1
00:00:34,034 --> 00:00:35,785
<i>Rulers of the sky.</i>

2
00:00:44,836 --> 00:00:46,254
<i>Symbols of freedom.</i>

3
00:00:50,884 --> 00:00:52,927
<i>Unrivaled hunters.</i>

4
00:00:57,724 --> 00:00:59,684
<i>We think of birds of prey</i>

5
00:00:59,768 --> 00:01:01,728
<i>as ruthless killers.</i>

6
00:01:06,733 --> 00:01:09,110
<i>But there's another side to their story.</i>

7
00:01:12,447 --> 00:01:14,365
<i>Unexpectedly smart.</i>

8
00:01:16,076 --> 00:01:17,827
<i>Surprisingly adaptable.</i>

9
00:01:21,998 --> 00:01:23,625
<i>And more caring</i>

10
00:01:24,250 --> 00:01:25,960
<i>than you ever imagined.</i>

11
00:01:48,566 --> 00:01:49,651
<i>Deep winter.</i>

12
00:01:53,822 --> 00:01:57,200
<i>This female bald eagle</i>
<i>is having contractions.</i>

13
00:02:02,330 --> 00:02:05,041
<i>Her eggs take 35 days to hatch.</i>

14
00:02:10,088 --> 00:02:11,256
<i>To be ready for spring…</i>

15
00:02:12,924 --> 00:02:14,592
<i>…she has to lay now.</i>

16
00:02:20,974 --> 00:02:22,642
<i>But at this time of year,</i>

17
00:02:22,725 --> 00:02:24,727
<i>the weather can quickly turn.</i>

18
00:02:41,661 --> 00:02:45,707
<i>Exposed,</i> <i>her eggs would freeze in minutes.</i>

19
00:02:53,464 --> 00:02:56,176
<i>But bald eagles are tough.</i>

20
00:03:00,555 --> 00:03:02,682
<i>She'll do whatever it takes</i>

21
00:03:02,765 --> 00:03:03,725
<i>to protect them.</i>

22
00:03:12,275 --> 00:03:13,818
<i>And it's not just Mom.</i>

23
00:03:19,407 --> 00:03:21,075
<i>Her lifelong mate.</i>

24
00:03:26,080 --> 00:03:31,252
<i>A pair devoted to raising</i>
<i>the next generation</i> <i>of aerial hunters.</i>

25
00:03:38,551 --> 00:03:39,802
<i>Around the planet,</i>

26
00:03:39,886 --> 00:03:44,057
<i>there are over 300 kinds</i> <i>of birds of prey.</i>

27
00:03:45,058 --> 00:03:48,895
<i>From the biggest in the world,</i>
<i>with a nine-foot wingspan,</i>

28
00:03:50,230 --> 00:03:51,648
<i>to the smallest,</i>

29
00:03:51,731 --> 00:03:53,816
<i>no bigger than a butterfly.</i>

30
00:03:55,860 --> 00:03:59,155
<i>Wherever they live,</i>
<i>they control the skies.</i>

31
00:04:00,365 --> 00:04:02,242
<i>From dense jungles</i>

32
00:04:03,660 --> 00:04:05,578
<i>to the frozen Arctic.</i>

33
00:04:07,080 --> 00:04:08,456
<i>Arid deserts…</i>

34
00:04:10,833 --> 00:04:12,752
<i>to towering mountains.</i>

35
00:04:14,212 --> 00:04:16,714
<i>All of them are meat eaters</i>

36
00:04:17,674 --> 00:04:19,759
<i>equipped with the same weaponry.</i>

37
00:04:21,761 --> 00:04:24,389
<i>It's what and how they hunt</i>

38
00:04:25,932 --> 00:04:28,643
<i>that's created such an amazing cast</i>

39
00:04:29,852 --> 00:04:31,521
<i>of aerial assassins.</i>

40
00:04:41,698 --> 00:04:43,408
<i>No open flight lines</i>

41
00:04:44,951 --> 00:04:46,828
<i>and too many places to hide</i>

42
00:04:47,870 --> 00:04:51,124
<i>make hunting almost impossible</i>
<i>for a raptor.</i>

43
00:04:53,209 --> 00:04:57,213
<i>-Unless it's the woodland master.</i>

44
00:05:05,847 --> 00:05:06,889
<i>The goshawk.</i>

45
00:05:13,271 --> 00:05:15,815
<i>Armed with all the tools of the trade.</i>

46
00:05:18,985 --> 00:05:20,903
<i>Acute binocular vision,</i>

47
00:05:22,739 --> 00:05:25,450
<i>a sharp, hooked beak</i>
<i>for ripping into flesh,</i>

