All language subtitles for BBC.Spring.Earths.Seasonal.Secrets.720p.HDTV.x264.AAC.MVGroup.org.eng

af Afrikaans
ak Akan
sq Albanian
am Amharic
ar Arabic Download
hy Armenian
az Azerbaijani
eu Basque
be Belarusian
bem Bemba
bn Bengali
bh Bihari
bs Bosnian
br Breton
bg Bulgarian
km Cambodian
ca Catalan
chr Cherokee
ny Chichewa
zh-CN Chinese (Simplified)
zh-TW Chinese (Traditional)
co Corsican
hr Croatian
cs Czech
da Danish
nl Dutch
en English
eo Esperanto
et Estonian
ee Ewe
fo Faroese
tl Filipino
fi Finnish
fr French
fy Frisian
gaa Ga
gl Galician
ka Georgian
de German
gn Guarani
gu Gujarati
ht Haitian Creole
ha Hausa
haw Hawaiian
iw Hebrew
hi Hindi
hu Hungarian
is Icelandic
ig Igbo
id Indonesian
ia Interlingua
ga Irish
it Italian
ja Japanese
jw Javanese
kn Kannada
kk Kazakh
rw Kinyarwanda
rn Kirundi
kg Kongo
ko Korean
kri Krio (Sierra Leone)
ku Kurdish
ckb Kurdish (Soranî)
ky Kyrgyz
lo Laothian
la Latin
lv Latvian
ln Lingala
lt Lithuanian
loz Lozi
lg Luganda
ach Luo
mk Macedonian
mg Malagasy
ms Malay
ml Malayalam
mt Maltese
mi Maori
mr Marathi
mfe Mauritian Creole
mo Moldavian
mn Mongolian
sr-ME Montenegrin
ne Nepali
pcm Nigerian Pidgin
nso Northern Sotho
no Norwegian
nn Norwegian (Nynorsk)
oc Occitan
or Oriya
om Oromo
ps Pashto
fa Persian
pl Polish
pt-BR Portuguese (Brazil)
pt-PT Portuguese (Portugal)
pa Punjabi
qu Quechua
ro Romanian
rm Romansh
nyn Runyakitara
ru Russian
gd Scots Gaelic
sr Serbian
sh Serbo-Croatian
st Sesotho
tn Setswana
crs Seychellois Creole
sn Shona
sd Sindhi
si Sinhalese
sk Slovak
sl Slovenian
so Somali
es Spanish
es-419 Spanish (Latin American)
su Sundanese
sw Swahili
sv Swedish
tg Tajik
ta Tamil
tt Tatar
te Telugu
th Thai
ti Tigrinya
to Tonga
lua Tshiluba
tum Tumbuka
tr Turkish
tk Turkmen
tw Twi
ug Uighur
uk Ukrainian
ur Urdu
uz Uzbek
vi Vietnamese
cy Welsh
wo Wolof
xh Xhosa
yi Yiddish
yo Yoruba
zu Zulu
Would you like to inspect the original subtitles? These are the user uploaded subtitles that are being translated: 1 00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:09,040 Every year, spectacular seasons transform our planet. 2 00:00:11,280 --> 00:00:14,360 They're the driving force of all life on Earth... 3 00:00:17,120 --> 00:00:20,960 ..bringing opportunities and huge challenges. 4 00:00:23,320 --> 00:00:25,560 Spring bursts with new life. 5 00:00:27,920 --> 00:00:30,480 But it's a race to grab fleeting chances. 6 00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:35,240 Summer is all about glorious abundance. 7 00:00:36,440 --> 00:00:39,280 But the heat can push animals to their limits. 8 00:00:41,240 --> 00:00:43,920 Autumn is nature's great gold rush. 9 00:00:47,680 --> 00:00:49,440 But competition is fierce. 10 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:55,560 Winter creates a frozen wonderland. 11 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:00,360 And only the most resourceful will survive. 12 00:01:08,360 --> 00:01:10,320 In every corner of the planet, 13 00:01:10,320 --> 00:01:13,880 animals rise to overcome the seemingly impossible... 14 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:17,440 ..and use extraordinary tricks... 15 00:01:18,840 --> 00:01:20,160 ..to thrive against the odds... 16 00:01:22,160 --> 00:01:26,000 ..as the seasons create the greatest shows on Earth. 17 00:01:36,720 --> 00:01:37,800 Spring. 18 00:01:39,240 --> 00:01:42,880 The sun's getting higher, the air's getting warmer... 19 00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:48,440 ..and nature bursts back to life. 20 00:01:55,080 --> 00:01:56,880 But the clock is ticking. 21 00:01:56,880 --> 00:01:58,560 The good times are fleeting. 22 00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:06,560 Life in spring is one big race. 23 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:11,320 It's a rush to grow up and find your way in the world. 24 00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:16,720 But often, the first challenge is simply... 