1
00:00:34,077 --> 00:00:35,828
<i>Rulers of the sky.</i>

2
00:00:44,879 --> 00:00:46,297
<i>Symbols of freedom.</i>

3
00:00:50,927 --> 00:00:52,970
<i>Unrivaled hunters.</i>

4
00:00:57,767 --> 00:00:59,727
<i>We think of birds of prey</i>

5
00:00:59,811 --> 00:01:01,771
<i>as ruthless killers.</i>

6
00:01:06,776 --> 00:01:09,153
<i>But there's another side to their story.</i>

7
00:01:12,490 --> 00:01:14,408
<i>Unexpectedly smart.</i>

8
00:01:16,119 --> 00:01:17,870
<i>Surprisingly adaptable.</i>

9
00:01:22,041 --> 00:01:23,668
<i>And more caring</i>

10
00:01:24,293 --> 00:01:26,003
<i>than you ever imagined.</i>

11
00:01:48,609 --> 00:01:49,694
<i>Deep winter.</i>

12
00:01:53,865 --> 00:01:57,243
<i>This female bald eagle</i>
<i>is having contractions.</i>

13
00:02:02,373 --> 00:02:05,084
<i>Her eggs take 35 days to hatch.</i>

14
00:02:10,131 --> 00:02:11,299
<i>To be ready for spring…</i>

15
00:02:12,967 --> 00:02:14,635
<i>…she has to lay now.</i>

16
00:02:21,017 --> 00:02:22,685
<i>But at this time of year,</i>

17
00:02:22,768 --> 00:02:24,770
<i>the weather can quickly turn.</i>

18
00:02:41,704 --> 00:02:45,750
<i>Exposed,</i> <i>her eggs would freeze in minutes.</i>

19
00:02:53,507 --> 00:02:56,219
<i>But bald eagles are tough.</i>

20
00:03:00,598 --> 00:03:02,725
<i>She'll do whatever it takes</i>

21
00:03:02,808 --> 00:03:03,768
<i>to protect them.</i>

22
00:03:12,318 --> 00:03:13,861
<i>And it's not just Mom.</i>

23
00:03:19,450 --> 00:03:21,118
<i>Her lifelong mate.</i>

24
00:03:26,123 --> 00:03:31,295
<i>A pair devoted to raising</i>
<i>the next generation</i> <i>of aerial hunters.</i>

25
00:03:38,594 --> 00:03:39,845
<i>Around the planet,</i>

26
00:03:39,929 --> 00:03:44,100
<i>there are over 300 kinds</i> <i>of birds of prey.</i>

27
00:03:45,101 --> 00:03:48,938
<i>From the biggest in the world,</i>
<i>with a nine-foot wingspan,</i>

28
00:03:50,273 --> 00:03:51,691
<i>to the smallest,</i>

29
00:03:51,774 --> 00:03:53,859
<i>no bigger than a butterfly.</i>

30
00:03:55,903 --> 00:03:59,198
<i>Wherever they live,</i>
<i>they control the skies.</i>

31
00:04:00,408 --> 00:04:02,285
<i>From dense jungles</i>

32
00:04:03,703 --> 00:04:05,621
<i>to the frozen Arctic.</i>

33
00:04:07,123 --> 00:04:08,499
<i>Arid deserts…</i>

34
00:04:10,876 --> 00:04:12,795
<i>to towering mountains.</i>

35
00:04:14,255 --> 00:04:16,757
<i>All of them are meat eaters</i>

36
00:04:17,717 --> 00:04:19,802
<i>equipped with the same weaponry.</i>

37
00:04:21,804 --> 00:04:24,432
<i>It's what and how they hunt</i>

38
00:04:25,975 --> 00:04:28,686
<i>that's created such an amazing cast</i>

39
00:04:29,895 --> 00:04:31,564
<i>of aerial assassins.</i>

40
00:04:41,741 --> 00:04:43,451
<i>No open flight lines</i>

41
00:04:44,994 --> 00:04:46,871
<i>and too many places to hide</i>

42
00:04:47,913 --> 00:04:51,167
<i>make hunting almost impossible</i>
<i>for a raptor.</i>

43
00:04:53,252 --> 00:04:57,256
<i>-Unless it's the woodland master.</i>

44
00:05:05,890 --> 00:05:06,932
<i>The goshawk.</i>

45
00:05:13,314 --> 00:05:15,858
<i>Armed with all the tools of the trade.</i>

46
00:05:19,028 --> 00:05:20,946
<i>Acute binocular vision,</i>

47
00:05:22,782 --> 00:05:25,493
<i>a sharp, hooked beak</i>
<i>for ripping into flesh,</i>

