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Narrator:
Ever wondered why a raccoon
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00:00:03,371 --> 00:00:05,671
Might scale
a 25-story skyscraper?
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00:00:05,673 --> 00:00:08,741
This is an extraordinary feat
for any animal.
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00:00:08,743 --> 00:00:11,210
Narrator: Or why a duck would
have a supersized flock?
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00:00:11,212 --> 00:00:15,614
76 babies, one mom.
Something weird is happening.
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00:00:15,616 --> 00:00:17,983
Narrator: And why one species
would feed another.
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00:00:17,985 --> 00:00:20,819
What could possibly induce
a black-headed cardinal
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00:00:20,821 --> 00:00:23,088
To feed the hungry mouth
of a goldfish?
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00:00:25,393 --> 00:00:28,560
Narrator: Nature
is awe-inspiring,
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00:00:28,562 --> 00:00:30,896
But sometimes it just
doesn't make sense.
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00:00:30,898 --> 00:00:33,866
Man: I have never,
ever seen anything like this.
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Strange animal behavior,
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Unexpected events...
Whoa!
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...Captured on camera.
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[ animals screeching ]
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The truth behind them
is astonishing.
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Woman: My god!
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Nature's greatest mysteries
solved.
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-- Captions by vitac --
www.Vitac.Com
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Captions paid for by
discovery communications
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Narrator: St. Paul, minnesota,
June 12, 2018.
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Like a scene from "spider-man,"
city workers gasp in awe
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As our hero begins to scale
a 25-story skyscraper.
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00:01:03,964 --> 00:01:06,498
But this superhero
is a raccoon.
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As she climbs higher and higher,
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It becomes the biggest
animal story of the year.
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Woman: He's right here.
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Burke: It seemed like it was
doing the impossible --
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Clinging on this sheer
vertical face.
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Everyone watched this with
their hearts in their mouths.
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I'm going to have
a heart attack.
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I'm going to have
a heart attack.
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Cooke: Our raccoon isn't
the slightest bit fazed
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By this epic climb.
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In between bouts of clambering
up the building,
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She'll even take a nap
on a window ledge,
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Much to the delight
of the office workers.
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The raccoon's here
at the ledge.
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So this climb doesn't
faze her at all.
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Man: Oh! Is she gonna
take a break?
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Woman: Take a break.
Take a breather.
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This is a very, very, very
tall building,
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Which is a very,
very, very long climb.
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Narrator:
So long that she takes 12 hours
to get to the 16th floor.
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During that time,
word of the raccoon's climb
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Spreads like wildfire.
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It became an internet sensation
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Because this is an extraordinary
feat for any animal.
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Narrator:
Fans name the raccoon rocket.
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She soon has her own
twitter account.
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The story goes viral.
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♪
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But rocket's not the only
thrill-seeker out there.
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In the same year,
this raccoon scaled
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All the way up this crane.
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There's anecdotal and recorded
evidence of raccoons
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Climbing skyscrapers,
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Residences, power poles
in increasing numbers.
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Narrator: As a result of this
adventurous behavior,
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Some people call raccoons
nature's ninjas.
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This guy decided he didn't like
the climb and jumped.
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[ crowd gasping ]
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Luckily, the sand landing
allowed him to escape unscathed.
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00:02:46,167 --> 00:02:50,502
In fact, raccoons can survive
falls of up to 130 feet.
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Woman: Oh, my god.
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But at 300 feet,
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Rocket needs to hold on tight.
Man: Come on, buddy.
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Woman:
You can do it, rocket!
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♪
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How do these critters get to
such spectacular heights
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To begin with?
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To find out, we enlisted
the help of raccoon expert
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Suzanne macdonald,
who lives in toronto,
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One of the most raccoon-infested
cities in the world.
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Raccoons are capable of
climbing pretty much anything.
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So they can climb trees.
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They can also climb
metal structures.
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They can climb the sides
of houses,
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Anywhere they can
get purchase on it,
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They can grasp onto things
that others species can't.
