All language subtitles for Lifes.A.Beach.2014.1080p.WEBRip.x264.AAC-[YTS.MX]

(pensive music)

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- [Narrator] Everyone
loves the beach,

Official YIFY movies site:
YTS.MX

sun kissed,

exciting surf,

cute chicks.

To us, it's one
giant playground,

but to wildlife,
it's so much more.

It's a place to
live, to find food,

to raise their young,

sandcastles and fish and chips.

No, the beach is
full of surprises.

(thoughtful music)

A giant, usually at home

roaming the deep oceans of
the world is in the shallows.

She has a special
destination in mind.

(hopeful music)

This is a scene unchanged
for over 200 million years.

It's an epic struggle to
drag a huge, heavy body

perfectly designed for
swimming,
but cumbersome on land.

But the reward will be worth it.

(turtle grunts)

She manages to climb
beyond the tide line,

but now the hard
work really begins.

She's here to
build a sandcastle,

a fortress to guard her legacy

about 100 ping pong
ball sized eggs

(exciting music)

With the clutch laid,
she tenderly covers
the precious nest.

This is what her mother
did and her grandmother,

and all female sea
turtles through the ages.

With the eggs secured,
she'll return to the sea,

knowing that she's left
the next generation

with the best possible
chance for survival,

a place that offers ideal
temperatures, humidity,

and proximity to the sea.

The success of all sea turtles
depends on this one thing:

The beach.

(waves crashing gently)

(upbeat music)

The first thought the
word conjures for us

is of summer vacations.

Sand castles, volleyball,

crunchy sandwiches,

donkey rides,

and ice cream.

(jazzy music)

Beaches first started
drawing summer visitors

back in the 1700s.

It was the birthplace
of tourism.

During the 1800s, beach
side resorts sprung up

and became places
where city folk

could escape the hustle and
bustle, relax and have fun.

Most of us see beaches
as giant playgrounds.

It's easy to forget that
they are also vital habitats,

homes to myriads of animals.

(playful music)

In Iceland, Arctic
foxes scavenge,

never knowing what treats
the sea might wash up.

Australia's tropical beaches,

when not covered
in sun worshipers,

are patrolled by cassowaries,

using the sand as a place
to hang out and hookup.

And there's plenty
of monkey business

on the warmer beaches in Japan.

And apart from their
importance to animals,

features are landscapes
that influence weather,

erosion and water quality.

We need beaches for
more than just R&R.

And so do many other species.

(thoughtful music)

When we think of beaches,
we picture summer sun.

But it's in winter when
the crowds have gone,

that it's easiest to see
its important to nature.

(wind howling)

Though storm battered
and ice blasted,

the beaches of the North
Atlantic are once again

witnessing the start of life.

Gray seals have a rude arrival.

(bright chiming)

Born into a windswept winter,

the wind helps dry the wet fur.

(pensive music)

Once they're fluffy and white,

the downy fur protects
them from the cold.

But their real winter warmer
is a thick layer of blubber.

(seals calling)

Their body wraps
of fat are fueled

by their mother's rich milk.

Cow's milk is about 3% fat.

The seal's milkshake
diet is 50% fat.

The pups will gain two
kilos in just three weeks.

That's calorie loading.

Most of us try to lose weight

to have the perfect beach body.

Seals do the opposite.

And they're not the only ones.

(thoughtful music)

Winter beaches the
world over attract birds

and not just a few,
but vast flocks.

(birds squawking)

Wild fowl and waders leave
their breeding grounds

in the polar regions to
find shelter over winter.

(mystical music)

Many waders weigh
less than a golf ball,

but that doesn't stop them
from being world travelers.

Some fly more than 10,000
kilometers nonstop.

Journeys can be as far
as New Zealands to Alaska

with perhaps a quick
break on the beach.

Some just use the beaches
as fueling stations

and places to rest.

For others, this is
their winter residence,

and it's all because of the
abundant life at the beach.

(mystical music)

Winter beach might appear
desolate, but don't be
fooled.

Every meter of sand might
host millions of animals.

It's just that most of
them are out of sight.

Worms,

crustaceans,

and tiny shell fish
live under the sand.

Some are so tiny that they
can even inhabit the spaces

between grains of sand.

They might not look
very impressive,

but these tiny creatures

are some of the
toughest on the planet.

For while we might
think of the beach

as a place to relax and to play,

for wildlife, it's one
of the hardest places

to make a living.

Several times a day
their home is flooded

by the incoming tide.

They have to cope
with the deluge,

salt water,

and the turbulence of the waves.