48
00:05:27,036 --> 00:05:29,914
<i>and large, curved talons</i>

49
00:05:29,997 --> 00:05:31,290
<i>for grasping prey.</i>

50
00:05:35,461 --> 00:05:37,129
<i>That's standard issue.</i>

51
00:05:40,007 --> 00:05:41,467
<i>What makes her exceptional</i>

52
00:05:42,593 --> 00:05:45,054
<i>is how she chases down her prey.</i>

53
00:05:55,731 --> 00:05:56,982
<i>In a few wingbeats,</i>

54
00:05:58,567 --> 00:06:00,486
<i>she hits 32 miles per hour…</i>

55
00:06:02,988 --> 00:06:05,616
<i>the fastest acceleration</i>
<i>of almost any raptor.</i>

56
00:06:09,662 --> 00:06:11,497
<i>Using her tail as an air brake,</i>

57
00:06:11,580 --> 00:06:13,207
<i>she turns on a dime.</i>

58
00:06:16,419 --> 00:06:18,045
<i>Shortened wings</i>

59
00:06:18,796 --> 00:06:20,673
<i>contort to the smallest gap.</i>

60
00:06:24,093 --> 00:06:26,971
<i>She needs to hit her target</i>
<i>before it reaches cover.</i>

61
00:06:40,860 --> 00:06:43,946
<i>Hugging the terrain conceals her approach.</i>

62
00:06:54,248 --> 00:06:56,375
<i>And if it doesn't work the first time…</i>

63
00:06:58,544 --> 00:07:00,421
<i>goshawks are not just agile.</i>

64
00:07:04,049 --> 00:07:05,342
<i>They're patient too.</i>

65
00:07:24,987 --> 00:07:27,990
<i>Found in woodlands</i>
<i>across the northern hemisphere,</i>

66
00:07:28,073 --> 00:07:31,535
<i>the goshawk's success</i>
<i>is down to its amazing agility.</i>

67
00:07:34,663 --> 00:07:36,707
<i>But when it comes to pure speed…</i>

68
00:07:38,792 --> 00:07:39,960
<i>another raptor</i>

69
00:07:41,128 --> 00:07:42,338
<i>is unbeatable.</i>

70
00:07:48,093 --> 00:07:50,012
<i>The fastest animal on Earth.</i>

71
00:07:51,472 --> 00:07:53,057
<i>The peregrine falcon.</i>

72
00:08:02,316 --> 00:08:05,569
<i>Top speed over 240 miles an hour</i>

73
00:08:06,779 --> 00:08:07,905
<i>in a stoop.</i>

74
00:08:13,118 --> 00:08:14,954
<i>Peregrines are so successful,</i>

75
00:08:15,454 --> 00:08:18,165
<i>they're found all around the world.</i>

76
00:08:24,630 --> 00:08:27,049
<i>Cliffs are their favorite habitat.</i>

77
00:08:29,009 --> 00:08:32,221
<i>They provide a vantage point</i>
<i>to scope for food.</i>

78
00:08:38,978 --> 00:08:40,771
<i>And create updrafts</i>

79
00:08:42,690 --> 00:08:45,234
<i>that peregrines use to gain height</i>

80
00:08:45,317 --> 00:08:47,236
<i>before they strike from above.</i>

81
00:09:01,875 --> 00:09:04,128
<i>The success of most birds of prey</i>

82
00:09:04,211 --> 00:09:06,130
<i>depends on a mastery of flight.</i>

83
00:09:09,800 --> 00:09:13,053
<i>But there's always one</i>
<i>that bucks the trend.</i>

84
00:09:20,060 --> 00:09:22,396
<i>Meet the secretary bird.</i>

85
00:09:28,485 --> 00:09:30,529
<i>Not your typical bird of prey.</i>

86
00:09:36,535 --> 00:09:37,786
<i>She's a raptor</i>

87
00:09:38,746 --> 00:09:40,080
<i>on stilts.</i>

88
00:09:43,208 --> 00:09:45,753
<i>About the height</i>
<i>of a seven-year-old child.</i>

89
00:09:51,383 --> 00:09:53,052
<i>And while she can fly,</i>

90
00:09:53,927 --> 00:09:56,430
<i>she'd rather go by foot.</i>

91
00:09:58,932 --> 00:10:01,477
<i>Up to 18 miles a day.</i>

92
00:10:12,321 --> 00:10:14,490
<i>Those long legs aren't just for walking.</i>

93
00:10:16,116 --> 00:10:18,160
<i>They help see into the tall grass.</i>

94
00:10:30,172 --> 00:10:32,341
<i>They look a little ungainly…</i>

95
00:10:35,678 --> 00:10:37,054
<i>but don't be fooled.</i>

96
00:10:50,818 --> 00:10:52,653
<i>That kick is lethal…</i>

97
00:10:56,448 --> 00:10:59,493
<i>unleashing 44 pounds of force</i>

98
00:11:00,619 --> 00:11:02,246
<i>faster than a blink of an eye.</i>

99
00:11:03,831 --> 00:11:05,916
<i>And she needs to move fast.</i>

100
00:11:06,917 --> 00:11:08,669
<i>This living velociraptor</i>

101
00:11:08,752 --> 00:11:10,713
<i>is also a mom.</i>

102
00:11:15,634 --> 00:11:18,470
<i>Two chicks, almost fully grown.</i>

103
00:11:19,346 --> 00:11:20,973
<i>Always hungry.</i>

104
00:11:28,772 --> 00:11:31,400
<i>Parenting duties</i>
<i>are also stepping up a gear</i>