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Man: No, no, no.
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Cooke: So raccoons have
very strong limbs
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And extremely dexterous hands
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That are not dissimilar
to our own.
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They don't have opposable
thumbs like we do,
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But they do have
very long fingers.
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♪
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[ laughter ]
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Narrator: And these long fingers
allow them to take on
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What seems
like the impossible.
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Cooke: That skyscraper may look
smooth to us,
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00:04:03,844 --> 00:04:06,111
But it's actually got
a pebbly surface,
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00:04:06,113 --> 00:04:10,315
Which is just enough
for a raccoon to grip onto.
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Woman:
Oh, hi, baby.
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Narrator: And raccoons have
another extraordinary skill
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That makes them
fearless climbers.
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Raccoons are quite unusual
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Because they have the ability
to come down headfirst.
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Cats don't.
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That's why we always see cats
stuck up trees.
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Narrator: Now we know how
our daredevil raccoon
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Was able to scale
the skyscraper.
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The bigger question is, why?
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Woman:
Oh, poor baby.
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Woman: Look at him.
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♪
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Cooke: In the wild, raccoons use
those climbing skills
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In order to climb trees
or even cliffs
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Because they'll build
their dens high up.
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So could she be pregnant,
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And therefore,
trying to find
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The safest possible location
to raise her young?
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♪
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00:05:04,471 --> 00:05:09,107
Raccoons normally give birth
in spring, and this was June.
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So she couldn't have
been pregnant,
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But maybe she was
climbing the building
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To check on her
existing kits.
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♪
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Narrator:
Well, our raccoon-ologist
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Has doubts over rocket's
maternal motives.
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Macdonald:
I could tell immediately
she wasn't a nursing mom.
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I was following this
obsessively on social media.
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I did watch when she was
in the windowsill,
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And she was curled up,
and I could tell immediately
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'cause it is pretty obvious,
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So I don't think
she had babies to support.
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♪
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00:05:44,478 --> 00:05:47,612
Narrator: Was this raccoon
simply heading home?
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Greive: Urban raccoons have
up to a dozen dens
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Scattered around
three city blocks.
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Could it have just
established a den
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00:05:59,960 --> 00:06:02,594
Atop of this high-rise building?
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00:06:02,596 --> 00:06:05,831
Raccoons will make their dens
in basically anything
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00:06:05,833 --> 00:06:09,534
They can squeeze
their bodies into.
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00:06:09,536 --> 00:06:12,170
They've been known to make
their dens in barns,
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00:06:12,172 --> 00:06:14,039
Sewers, cars.
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Why not the top of a skyscraper?
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Narrator: But would a raccoon
pick such a difficult location?
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Our expert thinks not.
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Macdonald: No self-respecting
raccoon would find a den site
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At the top
of a 25-story building.
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That is not what raccoons do,
so they need to be much closer
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To the ground
to get down easily.
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00:06:30,791 --> 00:06:35,127
So she must be going up there
for another reason.
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Narrator: Could she be going up
in search of food?
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♪
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Greive:
Keep in mind that when the
raccoon was originally spotted,
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She was on
a neighboring building
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Of just two stories where she
was looking for pigeon eggs.
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Narrator: While rural raccoons
love this high-protein snacks,
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There are much easier pickings
for their city cousins.
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♪
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Cooke:
In urban situations,
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Raccoons tend to stick
to one substance,
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And that is garbage.
[ laughs ]
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They love our trash.
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It provides them with almost
everything that they need
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In one dive.
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[ dog barks ]
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♪
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In fact, their love of garbage
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Has even given them
the nickname trash pandas.
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Macdonald:
Raccoons are omnivores,
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So they like high-fat foods,
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They like high-protein foods,
they can eat anything they find.
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Chinese food, pizza,
any kind of cookies, cake,
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Anything that
we would find delicious,
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They find delicious as well.
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♪
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Greive:
They'll break into houses
through cat flaps.
