NARRATOR: THE SKY IS ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING PLACES TO LIVE.
BUT ALL ACROSS THE WORLD, EXTRAORDINARY ANIMALS DO SOMETHING WE CAN ONLY DREAM OF... TAKE TO THE AIR.
SOME SPEND THEIR WHOLE LIVES UP HERE.
OTHERS ONLY VISIT FOR A MOMENT.
YOU'LL BE AMAZED TO DISCOVER HOW MANY INCREDIBLE ANIMALS THRIVE IN THE SKY... AND WHAT CLEVER TRICKS THEY USE TO GET AIRBORNE.
WITH THE HELP OF SOME SPECIALLY TRAINED ANIMAL STARS...
THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY, AND SPECIAL-EFFECTS TECHNIQUES, WE'LL REVEAL BRAND-NEW DISCOVERIES THAT EXPLAIN HOW ANIMALS TAKE TO THE SKIES.
IN THIS EPISODE, WE'LL SHOW THE SKIES ARE CROWDED FULL OF CREATURES, ALL IN FIERCE COMPETITION.
HOW DO THEY WIN A MATE, FIND FOOD, HUNT, AND AVOID BEING HUNTED?
UP HERE, ANIMALS ARE PUSHED TO THE LIMITS OF WHAT'S POSSIBLE.
THIS IS "SUPERNATURE."
RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE LITERALLY MILLIONS OF CREATURES LIVING IN THE 3 MILES OF AIR ABOVE OUR HEADS...
WITHOUT US EVEN KNOWING THEY'RE UP HERE.
THEY'VE OVERCOME GRAVITY.
THEY'VE MASTERED FLIGHT.
AND NOW THEY LIVE THEIR LIVES UP HERE, MAKING THE MOST OF THE OPPORTUNITIES THE SKIES HAVE TO OFFER.
THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF SPECIES OF MAMMALS AND TENS OF THOUSANDS OF SPECIES OF BIRDS UP HERE.
THE BIGGEST NUMBERS ARE THE SMALLEST PLAYERS.
THE CLOSER YOU LOOK, THE MORE OF THEM YOU SEE.
INSECTS, TRILLIONS OF THEM, SO MANY THAT 98% OF EVERYTHING THAT FLIES IS AN INSECT.
MOST OF THEM DON'T EVEN HAVE NAMES.
THE SKY IS MORE CROWDED, AND MORE DANGEROUS, THAN YOU MIGHT THINK.
EVERYTHING THAT FLIES IS PREY TO SOMETHING ELSE.
THE SKY ABOVE US IS MUCH MORE FULL OF LIFE THAN YOU COULD EVER IMAGINE.
UP HERE, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF CREATURES USING THE SKIES AS SUPER-HIGHWAYS, TRAVELING HUGE DISTANCES TO FIND FOOD OR TO MIGRATE.
BUTTERFLIES, EVEN LADYBUGS... ALL DOING WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO SURVIVE.
NEARLY A MILE ABOVE OUR HEADS, THERE ARE MOTHS SPEEDING BY, 50 MILES PER HOUR.
BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SO MANY LIVES COLLIDE?
HOW DO ANIMALS COMPETE WITH EACH OTHER UP HERE?
THE COAST OF SOUTH AFRICA IS HOME TO ONE OF THE MOST EXTREME FLYERS IN THE NATURAL WORLD.
THE CAPE GANNET HAS A UNIQUE WAY OF BEATING THE COMPETITION WHEN IT COMES TO FINDING FOOD.
THE SIZE OF THIS ISLAND BREEDING COLONY SHOWS THE RICHNESS OF THE SEAS AROUND THEM, ENOUGH TO SUPPLY THE TONS OF FISH CAUGHT BY THESE BIRDS EVERY DAY.
BUT IT'S HOW THEY CATCH FISH THAT'S SO REMARKABLE AND SO RISKY.
[GANNETS SQUAWKING] HERE, THE COMPETITION FROM OTHER SEA BIRDS IS INTENSE.
MOST CATCH FISH WHEN THEY SWIM CLOSE TO THE SURFACE.
BUT THERE ARE RICHER PICKINGS DEEPER DOWN.
THAT'S WHAT THE GANNETS ARE AFTER.
IT REQUIRES AN EXTREME FORM OF FLYING THAT WOULD KILL MOST OTHER CREATURES.
SEVERAL MILES FROM THE GANNETS' COLONY, A VAST SHOAL OF SARDINES IS MASSING, AND 20,000 GANNETS ARE HEADING OUT AFTER THEM.
BUT MOST OF THE SARDINES ARE SEVERAL METERS BELOW THE SURFACE, COMPLETELY OUT OF REACH FOR THE OTHER SEABIRDS, SO THE GANNETS PREPARE TO PERFORM A DANGEROUS FLYING STUNT.
CLIMBING 30 METERS ABOVE THE SURFACE, THEY DROP FROM THE SKY, USING GRAVITY TO ACCELERATE...
HITTING THE WATER AT OVER 60 MILES PER HOUR... WITH THE SAME FORCE AS A BULLET FIRED FROM A PISTOL.
THE IMPACT SHOULD KILL THEM.
AT THAT SPEED, IT'S LIKE HITTING CONCRETE.
SO HOW CAN THEY POSSIBLY SURVIVE?
LESS THAN A SECOND BEFORE CONTACT, THEY TUCK THEIR WINGS IN AND CHANGE THEIR SHAPE...
STREAMLINING THEIR BODY TO SLICE THROUGH THE WATER.
