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In the heart of Brazil lie the immense wetlands of the Pantanal--an area 10 times the size of the Florida Everglades. In the dry season, over 650 species of birds descend onto the shallow marshes to feast, breed, and raise their young, including the the regal jabiru, the colorful hyacinth macaw, and the noisy chacalaca.
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00:00In one of the world's largest tropical wetlands, life is driven by seasonal extremes.
00:13At the peak of the dry season, romance is in the air.
00:19Here, even humans are forced to follow the rhythms of the Pantanal's seasons.
00:49The Pantanal is home to over 650 species of birds.
01:03A brilliant kaleidoscope that comes in every color, shape and size.
01:10They thrive in this immense wetland.
01:13More than 10 times larger than the Everglades,
01:16the Pantanal lies in the heart of South America.
01:2080% is covered in water in the rainy season.
01:26Now, at the peak of the dry season,
01:28when fish and other aquatic animals are trapped in the shallow pools and shrinking marshes,
01:34thousands of birds congregate in this natural paradise
01:40to breed and raise their young.
01:46The royalty of the Pantanal are the Jabiru.
01:52The glorious wings of these magnificent storks span up to 10 feet.
01:56The glorious wings of these magnificent storks span up to 10 feet.
02:00The glorious wings of these magnificent storks span up to 10 feet.
02:30This female Jabiru is expecting her mate to return to the nest.
02:42She's watching over three chicks who are impatiently waiting to be fed.
02:46The adults look alike, but the male is usually about 25% larger than the female.
03:02The chicks are about a month old, so now they are often left alone.
03:05So day after day, they sit exposed to the unrelenting sun.
03:12And in the middle of the dry season, they're always begging for water.
03:16It'll be another two months before the chicks come out of the water.
03:19It'll be another two months before the chicks come out of the water.
03:22It'll be another two months before the chicks learn to fly.
03:47About six more months before they're completely independent.
03:55And they're keeping their parents busy.
04:00It's time for the main course.
04:11Father Jabiru regurgitates the dinner.
04:13Father Jabiru with all theirador.
04:14Heals.
04:23One of the Jabiru's favorite foods.
04:28Welfo.
04:29Enough for the whole family.
04:35The Jabiru's are raising their young on a tall family.
04:36The jabaroos are raising their young on a tight schedule.
04:45The rains will start in less than two months.
04:49Flying and fishing skills take time to learn.
05:00The adults hold their beaks at 45 degrees, just the right angle to skim the water's surface.
05:06When they sense their prey, they quickly close their bill.
05:15When they're three and a half months old, the chicks will leave the safety of the nest and
05:19have to hunt for themselves.
05:23With their parents' help, the chicks will master both fishing and flying before the heavy rains
05:28of the monsoon season turn this savanna back into a vast wetland.
05:35But for now, these lowlands are a hotbed of activity for the diverse bird population of
05:43the Pantanal.
05:45Even at its driest, this area still has ponds and marshes and a river flowing through it.
05:53And that's why the very rare hyacinth macaws have picked this spot to breed.
06:05Over three feet long from the top of its head to the tip of its tail, the hyacinth macaw is
06:11the largest of all the parrots.
06:18But it's not too large to squeeze through a narrow opening into a safe and cozy home.
06:35Over 90 percent of hyacinth macaw nests are found inside the hollows of manduvi trees.
07:02The soft wood of the tree's trunk allows the macaws to dig out a roomy shelter.
07:18Macaws lay a clutch of two or three eggs once a year.
07:23When the eggs hatch, the competition for food will be so fierce, only one hatchling is likely
07:28to survive.
07:41While the female incubates the eggs, the male is in charge of bringing her food and water.
07:50a small pond is just a few steps away.
08:05Although they do drink water, they get most of the moisture they need from the food they
08:09eat.
08:27One of the hyacinth macaws' favorite foods is the akuri palm fruit.
08:35Inside is a tasty nut, but it's got a hard shell that's tough to crack.
08:43Macaws have an easier way to get at it.
08:50Cattle are also fond of the akuri fruits.
08:53Once they swallow the fruits, their multi-chambered stomach does the rest, breaking down the hard
08:58inner shell that contains the nut.
09:04Finding the nuts is a simple scavenger hunt for the macaws.
09:15The best breeding spot for the birds of the Pantanal happens to be on a 25,000-acre cattle
09:20ranch.
09:21The Nalor is a hardy, heat-tolerant breed similar to the Brahmin and the Zebu and was imported
09:31from India about 200 years ago.
09:34They've been grazing on the native grasses of the Pantanal ever since.
09:42While the dry season is a time for the birds to stay put and focus on breeding, it's a time
09:51for the cattle to move.
10:04Just like the birds and other local wildlife, the cattle and the ranchers have learned to
10:09adapt to the drastic seasonal changes of the region.