105
00:11:31,483 --> 00:11:32,943
<i>at the bald eagle nest.</i>

106
00:11:44,204 --> 00:11:46,623
<i>As soon as the snow's melted,</i>

107
00:11:46,707 --> 00:11:49,376
<i>the magical moment arrives.</i>

108
00:11:53,922 --> 00:11:56,592
<i>Two chicks, freshly hatched.</i>

109
00:12:07,895 --> 00:12:08,896
<i>In any weather…</i>

110
00:12:13,442 --> 00:12:14,526
<i>…at any time…</i>

111
00:12:17,362 --> 00:12:19,656
<i>Mom protects them the best she can.</i>

112
00:12:21,241 --> 00:12:23,076
<i>But with those talons,</i>

113
00:12:23,619 --> 00:12:25,412
<i>she must tread carefully.</i>

114
00:12:30,083 --> 00:12:32,544
<i>Both adults take turns brooding</i>

115
00:12:34,421 --> 00:12:35,839
<i>and fetching food.</i>

116
00:12:46,308 --> 00:12:50,229
<i>Tag-team parenting gives their young</i>
<i>the best possible start.</i>

117
00:13:01,406 --> 00:13:02,741
<i>Four days later,</i>

118
00:13:03,408 --> 00:13:05,244
<i>the last egg hatches.</i>

119
00:13:08,455 --> 00:13:11,291
<i>The oldest chick</i>
<i>is already twice its weight.</i>

120
00:13:12,584 --> 00:13:16,713
<i>Unless the parents can provide</i>
<i>an exceptional amount of food,</i>

121
00:13:17,798 --> 00:13:21,134
<i>the smallest sibling won't last long.</i>

122
00:13:24,221 --> 00:13:27,558
<i>Birds of prey</i>
<i>are most vulnerable in the nest.</i>

123
00:13:36,817 --> 00:13:40,028
{\an8}<i>Chicks would soon perish</i>
<i>in this baking desert…</i>

124
00:13:42,447 --> 00:13:44,992
<i>unless they have shelter from the sun.</i>

125
00:13:49,496 --> 00:13:50,998
<i>Sociable weavers</i>

126
00:13:51,081 --> 00:13:53,375
<i>build huge communal nests.</i>

127
00:13:57,546 --> 00:14:00,173
<i>Inside, it's up to nine degrees cooler.</i>

128
00:14:03,886 --> 00:14:06,597
<i>The weavers aren't</i>
<i>the only ones who benefit.</i>

129
00:14:10,434 --> 00:14:14,187
<i>Their nest has attracted</i>
<i>a pair of pygmy falcons.</i>

130
00:14:15,731 --> 00:14:17,983
<i>Among the smallest raptors on Earth,</i>

131
00:14:18,609 --> 00:14:20,277
<i>these unlikely squatters</i>

132
00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:22,821
<i>take advantage of the weavers' hard work.</i>

133
00:14:29,912 --> 00:14:30,829
<i>Sometimes,</i>

134
00:14:32,122 --> 00:14:33,248
<i>they even eat them.</i>

135
00:14:37,127 --> 00:14:39,212
<i>But when it comes to neighbors from hell,</i>

136
00:14:41,006 --> 00:14:43,842
<i>weaver birds have even bigger problems.</i>

137
00:14:46,428 --> 00:14:48,347
<i>This hive of life</i>

138
00:14:48,430 --> 00:14:50,933
<i>attracts all sorts of predators.</i>

139
00:15:17,209 --> 00:15:19,544
<i>The weavers appear defenseless,</i>

140
00:15:21,171 --> 00:15:23,006
<i>but they have a security force…</i>

141
00:15:32,891 --> 00:15:35,352
<i>…ready to fend off any attack.</i>

142
00:15:57,457 --> 00:15:59,584
<i>Only the size of your fist,</i>

143
00:16:00,669 --> 00:16:02,754
<i>but the falcons pack a punch.</i>

144
00:16:19,563 --> 00:16:20,814
<i>And thankfully,</i>

145
00:16:20,897 --> 00:16:23,942
<i>these fierce little fighters</i>
<i>show some restraint.</i>

146
00:16:25,777 --> 00:16:28,196
<i>They only take a few weavers each season.</i>

147
00:16:29,823 --> 00:16:33,452
<i>Most of the time,</i>
<i>there's plenty of other prey around.</i>