48
00:05:26,993 --> 00:05:29,871
<i>and large, curved talons</i>

49
00:05:29,954 --> 00:05:31,247
<i>for grasping prey.</i>

50
00:05:35,418 --> 00:05:37,086
<i>That's standard issue.</i>

51
00:05:39,964 --> 00:05:41,424
<i>What makes her exceptional</i>

52
00:05:42,550 --> 00:05:45,011
<i>is how she chases down her prey.</i>

53
00:05:55,688 --> 00:05:56,939
<i>In a few wingbeats,</i>

54
00:05:58,524 --> 00:06:00,443
<i>she hits 32 miles per hour…</i>

55
00:06:02,945 --> 00:06:05,573
<i>the fastest acceleration</i>
<i>of almost any raptor.</i>

56
00:06:09,619 --> 00:06:11,454
<i>Using her tail as an air brake,</i>

57
00:06:11,537 --> 00:06:13,164
<i>she turns on a dime.</i>

58
00:06:16,376 --> 00:06:18,002
<i>Shortened wings</i>

59
00:06:18,753 --> 00:06:20,630
<i>contort to the smallest gap.</i>

60
00:06:24,050 --> 00:06:26,928
<i>She needs to hit her target</i>
<i>before it reaches cover.</i>

61
00:06:40,817 --> 00:06:43,903
<i>Hugging the terrain conceals her approach.</i>

62
00:06:54,205 --> 00:06:56,332
<i>And if it doesn't work the first time…</i>

63
00:06:58,501 --> 00:07:00,378
<i>goshawks are not just agile.</i>

64
00:07:04,006 --> 00:07:05,299
<i>They're patient too.</i>

65
00:07:24,944 --> 00:07:27,947
<i>Found in woodlands</i>
<i>across the northern hemisphere,</i>

66
00:07:28,030 --> 00:07:31,492
<i>the goshawk's success</i>
<i>is down to its amazing agility.</i>

67
00:07:34,620 --> 00:07:36,664
<i>But when it comes to pure speed…</i>

68
00:07:38,749 --> 00:07:39,917
<i>another raptor</i>

69
00:07:41,085 --> 00:07:42,295
<i>is unbeatable.</i>

70
00:07:48,050 --> 00:07:49,969
<i>The fastest animal on Earth.</i>

71
00:07:51,429 --> 00:07:53,014
<i>The peregrine falcon.</i>

72
00:08:02,273 --> 00:08:05,526
<i>Top speed over 240 miles an hour</i>

73
00:08:06,736 --> 00:08:07,862
<i>in a stoop.</i>

74
00:08:13,075 --> 00:08:14,911
<i>Peregrines are so successful,</i>

75
00:08:15,411 --> 00:08:18,122
<i>they're found all around the world.</i>

76
00:08:24,587 --> 00:08:27,006
<i>Cliffs are their favorite habitat.</i>

77
00:08:28,966 --> 00:08:32,178
<i>They provide a vantage point</i>
<i>to scope for food.</i>

78
00:08:38,935 --> 00:08:40,728
<i>And create updrafts</i>

79
00:08:42,647 --> 00:08:45,191
<i>that peregrines use to gain height</i>

80
00:08:45,274 --> 00:08:47,193
<i>before they strike from above.</i>

81
00:09:01,832 --> 00:09:04,085
<i>The success of most birds of prey</i>

82
00:09:04,168 --> 00:09:06,087
<i>depends on a mastery of flight.</i>

83
00:09:09,757 --> 00:09:13,010
<i>But there's always one</i>
<i>that bucks the trend.</i>

84
00:09:20,017 --> 00:09:22,353
<i>Meet the secretary bird.</i>

85
00:09:28,442 --> 00:09:30,486
<i>Not your typical bird of prey.</i>

86
00:09:36,492 --> 00:09:37,743
<i>She's a raptor</i>

87
00:09:38,703 --> 00:09:40,037
<i>on stilts.</i>

88
00:09:43,165 --> 00:09:45,710
<i>About the height</i>
<i>of a seven-year-old child.</i>

89
00:09:51,340 --> 00:09:53,009
<i>And while she can fly,</i>

90
00:09:53,884 --> 00:09:56,387
<i>she'd rather go by foot.</i>

91
00:09:58,889 --> 00:10:01,434
<i>Up to 18 miles a day.</i>

92
00:10:12,278 --> 00:10:14,447
<i>Those long legs aren't just for walking.</i>

93
00:10:16,073 --> 00:10:18,117
<i>They help see into the tall grass.</i>

94
00:10:30,129 --> 00:10:32,298
<i>They look a little ungainly…</i>

95
00:10:35,635 --> 00:10:37,011
<i>but don't be fooled.</i>

96
00:10:50,775 --> 00:10:52,610
<i>That kick is lethal…</i>

97
00:10:56,405 --> 00:10:59,450
<i>unleashing 44 pounds of force</i>

98
00:11:00,576 --> 00:11:02,203
<i>faster than a blink of an eye.</i>

99
00:11:03,788 --> 00:11:05,873
<i>And she needs to move fast.</i>

100
00:11:06,874 --> 00:11:08,626
<i>This living velociraptor</i>

101
00:11:08,709 --> 00:11:10,670
<i>is also a mom.</i>

102
00:11:15,591 --> 00:11:18,427
<i>Two chicks, almost fully grown.</i>

103
00:11:19,303 --> 00:11:20,930
<i>Always hungry.</i>

104
00:11:28,729 --> 00:11:31,357
<i>Parenting duties</i>
<i>are also stepping up a gear</i>

