to succeed!

But first she must sneak as close as possible.

This mission requires teamwork.

Out in the open, dad is the perfect distraction.

All guineafowl eyes are on him...

..giving the female a small window of opportunity.

(SQUAWKING)

(SQUAWKING)

They can finally feed their hungry pups!

(CALLING)

These determined parents...

..with a leap of faith...

..have kept their pups alive for another day!

(DISTANT CHIRPING)

(HOOTING)

Across the natural world,

Across the natural world,

animals have adapted their stealth techniques

to exploit the terrain they hunt in.

Few environments are as challenging as the remote forests of Indonesia.

Few environments are as challenging as the remote forests of Indonesia.

This giant 200-year-old fig tree is home to one little family...

This giant 200-year-old fig tree is home to one little family...

(SQUEAKS)

..each no bigger than a grapefruit!

..each no bigger than a grapefruit!

Spectral tarsiers are one of the world's tiniest primates.

Spectral tarsiers are one of the world's tiniest primates.

They're a close-knit troupe of six...

(SQUEAKING)

..with mum, dad and offspring of different ages.

..with mum, dad and offspring of different ages.

The youngest is just a few weeks old...

The youngest is just a few weeks old...

..and already enjoying the rough and tumble of family life!

..and already enjoying the rough and tumble of family life!

As night envelops the forest,

As night envelops the forest,

these nocturnal creatures prepare to go hunting.

(SQUEAKING)

Even the youngest comes along...

..carried firmly by mum.

(SQUEAKS)

As he doesn't have the skills to forage,

she hides him somewhere safe in a nearby tree.

she hides him somewhere safe in a nearby tree.

Now she can turn her attention to finding dinner!

Now she can turn her attention to finding dinner!

Her eyeballs are HUGE,

each one as large as her brain!

They're so big, they can't swivel in their sockets!

They're so big, they can't swivel in their sockets!

So, she must rotate her head almost 180 degrees

to look around!

to look around!

Her large, mobile ears act like antennae...

Her large, mobile ears act like antennae...

(CHITTERING)

..tuned to pick up the slightest sound.

(CRUNCHING)

She's found her target...

..five metres away.

..five metres away.

With a powerful thrust from her long back legs...

..she can leap 40 times her own body length!

While her lengthy tail balances her flight and landing!

While her lengthy tail balances her flight and landing!

Each of her fingers and toes have large pads

Each of her fingers and toes have large pads

to give a firm grip.

These little balls of fluff...

..are the forest's ultimate ambush predators!

..are the forest's ultimate ambush predators!

The only totally carnivorous primate on earth!

The only totally carnivorous primate on earth!

(BEAT BUILDS AND FADES)

But they're not the only ones out hunting tonight...

(OMINOUS MUSIC)

(OMINOUS MUSIC)

A reticulated python.

(CALLS)

(CALLS)

The alarm is raised...

(CALLING)

..but the baby is too young to flee!

The very same skills that make mum an impressive airborne predator

The very same skills that make mum an impressive airborne predator

might just save her baby...

(SQUEAKING)

Reunited!

As dawn breaks through the forest,

mum carries him back to their home tree

mum carries him back to their home tree

and the family slip into the shadows once more,

safe from danger.

(CALLING AND CHIRPING)

(CALLING AND CHIRPING)

For another creature,

living in nearby Borneo,

living in nearby Borneo,

it's not so much physical adaptations that help bag a meal

but brains!

(SQUAWKS)

This dense rainforest

is home to a pair of oriental pied hornbills.

is home to a pair of oriental pied hornbills.

One of the island's largest birds.

The couple are life-long partners

and have raised many chicks together.

(CALLS)

Fruit makes up most of their diet...

..and their treetop home provides plenty!

..and their treetop home provides plenty!

But to be fit for the approaching breeding season,

they need variety.

they need variety.

Something with more fat and protein.

This resourceful pair have learnt there's a valuable source of nutritious food

This resourceful pair have learnt there's a valuable source of nutritious food

right on their doorstep.

(CHIRPS)

An immense cave home to a dynamic ecosystem...

..of billions of bugs...

..snakes...

..and even crabs!

Overhanging them all, more than A MILLION bats!

Overhanging them all, more than A MILLION bats!

(CALLING AND HISSING)

They roost here by day...

..and as dusk falls...

..they stream out into the jungle to feed!

..they stream out into the jungle to feed!

Local raptors are ready and waiting...

(CHIRPING)

(CHIRPING)

..while the hornbills take their front row seats.

First out of the traps, a Wallace's hawk-eagle.

Her wings are short and broad,

ideal for sharp turns and sudden dives

ideal for sharp turns and sudden dives

to chase her speedy prey...

