1
00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:11,960
It's a universal dream
to fly like a bird.


2
00:00:12,960 --> 00:00:15,880
To soar on wings
into the heavens.


3
00:00:16,880 --> 00:00:20,920
But it's nothing
compared to the reality.


4
00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:26,160
This is our planet
seen as never before.


5
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A bird's eye view.


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Theirs is a journey
that covers the world...


7
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..filled with astonishing
natural events...


8
00:00:43,920 --> 00:00:46,600
..extreme challenges...


9
00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:50,880
..and hard-won rewards.


10
00:00:51,880 --> 00:00:54,280
This is the world on the wing.


11
00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:20,160
It's autumn across
the northern steppes of Asia


12
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and flocks of demoiselle cranes
are heading south for the winter.


13
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It's a race against time,


14
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as they must reach India before
winter closes in.


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Blocking their path
is the Himalayas,


16
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the highest mountain range on Earth.


17
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It's a barrier that extends
for 1,500 miles


18
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and, in places,
soars five miles high.


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Flying over the top isn't an option.


20
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The only way through
is a treacherous maze


21
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of valleys and canyons.


22
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Each year, thousands of cranes
negotiate a pass


23
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that leads them 200 miles
to the other side.


24
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They have a huge challenge
ahead of them.


25
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Many will not make it out alive.


26
00:02:32,400 --> 00:02:36,120
Already they face danger -
bad weather is closing in.


27
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They gain height
to face the challenge,


28
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but they are battling
against a headwind.


29
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No matter how hard they try,
they make little progress.


30
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It's the last thing they need
so early in their journey.


31
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The wind stops them in their tracks,
forcing them to fly lower and lower.


32
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On the valley floor, villages nestle
in the most sheltered spots.


33
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It's here that the cranes
find refuge.


34
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They mustn't hang around for long.


35
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If winter comes early,
they won't make it out alive.


36
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These cranes aren't the only ones
attempting the journey.


37
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Above are some of nature's
most skilled high-fliers.


38
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Five miles above the face
of the Earth,


39
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bar-headed geese take on
the Himalayas...the hard way.


40
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Here, the temperature plummets
to -40 degrees


41
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and the air is so thin most animals
would die within minutes.


42
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But these extreme aeronauts
take it in their stride.


43
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They could climb to twice
this height and still survive.


44
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Their blood can absorb oxygen
better than any other bird -


45
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a real help in this rarefied air.


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Bar-headed geese cross the vast
mountain range in just a few hours.


47
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Ahead lies their winter
destination -


48
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the warm lowlands
of the Indian subcontinent.


49
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They've spent the summer


50
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on the sparsely inhabited steppes
of Siberia.


51
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Now they are heading for the second
most populated country on Earth.


52
00:06:02,920 --> 00:06:06,040
The "Blue City" of Jodhpur
in Rajasthan


53
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is one of the first landmarks
that migrating birds encounter.


54
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Long-legged buzzards
are among the early arrivals


55
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and they are desperately
in need of a meal.


56
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Compared to the barren steppes,


57
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this landscape of roads
and buildings
is actually a land of plenty.


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The famous Mehrangarh Fort is home
to the buzzard's favourite prey.


59
00:07:07,760 --> 00:07:12,240
By gaining height,
he can study their movements.


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Pigeons love this ancient citadel.


61
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Their ancestors would have nested
on cliff faces.


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Nowadays, these battlements
offer superior accommodation.


63
00:07:29,280 --> 00:07:31,520
But even in the midst of the city,


64
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the pigeons can't escape
their natural predators.


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The buzzard dives at the masses.


66
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The pigeons take evasive action,
falling like leaves.


67
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A single bird makes a far easier
target.


68
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But he drops out of reach.


69
00:08:10,320 --> 00:08:13,280
The fort's defences provide vital
bolt-holes.


70
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But he's not called the long-legged
buzzard for nothing.


71
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Although all he gets this time
is a fistful of feathers.


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He checks another pigeonhole.


73
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But nothing.


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He's spoilt for choice.


75
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So many pigeons,
but which one to go for?


76
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The pigeons all use
the same tactic.


77
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He needs to up his game.


78
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He soars high
to find a likely victim.


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And dives at over 100mph.