105
00:11:31,440 --> 00:11:32,900
<i>at the bald eagle nest.</i>

106
00:11:44,161 --> 00:11:46,580
<i>As soon as the snow's melted,</i>

107
00:11:46,664 --> 00:11:49,333
<i>the magical moment arrives.</i>

108
00:11:53,879 --> 00:11:56,549
<i>Two chicks, freshly hatched.</i>

109
00:12:07,852 --> 00:12:08,853
<i>In any weather…</i>

110
00:12:13,399 --> 00:12:14,483
<i>…at any time…</i>

111
00:12:17,319 --> 00:12:19,613
<i>Mom protects them the best she can.</i>

112
00:12:21,198 --> 00:12:23,033
<i>But with those talons,</i>

113
00:12:23,576 --> 00:12:25,369
<i>she must tread carefully.</i>

114
00:12:30,040 --> 00:12:32,501
<i>Both adults take turns brooding</i>

115
00:12:34,378 --> 00:12:35,796
<i>and fetching food.</i>

116
00:12:46,265 --> 00:12:50,186
<i>Tag-team parenting gives their young</i>
<i>the best possible start.</i>

117
00:13:01,363 --> 00:13:02,698
<i>Four days later,</i>

118
00:13:03,365 --> 00:13:05,201
<i>the last egg hatches.</i>

119
00:13:08,412 --> 00:13:11,248
<i>The oldest chick</i>
<i>is already twice its weight.</i>

120
00:13:12,541 --> 00:13:16,670
<i>Unless the parents can provide</i>
<i>an exceptional amount of food,</i>

121
00:13:17,755 --> 00:13:21,091
<i>the smallest sibling won't last long.</i>

122
00:13:24,178 --> 00:13:27,515
<i>Birds of prey</i>
<i>are most vulnerable in the nest.</i>

123
00:13:36,774 --> 00:13:39,985
<i>Chicks would soon perish</i>
<i>in this baking desert…</i>

124
00:13:42,404 --> 00:13:44,949
<i>unless they have shelter from the sun.</i>

125
00:13:49,453 --> 00:13:50,955
<i>Sociable weavers</i>

126
00:13:51,038 --> 00:13:53,332
<i>build huge communal nests.</i>

127
00:13:57,503 --> 00:14:00,130
<i>Inside, it's up to nine degrees cooler.</i>

128
00:14:03,843 --> 00:14:06,554
<i>The weavers aren't</i>
<i>the only ones who benefit.</i>

129
00:14:10,391 --> 00:14:14,144
<i>Their nest has attracted</i>
<i>a pair of pygmy falcons.</i>

130
00:14:15,688 --> 00:14:17,940
<i>Among the smallest raptors on Earth,</i>

131
00:14:18,566 --> 00:14:20,234
<i>these unlikely squatters</i>

132
00:14:20,317 --> 00:14:22,778
<i>take advantage of the weavers' hard work.</i>

133
00:14:29,869 --> 00:14:30,786
<i>Sometimes,</i>

134
00:14:32,079 --> 00:14:33,205
<i>they even eat them.</i>

135
00:14:37,084 --> 00:14:39,169
<i>But when it comes to neighbors from hell,</i>

136
00:14:40,963 --> 00:14:43,799
<i>weaver birds have even bigger problems.</i>

137
00:14:46,385 --> 00:14:48,304
<i>This hive of life</i>

138
00:14:48,387 --> 00:14:50,890
<i>attracts all sorts of predators.</i>

139
00:15:17,166 --> 00:15:19,501
<i>The weavers appear defenseless,</i>

140
00:15:21,128 --> 00:15:22,963
<i>but they have a security force…</i>

141
00:15:32,848 --> 00:15:35,309
<i>…ready to fend off any attack.</i>

142
00:15:57,414 --> 00:15:59,541
<i>Only the size of your fist,</i>

143
00:16:00,626 --> 00:16:02,711
<i>but the falcons pack a punch.</i>

144
00:16:19,520 --> 00:16:20,771
<i>And thankfully,</i>

145
00:16:20,854 --> 00:16:23,899
<i>these fierce little fighters</i>
<i>show some restraint.</i>

146
00:16:25,734 --> 00:16:28,153
<i>They only take a few weavers each season.</i>

147
00:16:29,780 --> 00:16:33,409
<i>Most of the time,</i>
<i>there's plenty of other prey around.</i>

