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00:05When you see this symbol, you know you're watching television that's educational and
00:10informational. The more you know on NBC. Hi, everyone. It's time for an epic mountain
00:18adventure in the highlands of Europe. I'm Dylan Dreyer, and this is Earth Odyssey.
00:23Coming up, these big stags are roaring for attention, but a wolf is listening. And incoming,
00:34sounding the alarm when the threat is airborne. Plus, hummingbirds like to hover, but so does
00:41this surprising creature. And have you ever heard of a fish building a nest? Amazing alpine
00:49wonders are just ahead on Earth Odyssey.
01:13For most of the year, red deer and their fawns graze quietly in the Iberian highlands. But
01:19in the fall, the roars of the returning stags echo throughout the forest. Big sounds, not
01:25big antlers, are their favorite way to impress a mate.
01:30The end of summer in the Iberian highlands brings an unmistakable sound.
01:40A majestic creature steps out of the mist, the red deer. During the rut, or mating season,
01:47their roars are unmistakable. Red deer are one of the largest deer, weighing over 350 pounds.
01:57Stags, or adult males, spend most of the year alone, or in bachelor herds.
02:05But in October, they're drawn back toward the does.
02:11But each herd is already protected by one stag, a powerful older male that guards the smaller does and
02:19fathers the fawns.
02:29The younger males will spend the next few weeks challenging the old stag.
02:35He has a grueling job ahead of him.
02:39He'll put all his energy into keeping the herd together and fending off the other stags.
02:44And that means making lots of noise.
02:50By the end of the season, the older stag will lose nearly 20% of his body weight.
03:07It's an ordeal, but the payoff is worth it.
03:19In the end, he'll keep his place in the herd.
03:28But mating isn't his only concern.
03:39Danger is creeping silently through the woods.
03:46The does sense it.
03:50The herd is being stalked.
04:00While the old stag is being challenged by another male, a wolf pack is approaching.
04:09These canine predators work as a team surrounding their prey.
04:16They watch the deer in the distance, waiting for the best moment.
04:28One wrong move and the hungry wolves could fail.
04:36Tension is high.
04:37Tension is high.
04:40In the end, the three younger wolves can't hold the standoff.
04:52One of the does senses the danger and sounds the alarm.
04:59The younger wolves still have a lot to learn before they master the art of the ambush.
05:07Coming up, these marvelous mountain marmots truly look out for each other.
05:12And these deceptively beautiful plants are hiding a deadly secret.
05:19Plus, we take the Wayback Machine to meet an ancient fish.
05:24More wonderfully strange species when Earth Odyssey returns.
05:33We'll be right back to The More You Know on NBC.
05:39We now return to The More You Know on NBC.
05:55This mountain range separates the Iberian Peninsula from the rest of Europe.
06:03This natural barrier between France and Spain creates a protected zone for local animals.
06:15It's summer, and next to this stream, a group of blue butterflies gather to collect mineral salts from its muddy
06:22banks.
06:43Not far away, a family of alpine marmots are building their castle in this meadow.
06:49From the top, they have a privileged view over the valley.
06:53And here, they can eat in peace.
07:02When these large ground squirrels are out and about,
07:05they post a sentry who stands guard for everyone's safety.
07:10It's role is to warn the entire group of the slightest sign of danger.
07:16Winter is coming, so the marmots are in a hurry to regain the fat or energy reserves
07:21they lost during their last hibernation.
07:36These pups are three months old.
07:38They are at the beginning of their learning curve.
07:48One of the first lessons is to always be alert.
07:55A threat hangs in the sky.
08:00A high-pitched sound is the signal to run for cover.
08:04The golden eagle is the marmot's number one enemy.
08:11The sentry is the last marmot standing.
08:14It has to ensure that no one is left behind.
08:21Mission accomplished.
08:23All the marmots have disappeared into their burrow.
08:27The eagle will have to continue its search.
08:29It won't be lucky in this neighborhood.
08:35While the marmots nibble on greens and nuts to prepare for winter,
08:39another furry species is on the prowl, but not for plants.
08:44In the north of Portugal, an old and quiet river is the home of one of the greatest hunters of
08:50Iberia.
08:52Otters are excellent swimmers.
08:59They hunt many different prey, but fish is their favorite.
09:02They hunt many different prey, but they hunt many different prey, but they hunt many different prey.
09:15Otters are perfectly adapted to life under water.
09:25He starts by checking a submerged tree root for hidden fish.
09:35But the fish sense the danger and flee.
09:40Back up for a gulp of air, and then he's back down below the surface, determined to catch a fish.
09:46Otters glide effortlessly underwater and can hold their breath for up to eight minutes,
09:52making them able masters of this river.