25 00:02:18,720 --> 00:02:20,000 ..getting out of bed. 26 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:26,960 In the mountains of Alaska, 27 00:02:26,960 --> 00:02:31,080 there's one animal that's waking up after six months fast asleep. 28 00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:39,400 In early spring, all across North America, 60,000 grizzly bears come 29 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:42,000 lumbering out of their dens. 30 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:45,840 They've slept their way right through the worst of winter. 31 00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:53,360 This mother gave birth ten weeks ago. 32 00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:57,360 Her cubs have been fattening up on her milk ever since. 33 00:03:02,160 --> 00:03:05,440 They're now 20 times bigger than when they were born. 34 00:03:11,640 --> 00:03:14,080 But there's nothing to eat up here. 35 00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:16,920 She has to get them down to the warmth of the valleys. 36 00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:23,720 This is the first time these cubs have seen the outside world. 37 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:29,040 But there's no time for playing about. 38 00:03:29,040 --> 00:03:31,560 Their mother hasn't eaten a thing since autumn. 39 00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:38,880 Every thousand feet they descend, the air gets one degree warmer. 40 00:03:40,920 --> 00:03:43,480 Every step takes them closer to spring. 41 00:03:45,360 --> 00:03:47,800 For some, it's a perilous journey. 42 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:54,000 This family chose to make their den 8,000 feet up. 43 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:57,560 It kept them safe from attack by other bears through the winter. 44 00:03:57,560 --> 00:03:59,920 But now they have to get down again. 45 00:04:07,080 --> 00:04:09,440 These cubs are two years old, 46 00:04:09,440 --> 00:04:11,800 and they've made this journey before. 47 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:14,200 They don't seem too worried by the steep climb down. 48 00:04:28,040 --> 00:04:32,600 Their mother needs them to keep up, but not everyone's paying attention. 49 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:44,840 In just a couple of months, this young bear will leave his mother for good 50 00:04:44,840 --> 00:04:45,840 and lead his own life... 51 00:04:47,320 --> 00:04:51,160 ..and he's already showing signs of wilful independence. 52 00:04:54,280 --> 00:04:57,680 But this is probably not the best place to strike out on your own. 53 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:01,760 He's in danger of getting lost. 54 00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:13,920 Bears are good climbers... 55 00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:20,240 ..but this is a risky manoeuvre on a vertical icy slope. 56 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:27,040 He got himself into this mess 57 00:05:27,040 --> 00:05:29,800 and he's going to have to get himself out. 58 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:31,960 His mother can't wait for stragglers. 59 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:45,600 BEAR PANTS 60 00:05:47,640 --> 00:05:50,680 This is probably the first time he's ever left her side... 61 00:05:51,920 --> 00:05:54,720 ..and as he's still reliant on her, 62 00:05:54,720 --> 00:05:55,960 he needs to find her. 63 00:06:12,880 --> 00:06:16,480 For young grizzly bears, spring is full of life lessons. 64 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:21,360 This time next year, they'll be finding their own way down. 65 00:06:21,360 --> 00:06:24,240 But, for now, Mother knows best. 66 00:06:28,160 --> 00:06:32,960 Meanwhile, in the lowlands, there's a magical transformation happening. 67 00:06:39,400 --> 00:06:42,840 In the valleys, the grizzly bears have left the snow behind. 