148
00:16:38,247 --> 00:16:42,459
<i>For the weavers, it's a case</i>
<i>of "better the devil you know."</i>

149
00:16:43,961 --> 00:16:45,921
<i>And for the little falcons,</i>

150
00:16:46,005 --> 00:16:47,548
<i>it's a one-stop solution</i>

151
00:16:47,631 --> 00:16:51,093
<i>to finding food and shelter</i>
<i>in the barren desert.</i>

152
00:17:12,448 --> 00:17:14,783
<i>In this remote corner of South America…</i>

153
00:17:17,202 --> 00:17:18,954
<i>life is so abundant,</i>

154
00:17:19,663 --> 00:17:22,458
<i>every creature needs its niche.</i>

155
00:17:38,724 --> 00:17:43,604
<i>Perching at the top of the food chain,</i>
<i>the 15-pound harpy eagle.</i>

156
00:17:46,732 --> 00:17:48,692
<i>But another bird of prey here</i>

157
00:17:48,776 --> 00:17:51,570
<i>does things a little differently.</i>

158
00:17:54,948 --> 00:17:57,326
<i>The red-throated caracara.</i>

159
00:18:01,038 --> 00:18:03,332
<i>When caracaras sense a threat,</i>

160
00:18:04,583 --> 00:18:06,376
<i>they let everybody know.</i>

161
00:18:11,006 --> 00:18:12,758
<i>It's enough to put the top predator</i>

162
00:18:13,467 --> 00:18:14,468
<i>off its game.</i>

163
00:18:26,438 --> 00:18:30,943
<i>Caracaras are considered the world's</i>
<i>most social and most intelligent raptors.</i>

164
00:18:33,153 --> 00:18:36,323
<i>A winning combination</i>
<i>that means they can tackle prey</i>

165
00:18:36,406 --> 00:18:38,117
<i>even a harpy wouldn't touch.</i>

166
00:18:47,918 --> 00:18:48,836
<i>Wasps.</i>

167
00:18:54,007 --> 00:18:56,135
<i>Usually best left alone.</i>

168
00:19:02,599 --> 00:19:04,143
<i>But working together,</i>

169
00:19:05,394 --> 00:19:07,688
<i>the caracaras figure out a plan.</i>

170
00:19:13,944 --> 00:19:16,113
<i>First, the direct approach.</i>

171
00:19:24,329 --> 00:19:26,123
<i>But once the nest is stirred…</i>

172
00:19:27,708 --> 00:19:30,627
<i>…those little stingers get everywhere.</i>

173
00:19:36,008 --> 00:19:38,468
<i>Next, a smash-and-grab.</i>

174
00:19:43,307 --> 00:19:45,100
<i>It takes guts to pull it off.</i>

175
00:19:52,816 --> 00:19:54,443
<i>But a little courage</i>

176
00:19:55,861 --> 00:19:57,154
<i>gets the job done.</i>

177
00:20:02,159 --> 00:20:04,536
<i>If one caracara can take the pain,</i>

178
00:20:05,370 --> 00:20:08,874
<i>eventually the wasps abandon the nest.</i>

179
00:20:17,883 --> 00:20:22,262
<i>These paper-like constructions</i>
<i>are as nutritious as cardboard…</i>

180
00:20:26,391 --> 00:20:28,060
<i>but hidden away in the combs</i>

181
00:20:28,852 --> 00:20:31,313
<i>are plump, juicy grubs.</i>

182
00:20:37,694 --> 00:20:41,156
<i>One caracara's bravery</i>
<i>benefits the whole team.</i>

183
00:20:44,868 --> 00:20:48,830
<i>Once she's taken her fill,</i>
<i>the rest share the spoils.</i>

184
00:20:54,586 --> 00:20:56,171
<i>Served up just in time.</i>

185
00:21:03,845 --> 00:21:06,223
<i>Life in the rain forest is tough.</i>

186
00:21:10,936 --> 00:21:12,938
<i>But caracaras keep ahead of the game</i>

187
00:21:14,106 --> 00:21:16,650
<i>thanks to tenacity and teamwork.</i>

188
00:21:23,615 --> 00:21:26,702
<i>Most birds of prey aren't so cooperative.</i>

189
00:21:33,583 --> 00:21:36,962
<i>Even in the nest, competition is fierce.</i>

190
00:21:41,383 --> 00:21:45,762
<i>New bald eagle chicks</i>
<i>can grow 20% bigger each day.</i>

191
00:21:52,686 --> 00:21:55,689
<i>But the youngest is struggling to keep up.</i>

192
00:22:00,444 --> 00:22:01,653
<i>Every feeding time,</i>

193
00:22:02,779 --> 00:22:04,740
<i>he's at the back of the line.</i>

194
00:22:11,330 --> 00:22:13,248
<i>In a little over two months,</i>

195
00:22:13,332 --> 00:22:16,084
<i>these chicks need to be ten times larger</i>