80
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It will be a welcome meal after
such a long journey to get here.


81
00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:20,200
Pigeons have succeeded by learning
to adapt to our way of life.


82
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They are now found on every
continent except Antarctica.


83
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As well as a few humble pigeons,


84
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Australia boasts a colourful
selection of native birds


85
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that have also taken
to urban living.


86
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More species of parrot live here
than in any other continent.


87
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A dazzling array
of over 50 varieties.


88
00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:02,440
As well as in Sydney,


89
00:11:02,440 --> 00:11:06,040
rainbow lorikeets are found
all along Australia's east coast.


90
00:11:29,480 --> 00:11:34,080
The popular Gold Coast is also
one of their favourite locations.


91
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These cheeky birds have adapted
their lifestyle to our own


92
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and now prefer the sweet delights
of city parks and gardens.


93
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They can't resist ripe fruit,
especially the cultivated varieties.


94
00:11:57,440 --> 00:12:02,760
After a spot of scrumping,
their thoughts turn to romance.


95
00:12:04,760 --> 00:12:07,920
The males try to impress the
opposite sex by clowning around.


96
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It usually works.


97
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Parrots have proved very successful
at breeding in our backyards.


98
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Even in the outback,


99
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parrots have multiplied
by living on our free handouts.


100
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Cockatoos -
thousands upon thousands of them.


101
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They form huge raiding parties,
laying waste the farms


102
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and agricultural fields that bring
riches to an otherwise barren land.


103
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A life of petty theft
means living on their wits.


104
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They are the most intelligent pest
a farmer is likely to encounter.


105
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But one of the most familiar parrots
of all lives a blameless existence


106
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right in the heart of the outback.


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Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock,


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lies at the very centre
of the continent.


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It's remote spots like these
that the budgerigar calls home.


110
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This tiny parrot is the most popular
of all pet birds


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but, in the wild, it lives
far from human company


112
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in some of the driest parts
of the outback.


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For much of the time
they flit around in small groups


114
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just a few hundred strong,


115
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sharing information on where the
best food and water can be found.


116
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These small search parties
look for the wild grass seeds


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that make up the budgie's
staple diet.


118
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Grazing animals such as kangaroos


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show where ripe grasses
are most likely to be found.


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The budgies also watch what other
flocks of birds are getting up to.


121
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Gradually, the merry band
gathers followers.


122
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Soon, it numbers many thousands.


123
00:15:23,480 --> 00:15:26,040
Then it grows to millions.


124
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This is one of the largest flocks
of budgerigars ever seen.


125
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They now act like a super-organism,


126
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pooling their knowledge to find
the best sources of food and water.


127
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With so many minds working together,


128
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they have an overview of vast areas
of the outback.


129
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And, finally, they hit the jackpot.


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A remote waterhole.


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Wave upon wave take turns to drink.


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Each bird has just seconds
to swallow what it can


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before another drops in
to take its place.


134
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But, wherever birds gather,
so do their predators.


135
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Black falcons take up residence,


136
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confident that each day food
will land right on their doorstep.


137
00:17:24,800 --> 00:17:28,600
But thirsty budgerigars
give them a run for their money.


138
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Budgies can perform some of the
fastest manoeuvres of any bird.


139
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They are so skilled, they even
sneak in a drink between attacks.


140
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It drops like a stone
just before the grab.


141
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Again it falls, just out of reach.


142
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Turning on a dime, it out-flies
the falcon time and time again.


143
00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:08,040
Despite their best efforts, the
falcon and his partner go hungry.


144
00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:24,520
A waterhole gives the budgies
a break from wandering,


145
00:19:24,520 --> 00:19:27,040
but once the local grasses
have been plundered


146
00:19:27,040 --> 00:19:31,400
the huge flocks will split into
small roaming parties once more.


147
00:19:41,000 --> 00:19:45,000
Back in the Himalayas,
the weather has cleared.


148
00:19:46,480 --> 00:19:49,920
The downed cranes have survived
the days of bad weather


149
00:19:49,920 --> 00:19:52,440
by raiding farmers' fields.


150
00:19:54,480 --> 00:19:58,000
Himalayan villages have
inadvertently become a lifeline


151
00:19:58,000 --> 00:20:01,040
for migrating birds
that run out of luck.