68 00:06:44,280 --> 00:06:46,520 It's taken them days to get here, 69 00:06:46,520 --> 00:06:48,240 and they've barely eaten on the way. 70 00:06:50,320 --> 00:06:52,920 But it's ten degrees warmer down here. 71 00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:54,840 Spring has landed. 72 00:06:58,560 --> 00:07:00,960 And this is what they've come for - 73 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:02,520 the fresh greens. 74 00:07:05,040 --> 00:07:09,200 At this time of year, it's all new growth, rich in sugar, 75 00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:12,360 and that's just what they need after their long winter fast. 76 00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:19,080 They've got through spring's first challenge - 77 00:07:19,080 --> 00:07:21,720 to wake up and find a feast. 78 00:07:25,880 --> 00:07:29,600 While thousands of grizzly bears are emerging across North America, 79 00:07:29,600 --> 00:07:32,280 further south, in Mexico, 80 00:07:32,280 --> 00:07:37,520 there's a tiny creature whose spring awakening is on a truly epic scale. 81 00:07:39,720 --> 00:07:42,640 In the forests of the Sierra Madre Mountains, 82 00:07:42,640 --> 00:07:46,240 the trees are festooned with monarch butterflies. 83 00:07:48,640 --> 00:07:52,000 They've spent the winter asleep, huddled together for warmth. 84 00:07:55,640 --> 00:07:56,640 There are millions of them. 85 00:07:58,560 --> 00:08:00,680 These trees have been the perfect roost. 86 00:08:02,120 --> 00:08:04,520 The branches shelter them like a blanket, 87 00:08:04,520 --> 00:08:06,440 keeping out the freezing nights. 88 00:08:11,160 --> 00:08:15,320 On a sunny spring morning, the butterflies begin to stir. 89 00:08:36,480 --> 00:08:40,080 When the sun warms their bodies above 13 degrees Centigrade... 90 00:08:41,320 --> 00:08:42,320 ..they start to fly. 91 00:08:57,000 --> 00:09:00,160 More than 100 million take to the air. 92 00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:03,480 It's the biggest gathering of butterflies in the world. 93 00:09:07,360 --> 00:09:10,800 They're getting ready for a long and arduous journey. 94 00:09:10,800 --> 00:09:14,480 They stream from the colony and make their way to water to drink. 95 00:09:18,560 --> 00:09:20,560 Then they bask in the spring sun 96 00:09:20,560 --> 00:09:22,960 to get their muscles warmed up for flight. 97 00:09:28,360 --> 00:09:29,880 Soon they'll be off. 98 00:09:31,320 --> 00:09:34,240 They're all going in search of one very special plant... 99 00:09:38,840 --> 00:09:40,960 ..and it only flowers in spring... 100 00:09:43,280 --> 00:09:44,320 ..milkweed. 101 00:09:45,760 --> 00:09:49,040 The butterflies won't lay their eggs on any other plant, 102 00:09:49,040 --> 00:09:51,480 so they must time their wake-up perfectly 103 00:09:51,480 --> 00:09:53,240 for when the milkweed blooms. 104 00:09:56,160 --> 00:10:00,120 Generations of butterflies fly 3,000 miles to Canada... 105 00:10:01,280 --> 00:10:04,520 ..following the flowering of this one particular plant. 106 00:10:05,640 --> 00:10:09,280 It's the greatest insect migration on Earth, 107 00:10:09,280 --> 00:10:12,680 and it only starts when the sun wakes them up in spring. 108 00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:21,200 Life in spring is all about timing. 109 00:10:21,200 --> 00:10:23,120 As soon as the light returns, 110 00:10:23,120 --> 00:10:25,960 animals have to be ready to seize the moment. 111 00:10:25,960 --> 00:10:29,360 And, for some, that means attracting a mate. 112 00:10:38,520 --> 00:10:42,360 For a few weeks, birds suddenly become sensitive to the longer days. 113 00:10:44,440 --> 00:10:47,760 The extra sunlight flicks a switch deep inside their brains... 114 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:51,720 ..and this kick-starts their sex hormones. 115 00:10:54,200 --> 00:10:58,960 All around the world, song birds sing at dawn to keep out rivals 116 00:10:58,960 --> 00:10:59,960 and attract mates. 117 00:11:03,240 --> 00:11:06,560 But it's not just singing that'll get you noticed. 