196
00:22:16,168 --> 00:22:17,544
<i>and ready to fly.</i>

197
00:22:20,964 --> 00:22:22,549
<i>But if there's not enough food,</i>

198
00:22:23,050 --> 00:22:26,553
<i>older eaglets will turn on</i>
<i>their smaller siblings.</i>

199
00:22:29,556 --> 00:22:31,808
<i>It's rare for three chicks to survive.</i>

200
00:22:37,314 --> 00:22:39,649
<i>The parents are working hard</i>

201
00:22:39,733 --> 00:22:42,569
<i>to keep all of their young alive.</i>

202
00:22:50,911 --> 00:22:55,499
<i>Finding enough food is</i>
<i>a constant struggle for all birds of prey.</i>

203
00:22:58,835 --> 00:23:01,421
<i>Though some make it seem effortless.</i>

204
00:23:11,848 --> 00:23:13,683
<i>Vultures use thermals,</i>

205
00:23:15,143 --> 00:23:17,020
<i>columns of rising warm air,</i>

206
00:23:17,104 --> 00:23:18,605
<i>to gain altitude.</i>

207
00:23:21,983 --> 00:23:25,862
<i>Once high enough, some soar over 100 miles</i>

208
00:23:25,946 --> 00:23:28,490
<i>without a single beat of their wings.</i>

209
00:23:33,870 --> 00:23:35,122
<i>Along the way,</i>

210
00:23:35,205 --> 00:23:38,458
<i>they use their telescopic vision</i>
<i>to scan for food.</i>

211
00:23:48,343 --> 00:23:50,595
<i>Vultures are scavengers.</i>

212
00:24:00,230 --> 00:24:03,191
<i>Feasting on the dead</i>
<i>has given them a bad name,</i>

213
00:24:03,275 --> 00:24:05,861
<i>but they're the only birds of prey</i>

214
00:24:05,944 --> 00:24:07,154
<i>that never kill.</i>

215
00:24:10,907 --> 00:24:14,578
<i>And they do essential work</i>
<i>as nature's cleanup crew.</i>

216
00:24:20,459 --> 00:24:22,002
<i>It may look chaotic,</i>

217
00:24:22,085 --> 00:24:23,753
<i>but there's a pecking order.</i>

218
00:24:25,380 --> 00:24:29,676
<i>Nine different species of vulture</i>
<i>live in Southern Africa alone,</i>

219
00:24:30,469 --> 00:24:32,679
<i>and each has its own role.</i>

220
00:24:34,306 --> 00:24:36,475
<i>First, the middleweights.</i>

221
00:24:37,142 --> 00:24:38,602
<i>White-backed vultures.</i>

222
00:24:46,651 --> 00:24:49,821
<i>In large numbers,</i>
<i>they devour the bulk of the carcass,</i>

223
00:24:51,198 --> 00:24:53,450
<i>the internal organs, and flesh.</i>

224
00:25:02,000 --> 00:25:04,044
<i>Next, the heavyweights.</i>

225
00:25:05,795 --> 00:25:07,631
<i>At over 15 pounds,</i>

226
00:25:07,714 --> 00:25:11,259
<i>lappet-faced vultures</i>
<i>are one of the biggest in Africa.</i>

227
00:25:13,595 --> 00:25:15,138
<i>When they move in,</i>

228
00:25:15,222 --> 00:25:16,890
<i>everyone steps aside.</i>

229
00:25:20,936 --> 00:25:24,189
<i>Their powerful beaks</i>
<i>rip through ligaments and hide,</i>

230
00:25:25,607 --> 00:25:28,568
<i>opening up new parts of the carcass</i>

231
00:25:28,652 --> 00:25:30,153
<i>for the last in line.</i>

232
00:25:32,364 --> 00:25:33,532
<i>The lightweights.</i>

233
00:25:36,117 --> 00:25:38,703
<i>Hooded vultures stick to the sidelines,</i>

234
00:25:39,371 --> 00:25:41,039
<i>stealing scraps where they can,</i>

235
00:25:41,748 --> 00:25:43,458
<i>patiently waiting their turn.</i>

236
00:25:46,962 --> 00:25:48,463
<i>Once everyone else is done,</i>

237
00:25:49,548 --> 00:25:52,467
<i>their small beaks pick the bones bare.</i>

238
00:25:55,804 --> 00:25:59,516
<i>Vultures do the dirty work</i>
<i>in keeping our planet clean.</i>

239
00:26:03,812 --> 00:26:06,565
<i>Stomachs as acidic as car batteries</i>

240
00:26:06,648 --> 00:26:10,026
<i>destroy any bacteria and viruses they eat.</i>