152
00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:12,440
But the crane's presence
isn't welcomed here.


153
00:20:22,000 --> 00:20:25,960
The travellers are pushed
further down the valley.


154
00:20:31,800 --> 00:20:37,680
As the sun appears, the dry riverbed
creates eddies of rising hot air.


155
00:20:48,600 --> 00:20:53,160
They feel the welcome breeze
and open their wings to catch it.


156
00:21:00,000 --> 00:21:04,920
The demoiselles begin to levitate
upwards, as if by magic.


157
00:21:41,240 --> 00:21:46,040
With clear skies and a light wind,
it seems their luck has changed.


158
00:21:51,200 --> 00:21:55,040
But before them lies
an even greater challenge -


159
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a Himalayan valley of death.


160
00:22:01,000 --> 00:22:04,320
Here, airborne predators
patrol the canyon walls.


161
00:22:04,320 --> 00:22:07,040
They've been expecting the cranes.


162
00:22:07,040 --> 00:22:10,280
Golden eagles are among
the waiting birds of prey.


163
00:22:15,120 --> 00:22:18,560
They launch a high-speed ambush
from the heavens.


164
00:22:31,840 --> 00:22:33,800
The eagle singles out
an exhausted crane.


165
00:22:41,640 --> 00:22:44,040
The eagle is part of a double act...


166
00:22:48,000 --> 00:22:52,040
..driving the crane into the talons
of her mate.


167
00:22:57,000 --> 00:23:00,040
They're well-practiced
at this manoeuvre.


168
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For the pair, it's now a game.


169
00:23:35,000 --> 00:23:37,920
The rest of the flock
make their escape.


170
00:23:41,000 --> 00:23:44,360
But these hills have other eyes.


171
00:23:52,120 --> 00:23:56,760
Peregrine and lagger falcons
are the next big challenge.


172
00:24:10,040 --> 00:24:12,560
Half the crane's size,


173
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they rely on speed and
sheer force of impact to kill.


174
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But the crane reacts
by dropping away,


175
00:24:20,520 --> 00:24:23,040
reducing the speed of any collision.


176
00:24:46,480 --> 00:24:50,000
The falcon's only hope
is to knock it off balance.


177
00:25:07,000 --> 00:25:10,000
This young crane
isn't out of the woods yet.


178
00:25:18,760 --> 00:25:21,800
She has been separated
from her family


179
00:25:21,800 --> 00:25:24,320
and is alone and exhausted.


180
00:25:26,040 --> 00:25:30,200
Above, Himalayan vultures
are starting to gather.


181
00:25:42,680 --> 00:25:47,760
At this time of year,
they make a good living from birds
that perish on migration.


182
00:25:54,000 --> 00:25:59,040
She'll need all the luck she can get
if she is ever to see India.


183
00:26:05,000 --> 00:26:09,040
The remote Himalayas aren't the only
place where vultures can be found.


184
00:26:09,040 --> 00:26:11,040
Back in Rajasthan,


185
00:26:11,040 --> 00:26:14,880
these scavengers can make a living
without leaving town.


186
00:26:17,000 --> 00:26:20,080
Vultures were once a common sight
over India.


187
00:26:20,080 --> 00:26:24,640
Today, Jodhpur is one of the few
cities where they still make a home.


188
00:26:26,320 --> 00:26:29,360
Indian vultures now mostly live
on roadkill,


189
00:26:29,360 --> 00:26:33,040
but, if this fails, they'll find
food the old-fashioned way -


190
00:26:33,040 --> 00:26:37,240
waiting for one of India's most
famous hunters to provide a meal.


191
00:26:52,800 --> 00:26:57,040
They can fly for miles
with hardly a wing flap.


192
00:26:59,760 --> 00:27:04,800
The vulture's keen vision
spots a tiger on the prowl.


193
00:27:25,360 --> 00:27:28,280
Deer are a tiger's favourite prey.


194
00:27:31,200 --> 00:27:35,600
And running deer
ring the dinner bell.


195
00:27:48,400 --> 00:27:51,280
Dinner is served.


196
00:28:06,840 --> 00:28:10,560
But a vulture won't risk landing
while the owner's around.