..with razor-sharp talons perfect for finishing the job!

..with razor-sharp talons perfect for finishing the job!

(SQUAWKS)

Hornbills don't usually eat bats...

..but it seems this pair want to join the action!

The male gives chase...

..but his long wings are more suited for gliding...

..not mid-air acrobatics!

He needs a new tactic.

Perhaps he can reposition himself and perch closer to their flight path.

Perhaps he can reposition himself and perch closer to their flight path.

(CALLING)

(CALLING)

He carefully selects his spot...

He carefully selects his spot...

..and waits.

Using binocular vision to steer the tip of his dexterous bill...

..he grabs his chance!

Again...

..and again!

This is incredibly rare behaviour.

Only a handful of pied hornbills here

Only a handful of pied hornbills here

have adapted to prey on bats.

Sharing the spoils, they both get their fill!

Sharing the spoils, they both get their fill!

This clever couple,

using brains over brawn to find new food sources,

using brains over brawn to find new food sources,

have gained an evolutionary edge.

(BOTH CALLING)

The coastal redwoods of Northern California.

The coastal redwoods of Northern California.

The tallest trees on earth.

These fog-shrouded forests are the perfect home

for one moisture-loving amphibian.

This wandering salamander is not like others

This wandering salamander is not like others

that dwell on the ground.

His home is in the heights of the canopy.

He's an excellent climber!

Large foot pads help him grip to vertical surfaces...

..and his tail serves as an extra limb.

Fifty metres up among these branches

is a bounty he'll have all for himself.

A miniature garden of ferns and mosses

nestled in the branches of the redwood tree.

Harbouring his favourite snack...

Termites!

Termites!

(FUN MUSIC)

Starter finished,

Starter finished,

he heads off in search of the next course!

But moving around up here comes at a risk.

A barred owl.

She's a skilful airborne predator.

She's a skilful airborne predator.

(SQUAWKS)

(SQUAWKS)

But this tiny daredevil is ready for her!

This is no accidental fall...

..but a calculated leap!

Stretching out his limbs, he controls his plunge,

slowing himself down.

slowing himself down.

And by the slightest adjustment of his tail...

And by the slightest adjustment of his tail...

..he changes direction to guide his descent.

It's an impressive level of mid-air control

It's an impressive level of mid-air control

for a creature with no wings!

This fern garden is safely out of reach...

(SQUAWKS)

..and offers a whole new hunting ground to explore.

..and offers a whole new hunting ground to explore.

It's heating up in the Pyrenees mountains

in northern Spain...

..enticing one of Europe's most endangered birds into the air.

(MAJESTIC MUSIC)

This bearded vulture is a juvenile,

about two years old.

From several hundred metres up,

she's searching for food.

With her enormous three-metre wing span...

With her enormous three-metre wing span...

..she can soar for hours on the thermals.

Barely flapping her wings,

she conserves energy while she scans the ground beneath her.

she conserves energy while she scans the ground beneath her.

Her perseverance pays off.

She's found the carcass of a wild boar...

She's found the carcass of a wild boar...

..but doesn't descend to claim it.

Instead, she keeps circling,

wingtips outstretched to help her ride the updraughts.

wingtips outstretched to help her ride the updraughts.

If she keeps this up,

she'll give the location of her prized food source away

to other airborne scavengers.

to other airborne scavengers.

(CALLING)

But perhaps that's her intention!

She's a bone-eater...

..and needs others to remove the meat first.

It doesn't take long for her message to reach the intended recipients.

It doesn't take long for her message to reach the intended recipients.

(SQUAWKING)

Griffon vultures.

Almost a hundred of them.

Almost a hundred of them.

The muscly mob wastes no time in ripping open the carcass

The muscly mob wastes no time in ripping open the carcass

and stripping it bare.

(SQUAWKING)

(SQUAWKING)

With nothing left but bones...

..the patient young bird should finally get something to eat.

..the patient young bird should finally get something to eat.

Although not quite yet...

Bearded vultures have a pecking order.

Adults are first in line...

..selecting the smallest and easiest bones to swallow.

..selecting the smallest and easiest bones to swallow.

Even awkwardly-shaped ones are worth a try!

Even awkwardly-shaped ones are worth a try!

Their extremely strong stomach acids break down the hard exterior

to release the fatty marrow within.

to release the fatty marrow within.

The youngster is left with a bone too large to gulp down in one go.

The youngster is left with a bone too large to gulp down in one go.

Unless she can make it small enough to swallow,

Unless she can make it small enough to swallow,

she'll go hungry.

But this bird is smart...

She's going to use gravity to her advantage.

She's going to use gravity to her advantage.