241
00:26:11,778 --> 00:26:14,614
<i>And they deny disease-spreading insects</i>

242
00:26:14,698 --> 00:26:16,032
<i>a place to breed.</i>

243
00:26:23,415 --> 00:26:24,791
<i>We need vultures,</i>

244
00:26:26,251 --> 00:26:27,919
<i>but their numbers are plummeting.</i>

245
00:26:29,212 --> 00:26:31,256
<i>In just 15 years,</i>

246
00:26:31,339 --> 00:26:34,926
<i>97% of India's vultures were killed,</i>

247
00:26:36,595 --> 00:26:39,723
<i>poisoned by feeding</i>
<i>on the carcasses of cattle</i>

248
00:26:39,806 --> 00:26:42,809
<i>treated with a drug called Diclofenac.</i>

249
00:26:45,478 --> 00:26:48,523
<i>When feral dogs</i>
<i>took their place as scavengers,</i>

250
00:26:48,607 --> 00:26:50,734
<i>it led to a rise in rabies,</i>

251
00:26:50,817 --> 00:26:53,194
<i>TB, and anthrax.</i>

252
00:26:55,864 --> 00:26:58,533
<i>Other raptors have suffered</i>
<i>a similar fate.</i>

253
00:27:00,994 --> 00:27:02,245
<i>In the 1950s,</i>

254
00:27:02,329 --> 00:27:05,248
<i>DDT was a freely used insecticide.</i>

255
00:27:06,249 --> 00:27:09,836
<i>But it had a devastating effect</i>
<i>on bald eagles' eggs</i>

256
00:27:10,629 --> 00:27:13,882
<i>and nearly wiped out this iconic species.</i>

257
00:27:16,509 --> 00:27:20,889
<i>Once people realized its impact,</i>
<i>DDT was banned.</i>

258
00:27:22,265 --> 00:27:23,850
<i>Within 50 years,</i>

259
00:27:23,933 --> 00:27:27,145
<i>bald eagle numbers increased sevenfold.</i>

260
00:27:32,359 --> 00:27:35,236
<i>Many birds of prey</i>
<i>are still under pressure.</i>

261
00:27:39,240 --> 00:27:42,118
<i>Seen as a threat to livestock and game,</i>

262
00:27:42,202 --> 00:27:43,662
<i>they are persecuted.</i>

263
00:27:45,580 --> 00:27:47,332
<i>And when habitat is destroyed,</i>

264
00:27:49,250 --> 00:27:51,002
<i>they lose food and shelter.</i>

265
00:27:54,464 --> 00:27:57,634
<i>But not all are faring so badly</i>
<i>in the modern world.</i>

266
00:28:09,938 --> 00:28:13,191
<i>This might look like</i>
<i>the last place a raptor would thrive…</i>

267
00:28:18,113 --> 00:28:20,031
<i>…but for those that can adapt,</i>

268
00:28:20,990 --> 00:28:23,243
<i>it's a world of opportunity.</i>

269
00:28:28,665 --> 00:28:29,916
<i>In the heart of the city,</i>

270
00:28:30,750 --> 00:28:36,756
<i>Battersea Power Station's iconic chimneys</i>
<i>stand over 300 feet high.</i>

271
00:28:39,426 --> 00:28:42,679
<i>They're home</i>
<i>to a pair of peregrine falcons.</i>

272
00:28:46,433 --> 00:28:49,185
<i>They use the concrete walls like cliffs.</i>

273
00:28:55,567 --> 00:28:57,736
<i>City life has its advantages.</i>

274
00:29:03,533 --> 00:29:05,243
<i>There's so much light here,</i>

275
00:29:05,326 --> 00:29:07,954
<i>the peregrines can hunt at night.</i>

276
00:29:17,922 --> 00:29:21,259
<i>The pair splits up to cover more ground.</i>

277
00:29:29,100 --> 00:29:31,853
<i>The female falcon is the bigger,</i>

278
00:29:31,936 --> 00:29:34,397
<i>more experienced nocturnal hunter.</i>

279
00:29:45,158 --> 00:29:47,952
<i>Her vision is more than</i>
<i>twice as sharp as ours,</i>

280
00:29:49,162 --> 00:29:51,164
<i>thanks to eyes so large</i>

281
00:29:51,956 --> 00:29:53,833
<i>they touch inside her skull.</i>

282
00:29:56,377 --> 00:29:59,506
<i>By bobbing her head,</i>
<i>she triangulates her target.</i>

283
00:30:01,758 --> 00:30:03,843
<i>But pursuing pigeons in the city</i>

284
00:30:03,927 --> 00:30:05,178
<i>has risks.</i>

285
00:30:09,140 --> 00:30:11,851
<i>This many buildings</i>
<i>make it dangerous to stoop.</i>

286
00:30:16,564 --> 00:30:20,485
<i>It forces urban peregrines</i>
<i>to hunt the hard way.</i>