118 00:11:06,560 --> 00:11:11,440 As males rush to impress females, it leads to some outrageous flirting. 119 00:11:13,880 --> 00:11:17,760 In the North American grasslands, a sage grouse woos the females by 120 00:11:17,760 --> 00:11:20,720 inflating his magnificent chest sacs. 121 00:11:26,480 --> 00:11:31,200 An Asian Temminck's tragopan starts by hiding from the female. 122 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:35,120 But then he plays peekaboo, 123 00:11:35,120 --> 00:11:38,080 trying to dazzle her with his exotic good looks. 124 00:11:43,760 --> 00:11:47,600 And in India, a peacock shakes his flamboyant tail, 125 00:11:47,600 --> 00:11:51,800 hoping to impress a passing hen by shimmying his feathers. 126 00:11:53,080 --> 00:11:55,680 Success is never guaranteed. 127 00:12:00,120 --> 00:12:02,320 On the lakes of North America, 128 00:12:02,320 --> 00:12:05,560 one bird's courtship display is unlike any other. 129 00:12:10,680 --> 00:12:12,040 Clark's grebes. 130 00:12:13,400 --> 00:12:16,040 They've just flown in from the Pacific coast, 131 00:12:16,040 --> 00:12:18,040 and here in Oregon is where they'll breed. 132 00:12:21,160 --> 00:12:25,160 At this time of year, these sheltered freshwater lakes are 133 00:12:25,160 --> 00:12:27,200 the perfect place to raise a family. 134 00:12:30,480 --> 00:12:32,880 These two lovebirds paired up last season. 135 00:12:34,120 --> 00:12:38,080 But they've spent the winter apart so they need to get reacquainted. 136 00:12:40,400 --> 00:12:42,760 If they stick together as parents, 137 00:12:42,760 --> 00:12:45,600 they'll give their chicks the best start in life. 138 00:12:49,160 --> 00:12:51,360 They need to prove their mutual devotion... 139 00:12:53,360 --> 00:12:54,360 ..so they dance. 140 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:06,840 They start by copying each other's movements 141 00:13:06,840 --> 00:13:08,760 as they preen their feathers. 142 00:13:20,320 --> 00:13:23,640 Then, to show he really means it, the male will find a fish... 143 00:13:26,600 --> 00:13:28,680 ..and offer it to her as a gift. 144 00:13:52,880 --> 00:13:55,200 With eyes only for each other, 145 00:13:55,200 --> 00:13:58,600 they reach the climax of their romantic display. 146 00:14:15,600 --> 00:14:21,360 Only grebes can do this. No other bird this heavy can run on water. 147 00:14:22,880 --> 00:14:27,440 But this display might help them get their breeding cycles in sync. 148 00:14:41,440 --> 00:14:42,920 At this time of year, 149 00:14:42,920 --> 00:14:46,760 the pressure on males to impress a female is relentless. 150 00:14:48,680 --> 00:14:52,800 One ploy is to provide her with the perfect nest to lay her eggs. 151 00:14:56,800 --> 00:15:00,360 But if you live in Antarctica, the most desolate place on Earth... 152 00:15:01,600 --> 00:15:04,400 ..nest-building materials are hard to come by. 153 00:15:14,160 --> 00:15:16,600 At Cape Crozier, 154 00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:18,800 Adelie penguins are in a hurry. 155 00:15:22,640 --> 00:15:25,360 They've spent the whole winter at sea but, 156 00:15:25,360 --> 00:15:31,200 as the days get longer, more than 150,000 come rushing back to land... 157 00:15:32,880 --> 00:15:33,840 ..to breed. 158 00:15:36,760 --> 00:15:38,360 The season is so short here, 159 00:15:38,360 --> 00:15:40,720 they have to be in the right place to build 160 00:15:40,720 --> 00:15:43,200 a nest as soon as the ice thaws. 161 00:15:47,320 --> 00:15:49,840 The males are first to arrive, 162 00:15:49,840 --> 00:15:52,960 racing each other to stake a claim to last year's patch. 163 00:15:54,640 --> 00:15:57,680 But with over 60 miles of ice to cross, 164 00:15:57,680 --> 00:16:00,320 just getting to the nest site is a challenge in itself. 165 00:16:18,560 --> 00:16:21,120 They're heading for this rocky slope, 166 00:16:21,120 --> 00:16:23,480 the first to feel the warmth of the spring sunshine. 