10:13The cattle have eaten most of the grass in their pasture and they need to move before the
10:21rainy season brings the floods.
10:24The cowboys drive the herd to a fresh pasture on higher ground.
10:35It'll take 10 cowboys three days to move the 1,000 head of cattle across 25 miles of wetland
10:42river.
11:04In just a few weeks, with the return of the rains, much of this land will be underwater.
11:26Then fish, rather than cattle, will travel over the grasslands.
11:31Most of the birds will leave as the fish disperse over a wide area and become hard to find.
11:44Here in bird paradise, there are no deep and dark forests, only small clusters of tropical
11:53trees growing out of the water.
11:56This is a tree island.
11:59It began its life as a small watery patch of dense vegetation, and over time grew bigger
12:04and bigger, until a few trees took root and eventually formed an island.
12:10Now it is a lush sanctuary for several species of birds.
12:20This island is home to the noisiest birds in the Pantanal, the Chaco Chachalaca.
12:39Some call them samba birds, after their sing-song calls.
12:46The cattle ranchers call them the alarm clocks of the Pantanal.
12:50They start at dawn and don't stop screeching until sundown.
12:57The squawking stops just long enough for the Chaco Chachalaca to take a bite of a juicy fig.
13:15Their bad reputation isn't just for making a racket, it also includes a more serious crime.
13:29They're guilty of killing palm trees.
13:37After the Chaco Chachalaca has digested the figs, some of the seeds carried in its feces fall
13:43onto the upper branches of a palm tree, where there's a lot more sunlight than in the dark
13:50forest below.
14:04When the seeds germinate, they don't only grow up, they also grow down.
14:16The vines that sprout from the fig seeds wrap around the trunk of the palm, spiral down
14:24to the forest floor, and take root in the moist, fertile soil.
14:34Over the years, the vines thicken and strengthen, wrapping the palm in a parasitic stranglehold and
14:41never let go.
14:47It can take decades, even a century, for a strangler fig to kill a mature palm tree.
14:58This akuri palm fell victim to a strangler vine many years ago.
15:06Its days are numbered, but it's still producing akuri fruits, the much-loved food of the hyacinth
15:12macaw.
15:17While some macaws scavenge cattle dung for partially digested akuri fruits, others collect
15:33them directly from the bunches hanging on the trees.
15:39That's a lot more work.
15:44Their sharp beaks and powerful jaw muscles open the tough fruits and crack the inner shells.
15:52Their unusual tongue, reinforced with a hook-shaped bone, scoops out the nut.
16:02If a tough or slippery fruit won't open, the clever macaw has a tool for that.
16:23Sometimes they'll use a green leaf to act as a wedge to keep the fruit from moving.
16:31And if that doesn't work, it's back to the toolbox for another tool.
16:38This time, it's a sliver of wood that stops it from slipping.
16:52It's back to burす.
16:53Let's death in the middle and end.
16:54Success.
17:30This pair of macaws is also responding to the call of the breeding season.
17:42They have a nest nearby but have yet to produce any eggs.
17:48They're in no rush. Courtship seems just as much fun.
17:54Hyacinth macaws mate for life.
17:56Their courtship rituals, preening and feeding each other, help these birds reinforce their bond.
18:03I'm not going to die.
18:12I'm not going to die.
18:18Back at the marsh, another loyal couple is hard at work.
18:48Alone in the nest, the Jabiru chicks are thirsty and hungry, but when the father Jabiru comes
19:10home with a beak full of sticks and twigs, the chicks are disappointed.
19:15There's no water or tasty eels in his pouch on this trip.
19:23All the coming and going takes its toll on the nest, so repairs are necessary.
19:30The nest is critical to the chick's survival.
19:35The mother Jabiru takes care of the construction using materials provided by the father.
19:42Because of their size, adult Jabiru's can defend themselves, but their chicks are vulnerable.
19:51The nest protects them from the most dangerous predators below, but they're still exposed
19:56to predators coming from above, like this crested caracara, the key scavenger of the Pantanal.
20:11The caracara won't tangle with an adult Jabiru.
20:14It prefers easier targets, like the chicks.
20:25The cautious mother takes no chances and shelters her young under her wings.
20:42Most Jabiru family have built their nest on some prime real estate at the top of a tall tree.
20:51The few bare branches are strong enough to support the family and their home, and there's
20:57plenty of room for their big wings.
21:03In other regions of the Pantanal, perches like this are few and far between, but here there's
21:08enough to accommodate many Jabiru families.
21:15In a nest nearby, four juveniles about 12 weeks old look like they're ready to begin flying
21:20lessons.
21:28The parents leave them alone for longer and longer periods.
21:36With their large, sharp beaks, they're old enough to defend themselves, or at least signal
21:41danger by clacking their beaks loudly in alarm.