148
00:16:38,290 --> 00:16:42,502
<i>For the weavers, it's a case</i>
<i>of "better the devil you know."</i>

149
00:16:44,004 --> 00:16:45,964
<i>And for the little falcons,</i>

150
00:16:46,048 --> 00:16:47,591
<i>it's a one-stop solution</i>

151
00:16:47,674 --> 00:16:51,136
<i>to finding food and shelter</i>
<i>in the barren desert.</i>

152
00:17:12,491 --> 00:17:14,826
<i>In this remote corner of South America…</i>

153
00:17:17,245 --> 00:17:18,997
<i>life is so abundant,</i>

154
00:17:19,706 --> 00:17:22,501
<i>every creature needs its niche.</i>

155
00:17:38,767 --> 00:17:43,647
<i>Perching at the top of the food chain,</i>
<i>the 15-pound harpy eagle.</i>

156
00:17:46,775 --> 00:17:48,735
<i>But another bird of prey here</i>

157
00:17:48,819 --> 00:17:51,613
<i>does things a little differently.</i>

158
00:17:54,991 --> 00:17:57,369
<i>The red-throated caracara.</i>

159
00:18:01,081 --> 00:18:03,375
<i>When caracaras sense a threat,</i>

160
00:18:04,626 --> 00:18:06,419
<i>they let everybody know.</i>

161
00:18:11,049 --> 00:18:12,801
<i>It's enough to put the top predator</i>

162
00:18:13,510 --> 00:18:14,511
<i>off its game.</i>

163
00:18:26,481 --> 00:18:30,986
<i>Caracaras are considered the world's</i>
<i>most social and most intelligent raptors.</i>

164
00:18:33,196 --> 00:18:36,366
<i>A winning combination</i>
<i>that means they can tackle prey</i>

165
00:18:36,449 --> 00:18:38,160
<i>even a harpy wouldn't touch.</i>

166
00:18:47,961 --> 00:18:48,879
<i>Wasps.</i>

167
00:18:54,050 --> 00:18:56,178
<i>Usually best left alone.</i>

168
00:19:02,642 --> 00:19:04,186
<i>But working together,</i>

169
00:19:05,437 --> 00:19:07,731
<i>the caracaras figure out a plan.</i>

170
00:19:13,987 --> 00:19:16,156
<i>First, the direct approach.</i>

171
00:19:24,372 --> 00:19:26,166
<i>But once the nest is stirred…</i>

172
00:19:27,751 --> 00:19:30,670
<i>…those little stingers get everywhere.</i>

173
00:19:36,051 --> 00:19:38,511
<i>Next, a smash-and-grab.</i>

174
00:19:43,350 --> 00:19:45,143
<i>It takes guts to pull it off.</i>

175
00:19:52,859 --> 00:19:54,486
<i>But a little courage</i>

176
00:19:55,904 --> 00:19:57,197
<i>gets the job done.</i>

177
00:20:02,202 --> 00:20:04,579
<i>If one caracara can take the pain,</i>

178
00:20:05,413 --> 00:20:08,917
<i>eventually the wasps abandon the nest.</i>

179
00:20:17,926 --> 00:20:22,305
<i>These paper-like constructions</i>
<i>are as nutritious as cardboard…</i>

180
00:20:26,434 --> 00:20:28,103
<i>but hidden away in the combs</i>

181
00:20:28,895 --> 00:20:31,356
<i>are plump, juicy grubs.</i>

182
00:20:37,737 --> 00:20:41,199
<i>One caracara's bravery</i>
<i>benefits the whole team.</i>

183
00:20:44,911 --> 00:20:48,873
<i>Once she's taken her fill,</i>
<i>the rest share the spoils.</i>

184
00:20:54,629 --> 00:20:56,214
<i>Served up just in time.</i>

185
00:21:03,888 --> 00:21:06,266
<i>Life in the rain forest is tough.</i>

186
00:21:10,979 --> 00:21:12,981
<i>But caracaras keep ahead of the game</i>

187
00:21:14,149 --> 00:21:16,693
<i>thanks to tenacity and teamwork.</i>

188
00:21:23,658 --> 00:21:26,745
<i>Most birds of prey aren't so cooperative.</i>

189
00:21:33,626 --> 00:21:37,005
<i>Even in the nest, competition is fierce.</i>

190
00:21:41,426 --> 00:21:45,805
<i>New bald eagle chicks</i>
<i>can grow 20% bigger each day.</i>

191
00:21:52,729 --> 00:21:55,732
<i>But the youngest is struggling to keep up.</i>

192
00:22:00,487 --> 00:22:01,696
<i>Every feeding time,</i>

193
00:22:02,822 --> 00:22:04,783
<i>he's at the back of the line.</i>

194
00:22:11,373 --> 00:22:13,291
<i>In a little over two months,</i>

195
00:22:13,375 --> 00:22:16,127
<i>these chicks need to be ten times larger</i>