287
00:30:31,830 --> 00:30:33,081
<i>The level chase…</i>

288
00:30:35,917 --> 00:30:39,587
<i>where predator and prey</i>
<i>are more evenly matched.</i>

289
00:30:46,970 --> 00:30:48,638
<i>But even without stooping,</i>

290
00:30:50,390 --> 00:30:51,808
<i>even at night…</i>

291
00:30:56,771 --> 00:31:00,108
<i>nature's top gun is rarely outmaneuvered.</i>

292
00:31:08,449 --> 00:31:12,328
<i>Peregrine falcons have spread</i>
<i>to cities around the world,</i>

293
00:31:13,288 --> 00:31:15,123
<i>from New York to Sydney.</i>

294
00:31:17,250 --> 00:31:21,087
<i>And with every breeding season,</i>
<i>their numbers continue to rise.</i>

295
00:31:31,306 --> 00:31:33,016
<i>At the bald eagle nest,</i>

296
00:31:34,267 --> 00:31:35,894
<i>the chicks have come a long way.</i>

297
00:31:37,520 --> 00:31:39,063
<i>All three of them.</i>

298
00:31:40,148 --> 00:31:41,900
<i>All growing strong.</i>

299
00:31:44,402 --> 00:31:47,906
<i>And finally developing</i>
<i>their flight feathers.</i>

300
00:31:50,116 --> 00:31:54,120
<i>The chicks' survival</i>
<i>is a testament to Mom and Dad.</i>

301
00:31:56,122 --> 00:31:59,042
<i>They've worked tirelessly for six months.</i>

302
00:32:03,087 --> 00:32:05,173
<i>But now they're bringing in less food…</i>

303
00:32:07,508 --> 00:32:08,843
<i>hinting to the eaglets</i>

304
00:32:09,594 --> 00:32:11,346
<i>it's time to fly the nest.</i>

305
00:32:15,934 --> 00:32:18,353
<i>The art of flying takes practice.</i>

306
00:32:27,737 --> 00:32:29,364
<i>And conditions have to be right.</i>

307
00:32:34,202 --> 00:32:37,914
<i>Once the weather clears,</i>
<i>they're more determined than ever.</i>

308
00:32:49,676 --> 00:32:52,637
<i>But the outside world</i>
<i>is new and confusing.</i>

309
00:33:02,772 --> 00:33:05,608
<i>Other birds are hostile towards predators.</i>

310
00:33:08,820 --> 00:33:11,030
<i>It's scary to venture far from family.</i>

311
00:33:14,409 --> 00:33:15,535
<i>And it takes time</i>

312
00:33:17,453 --> 00:33:18,579
<i>to find your feet.</i>

313
00:33:22,625 --> 00:33:26,963
<i>This is just the beginning</i>
<i>of the long journey to adulthood.</i>

314
00:33:34,804 --> 00:33:35,930
<i>Thankfully,</i>

315
00:33:36,014 --> 00:33:38,725
<i>Mom and Dad</i>
<i>will watch over them for a while.</i>

316
00:33:44,272 --> 00:33:48,026
<i>Birds of prey aren't natural-born killers.</i>

317
00:33:50,778 --> 00:33:53,489
<i>They need time to perfect their skills.</i>

318
00:33:57,618 --> 00:34:00,705
<i>For three months,</i>
<i>the secretary bird chicks</i>

319
00:34:00,788 --> 00:34:04,125
<i>have had everything</i>
<i>provided by their parents.</i>

320
00:34:06,961 --> 00:34:10,381
<i>Now they must start</i>
<i>fending for themselves.</i>

321
00:34:15,386 --> 00:34:17,722
<i>One chick leads the charge.</i>

322
00:34:21,976 --> 00:34:23,561
<i>When its sibling follows,</i>

323
00:34:25,354 --> 00:34:26,481
<i>the hunt is on.</i>

324
00:34:30,485 --> 00:34:32,612
<i>Finding prey takes a keen eye,</i>

325
00:34:33,362 --> 00:34:34,989
<i>and a lot of walking.</i>

326
00:34:40,953 --> 00:34:43,498
<i>Catching it doesn't come easily.</i>

327
00:35:07,730 --> 00:35:09,398
<i>Success at last.</i>

328
00:35:11,818 --> 00:35:14,654
<i>But one small lizard is barely a snack.</i>

329
00:35:18,074 --> 00:35:20,368
<i>Luckily, Mom's on the case.</i>

330
00:35:30,086 --> 00:35:33,089
<i>She'll keep feeding her young</i>
<i>for another two months…</i>

331
00:35:35,675 --> 00:35:37,301
<i>…as the awkward youngsters</i>

332
00:35:38,636 --> 00:35:40,596
<i>learn to be deadly assassins,</i>

333
00:35:42,348 --> 00:35:43,599
<i>just like Mom.</i>

334
00:35:48,187 --> 00:35:51,190
<i>Few other birds make such devoted parents.</i>