21:58Their parents have worked on their nest for quite a while.
22:08It's become so big, several families of monk parakeets have moved into the basement apartment.
22:21They are year-round tenants.
22:25When the rainy season comes, the monk parakeets stay put, while the Jabiru adults and their
22:33young rejoin their flocks and spread out across the lowlands of the Pantanal.
22:51The cattle also need to move to greener pastures above the reach of the floods when the monsoon
23:01rains come.
23:03The cowboys move along at the herd's natural pace.
23:10They don't want the beef cattle to burn too many calories and lose weight.
23:19Cattle have panoramic vision, which means they can see everything around them, except what's
23:24what's going on in the back of the road.
23:25The cowboys move along at the back of the back of the herd.
23:31The cowboys drive them from the rear, and nudge the strays back into the herd.
23:43The pastures they've left behind are depleted.
24:10The ranchers set fire to the dry fields to prepare for the fast approaching rainy season and stimulate
24:22new growth for the next season.
24:34Saving the pastures is a two centuries old tradition.
24:46And for the predators and scavengers, the flames bring new opportunity.
24:53A savannah hawk scans the smoky landscape for prey.
25:09Small animals trying to escape the heat and flames risk running straight into an ambush.
25:16If the hawk doesn't strike from the air, its cousin, the caracara, will intercept on the ground.
25:35The caracara is a falcon.
25:46Unlike most falcons, however, the caracara is not a fast-flying predator.
25:55It's an opportunist, hunting and scavenging in a variety of ways.
26:02Because it's small and light, it patrols the grasslands by flying much lower than other scavengers.
26:16On the ground, it searches for small prey and carrion.
26:25This caracara is lucky.
26:27It found this carcass before the vultures.
26:39Once they land, they're quick to take over.
26:46Back at the nesting site, another jabberoo family is raising its young.
27:15Jabberoo's don't build their nests in large colonies.
27:22But you'll often find a few nests in close proximity because of the trees they choose.
27:28This female still keeps a close eye on her two chicks, although they're almost ready to fledge.
27:36Even once they can fly, it'll be many more weeks before these teenagers are truly independent.
27:43The parents are busy working overtime, making more and more trips to the ponds and marshes to keep them supplied with food.
27:58The shallow water in this pond makes it a popular spot to fish.
28:19The jabberoo stork has an advantage over the other birds that gather here.
28:26A giant inflatable pouch for carrying food and water.
28:34The water is shallow, but it's murky.
28:41Catching a fish you can't see takes a lot of patience and skill.
28:47The jabberoo have plenty of both.
28:56With their long legs, they wait along the edges.
29:06The tip of their beak is sensitive, and they find their prey by feel.
29:11They know there's plenty of tasty little fish and other animals hiding in the mud.
29:19With water levels so low at this time of year, the fish have to come to the surface for oxygen.
29:26Some prey, like this giant snail, are too much work.
29:54Others take a little more work, but are worth the effort.
30:15It takes a little while, but the adults eventually manage to fill up their pouches.
30:23They scoop up water and food in one gulp.
30:34And carry the whole load back to their nests.
30:43At the nest, the fledglings patiently wait for the male to return with the goods, while the female stands guard.
30:49And when a karakara flies too close,
31:11the mother acts as a decoy and tries to lure it away from her chicks.
31:30The hunters rarely prey on large birds like the storks, especially not the jabberoo.
31:37But this mother is taking no chances.
31:39The black-collared hawk is another bird of prey that calls the Pantanal home.
31:53From his perch, he scans the river for any signs of fish.
32:01His sharp talons are perfect for grabbing and holding on to its prey.
32:08But fishing takes a lot of skill.
32:30Or a little luck.
32:36If at first you don't succeed, try again.
32:57His perseverance is rewarded with some easy pickings.
33:01Fish that probably died from a lack of oxygen.
33:05During hard times, the black-collared hawk might feed on water bugs or rodents.
33:12But there's no need today.
33:14Although the abundance of fish in this area make it a perfect breeding place for birds,
33:29not all birds.
33:30Not all birds come here to fish.
33:32And not all birds will leave at the end of the breeding season.
33:40The red ovenbird is a year-round resident that eats insects.
33:48He's also an expert architect.
33:51He collects mud and straw to build his nest.
33:55He's also an expert in the breeding season.
34:07This nest is now home to three chicks.
34:11Its oven-like shape keeps the heat in.
34:14It acts like an incubator and allows the parent to have more time to forage.
34:30Lunch is whatever insect comes by.
34:39This one goes down the hatch.
34:51This one she brings home.
35:03She quarrels with unwelcome visitors.
35:06This is private property and the red ovenbird is particular about territory.
35:18Now it's back to hunting.
35:31This non-stop pickup and delivery service will go on for about three weeks.