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They'll come in through cracks
in windows and factories.
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They'll steal snacks
out of dumpsters.
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I don't think there is a more
gifted opportunist
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In the animal kingdom.
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Narrator:
So, could our daredevil raccoon
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Be reaching new heights
in search of a snack?
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Burke: So city raccoons
don't have to work that hard.
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They've got loads more
opportunities for finding food.
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00:08:07,588 --> 00:08:11,289
So it's really unlikely that
this is what's going on here.
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[ woman laughs ]
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Narrator: Rocket wasn't
foraging for food.
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She wasn't going up to look
after her kits,
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And she wasn't
seeking out a new den.
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00:08:19,933 --> 00:08:22,334
So, was she just climbing
for kicks?
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Woman: I'm going to have
a heart attack.
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00:08:24,438 --> 00:08:26,872
[ insects chirping ]
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[ insects chirping ]
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♪
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Narrator: In a baffling
20-hour display of bravery,
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A minnesota raccoon
is free-climbing
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A 25-story building.
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00:08:44,157 --> 00:08:47,025
So, what really drove
this risk-taking raccoon
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00:08:47,027 --> 00:08:49,561
To attempt
such a daring climb?
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The answer is in their dna.
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Scientists now believe that
urban raccoons
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Are evolving rapidly
into a separate subspecies
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00:08:59,606 --> 00:09:02,007
As a direct result
of their exposure
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00:09:02,009 --> 00:09:04,543
To an extraordinary array
of problems and stimulus
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00:09:04,545 --> 00:09:07,245
That they would never
have in the wild
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00:09:07,247 --> 00:09:10,582
Until, finally, they're quite
a different animal
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00:09:10,584 --> 00:09:12,217
To the original raccoon.
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00:09:15,222 --> 00:09:17,289
Narrator: Case in point --
this guy,
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00:09:17,291 --> 00:09:19,824
Who takes on a raccoon-proof
bird feeder
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00:09:19,826 --> 00:09:22,761
With stunt man skills.
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00:09:22,763 --> 00:09:25,630
Man: Oh, keep going.
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00:09:25,632 --> 00:09:29,234
[ laughs ]
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00:09:29,236 --> 00:09:32,637
I want to see if he actually
can pull it off.
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00:09:32,639 --> 00:09:34,973
Man: He does!
He does it all the time.
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00:09:34,975 --> 00:09:36,141
Look at him.
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00:09:36,143 --> 00:09:39,477
He's unscrewing it.
He's unscrewing it.
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00:09:39,479 --> 00:09:40,779
Oh, my god.
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00:09:40,781 --> 00:09:43,315
He's unscrewing it
with his bottom legs.
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00:09:43,317 --> 00:09:44,916
There it is.
There it goes.
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00:09:44,918 --> 00:09:47,285
[ laughs ]
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00:09:47,287 --> 00:09:49,287
What a genius.
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00:09:50,424 --> 00:09:52,223
♪
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00:09:52,225 --> 00:09:54,826
Narrator: And according to
expert suzanne macdonald,
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00:09:54,828 --> 00:09:56,561
This new raccoon super species
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00:09:56,563 --> 00:10:00,832
Has a trait that makes them
take on the impossible.
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00:10:00,834 --> 00:10:03,602
Most animals are what
we call neophobic,
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00:10:03,604 --> 00:10:06,538
Which means that when they see
new things, they're afraid.
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00:10:06,540 --> 00:10:08,673
Urban raccoons
are the exact opposite.
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00:10:08,675 --> 00:10:11,977
They are neophilic, which means
they like new things.
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00:10:11,979 --> 00:10:16,681
When they see a new thing, they
go to it, and they explore it.
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00:10:16,683 --> 00:10:20,785
Cooke: Neophilia means that they
are very happy taking risks,
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00:10:20,787 --> 00:10:22,554
And this has enabled them
to adapt
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00:10:22,556 --> 00:10:26,558
Fantastically to
an urban landscape.