197
00:28:17,000 --> 00:28:19,600
They gather and wait their turn.


198
00:28:24,120 --> 00:28:28,600
But, suddenly, the tiger
ups and leaves her prey.


199
00:28:28,600 --> 00:28:31,320
She must have other things
on her mind.


200
00:28:37,000 --> 00:28:40,560
The vultures won't waste
this golden opportunity.


201
00:28:54,840 --> 00:28:58,880
But the reason the tigress left
soon becomes clear.


202
00:28:58,880 --> 00:29:00,960
She has young cubs.


203
00:29:17,440 --> 00:29:21,040
At three-months-old, the cubs
have started to eat meat.


204
00:29:21,040 --> 00:29:25,600
It's time to give them a treat...
if there's any left, that is.


205
00:29:38,280 --> 00:29:41,040
The vultures are good
at bolting their food


206
00:29:41,040 --> 00:29:44,480
and retreating when
the rightful owners arrive.


207
00:29:44,480 --> 00:29:46,920
TIGER ROARS


208
00:29:47,920 --> 00:29:50,880
This is no time for heroics.


209
00:29:52,600 --> 00:29:55,040
The tigress returns just in time.


210
00:29:55,040 --> 00:29:58,040
Her cubs won't go hungry today.


211
00:30:07,680 --> 00:30:09,720
Back in civilisation,


212
00:30:09,720 --> 00:30:13,760
the pigeons are also on the hunt
for any scraps they can find.


213
00:30:18,320 --> 00:30:23,520
Their travels take them
over some of the most magnificent
sights in this part of India.


214
00:30:30,280 --> 00:30:33,040
The Palace of Winds in Jaipur.


215
00:30:38,720 --> 00:30:41,520
The Lake Palace of Udaipur.


216
00:30:54,400 --> 00:30:58,800
A favourite destination is one
of the hundreds of temples
that abound here.


217
00:31:28,920 --> 00:31:33,480
Below, a stream of people are
arriving bearing gifts of food.


218
00:31:33,480 --> 00:31:36,840
Here, pigeons should reach Nirvana.


219
00:31:37,840 --> 00:31:41,240
But these offerings
are not for lowly pigeons,


220
00:31:41,240 --> 00:31:43,840
they are for another scavenger.


221
00:31:43,840 --> 00:31:46,160
One revered by the visitors.


222
00:31:46,160 --> 00:31:48,440
Black rats.


223
00:31:48,440 --> 00:31:51,920
Over 6,000 live in Deshnok Temple.


224
00:31:51,920 --> 00:31:54,840
They are protected
by the local people,


225
00:31:54,840 --> 00:31:58,640
who believe the rats
are their reincarnated ancestors.


226
00:32:00,560 --> 00:32:02,960
It's tantalizing for the pigeons,


227
00:32:02,960 --> 00:32:07,040
as it's the black rats
that get all the gifts.


228
00:32:08,840 --> 00:32:12,040
The rats enjoy their elevated status


229
00:32:12,040 --> 00:32:16,200
and feel confident enough
to chase off the competition.


230
00:32:28,080 --> 00:32:30,160
To get a meal,


231
00:32:30,160 --> 00:32:33,720
pigeons must snatch it from under
the noses of these exulted beings.


232
00:32:36,400 --> 00:32:40,320
If they can dodge the rats,
there's plenty of food to be had.


233
00:32:43,040 --> 00:32:45,360
But this is easier said than done.


234
00:32:47,960 --> 00:32:51,360
Males box and fight each other
for mating rights.


235
00:32:59,880 --> 00:33:01,400
There are rats everywhere,


236
00:33:01,400 --> 00:33:04,360
chasing each other
and creating utter chaos.


237
00:33:16,080 --> 00:33:19,240
And there's only so much
a pigeon can take.


238
00:33:20,240 --> 00:33:23,480
Having snatched some crumbs
from the holy one's table,


239
00:33:23,480 --> 00:33:26,120
they take a break outside,


240
00:33:26,120 --> 00:33:30,040
but the temple forecourt
has its own hazards.


241
00:33:31,280 --> 00:33:34,320
A steppe eagle is on the prowl.


242
00:33:42,680 --> 00:33:46,000
But this time the pigeons
have some extra muscle.