167 00:16:31,000 --> 00:16:33,200 When the females arrive in a few days' time, 168 00:16:33,200 --> 00:16:36,040 the males must impress them with a good-looking nest. 169 00:16:38,080 --> 00:16:40,960 But with temperatures rarely above freezing, 170 00:16:40,960 --> 00:16:42,920 no trees or shrubs can grow here. 171 00:16:46,040 --> 00:16:47,640 One thing there's plenty of... 172 00:16:49,200 --> 00:16:50,200 ..is pebbles. 173 00:16:57,240 --> 00:17:01,160 A neat little pebble nest will stop the eggs rolling around on the ice. 174 00:17:08,240 --> 00:17:12,600 But finding just the right stones is a time-consuming business. 175 00:17:17,200 --> 00:17:20,120 To get ahead, some are prepared to cheat. 176 00:18:02,960 --> 00:18:05,000 The victim senses something's wrong... 177 00:18:07,120 --> 00:18:10,320 ..but can't quite put his finger on what. 178 00:18:17,320 --> 00:18:19,480 The thief's nest is coming along nicely. 179 00:18:24,200 --> 00:18:26,800 But even a villain can become a victim. 180 00:18:26,800 --> 00:18:27,760 PENGUIN SQUAWKS 181 00:18:30,320 --> 00:18:33,600 Although he's a lot quicker to spot when he's being robbed. 182 00:18:33,600 --> 00:18:35,080 PENGUIN SQUAWKS 183 00:18:35,080 --> 00:18:39,120 Well, he would, because it takes one to know one. 184 00:18:42,600 --> 00:18:44,120 PENGUINS SQUAWK 185 00:18:44,120 --> 00:18:46,200 Finally, they're finished, 186 00:18:46,200 --> 00:18:48,040 and just in the nick of time - 187 00:18:48,040 --> 00:18:49,880 the females are back. 188 00:18:52,640 --> 00:18:55,400 The first to arrive will grab the best-looking nests. 189 00:18:58,440 --> 00:19:02,280 But what also impresses them is a male with a good voice. 190 00:19:04,360 --> 00:19:06,040 PENGUINS SQUAWK AND CHATTER 191 00:19:06,040 --> 00:19:09,560 A well-held note is the sign of a well-fed male. 192 00:19:12,080 --> 00:19:14,680 And that's just what the female wants. 193 00:19:14,680 --> 00:19:18,960 It shows he has the resources to stay and incubate the egg while 194 00:19:18,960 --> 00:19:21,000 she's off feeding out at sea. 195 00:19:24,040 --> 00:19:28,040 Choices made and thousands of couples start breeding. 196 00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:38,760 Within six weeks, the slopes are crowded with spring chicks. 197 00:19:40,560 --> 00:19:43,240 CHICK CHEEPS 198 00:19:57,480 --> 00:20:01,760 This is the season when many animals race to pair up and breed. 199 00:20:01,760 --> 00:20:06,880 All this activity leads to one thing - an abundance of babies. 200 00:20:15,000 --> 00:20:17,680 With more hours of daylight and plenty of food, 201 00:20:17,680 --> 00:20:22,120 spring is the perfect time for young animals to fatten up and grow. 202 00:20:24,520 --> 00:20:26,920 But the season moves fast. 203 00:20:26,920 --> 00:20:28,440 And it won't be long before 204 00:20:28,440 --> 00:20:30,680 they have to start fending for themselves. 205 00:20:30,680 --> 00:20:33,880 So it's also the time to learn the basics of survival. 206 00:20:39,560 --> 00:20:41,400 This Alaskan grizzly bear mother 207 00:20:41,400 --> 00:20:43,240 might look like she's just playing... 208 00:20:46,080 --> 00:20:47,720 ..but this rough and tumble 209 00:20:47,720 --> 00:20:50,640 is teaching her four-month-old cub a vital lesson... 210 00:20:53,400 --> 00:20:55,040 ..how to hold his own in fights 211 00:20:55,040 --> 00:20:57,600 with other males when he's a grown-up bear. 212 00:21:02,040 --> 00:21:06,360 This otter mum in Yellowstone is taking her ten-week-old cubs for 213 00:21:06,360 --> 00:21:07,320 a fishing lesson. 214 00:21:08,960 --> 00:21:13,840 They're already expert swimmers, but catching a cut-throat trout is 215 00:21:13,840 --> 00:21:14,800 beyond their skills. 216 00:21:19,600 --> 00:21:22,040 So it's a case of watch... 217 00:21:22,040 --> 00:21:23,640 OTTER SQUEALS ..and learn. 218 00:21:30,360 --> 00:21:32,680 And, for now, 219 00:21:32,680 --> 00:21:34,840 they'll have to make do with caviar. 220 00:21:46,240 --> 00:21:50,400 The Pantanal in Brazil, the largest wetlands in the world. 221 00:21:52,360 --> 00:21:54,120 It's the end of the dry season. 222 00:21:55,760 --> 00:21:58,640 For a few weeks, this is their spring. 