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00:10:26,560 --> 00:10:28,226
Woman: I'm sorry.
I'm just curious.
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00:10:28,228 --> 00:10:30,462
Narrator: Experts suspect
a craving for novelty
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00:10:30,464 --> 00:10:33,965
Is why rocket took on
this 25-story challenge.
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00:10:33,967 --> 00:10:37,068
Her neophilia meant
she simply couldn't quit.
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00:10:37,070 --> 00:10:38,837
Macdonald: I think in her
little raccoon brain,
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00:10:38,839 --> 00:10:42,440
She just thought,
"I just gotta keep going."
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00:10:42,442 --> 00:10:45,577
She was committed
to just getting to the top.
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00:10:45,579 --> 00:10:48,980
Narrator: And finally,
at 2:57 a.M., she gets there.
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00:10:48,982 --> 00:10:51,716
Thankfully, she doesn't
have to climb back down.
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00:10:51,718 --> 00:10:54,419
Once you had reached
the summit of this skyscraper
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00:10:54,421 --> 00:10:57,055
After 20 exhausting hours,
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00:10:57,057 --> 00:11:00,525
She was immediately taken into
custody by animal control,
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00:11:00,527 --> 00:11:05,296
And she was relocated to
a far less perilous habitat.
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00:11:05,298 --> 00:11:07,999
Macdonald:
I was so happy to find out that
she made it to the top okay.
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00:11:08,001 --> 00:11:11,269
I am on team raccoon,
that's for sure.
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00:11:11,271 --> 00:11:12,904
Greive:
One of a raccoon's strengths
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00:11:12,906 --> 00:11:17,742
Is they like to complete
the tasks they set themselves.
245
00:11:17,744 --> 00:11:20,111
Raccoons are really
the special forces
246
00:11:20,113 --> 00:11:22,080
In the animal kingdom.
247
00:11:22,082 --> 00:11:24,582
There's really nothing
they can't do.
248
00:11:24,584 --> 00:11:30,321
♪
249
00:11:30,323 --> 00:11:32,323
Narrator:
Lake bemidgi, minnesota,
250
00:11:32,325 --> 00:11:34,459
July 2018 --
251
00:11:34,461 --> 00:11:38,029
A female duck is seen leading
her brood across the water,
252
00:11:38,031 --> 00:11:40,165
But something strange
is going on.
253
00:11:40,167 --> 00:11:43,501
This duck is being followed
by almost 80 chicks.
254
00:11:43,503 --> 00:11:46,104
Schreiber:
76 baby ducks, chicks.
255
00:11:46,106 --> 00:11:48,540
That shouldn't happen.
That's too many ducks.
256
00:11:48,542 --> 00:11:51,276
♪
257
00:11:51,278 --> 00:11:54,946
Narrator: So, is this the mother
of all ducklings?
258
00:11:54,948 --> 00:11:57,282
Something weird
is happening here.
259
00:11:57,284 --> 00:11:59,784
Burke:
This is absolutely crazy.
260
00:11:59,786 --> 00:12:02,620
I mean, she must be
exhausted.
261
00:12:02,622 --> 00:12:05,523
So, the obviously question
is, are they hers?
262
00:12:05,525 --> 00:12:07,892
♪
263
00:12:07,894 --> 00:12:11,629
Narrator: Did duck supermom
lay 76 eggs?
264
00:12:11,631 --> 00:12:13,264
Other species are certainly
capable
265
00:12:13,266 --> 00:12:17,035
Of some pretty
plentiful parenting.
266
00:12:17,037 --> 00:12:20,572
There are some really
prolific examples of spawners
267
00:12:20,574 --> 00:12:21,840
In the animal world.
268
00:12:21,842 --> 00:12:23,842
Army ants,
the queen is known to lay
269
00:12:23,844 --> 00:12:27,712
Between 3 and 4 million eggs
in her lifetime.
270
00:12:27,714 --> 00:12:30,215
Narrator: One of the few
animal daddies to give birth
271
00:12:30,217 --> 00:12:33,151
Is also a profuse procreator.