243
00:33:47,680 --> 00:33:50,280
Hooded crows act
as their bodyguards.


244
00:33:56,000 --> 00:34:00,760
They intercept anything
that invades their airspace.


245
00:34:04,000 --> 00:34:07,800
They work as a mob,
taking turns to harass the eagle.


246
00:34:14,000 --> 00:34:16,720
One nearly lands on its back.


247
00:34:39,000 --> 00:34:41,720
Eagles depend on surprise.


248
00:34:41,720 --> 00:34:46,240
Once he's been rumbled,
he know he stands little chance
of making a kill.


249
00:34:53,000 --> 00:34:55,000
With the eagle sent packing,


250
00:34:55,000 --> 00:34:59,040
the pigeons resume their
never-ending quest for scraps.


251
00:35:05,000 --> 00:35:10,040
Back in the Himalayas,
the young crane is on borrowed time.


252
00:35:15,000 --> 00:35:20,040
Overhead, lammergeiers join
the other circling vultures.


253
00:35:24,200 --> 00:35:28,480
It would be suicide for the crane
to continue the journey alone.


254
00:35:28,480 --> 00:35:31,040
She doesn't know the way.


255
00:35:31,040 --> 00:35:35,560
The scavengers have decided
her days are numbered.


256
00:35:35,560 --> 00:35:39,040
But the migration season
isn't over yet.


257
00:35:42,040 --> 00:35:48,040
Suddenly, another flock, delayed by
the weather, appears on the horizon.


258
00:36:02,800 --> 00:36:05,680
It's just the help she needs.


259
00:36:16,000 --> 00:36:19,360
With them, she'll find safety
in numbers.


260
00:36:19,360 --> 00:36:23,040
Together, they continue onwards
through the pass.


261
00:36:23,040 --> 00:36:27,040
The worst part of the crane's
journey is now over.


262
00:36:39,040 --> 00:36:42,320
Once the cranes put the Himalayas
behind them,


263
00:36:42,320 --> 00:36:45,920
the final hurdle
is the Great Thar Desert -


264
00:36:45,920 --> 00:36:50,040
a band stretching from Pakistan
across North-West India.


265
00:37:06,760 --> 00:37:11,120
A procession makes its way
across the drifting sands.


266
00:37:18,000 --> 00:37:23,160
These camel trains are just
the start of something far bigger.


267
00:37:38,000 --> 00:37:44,040
Pushkar Fair -
the greatest gathering of camels
anywhere on Earth.


268
00:37:44,040 --> 00:37:49,040
Here, these "ships of the desert"
are traded by local tribes.


269
00:37:50,040 --> 00:37:54,720
But, of course, wherever people
gather, so do the pigeons.


270
00:38:08,960 --> 00:38:13,800
With so much animal feed around,
this isn't their greatest challenge.


271
00:38:13,800 --> 00:38:18,960
In fact, for the next five days,
they will have everything
they could wish for.


272
00:38:22,600 --> 00:38:26,080
They just have to learn
the camel's feeding times.


273
00:38:42,680 --> 00:38:47,640
Pigeons are endlessly adaptable.
It's the secret of their success.


274
00:39:02,560 --> 00:39:07,040
For most of the time these pigeons
scrape a living in desert towns


275
00:39:07,040 --> 00:39:12,000
but, once the yearly fair arrives,
they join in the festivities.


276
00:39:16,000 --> 00:39:18,920
But everything comes with a price.


277
00:39:21,520 --> 00:39:24,040
A feral cat is on the prowl.


278
00:39:28,880 --> 00:39:31,120
This is no domestic moggy.


279
00:39:31,120 --> 00:39:34,360
Her hunting skills are essential
for survival.


280
00:39:45,680 --> 00:39:49,120
At first, it all seems
just too easy.


281
00:39:56,800 --> 00:40:00,360
But she soon realizes
she must raise her game.


282
00:40:07,520 --> 00:40:12,040
Her hunting skills
are as good as any tiger.


283
00:40:45,560 --> 00:40:48,480
They may not escape predators
all the time,


284
00:40:48,480 --> 00:40:51,760
but by adapting to every
aspect of human life,


285
00:40:51,760 --> 00:40:56,640
pigeons have become one of the most
successful species on the planet.