196
00:22:16,211 --> 00:22:17,587
<i>and ready to fly.</i>

197
00:22:21,007 --> 00:22:22,592
<i>But if there's not enough food,</i>

198
00:22:23,093 --> 00:22:26,596
<i>older eaglets will turn on</i>
<i>their smaller siblings.</i>

199
00:22:29,599 --> 00:22:31,851
<i>It's rare for three chicks to survive.</i>

200
00:22:37,357 --> 00:22:39,692
<i>The parents are working hard</i>

201
00:22:39,776 --> 00:22:42,612
<i>to keep all of their young alive.</i>

202
00:22:50,954 --> 00:22:55,542
<i>Finding enough food is</i>
<i>a constant struggle for all birds of prey.</i>

203
00:22:58,878 --> 00:23:01,464
<i>Though some make it seem effortless.</i>

204
00:23:11,891 --> 00:23:13,726
<i>Vultures use thermals,</i>

205
00:23:15,186 --> 00:23:17,063
<i>columns of rising warm air,</i>

206
00:23:17,147 --> 00:23:18,648
<i>to gain altitude.</i>

207
00:23:22,026 --> 00:23:25,905
<i>Once high enough, some soar over 100 miles</i>

208
00:23:25,989 --> 00:23:28,533
<i>without a single beat of their wings.</i>

209
00:23:33,913 --> 00:23:35,165
<i>Along the way,</i>

210
00:23:35,248 --> 00:23:38,501
<i>they use their telescopic vision</i>
<i>to scan for food.</i>

211
00:23:48,386 --> 00:23:50,638
<i>Vultures are scavengers.</i>

212
00:24:00,273 --> 00:24:03,234
<i>Feasting on the dead</i>
<i>has given them a bad name,</i>

213
00:24:03,318 --> 00:24:05,904
<i>but they're the only birds of prey</i>

214
00:24:05,987 --> 00:24:07,197
<i>that never kill.</i>

215
00:24:10,950 --> 00:24:14,621
<i>And they do essential work</i>
<i>as nature's cleanup crew.</i>

216
00:24:20,502 --> 00:24:22,045
<i>It may look chaotic,</i>

217
00:24:22,128 --> 00:24:23,796
<i>but there's a pecking order.</i>

218
00:24:25,423 --> 00:24:29,719
<i>Nine different species of vulture</i>
<i>live in Southern Africa alone,</i>

219
00:24:30,512 --> 00:24:32,722
<i>and each has its own role.</i>

220
00:24:34,349 --> 00:24:36,518
<i>First, the middleweights.</i>

221
00:24:37,185 --> 00:24:38,645
<i>White-backed vultures.</i>

222
00:24:46,694 --> 00:24:49,864
<i>In large numbers,</i>
<i>they devour the bulk of the carcass,</i>

223
00:24:51,241 --> 00:24:53,493
<i>the internal organs, and flesh.</i>

224
00:25:02,043 --> 00:25:04,087
<i>Next, the heavyweights.</i>

225
00:25:05,838 --> 00:25:07,674
<i>At over 15 pounds,</i>

226
00:25:07,757 --> 00:25:11,302
<i>lappet-faced vultures</i>
<i>are one of the biggest in Africa.</i>

227
00:25:13,638 --> 00:25:15,181
<i>When they move in,</i>

228
00:25:15,265 --> 00:25:16,933
<i>everyone steps aside.</i>

229
00:25:20,979 --> 00:25:24,232
<i>Their powerful beaks</i>
<i>rip through ligaments and hide,</i>

230
00:25:25,650 --> 00:25:28,611
<i>opening up new parts of the carcass</i>

231
00:25:28,695 --> 00:25:30,196
<i>for the last in line.</i>

232
00:25:32,407 --> 00:25:33,575
<i>The lightweights.</i>

233
00:25:36,160 --> 00:25:38,746
<i>Hooded vultures stick to the sidelines,</i>

234
00:25:39,414 --> 00:25:41,082
<i>stealing scraps where they can,</i>

235
00:25:41,791 --> 00:25:43,501
<i>patiently waiting their turn.</i>

236
00:25:47,005 --> 00:25:48,506
<i>Once everyone else is done,</i>

237
00:25:49,591 --> 00:25:52,510
<i>their small beaks pick the bones bare.</i>

238
00:25:55,847 --> 00:25:59,559
<i>Vultures do the dirty work</i>
<i>in keeping our planet clean.</i>

239
00:26:03,855 --> 00:26:06,608
<i>Stomachs as acidic as car batteries</i>

240
00:26:06,691 --> 00:26:10,069
<i>destroy any bacteria and viruses they eat.</i>