272
00:12:33,153 --> 00:12:34,552
Burke:
Seahorses are amazing.
273
00:12:34,554 --> 00:12:36,521
I mean, they will give birth
to live young,
274
00:12:36,523 --> 00:12:40,258
And they give birth
to up to 2,000 seahorses.
275
00:12:40,260 --> 00:12:43,862
And in this case, it's the male
doing all the work.
276
00:12:43,864 --> 00:12:47,198
So with all these incredible
examples of egg layers
277
00:12:47,200 --> 00:12:48,900
And spawners
in the natural world,
278
00:12:48,902 --> 00:12:52,170
Is it possible that this species
and this particular female
279
00:12:52,172 --> 00:12:56,141
Is basically a super egg layer?
280
00:12:56,143 --> 00:12:58,543
Narrator: But the merganser
duck's rate of reproduction
281
00:12:58,545 --> 00:13:00,478
Doesn't fit the bill.
282
00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:05,216
The merganser species only have
6 to 12 eggs per clutch.
283
00:13:05,218 --> 00:13:07,986
So where have all these
extra ducks come from?
284
00:13:07,988 --> 00:13:10,789
♪
285
00:13:10,791 --> 00:13:13,691
Narrator: If the chicks weren't
all laid by one mom,
286
00:13:13,693 --> 00:13:15,827
Could another bird
be responsible?
287
00:13:17,931 --> 00:13:20,398
So there's a trick
that some birds do to each other
288
00:13:20,400 --> 00:13:21,866
That might be behind this.
289
00:13:21,868 --> 00:13:25,003
And that is, when they lay
their eggs in each other's nests
290
00:13:25,005 --> 00:13:29,274
And trick other moms
into raising their babies.
291
00:13:29,276 --> 00:13:33,678
Narrator:
The most notorious perpetrator
of this con job -- the cuckoo.
292
00:13:33,680 --> 00:13:37,148
Burke:
So the cuckoo will actually lay
its eggs in other birds' nests
293
00:13:37,150 --> 00:13:40,618
And force those parents
to raise its young.
294
00:13:40,620 --> 00:13:43,822
But there's more to the story.
295
00:13:43,824 --> 00:13:47,292
What's really amazing is,
when a chick first emerges,
296
00:13:47,294 --> 00:13:51,496
It starts turfing out
the eggs of the host.
297
00:13:51,498 --> 00:13:53,097
It's quite creepy, actually.
298
00:13:53,099 --> 00:14:00,505
♪
299
00:14:00,507 --> 00:14:03,041
Narrator: By getting rid
of any potential rivals,
300
00:14:03,043 --> 00:14:05,977
Baby cuckoos are
almost certain to thrive.
301
00:14:05,979 --> 00:14:08,046
They can even end up being fed
by parents
302
00:14:08,048 --> 00:14:10,315
Who are much smaller
than they are.
303
00:14:10,317 --> 00:14:13,618
That's because most birds
don't recognize their own young
304
00:14:13,620 --> 00:14:18,489
Or their own eggs from others,
and ducks are no exception.
305
00:14:18,491 --> 00:14:21,226
50% of the duck nests
in north america
306
00:14:21,228 --> 00:14:25,530
Contain the eggs
of another duck species.
307
00:14:25,532 --> 00:14:29,767
And the biggest swindler
among them -- the redhead.
308
00:14:29,769 --> 00:14:31,302
Burke: This is a really
interesting strategy
309
00:14:31,304 --> 00:14:34,505
Because what the redhead
does here is she sizes up
310
00:14:34,507 --> 00:14:38,509
How well the other females
might be raising their young,
311
00:14:38,511 --> 00:14:40,778
And if she thinks they're gonna
do a better job than her,
312
00:14:40,780 --> 00:14:44,349
She'll lay her eggs
in another duck's nest.