286
00:41:12,320 --> 00:41:16,040
The mysterious, ancient landscape
of China.


287
00:41:17,040 --> 00:41:19,960
The people here have
a long association


288
00:41:19,960 --> 00:41:23,120
with some special birds
that arrive each year.


289
00:41:27,880 --> 00:41:31,520
Swallows and swifts
have been revered down the ages


290
00:41:31,520 --> 00:41:34,200
as bringers of peace
and tranquillity.


291
00:41:45,000 --> 00:41:47,200
They are one of the very few animals


292
00:41:47,200 --> 00:41:49,680
that are welcomed
into people's homes.


293
00:41:57,160 --> 00:42:00,560
Red rump swallows use the mud
at the edge of paddy fields


294
00:42:00,560 --> 00:42:03,160
to construct their nests,


295
00:42:03,160 --> 00:42:07,920
but, as payback for being allowed to
nest, the birds return the favour.


296
00:42:11,440 --> 00:42:16,640
The swallows hunt along the forested
hillsides and rice fields for food,


297
00:42:16,640 --> 00:42:20,640
ridding the countryside
of crop pests and biting insects.


298
00:42:32,080 --> 00:42:34,120
They are found throughout China.


299
00:42:34,120 --> 00:42:38,040
Many nest on the watchtowers
of the Great Wall.


300
00:42:44,560 --> 00:42:48,040
Down the centuries,
swifts have even been encouraged


301
00:42:48,040 --> 00:42:51,600
to nest in the ancient eaves
of the Forbidden City in Beijing.


302
00:42:51,600 --> 00:42:54,440
A tradition that continues today.


303
00:42:59,520 --> 00:43:03,720
And amid the modern chaos
of the ancient city of Xian,


304
00:43:03,720 --> 00:43:08,000
it's the ancient bell towers
that swifts use to make their home.


305
00:43:11,680 --> 00:43:16,240
Here, they act as pest controllers,
catching the wood-boring insects


306
00:43:16,240 --> 00:43:19,440
that could destroy
these revered buildings.


307
00:43:22,600 --> 00:43:26,120
Their labours are repaid
by tolerance and respect.


308
00:43:34,760 --> 00:43:36,800
Also in the Orient,


309
00:43:36,800 --> 00:43:41,040
Japan has taken other species
of migrating birds to its heart.


310
00:43:43,880 --> 00:43:47,760
The onset of winter
marks the arrival of whooper swans


311
00:43:47,760 --> 00:43:50,320
to the northern island of Hokkaido.


312
00:43:56,160 --> 00:44:01,320
They too are escaping the even
harsher winters found in Siberia.


313
00:44:15,000 --> 00:44:18,040
They have travelled 2,000 miles
to get here.


314
00:44:18,040 --> 00:44:20,560
But they have a problem.


315
00:44:20,560 --> 00:44:23,440
The lake they are returning to
is frozen.


316
00:44:31,680 --> 00:44:34,880
They are one of the world's heaviest
flying birds


317
00:44:34,880 --> 00:44:38,040
and usually rely on water
to cushion their landing.


318
00:44:38,040 --> 00:44:41,520
Landing on ice requires
an unfamiliar set of skills.


319
00:44:55,000 --> 00:44:59,040
Each bird has to rapidly devise
his own technique.


320
00:45:13,160 --> 00:45:17,040
It's like water skiers trying
to use their skis on snow.


321
00:45:30,000 --> 00:45:33,320
The huge webbed feet
are mainly used as paddles


322
00:45:33,320 --> 00:45:37,120
but they also help spread the load
when landing on water.


323
00:45:43,520 --> 00:45:47,040
On ice, they just get in the way.


324
00:45:50,800 --> 00:45:54,040
It can easily go horribly wrong.


325
00:46:00,440 --> 00:46:05,040
Where the ice has thawed, the swans
make a more controlled landing.


326
00:46:13,840 --> 00:46:17,040
The water is warmed by hot springs
from below,


327
00:46:17,040 --> 00:46:20,040
so it rarely freezes completely.


328
00:46:21,040 --> 00:46:23,800
It has become the favourite
winter wonderland


329
00:46:23,800 --> 00:46:25,640
for most of the swans in Japan.