223 00:21:58,640 --> 00:22:03,400 Light showers of rain bring lush grasses and swarms of insects 224 00:22:03,400 --> 00:22:06,440 before the Pantanal is flooded by summer storms. 225 00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:09,840 This is when animals have their young... 226 00:22:12,200 --> 00:22:14,640 ..born into a world where there's plenty to eat. 227 00:22:21,680 --> 00:22:26,240 In a nearby forest, the trees are full of ring-tailed coatis. 228 00:22:31,320 --> 00:22:36,160 They're related to raccoons and they stick together in big family groups. 229 00:22:38,040 --> 00:22:39,760 While their pups are young, 230 00:22:39,760 --> 00:22:42,720 they're kept out of danger in the safety of the woods. 231 00:22:45,560 --> 00:22:47,520 But now they're ten weeks old... 232 00:22:49,120 --> 00:22:53,240 ..and it's time to make their first trip out into the spring grasslands 233 00:22:53,240 --> 00:22:54,800 to start looking for their own food. 234 00:22:59,320 --> 00:23:00,320 COATI SQUEAKS 235 00:23:07,080 --> 00:23:11,240 There may be 30 in the family band so there should be plenty of adults 236 00:23:11,240 --> 00:23:12,200 keeping watch. 237 00:23:15,400 --> 00:23:18,720 In this wide-open space, it's easy to get lost. 238 00:23:20,280 --> 00:23:25,880 So for every young coati, the first rule to remember is never lose sight 239 00:23:25,880 --> 00:23:26,800 of your mother's tail. 240 00:23:38,960 --> 00:23:43,240 They're surrounded by unfamiliar faces, but who's friendly... 241 00:23:44,320 --> 00:23:45,920 ..and who should you avoid? 242 00:23:49,120 --> 00:23:51,560 Southern lapwings are good to have around. 243 00:23:52,960 --> 00:23:56,880 They follow the coatis, picking up little bugs the family leave behind. 244 00:23:58,480 --> 00:24:01,920 In return, they keep an eye out for predators. 245 00:24:06,520 --> 00:24:08,640 Armadillos only eat insects... 246 00:24:12,320 --> 00:24:13,760 ..and so do giant anteaters. 247 00:24:16,560 --> 00:24:17,720 Nothing to worry about here. 248 00:24:23,240 --> 00:24:27,520 But this savanna hawk is watching with a less than friendly interest. 249 00:24:27,520 --> 00:24:28,520 LAPWINGS TRILL 250 00:24:42,720 --> 00:24:46,120 The mother makes a dash for the forest to get her pups to safety. 251 00:24:52,040 --> 00:24:55,480 But with so many babies, it's hard to check if everyone's made it home. 252 00:24:59,800 --> 00:25:01,600 COATI SQUEAKS 253 00:25:02,680 --> 00:25:05,720 Sure enough, this pup's got left behind. 254 00:25:07,320 --> 00:25:08,320 COATI SQUEAKS 255 00:25:10,600 --> 00:25:13,160 Mistakes like this can be fatal. 256 00:25:18,800 --> 00:25:20,680 COATI SQUEAKS 257 00:25:34,560 --> 00:25:37,960 He knows he must somehow get back to the safety of the forest. 258 00:25:57,760 --> 00:25:59,680 Spring is full of perils. 259 00:26:02,480 --> 00:26:05,160 And this coati pup just got a little wiser. 260 00:26:06,520 --> 00:26:09,440 Round here, it pays to stick with your family. 261 00:26:24,000 --> 00:26:26,760 As the spring sun warms the air, 262 00:26:26,760 --> 00:26:30,000 the urge to breed isn't just confined to animals. 263 00:26:31,040 --> 00:26:33,640 Plants are doing it, too, 264 00:26:33,640 --> 00:26:35,240 and they have some clever tactics. 265 00:26:43,400 --> 00:26:47,800 In Japan, the mass blossoming of cherry trees is one of the planet's 266 00:26:47,800 --> 00:26:51,160 most spectacular spring events. 267 00:26:51,160 --> 00:26:54,800 The trees need to attract insects to spread their pollen, 268 00:26:54,800 --> 00:26:57,720 but they're only fertile for a few days, 269 00:26:57,720 --> 00:27:02,880 so they flower all at the same time in one glorious show. 270 00:27:07,400 --> 00:27:10,640 Their extra-sweet nectar keeps the insects coming back for more. 271 00:27:16,320 --> 00:27:21,800 North American water lilies spend all winter asleep under the ice but, 272 00:27:21,800 --> 00:27:26,880 in spring, it takes them just four days to rise through the water 273 00:27:26,880 --> 00:27:28,080 and bloom. 