313
00:14:44,351 --> 00:14:47,385
Narrator: So, has duck supermom
been duped into incubating
314
00:14:47,387 --> 00:14:50,321
Another bird's eggs?
315
00:14:50,323 --> 00:14:51,956
She'd have to be a ginormous
mother duck
316
00:14:51,958 --> 00:14:55,093
Because 76 eggs is far
too many eggs for one duck
317
00:14:55,095 --> 00:15:00,098
To be sitting completely over,
so no, not possible.
318
00:15:00,100 --> 00:15:02,667
Narrator: But just because
she didn't incubate the eggs
319
00:15:02,669 --> 00:15:05,169
Doesn't mean
she isn't raising the chicks.
320
00:15:05,171 --> 00:15:08,239
So, could supermom
be running a crèche?
321
00:15:10,477 --> 00:15:12,577
Crèche is french for nursery.
322
00:15:12,579 --> 00:15:14,913
This means a few adults
will take on the care
323
00:15:14,915 --> 00:15:18,449
Of a number of baby birds
that don't all belong to them.
324
00:15:18,451 --> 00:15:20,985
So, an animal crèche
is a really clever way
325
00:15:20,987 --> 00:15:23,855
Of sharing the work
of raising young.
326
00:15:23,857 --> 00:15:26,424
Flamingos do it,
ostriches do it.
327
00:15:26,426 --> 00:15:28,326
So do penguins.
328
00:15:28,328 --> 00:15:31,930
So is this what's happening here
with our merganser duck?
329
00:15:31,932 --> 00:15:33,998
Riskin: 76 birds?
330
00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:35,433
I don't think so.
That's not a crèche.
331
00:15:35,435 --> 00:15:37,168
Besides which,
there's only one mom there.
332
00:15:37,170 --> 00:15:39,704
The whole idea with a crèche is,
all the moms are sharing it.
333
00:15:39,706 --> 00:15:44,142
All of those babies,
they're all with one bird.
334
00:15:44,144 --> 00:15:46,344
I think the key to this one
is you gotta stop
335
00:15:46,346 --> 00:15:48,846
Thinking about the mom, and you
gotta think about the babies.
336
00:15:48,848 --> 00:15:50,048
[ chirping ]
337
00:15:50,050 --> 00:15:52,350
♪
338
00:15:58,959 --> 00:16:00,658
[ insects chirping ]
339
00:16:00,660 --> 00:16:03,261
Narrator:
In lake bemidgi, minnesota,
340
00:16:03,263 --> 00:16:06,798
Extraordinary footage
is captured of a merganser duck
341
00:16:06,800 --> 00:16:08,800
With 76 ducklings.
342
00:16:08,802 --> 00:16:12,804
How is it possible that one bird
could have so many chicks?
343
00:16:12,806 --> 00:16:17,275
It turns out, the answer lies
in a unique bird phenomenon.
344
00:16:17,277 --> 00:16:20,445
Birds have this neat thing
called imprinting where,
345
00:16:20,447 --> 00:16:21,879
At some point
in their development,
346
00:16:21,881 --> 00:16:24,415
They see something move,
and they decide, that's mom,
347
00:16:24,417 --> 00:16:26,751
And they follow it everywhere.
348
00:16:26,753 --> 00:16:28,119
Schreiber:
Now, that doesn't necessarily
349
00:16:28,121 --> 00:16:29,454
Even need to be a duck.
350
00:16:29,456 --> 00:16:32,557
There's been cases
where it's been a dog.
351
00:16:32,559 --> 00:16:34,559
And they followed the dog
and thought that was their mom
352
00:16:34,561 --> 00:16:35,994
For their whole life.
353
00:16:35,996 --> 00:16:39,330
[ chirping ]
354
00:16:39,332 --> 00:16:42,834
♪
355
00:16:42,836 --> 00:16:46,304
Narrator: And on lake bemidgi,
an unusually long winter
356
00:16:46,306 --> 00:16:47,872
Meant that the chicks'
real parents
357
00:16:47,874 --> 00:16:50,174
Laid their eggs later
than usual.