THE GANNETS HAVE AIR-FILLED POCKETS UNDER THE SKIN IN THEIR NECKS AND CHESTS THAT ACT LIKE AIRBAGS TO HELP CUSHION THEIR BODIES FROM THE IMPACT OF THE WATER'S SURFACE.
BUT THEIR TECHNIQUE MUST BE PRECISE.
IF THEIR SHAPE ISN'T PERFECTLY STREAMLINED, THE IMPACT OF HITTING THE WATER WOULD CRUSH THEM.
THE DIVE PROPELS THEM TO WHERE THE FISH ARE SCHOOLING, BUT THEY STILL HAVE TO CATCH THEM.
EXACTLY HOW THEY DO THAT DEPENDS ON A CRITICAL DECISION EACH BIRD MADE THE SECOND BEFORE THEY DIVED.
IN MID-AIR, A GANNET HAS TWO CHOICES, TO DIVE SHALLOW OR DIVE DEEP.
A QUICK, SHALLOW DIVE ALLOWS IT TO HIT THE WATER FAST... AND INSTANTLY SNATCH ANY FISH NEAR THE SURFACE.
BUT ONCE UNDER ATTACK, THE SARDINES ESCAPE DOWNWARDS...
SO THE GANNETS MUST UP THEIR GAME...
DIVING ALMOST VERTICALLY TO GIVE THEM THE SPEED TO DRIVE THEM 10 METERS UNDERWATER IN LESS THAN A SECOND.
THEIR EXTREME DIVE HAS TAKEN THEM TO AN ALIEN WORLD, FAR AWAY FROM THE COMPETITION FROM OTHER SEABIRDS, A WORLD WHERE WINGS BECOME FINS, FEET BECOME PADDLES.
EVEN THEIR EYES CHANGE SHAPE SO THEY CAN SEE UNDERWATER, AND SPECIAL EYELIDS ACT LIKE GOGGLES.
THEY'RE THE ONLY BIRDS DOWN HERE, AND THEY REAP THE REWARD.
RUNNING OUT OF BREATH, THEY RETURN TO THEIR OWN WORLD, USING THE AIR TRAPPED IN THEIR FEATHERS TO CARRY THEM BACK TO THE SURFACE.
RISKING DEATH TO DIVE DEEP ALLOWS GANNETS TO ESCAPE THE COMPETITION AND FIND FOOD FOR THEIR FAMILIES...
BUT USING EXTREME FLYING TO CATCH FOOD IS NOT JUST A SURVIVAL TRICK FOR GANNETS.
THERE'S PLENTY OF FOOD OUT THERE FOR THE ANIMALS WHO CAN FLY WELL ENOUGH TO CATCH IT.
AN AFRICAN SKIMMER GOES FISHING, TOO, FLYING WITH SUCH PRECISION THAT THE LOWER PART OF ITS BEAK CAN FEEL FOR FISH JUST BELOW THE SURFACE.
WHEN THEY FEEL A FISH, THEY SNAP THEIR BEAKS SHUT.
THERE'S EVEN A FISHING BAT... THAT EXPERTLY DEPLOYS ITS ENORMOUS CLAWED TALONS AS TRAWLING FISH HOOKS.
BUT BATS HAD BETTER WATCH OUT, OR THEY MIGHT BECOME FOOD THEMSELVES.
FALCONS USE QUICK REACTIONS AND EXTREME CONTROL TO CATCH FAST-FLYING BATS IN MID-AIR.
[WIND GUSTING] FOOD IS NOT THE ONLY THING ANIMALS IN THE SKIES COMPETE FOR.
WHEN IT COMES TO FINDING A MATE, THERE ARE SOME CREATURES WHO HAVE TAKEN THIS TO A RECORD-BREAKING EXTREME.
MEET THE ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD.
ONE OF CALIFORNIA'S FINEST, HE'S NO BIGGER THAN A PING-PONG BALL, NO HEAVIER THAN A NICKEL... AND HE'S A RECORD-BREAKING FLYING MACHINE.
HIS WINGS PUMP AT 2,500 TIMES A MINUTE, HIS HEART BEATS AT 1,200 TIMES A MINUTE... AND HE CAN HOVER FOR WELL OVER AN HOUR.
HE WANTS TO MATE WITH A FEMALE, BUT HE HAS TO PROVE TO HER THAT HE'S FITTER THAN THE REST.
BUT HE HAS A PROBLEM.
THERE'S ANOTHER SUITOR VYING FOR THE FEMALE'S ATTENTION... AND HE'S A RECORD-BREAKING FLYING MACHINE, TOO.
SO HOW WILL SHE CHOOSE?
[BIRDS CHIRPING] LET THE COMPETITION COMMENCE.
AGGRESSION DRIVES THE INTRUDER AWAY...
BUT THAT IN ITSELF DOESN'T IMPRESS HER.
NOW HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO PULL OFF THE FLYING STUNT OF HIS LIFE.
FIRST, HE WOOS HER WITH A SONG.
[CHIRPING] NOW HE'S GOT HER ATTENTION.
THE STAGE IS SET FOR THE GREATEST EXAMPLE OF SPEED-DATING IN THE WORLD.
NEXT, HE CLIMBS 30 METERS ABOVE HER.
[WIND GUSTING] THEN, FOR THE GRAND FINALE, HE HURTLES STRAIGHT AT THE GROUND.
AND THAT WAS IT, OVER IN A FEW HUNDREDTHS OF A SECOND.
AND AGAIN.