With her strong talons,

she can carry up to four kilos, almost equal to her body weight.

she can carry up to four kilos, almost equal to her body weight.

One hundred and fifty metres up...

..she finds the ideal dropoff point.

..she finds the ideal dropoff point.

Her first attempt misses its rocky target.

Her first attempt misses its rocky target.

It's a precision technique that can take years to master.

It's a precision technique that can take years to master.

She intuitively learns the best altitude and angles

to let go at just the right time!

to let go at just the right time!

Her persistence is rewarded.

Her persistence is rewarded.

In both defying and harnessing gravity,

this bone-breaker has found a unique solution

this bone-breaker has found a unique solution

to one of nature's most important challenges...

Getting a meal!

(DISTANT CALL)

Taking to the skies...

..offers a huge advantage in the hunt for food.

..offers a huge advantage in the hunt for food.

But it also brings struggle.

Success demands agility...

..stealth and ingenuity.

..stealth and ingenuity.

If they can rise to the challenge...

(SCREAMING)

..the rewards are rich for those who get airborne.

..the rewards are rich for those who get airborne.

To film the oriental pied hornbills feeding on bats,

the Airborne team travels to the dense jungles of Borneo.

the Airborne team travels to the dense jungles of Borneo.

And the first thing on their filming to-do list is the bat cave!

For wildlife cameraman Neil Anderson,

it's straight in at the deep end.

As soon as you get in the cave, that smell of ammonia hits you

and, uh, it kind of takes your breath away,

so we're all wearing our masks.

so we're all wearing our masks.

The cave is home to over one million bats.

(SQUEAKS)

That's a lot of smelly, ammonia-rich droppings to deal with!

We've got to wear long sleeves,

you know, cover all bits of skin

you know, cover all bits of skin

because, um, you can get quite irritated.

The bats are actually above us right now.

To be inside what is essentially one big bat toilet

To be inside what is essentially one big bat toilet

is a challenging place for the team to work!

I've already got bat poo on my tripod!

I've already got bat poo on my tripod!

But for the residents of the cave, these droppings are their lifeline.

But for the residents of the cave, these droppings are their lifeline.

Today, we're aiming to film some of the beasts that are in here

Today, we're aiming to film some of the beasts that are in here

that are actually feeding on the bat guano,

so, the bat poo,

uh, which is...

Just thousands of years' worth of it in here!

Just thousands of years' worth of it in here!

It attracts a lot of cockroaches, cave centipedes

and many other things.

and many other things.

It's quite fascinating, actually!

I didn't expect to be seeing a snake in here!

Especially one that big!

But to get the best shots of the bats heading out to hunt,

the crew has to venture farther into the cave.

the crew has to venture farther into the cave.

Here, the air is increasingly toxic

and they must walk through a mountain of bat guano.

and they must walk through a mountain of bat guano.

A cocktail of deadly pathogens are hidden within.

They're going to need a lot more protection

than just face masks!

She's a little... She's a little snug!

She's a little... She's a little snug!

Producer Adam Simon gets kitted up with Neil and the rest of the crew.

Producer Adam Simon gets kitted up with Neil and the rest of the crew.

Urgh... That's better!

Absolutely covered,

I don't know what's just sweat, which is bat pee...

What's what!

Very happy to have done it

Very happy to have done it

but I'm not sure how quickly I'd like to go back up there!

Having filmed in the cave,

Having filmed in the cave,

the crew must now complete the sequence.

(SQUAWKING)

The hornbills preying on the bats.

We've heard that there's only two pairs that will hunt bats around here

so we need the hornbills to come out at the right time,

we need the bats to be there

we need the bats to be there

and we need them to catch bats successfully,

so it's gonna be quite a difficult behaviour to get on film.

I have two DIPs

I have two DIPs

set in two different locations.

Yuzuru, he's there on the cave mouth, just below me.

Neil has hiked through the jungle to try and get a high vantage point.

Neil has hiked through the jungle to try and get a high vantage point.

We're actually sitting on top of a cliff edge

and that's given us this amazing view.

and that's given us this amazing view.

Perfect canopy height for when the bats are gonna come out.

Hopefully they swirl around this area

Hopefully they swirl around this area

and the hornbills will be sat on top of the trees

and that's where they'll catch them!

After months of planning and hard work...

After months of planning and hard work...

Bats out!

..it's all come down to this moment!

(STIRRING MUSIC)

(STIRRING MUSIC)

Really special to see,

it's not every filming location you come to

it's not every filming location you come to

and you get to see something like that!

Subtitles by Sky Access Services www.skyaccessibility.sky

Subtitles by Sky Access Services www.skyaccessibility.sky