09:58Coming up, this species seduces with sparkles, but it's a deadly sticky trap.
10:05Plus, if you see a group of these go by, it could mean good luck.
10:10And he's built a rocky nest, but is it good enough for her approval?
10:16An underwater survival story, when Earth Odyssey returns.
10:24We'll be right back to The More You Know on NBC.
10:30We now return to The More You Know on NBC.
10:45A tiny but specialized species is famous for one of nature's ultimate deceptions.
10:51In our next story, what looks like a hummingbird searching for nectar turns out to be a real surprise.
11:03The northern mountains of Portugal.
11:10The ponds and small lakes that exist here are a treat for wildlife.
11:20At this altitude, insects have to take advantage of summer's flowering plants.
11:26Once the mountain temperature drops, the insects must migrate or free.
11:41After reaching adulthood, most insects have only a few weeks to reproduce.
11:46In all this hurry, there is truly the need for speed.
11:50Some plants and animals take forms and behaviors that we don't usually associate them with.
11:56This is the case of the hummingbird, Hawk Moth.
11:59Their shape and behavior perfectly resemble a hummingbird.
12:04It's a remarkable case of convergent evolution.
12:08Different branches, same solution.
12:29The moths can flap their wings up to 85 times per second.
12:36They are sugar-powered machines.
12:46Much like the moth, this plant has some unexpected features.
12:53Its leaves are covered with tentacles, whose tips look like drops of dew.
13:00These drops give the plants its name, the sundew.
13:06Its smell and appearance are irresistible for many insects.
13:11But its surface is extremely sticky and becomes a death trap.
13:16Insects, attracted by the promise of nectar, are stuck, unable to break free.
13:27As time passes, the sundew tightens its grip.
13:31Then the plants' digestive enzymes turn the insect into a nutrient-rich meal.
13:40Without this carnivorous diet, the sundews would not survive on these poor, rocky mountain soils.
13:53Small rivers and their surrounding vegetation form the perfect habitats for many species of bird.
14:01They are perfect sites for breeding, as water and food are readily available.
14:10Spring has arrived.
14:14This is a black kite's nest.
14:21Kites are migratory birds.
14:24They spend the winter in Africa and migrate to Europe during spring and summer to nest.
14:32The Iberian Peninsula is home to the largest black kite colony in Europe.
14:40To feed her chick, this mother must travel great distances.
14:50They spend a lot of time gliding using hot air currents while cruising the landscape in search of food.
14:57But one thing's for sure, this mom will do everything she can to bring up supper for her chick.
15:06Coming up, this ancient fish species is returning home once again.
15:12Incredible journey when Earth Odyssey returns.
15:19We'll be right back to The More You Know on NBC.
15:25We now return to The More You Know on NBC.
15:42When we think of fish swimming upstream, the mighty salmon is top of mind.
15:49But they aren't the only fish who return from the ocean to their birthplace to spawn.
15:54This river makes up one of the many natural borders between Portugal and Spain.
16:00It begins in Spain and runs through the Atlantic Ocean.
16:05And it is in these waters that we can find one of the most fascinating river creatures.
16:11The lamprey.
16:15This one is nearing the end of his days.
16:17This one is nearing the end of his days.
16:18His body is a testimony to the exhausting odyssey he recently undertook.
16:28Like salmon, the lamprey is a migratory species.
16:32He was born in fresh water.
16:36While he was still a larva, he fed on debris and plankton on the riverbed.
16:41But after a few years, he underwent a metamorphosis and migrated to the sea.
16:52Now, a year later, this jawless fish has returned to the river with a single and ultimate goal, to spawn.
17:01Remarkably, he's building a nest on the riverbed using stones and sand.
17:08He removes the unwanted pebbles one by one.
17:14Everything has to be perfect, or it will all be for nothing.
17:21The construction of the nest is tiring.
17:28After returning to this river, the male has stopped eating.
17:35He now lives exclusively on his fat reserves.
17:41It's a race against time.
17:46He must find a mate.
17:53At last, his carefully built nest has been approved, and a female comes closer.
18:20It's a last dance, a rite of spring.
18:25The female releases the eggs over the nest, and the male fertilizes them right away.
18:33The next generation will be born here.
18:39This individual lamprey's cycle of life is complete.
18:46But its species' 360 million-year history will live on with the river.
18:56After centuries under threat, Iberian animals like wolves,
19:00lynx, and even rabbits are slowly making a comeback.
19:04I'm Dylan Dreyer.
19:05Thanks for coming along on our Alpine adventures in Spain and Portugal.
19:09We'll see you next time on Earth Odyssey.
19:57Transcription by CastingWords
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