TO SEE WHAT HE'S DOING, WE NEED TO SLOW THINGS DOWN.
THIS IS MUCH MORE THAN JUST HIGH-SPEED FLYING.
BY FOLDING HIS WINGS IN TIGHTLY, HE MIMICS A MISSILE, TRAVELING NEARLY 400 TIMES HIS LENGTH EVERY SECOND.
AT THE LAST MOMENT, HE PULLS UP SHARPLY, PULLING MORE Gs THAN A FIGHTER PILOT.
IT'S NOT JUST THE SPEED, THE HEIGHT, OR THE ANGLE OF HIS FLIGHT.
IT'S ALL ABOUT SERENADING ON THE WING.
HIS TAIL IS SINGING A SWEET SONG WITH JET-FIGHTER FORCE.
THE AIR SCREAMING THROUGH HIS SPREAD-OUT TAIL FEATHERS MAKES THEM VIBRATE IN A VERY SPECIAL WAY.
[HUMMING VIBRATION] SLOWED DOWN, THIS IS THE SOUND IT MAKES.
[DEEPER HUMMING VIBRATION] [DEEP HUMMING VIBRATION] IT'S FAR LOUDER THAN ANY OF HIS SINGING, AND THE FASTER HE DIVES, THE BETTER IT SOUNDS.
[DEEP HUMMING VIBRATION] [FEMALE CHIRPS] WHO'D HAVE THOUGHT THAT A SOUND LIKE THIS... [SHORT SQUEAK] OR THIS... [SHORT SQUEAK] WOULD MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE AND SEE OFF THE COMPETITION?
TO HER, IT PROVES HE'S FIT.
THIS SPEED DEMON HAS WON HIMSELF A MATE BY PUSHING HIMSELF TO THE LIMIT AND PROVING HE'S GOT WHAT IT TAKES.
BUT HE'S NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO KNOWS THAT A LITTLE SHOWING OFF CAN GO A LONG WAY.
AERIAL DISPLAYS ARE A SERIOUS BUSINESS.
THE GREATER THE EFFORT, THE MORE LASTING THE IMPRESSION.
MEET THE MALE SPATULA TAIL HUMMINGBIRD.
IT HAS TO BE SAID, WITH A TAIL LIKE THAT, HE'S ALREADY MAKING QUITE AN IMPRESSION.
BUT TO WIN OVER HIS FEMALE, HE'LL NEED TO HOVER AND WAVE HIS ENORMOUS TAIL FLAGS AT THE SAME TIME.
IT'S SUCH AN ENDURANCE TEST, EVERY NOW AND THEN HE NEEDS TO TAKE A LITTLE REST.
WITH EVERY LEAP, THIS LESSER FLORICAN IS TRYING TO PROVE HE'S FITTER THAN ALL THE OTHER MALES... AND TODAY, JUST TO MAKE SURE, HE'S GOING TO DO 500 OF THEM.
[DISTANT BIRD SQUAWKING] IN THE DENSE JUNGLES OF COSTA RICA, THERE'S LITTLE ROOM FOR SHOWING OFF, SO ONE AMOROUS MALE WOOS A FEMALE WITH AN ALTOGETHER MORE CUNNING TACTIC.
MEET THE MALE GLASS WING BUTTERFLY.
HE'S GOT SEE-THROUGH WINGS PRECISELY BECAUSE HE DOESN'T WANT TO STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD.
THERE ARE TOO MANY JUNGLE PREDATORS AROUND FOR THAT.
[SCREECHES] HE, TOO, USES THE AIR TO SHOW OFF, BUT IT'S AN AERIAL DISPLAY LIKE NO OTHER.
HE'S GOING TO USE THE AIR TO CARRY AN IRRESISTIBLE MESSAGE TO A FEMALE AND TO GET HER TO COME TO HIM.
ON HIS WINGS, HE HAS LITTLE BUNCHES OF HAIR LOADED WITH HIS OWN DISTINCTIVE PHEROMONE PERFUME-- INVISIBLE TO OTHERS, IRRESISTIBLE TO A FEMALE.
THE PERFUME WAFTS THROUGH THE TREES, CARRYING A SPECIALLY CODED MESSAGE.
IT TELLS THE FEMALE WHO HE IS AND HOW MANY POISONOUS PLANTS HE'S MANAGED TO EAT.
HE'S STORED THESE POISONS IN HIS BODY, AND THAT MAKES HIM DISTASTEFUL TO PREDATORS.
SO, TO A FEMALE CHECKING OUT THE MALES IN THE JUNGLE, IT'S GOOD TO HAVE BAD TASTE.
THE SECRET MESSAGE WAFTING INVISIBLY THROUGH THE JUNGLE SAYS, "I'M HERE, I'M MALE, AND I TASTE WORSE THAN ALL THE OTHERS."
ONE WAFT, AND SHE'S SMITTEN WITH HIM.
IT'S A CLEVER TRICK.
THE MALE ATTRACTS A FEMALE WITHOUT ATTRACTING PREDATORS.
WHEN IT COMES TO FINDING A MATE, MALES WILL TRY ANYTHING THAT WORKS.
AND WITH THE SKIES SO FULL OF COMPETITION, IT PAYS TO BE CUNNING IF YOU'RE GOING TO BEAT THE REST.
[BIRDS CHIRPING] ONCE ANIMALS PAIR UP, IT'S NOT LONG BEFORE OFFSPRING ARRIVE, AND THEY'LL NEED LOOKING AFTER.
THIS IS OREGON, AND THESE ARE THE KINGBIRDS.