335
00:35:56,863 --> 00:36:00,783
<i>Raptors spend much of their lives</i>
<i>rearing their young.</i>

336
00:36:03,786 --> 00:36:05,830
<i>Providing protection</i>

337
00:36:06,873 --> 00:36:08,374
<i>and hard-won meals</i>

338
00:36:09,959 --> 00:36:11,419
<i>to ensure that one day</i>

339
00:36:12,253 --> 00:36:13,963
<i>their chicks will be able</i>

340
00:36:14,505 --> 00:36:16,549
<i>to survive on their own.</i>

341
00:36:27,101 --> 00:36:28,102
<i>Late fall.</i>

342
00:36:32,648 --> 00:36:36,360
<i>Hundreds of bald eagles</i>
<i>have traveled from far and wide…</i>

343
00:36:38,779 --> 00:36:41,532
<i>to hunt migrating waterfowl.</i>

344
00:36:46,370 --> 00:36:48,831
<i>Young eagles need to build their strength.</i>

345
00:36:55,379 --> 00:36:58,049
<i>They won't get any more handouts</i>
<i>from Mom and Dad…</i>

346
00:37:01,469 --> 00:37:04,138
<i>so they need to watch and learn.</i>

347
00:37:08,893 --> 00:37:10,645
<i>Gliding into the wind,</i>

348
00:37:10,728 --> 00:37:13,856
<i>an adult chooses its moment to strike.</i>

349
00:37:16,067 --> 00:37:18,319
<i>Coots are quick to get out of the way…</i>

350
00:37:21,656 --> 00:37:23,658
<i>…but can't stay under for long.</i>

351
00:37:34,210 --> 00:37:35,670
<i>Catching prey is hard.</i>

352
00:37:37,213 --> 00:37:39,632
<i>Keeping hold of it is even harder.</i>

353
00:37:48,140 --> 00:37:50,893
<i>Better to give it up than risk a fight.</i>

354
00:37:57,066 --> 00:37:59,902
<i>It's time to put what he's seen</i>
<i>into practice.</i>

355
00:38:19,797 --> 00:38:23,175
<i>The trick is to catch one off guard.</i>

356
00:38:26,679 --> 00:38:28,180
<i>Easier said than done.</i>

357
00:38:40,151 --> 00:38:42,361
<i>With every failed grab…</i>

358
00:38:44,447 --> 00:38:46,699
<i>with every one that gets away,</i>

359
00:38:48,659 --> 00:38:50,328
<i>he refines his timing</i>

360
00:38:51,787 --> 00:38:53,372
<i>and angle of attack.</i>

361
00:39:11,599 --> 00:39:13,142
<i>At last.</i>

362
00:39:16,312 --> 00:39:18,439
<i>But he's so focused on getting away,</i>

363
00:39:19,690 --> 00:39:21,150
<i>he drops the ball.</i>

364
00:39:23,319 --> 00:39:24,362
<i>And now,</i>

365
00:39:26,113 --> 00:39:27,865
<i>he's got competition.</i>

366
00:39:34,163 --> 00:39:37,708
<i>The youngster is determined</i>
<i>to reclaim his prize.</i>

367
00:39:46,050 --> 00:39:48,469
<i>But this just isn't his day.</i>

368
00:39:51,013 --> 00:39:53,182
<i>And days are running short.</i>

369
00:39:57,853 --> 00:40:02,358
<i>As temperatures drop,</i>
<i>eagles need more energy to keep warm.</i>

370
00:40:06,237 --> 00:40:08,489
<i>But still no kill.</i>

371
00:40:11,742 --> 00:40:15,287
<i>Less than half of all young eagles</i>
<i>survive their first winter.</i>

372
00:40:19,583 --> 00:40:22,002
<i>It's now or never.</i>

373
00:40:47,528 --> 00:40:48,404
<i>And this time…</i>

374
00:40:51,073 --> 00:40:52,658
<i>he doesn't let go.</i>

375
00:41:01,584 --> 00:41:02,835
<i>Just months ago,</i>

376
00:41:03,627 --> 00:41:07,089
<i>these new eagles</i>
<i>entered the world as helpless chicks.</i>

377
00:41:08,674 --> 00:41:13,053
<i>Thanks to their killer instinct</i>
<i>and their parents' incredible devotion,</i>

378
00:41:13,971 --> 00:41:17,683
<i>they've become</i>
<i>fully-fledged birds of prey.</i>

379
00:41:22,730 --> 00:41:25,983
<i>They won't develop their white head</i>
<i>until they're five years old.</i>

380
00:41:29,069 --> 00:41:32,698
<i>Only then will they be ready</i>
<i>to raise a family of their own…</i>

381
00:41:37,369 --> 00:41:39,246
<i>and pass on their skills…</i>

382
00:41:41,874 --> 00:41:43,542
<i>to the next generation.</i>