274 00:27:33,000 --> 00:27:37,840 As the sun thaws the frozen North, the Arctic poppy flowers. 275 00:27:40,320 --> 00:27:44,120 Not many plants can survive above the Arctic Circle, 276 00:27:44,120 --> 00:27:46,360 but this one has a special trick. 277 00:27:49,160 --> 00:27:51,160 As the sun passes overhead, 278 00:27:51,160 --> 00:27:54,680 it follows its progress, capturing extra warmth... 279 00:27:56,080 --> 00:27:58,360 ..and pollinating insects linger 280 00:27:58,360 --> 00:28:00,840 a little longer inside its cosy petals. 281 00:28:04,800 --> 00:28:07,880 A British woodland in early spring. 282 00:28:07,880 --> 00:28:10,280 The trees are still bare. 283 00:28:10,280 --> 00:28:15,200 But down on the floor, there's a whole host of plants just waiting to 284 00:28:15,200 --> 00:28:16,840 grab their moment in the sun. 285 00:28:21,520 --> 00:28:23,400 Early flowers race to bloom 286 00:28:23,400 --> 00:28:27,400 before the trees grow their leaves and steal the daylight. 287 00:28:40,520 --> 00:28:43,840 With tough competition, you need a trick or two to get ahead. 288 00:28:48,440 --> 00:28:51,400 Yellow and white flowers reflect more light, 289 00:28:51,400 --> 00:28:54,640 making them stand out to insects down here in the shade. 290 00:29:09,440 --> 00:29:14,680 In this race for the light, one plant puts on a show on a scale seen 291 00:29:14,680 --> 00:29:16,280 nowhere else on Earth. 292 00:29:20,400 --> 00:29:21,840 With their rich soils, 293 00:29:21,840 --> 00:29:25,680 Britain's ancient woodlands are home to half the world's population... 294 00:29:27,080 --> 00:29:28,080 ..of bluebells. 295 00:29:33,440 --> 00:29:38,040 These vibrant carpets of flowers give bees a vital boost of nectar at 296 00:29:38,040 --> 00:29:39,480 this early time of year. 297 00:29:52,920 --> 00:29:55,720 But spring flowers need more than just sunshine. 298 00:29:57,160 --> 00:29:58,160 They need rain. 299 00:30:01,840 --> 00:30:03,080 In South Africa, 300 00:30:03,080 --> 00:30:06,920 one of the driest places on Earth is about to be transformed. 301 00:30:06,920 --> 00:30:08,840 THUNDER RUMBLES 302 00:30:14,040 --> 00:30:15,640 The Namaqua Desert, 303 00:30:15,640 --> 00:30:19,800 a 600-mile strip of land along South Africa's west coast. 304 00:30:21,560 --> 00:30:25,200 For most of the year, this is an arid place, 305 00:30:25,200 --> 00:30:27,920 just sand and wind-blasted rock. 306 00:30:30,720 --> 00:30:33,720 But for a few weeks after the winter rains, 307 00:30:33,720 --> 00:30:36,920 spring puts on a dazzling display. 308 00:31:00,000 --> 00:31:04,720 These Namaqua daisies don't waste precious energy producing scent. 309 00:31:04,720 --> 00:31:07,640 They want to attract one special pollinating insect... 310 00:31:09,680 --> 00:31:12,520 ..and that insect is only drawn to colour. 311 00:31:13,960 --> 00:31:15,120 And here he is... 312 00:31:16,400 --> 00:31:17,400 ..a monkey beetle. 313 00:31:19,880 --> 00:31:22,880 He's spent the winter underground, but he's come out 314 00:31:22,880 --> 00:31:24,320 just in time for the flower show. 315 00:31:28,160 --> 00:31:29,880 As he hops from flower to flower... 316 00:31:31,440 --> 00:31:33,000 ..he's spreading the daises' pollen... 317 00:31:35,920 --> 00:31:38,480 ..but he's only interested in finding a female. 318 00:31:42,800 --> 00:31:43,760 There's one. 319 00:31:44,880 --> 00:31:46,240 She's a golden beauty. 320 00:31:49,320 --> 00:31:50,680 But he's got competition. 321 00:32:01,360 --> 00:32:03,600 The female is so busy feeding, 322 00:32:03,600 --> 00:32:06,360 she doesn't even notice the two males brawling over her. 323 00:32:12,880 --> 00:32:16,120 But the battling beetles are good news for the flower. 324 00:32:16,120 --> 00:32:18,160 They're now covered in pollen, 325 00:32:18,160 --> 00:32:20,200 which they'll spread to the next flower they visit. 326 00:32:24,640 --> 00:32:26,680 The female has lost interest. 327 00:32:28,560 --> 00:32:30,200 But the males fight on. 328 00:32:54,440 --> 00:32:55,400 He's won the brawl... 