241
00:26:11,821 --> 00:26:14,657
<i>And they deny disease-spreading insects</i>

242
00:26:14,741 --> 00:26:16,075
<i>a place to breed.</i>

243
00:26:23,458 --> 00:26:24,834
<i>We need vultures,</i>

244
00:26:26,294 --> 00:26:27,962
<i>but their numbers are plummeting.</i>

245
00:26:29,255 --> 00:26:31,299
<i>In just 15 years,</i>

246
00:26:31,382 --> 00:26:34,969
<i>97% of India's vultures were killed,</i>

247
00:26:36,638 --> 00:26:39,766
<i>poisoned by feeding</i>
<i>on the carcasses of cattle</i>

248
00:26:39,849 --> 00:26:42,852
<i>treated with a drug called Diclofenac.</i>

249
00:26:45,521 --> 00:26:48,566
<i>When feral dogs</i>
<i>took their place as scavengers,</i>

250
00:26:48,650 --> 00:26:50,777
<i>it led to a rise in rabies,</i>

251
00:26:50,860 --> 00:26:53,237
<i>TB, and anthrax.</i>

252
00:26:55,907 --> 00:26:58,576
<i>Other raptors have suffered</i>
<i>a similar fate.</i>

253
00:27:01,037 --> 00:27:02,288
<i>In the 1950s,</i>

254
00:27:02,372 --> 00:27:05,291
<i>DDT was a freely used insecticide.</i>

255
00:27:06,292 --> 00:27:09,879
<i>But it had a devastating effect</i>
<i>on bald eagles' eggs</i>

256
00:27:10,672 --> 00:27:13,925
<i>and nearly wiped out this iconic species.</i>

257
00:27:16,552 --> 00:27:20,932
<i>Once people realized its impact,</i>
<i>DDT was banned.</i>

258
00:27:22,308 --> 00:27:23,893
<i>Within 50 years,</i>

259
00:27:23,976 --> 00:27:27,188
<i>bald eagle numbers increased sevenfold.</i>

260
00:27:32,402 --> 00:27:35,279
<i>Many birds of prey</i>
<i>are still under pressure.</i>

261
00:27:39,283 --> 00:27:42,161
<i>Seen as a threat to livestock and game,</i>

262
00:27:42,245 --> 00:27:43,705
<i>they are persecuted.</i>

263
00:27:45,623 --> 00:27:47,375
<i>And when habitat is destroyed,</i>

264
00:27:49,293 --> 00:27:51,045
<i>they lose food and shelter.</i>

265
00:27:54,507 --> 00:27:57,677
<i>But not all are faring so badly</i>
<i>in the modern world.</i>

266
00:28:09,981 --> 00:28:13,234
<i>This might look like</i>
<i>the last place a raptor would thrive…</i>

267
00:28:18,156 --> 00:28:20,074
<i>…but for those that can adapt,</i>

268
00:28:21,033 --> 00:28:23,286
<i>it's a world of opportunity.</i>

269
00:28:28,708 --> 00:28:29,959
<i>In the heart of the city,</i>

270
00:28:30,793 --> 00:28:36,799
<i>Battersea Power Station's iconic chimneys</i>
<i>stand over 300 feet high.</i>

271
00:28:39,469 --> 00:28:42,722
<i>They're home</i>
<i>to a pair of peregrine falcons.</i>

272
00:28:46,476 --> 00:28:49,228
<i>They use the concrete walls like cliffs.</i>

273
00:28:55,610 --> 00:28:57,779
<i>City life has its advantages.</i>

274
00:29:03,576 --> 00:29:05,286
<i>There's so much light here,</i>

275
00:29:05,369 --> 00:29:07,997
<i>the peregrines can hunt at night.</i>

276
00:29:17,965 --> 00:29:21,302
<i>The pair splits up to cover more ground.</i>

277
00:29:29,143 --> 00:29:31,896
<i>The female falcon is the bigger,</i>

278
00:29:31,979 --> 00:29:34,440
<i>more experienced nocturnal hunter.</i>

279
00:29:45,201 --> 00:29:47,995
<i>Her vision is more than</i>
<i>twice as sharp as ours,</i>

280
00:29:49,205 --> 00:29:51,207
<i>thanks to eyes so large</i>

281
00:29:51,999 --> 00:29:53,876
<i>they touch inside her skull.</i>

282
00:29:56,420 --> 00:29:59,549
<i>By bobbing her head,</i>
<i>she triangulates her target.</i>

283
00:30:01,801 --> 00:30:03,886
<i>But pursuing pigeons in the city</i>

284
00:30:03,970 --> 00:30:05,221
<i>has risks.</i>

285
00:30:09,183 --> 00:30:11,894
<i>This many buildings</i>
<i>make it dangerous to stoop.</i>

286
00:30:16,607 --> 00:30:20,528
<i>It forces urban peregrines</i>
<i>to hunt the hard way.</i>