THEY'RE AN AVERAGE COUPLE, WORKING HARD TO RAISE A FAMILY.
THIS IS DAD, A SMALL, MILD-MANNERED FELLOW WITH A KNACK FOR REAL ESTATE.
THE MALE HAS PICKED THE PERFECT HOME.
THE AIR IS THICK WITH INSECTS TO EAT, BUT HE'LL HAVE TO WORK HARD TO CATCH THEM FOR HIS FAMILY.
HE'S AGILE ENOUGH TO TAKE INSECTS ON THE WING, AND THAT'S NO MEAN FEAT.
THE TOP PRIZE FOR A KINGBIRD IS THIS-- A BIG...JUICY...DRAGONFLY.
DRAGONFLIES ARE MORE MANEUVERABLE THAN THE KINGBIRD, AND THEY'RE THE FASTEST INSECTS IN THE WORLD, TOPPING 30 MILES PER HOUR.
BUT THE KINGBIRD IS FASTER.
IT'S A BATTLE OF SPEED VERSUS AGILITY.
HE'LL WORK HARD LIKE THIS TO FEED HIS CHICKS FOR TWO MONTHS... HIS COMMITMENT UNWAVERING, BUT HIS TRUE COLORS ARE ABOUT TO BE REVEALED.
HE'S SPOTTED DANGER IN HIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
[SQUAWKING] RAVENS.
THEY'D KILL HIS WHOLE FAMILY IN MINUTES, GIVEN THE CHANCE.
HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO DEFEND HIS OFFSPRING.
RAVENS ARE CLEVER.
THEY'RE 4 TIMES BIGGER THAN HIM... [RAVEN SQUAWKS] BUT NO ONE IS GOING TO HURT HIS FAMILY.
NO ONE.
AS FORMIDABLE AS THE RAVENS ARE, THE KINGBIRD HAS AN UNEXPECTED SIDE TO HIS CHARACTER-- SHEER OBSESSIVE BELLIGERENCE.
WHAT HE'S ABOUT TO DO SEEMS ALMOST SUICIDAL.
HE MANEUVERS INTO THE RAVEN'S BLIND SPOT.
HE PESTERS IT, LANDS ON ITS BACK, EVEN STABS AT ITS NECK.
THE RAVEN COULD KILL HIM, BUT AS LONG AS HE HOLDS HIS POSITION, HE'S IN CONTROL.
THOSE SUPERB ACROBATIC SKILLS THAT HELPED HIM CHASE DOWN DRAGONFLIES ARE NOW BEING USED TO KEEP HIS FAMILY SAFE.
KINGBIRDS WILL TAKE ON ANYTHING...
INCLUDING LARGE BIRDS OF PREY, LIKE THIS HARRIER.
THEY'VE EVEN BEEN SEEN TAKING A RUN AT LOW-FLYING PLANES.
A COMBINATION OF SPECTACULAR FLYING AGILITY AND A FEARLESS ATTITUDE MAKES THE SKIES ABOVE A KINGBIRD NEST A LITTLE MORE DANGEROUS, A LITTLE LESS CROWDED, AND THE CHICKS MUCH SAFER.
NOW, THAT'S AN OVER-PROTECTIVE DAD.
TO GIVE THEIR YOUNG THE BEST CHANCE OF SURVIVING, MANY CREATURES ARE WILLING TO FLY INTO THE JAWS OF DEATH.
BUT PERHAPS NONE IS MORE DARING THAN A TINY CREATURE FROM TEXAS.
MEET THE PHORID FLY.
NOT MUCH BIGGER THAN A PIN HEAD, SHE'S A MOTHER, AND RIGHT NOW, SHE NEEDS TO LAY HER EGGS AND SECURE A SAFE FUTURE FOR HER OFFSPRING.
BUT TO DO THIS, SHE MUST FACE ONE OF THE MOST FEARED ANIMALS IN TEXAS... FIRE ANTS, IN THEIR THOUSANDS.
THEY HAVE A VICIOUS BITE AND A VENOMOUS STING.
THEY'LL KILL ANY INSECT THAT CROSSES THEIR PATH.
BUT INCREDIBLY, THESE VICIOUS PREDATORS ARE NOT GOING TO EAT THE PHORID FLY'S YOUNG.
THE YOUNG PHORID FLIES ARE GOING TO EAT THEM.
BUT FIRST, THE MOTHER MUST PULL OFF ONE OF THE GREATEST DAREDEVIL FLYING MISSIONS IN THE NATURAL WORLD.
SHE'S GOING TO LAY HER EGGS ON LIVING FIRE ANTS.
AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, SHE'S GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOME SERIOUS PRECISION FLYING, OR SHE'LL BE KILLED HERSELF.
HOW SHE DOES IT CAN ONLY BE FULLY UNDERSTOOD BY WATCHING IN SLOW MOTION.
FIRST, SHE HOVERS AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE TO HER VICTIM, BUT JUST OUT OF REACH OF THE ANT'S JAWS.
THE RISK IS FINELY BALANCED.
JUST A BREATH OF WIND, AND SHE'S TOAST.
NOW, SHE'S READY TO DEPOSIT AN EGG NEAR THE EXPOSED JOINTS OF THE ANT'S LEG, IN AN INSTANT FROM START TO FINISH.
IT TAKES JUST 1/60th OF A SECOND.
ONCE ATTACKED, THE ANTS SEND OUT A CHEMICAL ALARM TO WARN THE OTHERS.