(chomping)

And when the sea retreats

and they're left high and dry

at risk of desiccation

it's a tough life.

But for those who master
it, the rewards are rich.

Every tide washes in
a soup of nutrients,

The animals are literally
swimming in food.

And living a life
buried in the sand

offers protection
from most predators.

But not all.

Wading birds have developed
huge variations in beak length

and shape to probe into the mud.

Shorter beaked species
pick over the surface.

But others have long beaks,

godwits and striking
oyster catches

have sword-like snouts for
probing deep into the sand.

On Australian beaches the
birds could be a lot bigger

Pelicans drop in to feed.

(thoughtful music)

Swimming in a row and using
their throat pouches like
nets.

They can drive fish
into each other's beaks.

And while they are not
feeding on the beach itself,

once they've eaten the
sandbags offer a perfect place

to dry off and
preen their plumage,

displacing the cormorants
already trying to do the same.

(birds squawking)

Beaches provide the birds
with rich pickings year round,

and especially while they
try to weather the winter.

(dramatic music)

(waves crashing)

At this time of year, the
sea is at its most turbulent.

Huge storms whip up giant
waves that pound the beach.

It's a landscape for
only the brain...

or foolhardy.

Beaches are in constant flux.

(playfully suspenseful music)

During the summer,
waves constantly lap
gently at the shore.

(waves crashing)

And as they do, they
carry sand off the beach

and dump it into
the deeper water.

As their erosion action
eats into sandbanks,

it creates mini cliffs,

the ideal place for
sand martins to nest.

(happy music)

These sparrow sized birds fly
from Africa to Europe to nest

using their tiny legs
to dig into the sand.

The steep soft substrate
makes their colonies

almost impenetrable
to would be predators.

But they are only temporary.

Over winter, the cliffs
will be washed away.

And the next season, the
martins
will have to start again.

The constant eroding sand
is washed off the beach,

gradually forming sandbars.

(pensive music)

Now those bars protect
the beach itself.

Some of the potentially
devastating force of the waves

is absorbed by the sand bars
before it hits the beach.

In this way, beaches
protect the coastline

and human developments by
taking the brunt of storms

and through their sand,
absorbing the eroding waves.

Nonetheless, the action of
waves and wind over the winter

will gradually shift
sand back up the beach

piling it high in
mounds, called dunes

that can even engulf buildings.

These are mountains
of sand on the move.

Though many are gradually
locked into place

by the roots of plants,

only coastal specialists
can tolerate the dunes.

They have to cope
with strong winds,

salt and water that sinks
quickly through the dunes

and out of reach.

Grasses like marram are
especially important.

As sand is piled on top, the
grass keeps pushing through,

increasing the
height of the dune

and cementing it in place
with a network of roots.

(thoughtful music)

Over time, the stabilized
ground can be colonized

by other species

and gradually
transforms to heathland.

Within dune systems,
damp depressions
might harbor orchids,

unusual insets and rare
reptiles and amphibians

and eventually even creatures
usually found further inland.

The dunes are a natural sea
defense, protecting the land

from the forces of the sea

and sheltering the
creatures at the beach.

The banks of sand and nurseries

where the gray seal
pups can hang out.

Though they're only
a few weeks old,

the comfortable life
of sitting around

drinking milk is over.

Their mothers have a new agenda.

It's time for them
to mate again.

Getting pregnant now
to deliver next winter.

Huge bull seals come ashore.

At around 300 kilos they're
1/3 bigger than the mothers.

Each lays claim to
a stretch of beach.

The better one's
waterfront property,

the more appealing it
will be to females.

The bull's aim is to
round up as many mates

onto their patch of
beach as they can.

(dramatic music)

(seals roaring)

Of course, when the
stakes are so high,

when the results
make the difference

between getting sex
or not getting sex,

a good bit of beaches
worth fighting for.

The bulls tear at each
other's thick throats

with canine teeth that
would make a lion jealous.

Often, it doesn't take
long for a smaller male

to realize it's up
against a loaded bull.

Sensible males will retreat
before getting hurt.

But when the big boys clash,
the fights can be savage.

The bulls rival lions
with their big skull,

long canines and powerful bites.

(dramatic music)

(howling)

The overthrown,
torn apart by war,

will have to stand aside as
the victors claim their
prize.

Mating can happen on the beach,

but it's usually more
successful when the bulky
bodies

are supported by the waves.

The pups are left high and dry.

Lonely and confused, they begin
to explore and make friends.

They cannot leave the beach
in their white fur coats.

This is baby fur, to keep
them warm on the beach.

It's not very waterproof.

It doesn't stop a few
pups from a paddling.