358
00:16:50,176 --> 00:16:51,542
The chicks had only just hatched
359
00:16:51,544 --> 00:16:54,012
When it was time
for the adults to migrate.
360
00:16:54,014 --> 00:16:56,514
♪
361
00:16:56,516 --> 00:16:58,082
With their parents gone,
362
00:16:58,084 --> 00:17:02,353
The chicks then imprinted
on the only remaining female.
363
00:17:02,355 --> 00:17:04,522
Schreiber:
One duck was wandering along,
364
00:17:04,524 --> 00:17:06,924
And all these newly
hatched chicks saw her,
365
00:17:06,926 --> 00:17:10,795
Thought she was the mum,
and she became their supermom.
366
00:17:10,797 --> 00:17:14,098
So all these chicks have
imprinted onto the one female
367
00:17:14,100 --> 00:17:17,068
And now see her as mom,
and vice versa.
368
00:17:17,070 --> 00:17:19,937
The female doesn't really
distinguish once she's
369
00:17:19,939 --> 00:17:22,874
Bonded with the chicks
between her own chicks
370
00:17:22,876 --> 00:17:25,710
And the chicks
of another bird.
371
00:17:25,712 --> 00:17:26,944
It's quite amazing.
372
00:17:26,946 --> 00:17:30,415
♪
373
00:17:30,417 --> 00:17:32,450
[ insects chirping ]
374
00:17:34,354 --> 00:17:35,987
♪
375
00:17:35,989 --> 00:17:38,923
Narrator: 2010,
carthage, illinois --
376
00:17:38,925 --> 00:17:42,593
Extraordinary footage surfaces
showing a bird feeding seeds
377
00:17:42,595 --> 00:17:44,462
To some hungry fish.
378
00:17:44,464 --> 00:17:46,230
Schreiber: We see
a black-headed cardinal
379
00:17:46,232 --> 00:17:48,833
Walk to the edge of
the little pond,
380
00:17:48,835 --> 00:17:51,969
And suddenly, a group
of goldfish start coming up,
381
00:17:51,971 --> 00:17:55,673
And the cardinal
is feeding the goldfish.
382
00:17:55,675 --> 00:17:58,709
The birds returned six times
in a single day
383
00:17:58,711 --> 00:18:00,711
To feed those goldfish.
384
00:18:00,713 --> 00:18:02,847
Greive: Quite baffling to see
this behavior.
385
00:18:02,849 --> 00:18:06,117
What could possibly induce
a black-headed cardinal
386
00:18:06,119 --> 00:18:11,622
To feed the hungry mouth
of a goldfish?
387
00:18:11,624 --> 00:18:13,391
Narrator: The obvious answer
is that the bird
388
00:18:13,393 --> 00:18:15,393
Is getting something in return.
389
00:18:15,395 --> 00:18:19,430
It's called mutual symbiosis.
390
00:18:19,432 --> 00:18:22,667
This is when two unlikely
animal species pair up
391
00:18:22,669 --> 00:18:24,569
To help each other.
392
00:18:24,571 --> 00:18:26,804
Schreiber:
A symbiotic relationship
is where two animals
393
00:18:26,806 --> 00:18:29,941
Who definitely should not be
hanging out with each other do,
394
00:18:29,943 --> 00:18:31,876
And they work together.
395
00:18:31,878 --> 00:18:34,912
Not unlike what we see
with clownfish protecting
396
00:18:34,914 --> 00:18:38,749
And in turn being protected
by sea anemones.
397
00:18:38,751 --> 00:18:41,419
Or, for example, oxpecker birds
398
00:18:41,421 --> 00:18:45,756
Taking the parasites
from the backs of rhino.
399
00:18:45,758 --> 00:18:49,293
Narrator:
But there's a problem with
the mutual symbiosis theory.
400
00:18:49,295 --> 00:18:52,730
The bird gets nothing from this,
and so by definition,
401
00:18:52,732 --> 00:18:54,932
It's not symbiosis.