THEY HIDE, CROWDING UNDER ANY AVAILABLE COVER, MAKING IT MUCH HARDER FOR THE PHORID FLY TO GET AT THEM.
BUT SHE HAS OVER 100 EGGS STILL TO LAY.
SHE'S GOING TO HAVE TO UP HER GAME AND TEST HER HOVERING SKILLS TO THE MAX IF SHE'S GOING TO DELIVER HER CARGO SUCCESSFULLY.
DAREDEVIL MISSION ACCOMPLISHED, BUT THE STORY ISN'T OVER FOR THE ANTS.
NOW INSIDE THE ANT, EACH FLY LARVA HAS TAKEN OVER THE ANT'S MIND, NOW REPROGRAMMED TO WALK OFF LIKE A ZOMBIE.
THE ANT FINALLY DIES, SAFELY AWAY FROM ITS COLONY, WHERE THE FLY LARVA CAN GROW UP IN PEACE.
THE ANT'S ZOMBIE BODY NOW BECOMES PERFECT PHORID FLY BABY FOOD.
FOR TWO WEEKS, THE FLY LARVA EATS THE ANT FROM THE INSIDE UNTIL IT'S READY TO EMERGE.
A TINY NEW PHORID FLY STRETCHES HER WINGS FOR THE FIRST TIME.
SOON, LIKE HER MOTHER, SHE'LL FLY HER OWN MISSION IMPOSSIBLE, A HAIR'S BREADTH AWAY FROM A FIRE ANT'S JAWS.
[WATER SLOSHING] EVERY INDIVIDUAL IS TRYING TO SURVIVE.
BUT WITH SO MANY CREATURES IN THE SAME GAME TRYING TO CARVE OUT THEIR SPECIAL PLACE IN THE WORLD, IT'S NOT SURPRISING THAT THE SKIES ABOVE OUR HEADS ARE MORE CROWDED, AND MORE COMPETITIVE, THAN WE MAY FIRST THINK.
WITH SO MANY LIVES INTERACTING AND COLLIDING, IT'S INEVITABLE THAT CONFLICTS ARISE... [BIRD SCREECHING] SOME OF THEM LIFE-AND-DEATH STRUGGLES TO WIN AND SURVIVE, WHETHER IT'S FINDING FOOD... WINNING A MATE... OR SECURING A FUTURE FOR YOUR FAMILY.
SOMETIMES IT INVOLVES DIRECT COMPETITION BETWEEN TWO SPECIES.
AND WHERE THERE'S COMPETITION, THERE ARE THOSE WHO LIKE TO BEND THE RULES.
FEW ARE SNEAKIER AS AN INHABITANT OF TROPICAL SEAS AND ISLANDS AROUND THE WORLD...
THE FRIGATE BIRD.
THIS PTERODACTYL-SHAPED BIRD HAS A CURIOUS PROBLEM.
REMARKABLY FOR A SEABIRD, ITS FEATHERS AREN'T WATERPROOF, SO IT CAN'T LAND ON THE SEA.
IF IT GETS TOO WET, IT'LL SINK AND DROWN.
THAT'S OBVIOUSLY NOT GOOD FOR A BIRD THAT NEEDS TO CATCH FISH, SO THE FRIGATE BIRD USES ITS UNIQUE FLYING SKILLS TO CATCH FISH IN ANOTHER, LESS HONEST WAY.
IT STEALS THEM.
THE FRIGATE BIRD IS AN AERIAL PIRATE.
THIS TIME, ITS VICTIM IS A RED-BILLED TROPICBIRD.
THE FRIGATE BIRD IS GOING TO FORCE IT TO GIVE UP ITS LAST MEAL, AND THAT MEANS PUTTING IT UNDER SOME SERIOUS PRESSURE IN A DOG-FIGHT.
THE TROPICBIRD IS A SUPERB FLYER...
BUT THE FRIGATE BIRD BUCCANEER IS BETTER.
HIS WINGS ARE UNUSUALLY LARGE, BUT HIS BODY REMAINS LIGHT.
THESE TWO THINGS COMBINED DELIVER THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY AGILITY IN THE AIR.
THE FRIGATE BIRD CAN, IN THEORY, OUTMANEUVER ANY OTHER SEABIRD IN THE WORLD...
PERFECT SKILLS FOR A PIRATE OF THE SKIES.
BUT THE TROPICBIRD ISN'T GOING TO GIVE UP ITS HARD-EARNED GRUB EASILY.
[SQUAWKING] WHEN THE TROPICBIRD FINALLY GIVES UP ITS DINNER, THE FRIGATE BIRD IS IN PRECISELY THE RIGHT SPOT FOR THE CATCH.
WHEN IT COMES TO AERIAL COMBAT, IT TAKES A LOT TO BEAT THIS THIEVING PIRATE.
[WIND GUSTING] OUR CROWDED SKIES ARE A 3-DIMENSIONAL COMBAT ZONE... WITH DOG-FIGHTS BETWEEN SPECIES GOING ON ALL THE TIME, AS THEY HAVE DONE FOR MILLIONS OF YEARS.
BUT JUST OCCASIONALLY, THE UNDERDOG FIGHTS BACK AND OUTSMARTS THE ATTACKER.
TAKE THIS MOTH.
IT CAN SEEM PRETTY INCOMPETENT IN THE AIR, WITH WEAK AND FLUTTERY FLIGHT AND A BAD SENSE OF DIRECTION.
IT CAN BLAME THAT ON ITS ANCIENT ANCESTORS.