(playful music)

Curiosity drives
their exploration.

Fortunately they have thick
blubber to keep out the cold.

After about a
month on their own,

they begin a radical change.

Their first molt.

The white down replaced
with shorter, darker,

and more tightly packed hair.

No longer wooly, it's not
such a good wind break,

but it will trap
air when they dive,

helping to keep them warm
during their future life,

most of which would
be spent in the water.

(thoughtful music)

Gradually, both the young seals

and the huge flocks
of wading birds

depart from the beaches

and winter gently
loosens its grip.

Not all of the waders go
and new birds soon arrive

because once again, the
beach is expecting babies.

Beaches are vital for
the breeding success
of many species:

birds, mammals, invertebrates

and fish all need
the rolling sand.

Many like the Caspian terns
will nest nowhere else.

They're not great nest builders,

but on sand, they
don't need to be.

Its surface is covered
with gently sloping,

soft craters that can
support their precious eggs.

And because many species of
fish use the sandy beaches

as places to lay their eggs
or hide in the sandy shallows,

when the terns' chicks hatch,

the parents don't have
to go far to find food.

The few lonely human
visitors to the beach,

willing to brave it
before things warm up

might stumble on signs of
spring along the strand line.

Beachcombers are used to

the chalky white
shells of cuttlefish.

The intelligent
mollusks normally live

in a few hundred
meters of water,

but in spring, move
into the shallows,

close to the beaches to spawn.

(mystical music)

Males, compete over females,

flashing pulses of color
all over their bodies,

hoping to look sexy to the girls

or intimidating to their rivals.

They try to guard the most
appealing egg laying sites:

structures on the seabed that
can be used to anchor eggs.

Once a male has attracted
a female's attention,

he grabs her and he
wrestles her around

until they are
tentacles to tentacles.

He'll use a modified tentacle

to plant a sperm sac into
an opening on her face.

Then he'll stand guard
over her for a few hours

until she's laid her clutch:

dozens of grape-like eggs.

Soon after mating, most
of the adults will die,

their soft bodies
quickly deteriorating.

Only the pen, the white rod

that supported
their flesh if left

and washes onto the beach.

(waves crashing)

The eggs and hatching cuttlefish

are another draw for the birds.

(thoughtful music)

Terns and gulls gather
in huge colonies to nest,

their safety in numbers, more
pairs of eyes to spot danger.

Some of the beach birds
take the opposite approach.

It can be hard to see what's
right under your feet.

Instead of gathering
in big noisy mobs,

they nest discreetly, alone,

hoping no one will spot
their well camouflaged young.

(playful music)

The ringed plover chick
knows to lie motionless

while his parents are away.

(thoughtful music)

Both parents will dash in to
find it, but don't linger.

They don't want
to draw attention.

All of these ground nesting
birds are incredibly
vulnerable

and susceptible to disturbance.

They need to get their chicks
fledged and independent

as soon as possible

because summer is
rapidly approaching

and things are going to
change in the beach community.

(upbeat music)

Hundreds of thousands of people

will head to the
beach in summer.

Each meter will be visited,
trampled, covered in towels

and splashed with suncream.

There isn't much space
left here for wildlife.

Not that we give
much thought to that.

The beach becomes
a giant playground.

(thoughtful music)

Animals still flock,

but only if they can
find a quiet stretch

or the shores of an island

where there's a
chance of some peace.

Deer often visit beaches.

On the wild coasts of
Russia a group of sika deer

are venturing out of the forest.

Their leafy diet is low
in minerals and salts.

But the beach offers
a solution: seaweed.

A delicious treat washed
up daily by the tide,

rich in nutrients.

The deer are nervous
and with good reason,

they are not the
only Beachcombers.

A rare Siberian tiger
has decided to have

a picnic on the beach, a sika
deer its favorite fast food.

Though there are only around
500 Siberian tigers left,

they have a huge range and
can find food in forests,

mountains, or along the coast.

Vultures and ravens watch
him take every bite.

And once he's full,
move in for leftovers.

(thoughtful music)

You never know who might
decide to visit the beach.

On the Pacific Coast of
North America a black bear

is looking for a snack.

And he's got a neat
way of finding it:

flipping rocks.

When the tide goes out,

little creatures must
find safe hiding places,

Though it turns out with a
bear around nowhere is safe.

Using his ingenuity
he can feast on crab.

And on that same Pacific Coast

giants gather to hunt little
crabs and their cousins.

(thoughtful music)

Gray whales spend winter
in the warm waters

off Baja, California,

but travel north in the summer

to exploit the
riches of the beach.