402
00:18:54,934 --> 00:18:58,269
Schreiber:
But something is clearly
attracting the cardinal.
403
00:18:58,271 --> 00:19:00,238
I think there's actually
a clue here when you look
404
00:19:00,240 --> 00:19:03,307
At the gaping mouth
of the goldfish as they come up.
405
00:19:03,309 --> 00:19:07,411
♪
406
00:19:13,987 --> 00:19:16,320
[ insects chirping ]
407
00:19:16,322 --> 00:19:19,157
Narrator: In carthage, illinois,
extraordinary footage
408
00:19:19,159 --> 00:19:22,693
Is captured of a bird
feeding fish in a pond.
409
00:19:22,695 --> 00:19:24,428
We've ruled out symbiosis,
410
00:19:24,430 --> 00:19:27,798
Where animals work together
for mutual gain.
411
00:19:27,800 --> 00:19:30,902
So, why is the bird doing it?
412
00:19:30,904 --> 00:19:33,371
Greive:
Could the bird be fishing?
413
00:19:33,373 --> 00:19:38,442
Offering these morsels to lure
in a fish that it could eat?
414
00:19:38,444 --> 00:19:40,845
Narrator: This theory is
supported by this heron,
415
00:19:40,847 --> 00:19:43,781
Who knows exactly how
to angle for a meal.
416
00:19:43,783 --> 00:19:45,416
Schreiber: They come to the edge
of a water
417
00:19:45,418 --> 00:19:48,619
And just put bread
into the surface area of it
418
00:19:48,621 --> 00:19:50,421
And bring up the fish
to the top.
419
00:19:50,423 --> 00:19:52,790
And then when they come,
will start attacking the fish
420
00:19:52,792 --> 00:19:55,159
And eating them.
421
00:19:55,161 --> 00:19:57,261
Narrator:
A cunning hunting tactic.
422
00:19:57,263 --> 00:19:59,063
But hold on a second.
423
00:19:59,065 --> 00:20:02,567
Greive:
These fish are far too large
for a bird of that size to eat,
424
00:20:02,569 --> 00:20:04,235
Even if it had
the appetite for them,
425
00:20:04,237 --> 00:20:05,903
Which this species
of bird does not.
426
00:20:05,905 --> 00:20:07,939
It's a seed-eating passerine.
427
00:20:07,941 --> 00:20:10,408
It has no interest
in fish and chips.
428
00:20:10,410 --> 00:20:12,343
Narrator: In fact,
it's the shape and color
429
00:20:12,345 --> 00:20:13,844
Of the fishes' mouths
430
00:20:13,846 --> 00:20:16,747
That's sending the cardinal
an irresistible signal.
431
00:20:16,749 --> 00:20:19,884
♪
432
00:20:19,886 --> 00:20:22,620
A gaping mouth does look
very similar to the gaping mouth
433
00:20:22,622 --> 00:20:26,624
Of a young cardinal chick
who's hungry and needs food.
434
00:20:26,626 --> 00:20:29,560
Narrator: So it looks like this
bird has confused the goldfish
435
00:20:29,562 --> 00:20:30,928
For its own chicks
436
00:20:30,930 --> 00:20:33,497
And is just doing the job
of being a parent --
437
00:20:33,499 --> 00:20:35,166
Feeding its young.
438
00:20:35,168 --> 00:20:37,068
Greive: Which brings us
to the conclusion
439
00:20:37,070 --> 00:20:39,604
That this particular
black-headed cardinal
440
00:20:39,606 --> 00:20:42,673
Just has too much maternal love
in its bosom,
441
00:20:42,675 --> 00:20:44,442
And it wants to look after
these little fish
442
00:20:44,444 --> 00:20:46,410
As if they were its own.
443
00:20:46,412 --> 00:20:50,881
I think it's lovely to see this
interspecies affection.
444
00:20:50,883 --> 00:20:53,884
[ insects chirping ]
39220
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