A HUNDRED MILLION YEARS AGO, INSECTS HAD THE NIGHT SKY TO THEMSELVES.
THEY DIDN'T NEED TO BE STRONG FLYERS BECAUSE THERE WASN'T MUCH OUT THERE TO GET THEM.
BUT THEN ALONG CAME NEW, INTELLIGENT, HIGHLY EQUIPPED CREATURES THAT COULD HUNT THEM DOWN EASILY.
THEY'RE THE ONLY MAMMALS THAT HAVE EVER LEARNED TO FLY, AND THEY CAN SEE IN THE DARK.
BATS.
BATS WERE ON TO SOMETHING.
THERE WAS A GREAT FEAST TO BE HAD IN THE NIGHT SKY.
FOR A MOTH, A BAT IS A DANGEROUS, SOPHISTICATED ENEMY.
MOST BATS FIND THEIR PREY USING ECHOLOCATION.
LITERALLY, IT LOCATES THINGS USING ECHOES.
YOU COULD SAY IT SEES USING SOUND.
IT FIRES OUT CLICKS INTO THE AIR, AS MANY AS 200 A SECOND.
IF THE CLICKS HIT ANYTHING, THEY BOUNCE BACK AS ECHOES.
BY LISTENING TO THOSE ECHOES IN THE DARKNESS, A BAT CAN PICK OUT ITS SURROUNDINGS, EVEN A MOTH.
AS THE BAT APPROACHES ITS VICTIM, THE CLICKS GET FASTER...
CREATING A BUZZ OF SOUND THAT HELPS IT HOME IN ON ITS TARGET.
THESE SOUNDS ALL HAPPEN BEYOND OUR HUMAN HEARING, BUT WE CAN SEE THEM AS SOUND WAVES, FIRST SEARCHING... THEN APPROACHING... AND THEN FINALLY, THE ATTACK.
SO A BAT IS A SUPER FLYER WITH ADDED SUPERPOWERS.
THAT'S HARD TO BEAT.
IF THEY WERE GOING TO SURVIVE, MOTHS HAD TO RAISE THEIR OWN GAME.
SOME OF THEM BEGAN TO HEAR THE BATS COMING.
WHEN THEY HEAR THE BUZZ OF AN ATTACKING BAT, THESE MOTHS TAKE EVASIVE ACTION.
THEY DROP OUT OF THE SKY.
SIMPLE, BUT EFFECTIVE.
AN ARMS RACE HAD BEGUN BETWEEN BATS AND MOTHS, AN EPIC BATTLE FOR THE NIGHT SKY.
[BEEPING] EVENTUALLY, A RACE OF SUPER MOTHS EMERGED.
SUPER MOTHS... LIKE THIS TIGER MOTH.
ITS SUPERPOWERS HAVE ONLY RECENTLY BEEN EXPLAINED.
THE TIGER MOTH CAN VIBRATE A TINY MEMBRANE UNDER ITS WING.
THIS PRODUCES A SPECIAL, HIGH-FREQUENCY SOUND TO CONFUSE BATS.
WHEN A BAT ATTACKS, THE SECRET WEAPON IS DEPLOYED.
THE MOTH'S SPECIAL SOUND JAMS THE BAT'S ECHOLOCATION SYSTEM, SO IT CAN'T SEE WITH SOUND PROPERLY...
ENOUGH OF A SMOKESCREEN TO ALLOW THE MOTH TO ESCAPE, LEAVING THE CONFUSED BAT TO TRY AND FIND ANOTHER.
EVERY NIGHT AROUND THE WORLD, THE AIR IS FULL OF HIGH-TECH COMPETITIONS LIKE THIS, WITH SOPHISTICATED WEAPONRY CHANGING THE ODDS AS PREDATOR IS PITTED AGAINST PREY.
[BEEPING] BAT VERSUS MOTH, AERIAL COMBAT THAT'S BEEN PLAYING OUT OVER MILLIONS OF YEARS BETWEEN BILLIONS OF RIVALS, WHERE THE TINIEST ADVANTAGE MAY MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE FIERCE COMPETITION THAT RAGES IN THE SKY.
IF YOU'RE CAUGHT IN A ONE-ON-ONE LIFE-OR-DEATH BATTLE IN THE SKY, AND YOU DON'T HAVE A SECRET WEAPON UP YOUR SLEEVE, YOU'D BETTER BE ABLE TO OUT-FLY YOUR ASSAILANT.
AS A LONE FLYER, YOU HAVE FEW OTHER OPTIONS.
BUT THERE IS ONE WAY TO BEAT EVEN THE BEST AERIAL HUNTER, AND THAT'S TEAMWORK.
A GROUP IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SNEAK UP ON WITHOUT BEING NOTICED...
BUT THERE'S ANOTHER REASON TO MOVE TOGETHER LIKE THIS.
PREDATORS CAN ONLY CHASE ONE OF YOU AT A TIME.
THE WAY THEY SEE HAS EVOLVED TO FOCUS ON JUST ONE ANIMAL AT A TIME.
FACED WITH A SWIRLING FLOCK, THEY STRUGGLE TO FOCUS.
IT'S INFORMATION OVERLOAD.
IT'S A REALLY EFFECTIVE STRATEGY, AND MANY BIRDS DO THIS ALL OVER THE WORLD.
BUT HOW CAN THEY FLY SO FAST AND SO CLOSE TO EACH OTHER WITHOUT COLLIDING?
AND WHO'S DECIDING WHERE TO GO?
TAKE STARLINGS.
THEIR FLOCKING BEHAVIOR IS WORLD-FAMOUS.