330
00:46:25,640 --> 00:46:29,520
They know that there will always be
open water somewhere.


331
00:46:34,000 --> 00:46:39,040
Whooper swans pair for life
and couples celebrate their arrival.


332
00:46:48,000 --> 00:46:52,040
But this doesn't stop single males
trying to muscle in.


333
00:47:21,120 --> 00:47:23,480
Soon, peace is restored.


334
00:47:27,000 --> 00:47:29,520
The strength of the swans'
relationship


335
00:47:29,520 --> 00:47:33,160
is displayed through the symmetry
of their greeting.


336
00:47:40,080 --> 00:47:46,320
Above their heads, Japan's most
revered bird is also arriving.


337
00:47:50,000 --> 00:47:52,520
Japanese cranes.


338
00:48:03,120 --> 00:48:06,560
The arrival of the cranes
has been considered a symbol


339
00:48:06,560 --> 00:48:09,320
of good luck and fidelity
for centuries.


340
00:48:28,720 --> 00:48:30,520
They are so admired,


341
00:48:30,520 --> 00:48:34,680
every winter the local people
venture out on to the ice
to feed them fish -


342
00:48:34,680 --> 00:48:38,040
a welcome handout in harsh times.


343
00:48:45,000 --> 00:48:49,040
These gifts of kindness have seen
the population of cranes grow


344
00:48:49,040 --> 00:48:53,880
from just 33 in 1952
to over 1,200 today.


345
00:48:57,400 --> 00:49:02,040
It's now such a prime spot, many
have stopped migrating altogether.


346
00:49:03,280 --> 00:49:07,040
The local crows have grown
in number too.


347
00:49:12,680 --> 00:49:16,040
But it's not all Zen serenity.


348
00:49:22,200 --> 00:49:24,040
A red fox.


349
00:49:27,680 --> 00:49:31,240
He can easily tackle
a full-grown crane.


350
00:49:46,000 --> 00:49:49,040
But the fox is not their
only concern.


351
00:49:49,040 --> 00:49:52,280
White-tailed eagles
are gathering too.


352
00:49:52,280 --> 00:49:57,320
In winter, these bird-hunters
move inland from the coast.


353
00:50:15,000 --> 00:50:19,880
Then the emperor of eagles arrives -
a Steller's.


354
00:50:19,880 --> 00:50:23,040
One of the biggest eagles
in the world.


355
00:50:25,320 --> 00:50:28,880
The cranes are outnumbered
by some of their worst enemies


356
00:50:28,880 --> 00:50:30,960
but none try to get away.


357
00:50:30,960 --> 00:50:35,040
These brave birds are quite prepared
to stand their ground.


358
00:50:41,480 --> 00:50:45,120
They know they are not
the eagle's real target.


359
00:50:51,080 --> 00:50:54,880
For, here, a strange alliance
has developed.


360
00:50:54,880 --> 00:50:59,600
The predators have learnt to
scavenge on the free handouts
meant for the cranes.


361
00:51:31,000 --> 00:51:35,720
In this surreal gathering,
predators lay down their arms


362
00:51:35,720 --> 00:51:39,040
and call a truce
with their former prey.


363
00:51:41,240 --> 00:51:46,440
It's a strange and temporary amnesty
but one in which everyone benefits.


364
00:52:07,200 --> 00:52:10,600
The change of behaviour
of all these birds


365
00:52:10,600 --> 00:52:14,480
is brought on by the nation's love
of the Japanese crane.


366
00:52:23,760 --> 00:52:27,040
Back in India,
migrating demoiselle cranes


367
00:52:27,040 --> 00:52:30,760
have also gained from the kindness
of the local people.


368
00:52:38,320 --> 00:52:41,320
They've travelled 2,000 miles
to reach here.


369
00:52:41,320 --> 00:52:44,880
In the past, many would have
spread out across India.


370
00:52:49,360 --> 00:52:53,040
But, today,
9,000 of these wetland birds


371
00:52:53,040 --> 00:52:56,720
choose to converge on a town
in the heart of the desert.


372
00:52:59,600 --> 00:53:03,360
It's the last place on Earth
you would expect them to go.