287
00:30:31,873 --> 00:30:33,124
<i>The level chase…</i>

288
00:30:35,960 --> 00:30:39,630
<i>where predator and prey</i>
<i>are more evenly matched.</i>

289
00:30:47,013 --> 00:30:48,681
<i>But even without stooping,</i>

290
00:30:50,433 --> 00:30:51,851
<i>even at night…</i>

291
00:30:56,814 --> 00:31:00,151
<i>nature's top gun is rarely outmaneuvered.</i>

292
00:31:08,492 --> 00:31:12,371
<i>Peregrine falcons have spread</i>
<i>to cities around the world,</i>

293
00:31:13,331 --> 00:31:15,166
<i>from New York to Sydney.</i>

294
00:31:17,293 --> 00:31:21,130
<i>And with every breeding season,</i>
<i>their numbers continue to rise.</i>

295
00:31:31,349 --> 00:31:33,059
<i>At the bald eagle nest,</i>

296
00:31:34,310 --> 00:31:35,937
<i>the chicks have come a long way.</i>

297
00:31:37,563 --> 00:31:39,106
<i>All three of them.</i>

298
00:31:40,191 --> 00:31:41,943
<i>All growing strong.</i>

299
00:31:44,445 --> 00:31:47,949
<i>And finally developing</i>
<i>their flight feathers.</i>

300
00:31:50,159 --> 00:31:54,163
<i>The chicks' survival</i>
<i>is a testament to Mom and Dad.</i>

301
00:31:56,165 --> 00:31:59,085
<i>They've worked tirelessly for six months.</i>

302
00:32:03,130 --> 00:32:05,216
<i>But now they're bringing in less food…</i>

303
00:32:07,551 --> 00:32:08,886
<i>hinting to the eaglets</i>

304
00:32:09,637 --> 00:32:11,389
<i>it's time to fly the nest.</i>

305
00:32:15,977 --> 00:32:18,396
<i>The art of flying takes practice.</i>

306
00:32:27,780 --> 00:32:29,407
<i>And conditions have to be right.</i>

307
00:32:34,245 --> 00:32:37,957
<i>Once the weather clears,</i>
<i>they're more determined than ever.</i>

308
00:32:49,719 --> 00:32:52,680
<i>But the outside world</i>
<i>is new and confusing.</i>

309
00:33:02,815 --> 00:33:05,651
<i>Other birds are hostile towards predators.</i>

310
00:33:08,863 --> 00:33:11,073
<i>It's scary to venture far from family.</i>

311
00:33:14,452 --> 00:33:15,578
<i>And it takes time</i>

312
00:33:17,496 --> 00:33:18,622
<i>to find your feet.</i>

313
00:33:22,668 --> 00:33:27,006
<i>This is just the beginning</i>
<i>of the long journey to adulthood.</i>

314
00:33:34,847 --> 00:33:35,973
<i>Thankfully,</i>

315
00:33:36,057 --> 00:33:38,768
<i>Mom and Dad</i>
<i>will watch over them for a while.</i>

316
00:33:44,315 --> 00:33:48,069
<i>Birds of prey aren't natural-born killers.</i>

317
00:33:50,821 --> 00:33:53,532
<i>They need time to perfect their skills.</i>

318
00:33:57,661 --> 00:34:00,748
<i>For three months,</i>
<i>the secretary bird chicks</i>

319
00:34:00,831 --> 00:34:04,168
<i>have had everything</i>
<i>provided by their parents.</i>

320
00:34:07,004 --> 00:34:10,424
<i>Now they must start</i>
<i>fending for themselves.</i>

321
00:34:15,429 --> 00:34:17,765
<i>One chick leads the charge.</i>

322
00:34:22,019 --> 00:34:23,604
<i>When its sibling follows,</i>

323
00:34:25,397 --> 00:34:26,524
<i>the hunt is on.</i>

324
00:34:30,528 --> 00:34:32,655
<i>Finding prey takes a keen eye,</i>

325
00:34:33,405 --> 00:34:35,032
<i>and a lot of walking.</i>

326
00:34:40,996 --> 00:34:43,541
<i>Catching it doesn't come easily.</i>

327
00:35:07,773 --> 00:35:09,441
<i>Success at last.</i>

328
00:35:11,861 --> 00:35:14,697
<i>But one small lizard is barely a snack.</i>

329
00:35:18,117 --> 00:35:20,411
<i>Luckily, Mom's on the case.</i>

330
00:35:30,129 --> 00:35:33,132
<i>She'll keep feeding her young</i>
<i>for another two months…</i>

331
00:35:35,718 --> 00:35:37,344
<i>…as the awkward youngsters</i>

332
00:35:38,679 --> 00:35:40,639
<i>learn to be deadly assassins,</i>

333
00:35:42,391 --> 00:35:43,642
<i>just like Mom.</i>

334
00:35:48,230 --> 00:35:51,233
<i>Few other birds make such devoted parents.</i>