When the tide comes in
and covers mud flats,

the whales can roam
the waterlogged beach,

sifting crustaceans
from the sand.

On many beaches
around the world.

Humans become the dominant
species for the summer.

But there are a few
far-flung corners

where humans are scarce
and animals rule the beach.

The skeleton coast in Namibia

is famed as a wrecker of ships.

Their caucuses litter the shore.

The fierce storms might put
people off picnicking here,

but the beaches offer open
space for breeding wildlife.

Gannet colonies clinging
to the more rugged tips.

While the bays are
chock full of blubber,

capped fur seals.

Chaos reigns on the
crowded beaches,

bulls to secure mates

and cows trying to keep their
cubs from being trampled.

Of course, with so much weight

being thrown around
accidents happen,

(ominous tones)

A cunning opportunist,

the jackal knows
its worth a visit.

It's a dangerous undertaking.

Angry bulls and
protected mothers make
their feelings clear.

Being on the receiving
end of a 300 kilo bull

could have fatal consequences,

but boldness is rewarded.

A stillborn pup.

Valuable treasure
in a hostile beach.

(pensive music)

Most of us seek easier treats
on our trips to the beach.

Ice cream,

souvenirs, and of
course, fish and chips.

So the demand for seafood
might take its toll

on the creatures living
on the edge of the beach.

Having humans around
makes life hard

for just about all the
animals of the coast,

Only a few have learned
to make the most

of their seasonal neighbors.

(birds squawking)

Sadly, our love of the
beach is destroying it.

Waterfront property
is in high demand.

Development everywhere
needs sand for cement.

And there's an ever growing
pressure for ports to grow

to support a vast
fleet of cargo ships.

There's another
insidious threat:

(water splattering)

Climate change.

As ice caps melt,
sea levels rise.

And disruptions
of the atmosphere

is resulting in more
dramatic storms.

(thunder crashing)

The coastlines
are being pounded.

(sad music)

Storms, hurricanes and tornadoes

do millions of dollars
worth of damage every year

and claim human lives.

Yet we continue to build on
and destroy the sandy beaches

that can help absorb some
of the forces of nature.

Some efforts are made
to build up beaches,

both to ensure bathing
spots for tourists,

but also to bolster
sea defenses.

But the sand shifted, is
packed with tiny animals,

creatures that have
taken millions of years

to perfectly adapt
to the water's edge

are hoisted up the beach
to totally different levels

of temperature and humidity.

For most, it will prove fatal.

Left alone, these creatures
help us in everyday life

by filtering water
and cycling nutrients

that will feed their
way up the food chain.

(thoughtful music)

And any changes disrupt
the breeding sites

of everything from
crabs and mollusks

to birds

and seals.

Eventually the crowds
will desert the beach,

but their presence will remain.

Unlike animals,
humans are not good

at keeping their
environments tidy.

The coastline has a
new wave of litter.

Pieces of plastic can
greatly endanger wildlife,

anything and everything
can find itself tangled.

For most, it's a death sentence.

The plastic will eventually
break down into tiny
fragments.

It becomes invisible
and easy to forget.

But even these minuscule
pieces are deadly.

From the small
animals in the sea

the plastic particles
are consumed.

Creatures higher in the food
chain eat the smaller animals

and the plastic is passed on up.

And we humans are at the
top of the food chain

eating the same
poisoning plastics

that we left on the beach.

(thoughtful music)

Is the destruction too much?

Slowly but surely people are
starting to see the importance

of protecting beaches and
their animal inhabitants.

Here on the coast of Turkey,

like many other traditional
turtle nesting beaches,

the nests are trampled
by people during the day.

But conservationists cover nests

to stop them from being crushed

and help turtles out
of compacted sand.

(hopeful music)

With a helping hand and
better still a bit of space

where they're left alone,
hundreds of baby turtles

begin their journeys.

The long lived turtles
will be ocean wanderers.

But when they are ready
in perhaps 20 years,

they will return to the
beaches where they hatched

as long as there's
still space for them.

It's a relationship they've
had with the coast for eons.

(waves crashing)

By dawn there's no sign
of the little ones.

The beach is ready for
the tourists to return.

(peaceful music)

Beaches are wonderful places.

To nature they are safe
havens to raise their young

and to find abundant
food resources.

To land masses they are
natural sea defenses,

helping to reduce
the impact of storms

that can wreak havoc
and threaten life.

And to humans, they are
playgrounds where we can relax,

play, reconnect with each other.

And the great outdoors.

And as long as we respect
the beaches of the world

and look after them and remember
to take our litter home,

they'll be our playgrounds
for generations to come.

(peaceful music)