373
00:53:28,920 --> 00:53:33,280
They circle over the town
of Khichan, waiting for a sign.


374
00:53:33,280 --> 00:53:36,840
And then below,
in a barbed wire compound,


375
00:53:36,840 --> 00:53:39,040
a local man scatters grain.


376
00:53:46,360 --> 00:53:49,400
As ever, the pigeons
won't miss out on free lunch,


377
00:53:49,400 --> 00:53:52,720
even if the offerings
aren't for them.


378
00:53:57,240 --> 00:54:01,040
But it's the cranes that
the villagers want to attract


379
00:54:01,040 --> 00:54:04,240
and these visitors could hardly
be more welcome.


380
00:54:21,360 --> 00:54:24,800
These normally timid birds
descend among the villagers


381
00:54:24,800 --> 00:54:26,720
to collect their reward.


382
00:54:36,000 --> 00:54:40,680
Like the Japanese, the people here
treasure the return of the cranes,


383
00:54:40,680 --> 00:54:43,960
scattering grain each day
to encourage them down.


384
00:54:47,840 --> 00:54:50,640
What was once a quick
desert stop-over


385
00:54:50,640 --> 00:54:54,280
has become a place
to spend the entire winter.


386
00:55:00,640 --> 00:55:05,240
The cranes have even changed
their migration routes
to converge on this welcoming spot.


387
00:55:06,240 --> 00:55:08,600
They have been fed here for decades


388
00:55:08,600 --> 00:55:13,760
and in the very centre
of this desert town,
they know they can find safe haven.


389
00:55:17,840 --> 00:55:19,920
Now, so many birds come here,


390
00:55:19,920 --> 00:55:25,280
they consume an extraordinary
5,000 kilos of grain each day.


391
00:55:26,280 --> 00:55:30,040
The compound has been built
for their protection.


392
00:55:30,040 --> 00:55:32,360
And, on the other side of the fence,


393
00:55:32,360 --> 00:55:35,840
a second shift of cranes
waits in the wings.


394
00:55:38,480 --> 00:55:41,000
Each knows its allotted dinner time.


395
00:55:46,000 --> 00:55:49,680
When those inside have had
their fill they change places,


396
00:55:49,680 --> 00:55:53,760
leaping back over the fence
and allowing the second sitting
to begin.


397
00:56:10,000 --> 00:56:12,200
In this most unlikely of places,


398
00:56:12,200 --> 00:56:17,040
one of the greatest bird spectacles
on Earth can be found.


399
00:56:19,360 --> 00:56:22,040
It's a gathering that only exists


400
00:56:22,040 --> 00:56:25,360
because of the villagers'
devotion to the birds.


401
00:56:30,440 --> 00:56:34,520
Back in Japan,
tranquillity has been restored.


402
00:56:37,080 --> 00:56:40,040
The cranes begin
one of the most intricate


403
00:56:40,040 --> 00:56:43,120
and beautiful courtship dances
in the world.


404
00:56:58,480 --> 00:57:02,000
Japanese cranes can live
for 60 years or more,


405
00:57:02,000 --> 00:57:06,280
making their partnerships among
the most enduring of any bird.


406
00:57:28,720 --> 00:57:33,040
These dances keep
their relationship strong.


407
00:57:45,120 --> 00:57:47,720
It's an event
that has been encouraged


408
00:57:47,720 --> 00:57:51,200
by a special partnership
between birds and people.


409
00:57:59,720 --> 00:58:05,160
It's relationships like these that
have sustained countless species,


410
00:58:05,160 --> 00:58:09,040
from the parrots of Australia
to the vultures of Jodhpur.


411
00:58:09,040 --> 00:58:12,480
Even the humble pigeon
finds sanctuary


412
00:58:12,480 --> 00:58:15,040
wherever man makes his home.


413
00:58:18,000 --> 00:58:21,320
Next time, we will look
at the close relationships


414
00:58:21,320 --> 00:58:23,320
between birds and people


415
00:58:23,320 --> 00:58:29,040
that allowed Earthflight to spread
its wings and fly across the world.


416
00:58:44,080 --> 00:58:48,040
Subtitling by Red Bee Media Ltd


417
00:58:48,040 --> 00:58:51,640
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