35:36After that, the fledglings will be expected to do their own shopping.
35:43For now, they're at the mercy of their hard-working parents.
35:48This yellow-headed caracara, a cousin of the southern crested caracara,
36:17can't believe its good fortune.
36:20Three small hatchlings with no parental supervision.
36:24They would make an easy meal compared to the ticks that are usually on its menu.
36:33The mother spots the intruder from afar and screeches.
36:40It was a close call and there'll probably be many more this season.
36:58Even in the dry season, there are still a few places where trees are in bloom and fruits are ripe for the picking.
37:15The streams and rivers team with fish and the banks are flush with aquatic plants and insects.
37:36It's a glorious banquet table set for one of the world's most ancient predators, the caiman.
37:55The smaller cousin of the alligator and the crocodile.
38:08By some estimates, over 10 million caimans live and hunt in the wetlands of the Pantanal.
38:14The largest caiman population on the planet.
38:27Birds and crocodiles are distant cousins.
38:30Caimans evolved from the same group that gave rise to dinosaurs and birds.
38:41Caimans are nocturnal and during the day, these reptiles mostly just bask in the sun.
38:56Those are impressive looking teeth, but caimans hunt in water, not on land.
39:01Their open mouths help them regulate their body temperature.
39:22The caiman has spotted a white egret hunting for fish.
39:25The caiman has spotted a white egret hunting for fish.
39:27The egret scans the water.
39:55It's so focused on catching its own lunch, it hasn't noticed the stealthy caiman.
40:02A splash spooks the egret just in time.
40:14Back on land, the cowboys and their cattle are approaching the end of their long journey.
40:33The grass is getting better with every step towards the high pasture.
40:46But the good food comes too late for some.
40:50One animal fell sick and died and was left behind.
41:07To the delight of this flock of vultures.
41:11Unlike most vultures, black vultures don't have a great sense of smell.
41:15So one of them must have spotted it from the air.
41:19The good news is they've got it all to themselves.
41:24The bad news is there are no karakara here to slice open the cow's thick hide.
41:33Vultures depend on the smaller karakara's formidable talons and beaks to do the carving for them.
41:41Although the vultures look tough, their feet are weaker than other raptors.
41:46And their beaks are not as curved.
41:48So they start with the soft parts.
41:55Vultures rely on one another to find dead animals.
41:58And wherever there is one, there are soon many squabbling over the banquet.
42:06There is a hierarchy at dinnertime.
42:09The younger ones are always the last to dine.
42:15Although a dominant bird sometimes has to reassert its position.
42:28Back at the jabberoo's nest, there's trouble in bird paradise.
42:58The steely-eyed karakara looks like it's just taking a stroll.
43:02But it's hard at work, foraging.
43:16High above, there are only two chicks in the jabberoo nest.
43:22But there should be three.
43:24This jabberoo chick probably fell out of the nest.
43:30This is the harsh reality all jabberoo parents live with every breeding season.
43:47They lay between three and five eggs.
43:51But even the hardest working, most protective and diligent parents often lose one or two chicks.
43:57beswicks.
44:06They play and run the fights for seven kings being home.
44:09игр in the midst of the incoming abuse.
44:11They can tell you that to follow their books around and to interrupt the right around the chat.
44:1428 miles away,
44:44the herd with one less cow
44:46finally reaches the new pasture.
45:03There's enough fresh grass
45:04to feed the entire herd
45:06until the end of the wet season.
45:14It's getting late.
45:24The sun's low on the horizon,
45:26and it's time for the cook
45:27to earn his pay.
45:31While the herd settles down
45:33for the night,
45:34the cowboys gather around
45:35the fire for dinner.
45:36At home or in the field,
45:40the cowboys follow the rhythms
45:42of the Pantanal,
45:43up at dawn
45:44and to bed at sunset.
45:47It's a traditional way of life,
45:49like this dinner of arroz caratero,
45:52or wagon rider's rice.
45:56A mixture of rice,
45:58beef, peppers, and onions,
46:00shared with a visitor.
46:21When night begins to fall,
46:23they sling their hammocks,
46:27rig the mosquito nets,
46:28and wash the pots and pans,
46:33ready for the next day.
46:49Down in the lowlands,
46:51a large flock of black ibis
46:53returns to its dormitory
46:54and settles in for the night.
47:01In a few more weeks,
47:03the winds will bring dark clouds
47:04heavy with rain
47:05to empty their load
47:07over the southwestern tip
47:08of the Pantanal.
47:09The breeding season will be over
47:20until next year,
47:21when the water recedes
47:22and nature signals
47:24that it is time to start again
47:25in bird paradise.
47:27Amen.
47:34Amen.
47:42Amen.
47:44Amen.
47:45Amen.
47:46Transcription by CastingWords
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