IT EVEN HAS A SPECIAL NAME... A MURMURATION.
CONFUSING TO A PREDATOR, IT'S ONE OF THE MOST BREATHTAKING SIGHTS IN NATURE.
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUAL BIRDS ARE MOVING AS ONE, AND AMAZINGLY, THERE'S NO SINGLE BIRD IN CHARGE OF THE PLAN.
JUST HOW THESE COMPLEX AERIAL DISPLAYS WORK HAS BAFFLED US FOR CENTURIES AND HAS ONLY RECENTLY BEEN EXPLAINED.
REMARKABLY, THE TRUTH ABOUT THEIR COMPLEXITY IS RATHER SIMPLE.
TO UNDERSTAND HOW IT WORKS, IMAGINE YOU COULD FLY INTO A GIANT FLOCK ALONGSIDE ONE SINGLE STARLING.
HOW SHE FLIES IS ALL TO DO WITH WHAT HER 7 CLOSEST NEIGHBORS ARE UP TO.
AS THE FLOCK MOVES, THOSE 7 MIGHT CHANGE, BUT THE PRINCIPLE REMAINS THE SAME.
EVERY STARLING IN THE FLOCK IS FOLLOWING 3 SIMPLE RULES.
FIRSTLY, AS YOU FLY, STEER TOWARDS EACH OTHER.
SECONDLY, IF ANY OF YOUR 7 NEIGHBORS TURN, THEN YOU TURN.
FINALLY, DON'T CROWD EACH OTHER.
AMAZINGLY, THAT'S ALL THERE IS TO IT.
INSIDE A FLOCK, INDIVIDUAL BIRDS ARE MAKING THESE SIMPLE DECISIONS IN HUNDREDTHS OF A SECOND, AGAIN AND AGAIN.
IT'S ENOUGH TO CONFUSE A PREDATOR, AND WHEN HALF A MILLION BIRDS DO IT TOGETHER, THE RESULTS TAKE YOUR BREATH AWAY.
BUT HOW EXACTLY DO WE KNOW THAT THIS INCREDIBLE SPECTACLE IS THE RESULT OF JUST 3 SIMPLE RULES AND 7 NEAR NEIGHBORS?
THE ANSWER LIES IN WHAT YOU SEE HERE.
THIS SWIRLING MASS OF BIRDS DOESN'T ACTUALLY EXIST IN THE NATURAL WORLD, IT EXISTS INSIDE A COMPUTER.
IT'S A COMPUTER SIMULATION, WITH VIRTUAL BIRDS CREATED BY SCIENTISTS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW FLOCKS WORK.
INCREDIBLY, THIS COMPUTER-GENERATED FLOCK LOOKS AND BEHAVES EXACTLY LIKE THE REAL THING.
EACH BIRD IN THIS VIRTUAL FLOCK IS FOLLOWING ITS 7 NEIGHBORS AND USING THE SAME 3 RULES.
WATCH A REAL FLOCK ANYWHERE ON EARTH... AND IT WILL BE WORKING IN EXACTLY THE SAME WAY.
IN OUR CROWDED AND COMPETITIVE SKIES, THIS SURELY IS THE ULTIMATE DEFENSE AGAINST AN AIRBORNE PREDATOR, AND IT'S ONE OF THE GREATEST SPECTACLES IN NATURE.
OUR SKIES ARE TEEMING WITH LIFE, EVERY CREATURE TRYING TO FIND ITS WAY AND TO SURVIVE.
IF YOU CAN OVERCOME THE CHALLENGES OF LIFE IN THE AIR, THERE ARE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES TO BE HAD.
IT'S ALL ABOUT FINDING YOUR PLACE IN THE SKY AND PICKING A WINNING STRATEGY.
FOR SOME, IT'S ENOUGH JUST TO BEAT GRAVITY FOR A FEW SECONDS.
FOR OTHERS, IT MEANS TAKING A LEAP OF FAITH.
EXTRAORDINARY SPECIALIST TECHNIQUES MIGHT JUST GIVE YOU AN EDGE.
ALL THESE ANIMALS HAVE SKILLS WE EARTHBOUND HUMANS CAN ONLY WONDER ABOUT.
EVERY TIME AN ANIMAL TAKES TO THE AIR, IT SEEMS TO BE PERFORMING ITS OWN PERSONAL MIRACLE...
DEFYING GRAVITY TO LIVE IN A WORLD THAT WE'RE STILL ONLY JUST BEGINNING TO UNDERSTAND.
IN "SUPERNATURE, WILD FLYERS," THE TEAM'S MISSION WAS TO REVEAL THE INCREDIBLE ABILITIES OF AIRBORNE ANIMALS IN MORE DETAIL THAN EVER BEFORE.
TO DO IT REQUIRED PERSEVERANCE AND CONTRASTING APPROACHES.
SOME OF OUR STARS COULD BE FILMED IN CONTROLLED CONDITIONS, ALLOWING US TO MOVE OUR CAMERAS ALONGSIDE THEM AS THEY FLY.
OTHERS COULD ONLY BE FILMED ON THEIR OWN TERMS, UP IN THE AIR.
THE MOST CHALLENGING OF THESE WAS A TRIP TO FILM THE SMALLEST AND FASTEST OF FLYERS, THE ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD.
TO FILM THEIR RECORD-BREAKING DIVE REQUIRED ONE CRITICAL BIT OF EQUIPMENT-- CAMERAMAN BARRIE BRITTON.