335
00:35:56,906 --> 00:36:00,826
<i>Raptors spend much of their lives</i>
<i>rearing their young.</i>

336
00:36:03,829 --> 00:36:05,873
<i>Providing protection</i>

337
00:36:06,916 --> 00:36:08,417
<i>and hard-won meals</i>

338
00:36:10,002 --> 00:36:11,462
<i>to ensure that one day</i>

339
00:36:12,296 --> 00:36:14,006
<i>their chicks will be able</i>

340
00:36:14,548 --> 00:36:16,592
<i>to survive on their own.</i>

341
00:36:27,144 --> 00:36:28,145
<i>Late fall.</i>

342
00:36:32,691 --> 00:36:36,403
<i>Hundreds of bald eagles</i>
<i>have traveled from far and wide…</i>

343
00:36:38,822 --> 00:36:41,575
<i>to hunt migrating waterfowl.</i>

344
00:36:46,413 --> 00:36:48,874
<i>Young eagles need to build their strength.</i>

345
00:36:55,422 --> 00:36:58,092
<i>They won't get any more handouts</i>
<i>from Mom and Dad…</i>

346
00:37:01,512 --> 00:37:04,181
<i>so they need to watch and learn.</i>

347
00:37:08,936 --> 00:37:10,688
<i>Gliding into the wind,</i>

348
00:37:10,771 --> 00:37:13,899
<i>an adult chooses its moment to strike.</i>

349
00:37:16,110 --> 00:37:18,362
<i>Coots are quick to get out of the way…</i>

350
00:37:21,699 --> 00:37:23,701
<i>…but can't stay under for long.</i>

351
00:37:34,253 --> 00:37:35,713
<i>Catching prey is hard.</i>

352
00:37:37,256 --> 00:37:39,675
<i>Keeping hold of it is even harder.</i>

353
00:37:48,183 --> 00:37:50,936
<i>Better to give it up than risk a fight.</i>

354
00:37:57,109 --> 00:37:59,945
<i>It's time to put what he's seen</i>
<i>into practice.</i>

355
00:38:19,840 --> 00:38:23,218
<i>The trick is to catch one off guard.</i>

356
00:38:26,722 --> 00:38:28,223
<i>Easier said than done.</i>

357
00:38:40,194 --> 00:38:42,404
<i>With every failed grab…</i>

358
00:38:44,490 --> 00:38:46,742
<i>with every one that gets away,</i>

359
00:38:48,702 --> 00:38:50,371
<i>he refines his timing</i>

360
00:38:51,830 --> 00:38:53,415
<i>and angle of attack.</i>

361
00:39:11,642 --> 00:39:13,185
<i>At last.</i>

362
00:39:16,355 --> 00:39:18,482
<i>But he's so focused on getting away,</i>

363
00:39:19,733 --> 00:39:21,193
<i>he drops the ball.</i>

364
00:39:23,362 --> 00:39:24,405
<i>And now,</i>

365
00:39:26,156 --> 00:39:27,908
<i>he's got competition.</i>

366
00:39:34,206 --> 00:39:37,751
<i>The youngster is determined</i>
<i>to reclaim his prize.</i>

367
00:39:46,093 --> 00:39:48,512
<i>But this just isn't his day.</i>

368
00:39:51,056 --> 00:39:53,225
<i>And days are running short.</i>

369
00:39:57,896 --> 00:40:02,401
<i>As temperatures drop,</i>
<i>eagles need more energy to keep warm.</i>

370
00:40:06,280 --> 00:40:08,532
<i>But still no kill.</i>

371
00:40:11,785 --> 00:40:15,330
<i>Less than half of all young eagles</i>
<i>survive their first winter.</i>

372
00:40:19,626 --> 00:40:22,045
<i>It's now or never.</i>

373
00:40:47,571 --> 00:40:48,447
<i>And this time…</i>

374
00:40:51,116 --> 00:40:52,701
<i>he doesn't let go.</i>

375
00:41:01,627 --> 00:41:02,878
<i>Just months ago,</i>

376
00:41:03,670 --> 00:41:07,132
<i>these new eagles</i>
<i>entered the world as helpless chicks.</i>

377
00:41:08,717 --> 00:41:13,096
<i>Thanks to their killer instinct</i>
<i>and their parents' incredible devotion,</i>

378
00:41:14,014 --> 00:41:17,726
<i>they've become</i>
<i>fully-fledged birds of prey.</i>

379
00:41:22,773 --> 00:41:26,026
<i>They won't develop their white head</i>
<i>until they're five years old.</i>

380
00:41:29,112 --> 00:41:32,741
<i>Only then will they be ready</i>
<i>to raise a family of their own…</i>

381
00:41:37,412 --> 00:41:39,289
<i>and pass on their skills…</i>

382
00:41:41,917 --> 00:41:43,585
<i>to the next generation.</i>