FILMING BIRDS REQUIRES KEEPING THEM IN FRAME, AND IN FOCUS, FROM GREAT DISTANCES.
FEW PEOPLE ON THE PLANET CAN DO IT, AND BARRIE IS ONE OF THE BEST.
[BIRDS SQUAWKING] BUT THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME HE HAD ATTEMPTED TO FILM THE LEGENDARY ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD...
THIS TIME NOT A REMOTE LOCATION, BUT JUST BY A UNIVERSITY CAMPUS.
HERE, HE HAS HIS FIRST VIEW OF THE MALE'S DISPLAY.
BARRIE: THE HUMMINGBIRD HAS GONE REALLY HIGH IN THE SKY, AND IT'S COMING IN--WHOA!
HE'S SO SMALL AND HE'S JUST MOVING SO QUICKLY.
IT'S GONNA BE A REAL CHALLENGE TO--TO FILM IT.
NARRATOR: HUMMINGBIRD SCIENTIST CHRISTOPHER CLARK KNOWS A TRICK THAT MIGHT HELP.
HE USES A STAND-IN FEMALE BIRD TO ATTRACT THE MALES.
BARRIE IS ABLE TO PIGGYBACK ON CHRIS' STUDIES TO GIVE HIM A CHANCE.
THE TEAM HAVE ALSO BROUGHT A RANGE OF DIFFERENT MODELS WITH THEM, BUT WHICH WILL WORK BEST?
FIRST UP, A REAL STUFFED BIRD, SLIGHTLY MOTH-EATEN.
WOMAN: ACCORDING TO THE SCIENTISTS, THIS FEMALE, THE WAY HER TAIL IS, MEANS THAT SHE'S A BIT-- SHE LOOKS A BIT MORE UP FOR IT THAN THE OTHERS.
NARRATOR: BUT THE MODEL IS SO ENTICING, THE MALE SKIPS COURTSHIP ALTOGETHER.
ON TO MODEL NUMBER 2, A MORE MODEST, EMBROIDERED FEMALE.
SHE APPARENTLY PLAYS HARDER TO GET, AND THE MALES WORK HARD TO IMPRESS HER.
IN FACT, THEY'RE SO EAGER TO SHOW OFF FOR HER THAT THE CREW NEEDS TO COVER HER UP WHILE BARRIE PREPARES.
BARRIE: I'M READY.
NARRATOR: WITH THE PLAN IN PLACE, IT'S NOW DOWN TO BARRIE VERSUS THE BIRDS.
OH, HERE HE IS.
HEH!
WELL, HA HA HA!
THAT'S REALLY QUICK.
HEH!
YOU THINK YOU'RE SO CLEVER.
BLIMEY!
[SNICKERS] I'M NOT SURE THIS IS GONNA WORK.
I'M JUST TRYING.
HA HA!
NARRATOR: THE HUMMINGBIRDS ARE ALMOST TOO FAST TO FOLLOW.
HE RESORTS TO FOCUSING ON A SINGLE AREA OF THE SKY.
BARRIE: THAT'S GOT TO BE GOOD.
IT'S GOT TO BE GOOD.
NARRATOR: BUT THEN, A SETBACK.
THE BIRDS ARE GETTING TOO USED TO THE MODEL.
THEY'VE STOPPED SEEING IT AS A MATE AND STARTED ATTACKING IT.
TO ACCOMPLISH THIS CHALLENGE, THERE'S NO OPTION BUT TO TRY AND FILM THE MALES DISPLAYING TO A REAL FEMALE ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD.
FIRST, THEY NEED TO FIND A SPOT THEY MIGHT FREQUENT, BUT THEY NEED TO BE CAREFUL TO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THE OTHER LOCALS THAT LIVE HERE.
ALISON: BECAUSE THERE'S A RATHER LARGE RATTLESNAKE JUST IN THE--IN THE BUSHES...
SO WE'RE WATCHING BARRIE FROM A DISTANCE.
THIS IS MY FIRST RATTLESNAKE.
I'VE NEVER SEEN ONE BEFORE.
A REAL, REAL TREAT.
NARRATOR: THAT'S ENOUGH SNAKE-SPOTTING, AND BACK TO THE HUMMINGBIRDS.
A FILMING HIDE IS THE ONLY WAY BARRIE WILL STAND A CHANCE TO GET CLOSE ENOUGH TO SOME FEMALES.
BARRIE: WE JUST NEED EVERYTHING TO KIND OF LINE UP.
WE NEED THE FEMALES TO COME, LAND ON THE PERCH, AND THE MALE HAS TO BE LOOKING THE RIGHT WAY.
NARRATOR: IT'S GOING TO BE A TEST OF HIS PATIENCE, FILMING ALL DAY, EVERY DAY, IN THE CALIFORNIA HEAT.
PERSEVERANCE AND FIELD CRAFT.
IT'S THE WAY CAMERA OPERATORS HAVE DONE IT FOR YEARS, AND IT STARTS TO PAY OFF.
HE'S ABLE TO CAPTURE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN THE MALE AND A REAL FEMALE, AND REVEAL IN INCREDIBLE DETAIL THE WORLD'S FASTEST COURTSHIP DISPLAY.
OUR CREWS HAVE WORKED OVER 300 DAYS ON LOCATION, CAPTURING NATURE'S WILD FLYERS IN GREATER DETAIL THAN EVER BEFORE... FROM GLIDING FOR SURVIVAL TO PUSHING THE PHYSICAL LIMITS OF FLIGHT, REVEALING WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A TRY MASTER OF THE SKIES.