329 00:32:56,920 --> 00:32:58,120 ..but the female's gone. 330 00:33:03,640 --> 00:33:06,440 With so many beetles drawn to these flowers, 331 00:33:06,440 --> 00:33:07,800 he shouldn't be single for long. 332 00:33:15,840 --> 00:33:18,440 A result - the beetle finds a mate... 333 00:33:21,400 --> 00:33:23,720 ..and the flowers are pollinated. 334 00:33:27,640 --> 00:33:31,280 Now next year's spring display will be just as spectacular. 335 00:33:37,200 --> 00:33:39,120 When winter releases its hold, 336 00:33:39,120 --> 00:33:43,480 spring can bring great opportunities for those prepared to take advantage of them. 337 00:33:46,080 --> 00:33:49,560 In the search for food or a safe place to breed, 338 00:33:49,560 --> 00:33:52,800 many animals will make extraordinary journeys. 339 00:34:00,200 --> 00:34:02,960 In the Arctic, the ocean fills with fish. 340 00:34:04,440 --> 00:34:07,040 Little auks fly nearly 2,000 miles 341 00:34:07,040 --> 00:34:09,840 to Svalbard just to raise their chicks on 342 00:34:09,840 --> 00:34:11,680 the cliffs around these teeming waters. 343 00:34:15,960 --> 00:34:17,600 Off the coast of Alaska, 344 00:34:17,600 --> 00:34:19,640 millions of Pacific herring 345 00:34:19,640 --> 00:34:23,280 swim up from the depths to spawn in the warming shallows. 346 00:34:28,560 --> 00:34:31,600 As the Arctic tundra unlocks in Greenland, 347 00:34:31,600 --> 00:34:35,800 snow geese fly all the way from Mexico to raise their young 348 00:34:35,800 --> 00:34:37,400 on the fresh new grass. 349 00:34:43,640 --> 00:34:47,440 These long migrations can be gruelling tests of endurance. 350 00:34:49,080 --> 00:34:55,360 In Africa, one small bird is about to set off on a 3,000-mile journey 351 00:34:55,360 --> 00:34:59,040 across one of the most inhospitable places on Earth. 352 00:34:59,040 --> 00:35:00,440 SWALLOW CHEEPS 353 00:35:02,920 --> 00:35:05,720 Barn swallows have spent the winter in Nigeria... 354 00:35:07,560 --> 00:35:10,040 ..but the rising temperatures are their cue to leave. 355 00:35:13,000 --> 00:35:15,800 Two million birds are on the move. 356 00:35:19,080 --> 00:35:20,880 There's plenty of food here, 357 00:35:20,880 --> 00:35:23,000 but it's not the best place to bring up chicks. 358 00:35:24,600 --> 00:35:26,080 There's too much competition... 359 00:35:28,480 --> 00:35:31,080 ..so they're heading for spring in Europe. 360 00:35:38,400 --> 00:35:40,840 These birds are tiny. 361 00:35:40,840 --> 00:35:44,320 They weigh not much more than a couple of pound coins, 362 00:35:44,320 --> 00:35:47,760 but they're about to undertake one of nature's toughest migrations. 363 00:35:51,000 --> 00:35:53,040 Ahead of them, there's a deathtrap. 364 00:35:58,960 --> 00:36:00,240 The Sahara Desert. 365 00:36:03,600 --> 00:36:05,520 It's much too big to fly around. 366 00:36:07,680 --> 00:36:10,440 The swallows have no choice but to fly across it. 367 00:36:14,400 --> 00:36:18,040 1,000 miles of almost nothing but sand. 368 00:36:27,760 --> 00:36:30,640 It will take them four days to get across. 369 00:36:30,640 --> 00:36:34,680 Somehow, they will have to find water on the way 370 00:36:34,680 --> 00:36:37,120 otherwise they will die of thirst. 371 00:36:45,480 --> 00:36:46,640 As they cross Libya... 372 00:36:48,080 --> 00:36:52,320 ..in an ocean of sand, there's a tiny speck of blue. 373 00:37:00,760 --> 00:37:02,920 Umm al-Maa, 374 00:37:02,920 --> 00:37:07,960 a lake of ancient ground water seeping to the surface. 375 00:37:07,960 --> 00:37:10,640 But this oasis is not what it seems. 376 00:37:15,320 --> 00:37:19,280 Over thousands of years, the lake has been evaporating. 377 00:37:19,280 --> 00:37:21,840 It's nearly five times saltier than the sea. 378 00:37:24,080 --> 00:37:27,040 If the swallows tried to drink this, it would kill them. 379 00:37:28,680 --> 00:37:30,000 FLIES BUZZ 380 00:37:30,000 --> 00:37:32,920 But there's an unexpected solution. 381 00:37:32,920 --> 00:37:36,440 At this time of year, thousands of brine flies emerge from the lake. 382 00:37:38,520 --> 00:37:40,120 Their bodies filter out the salt... 383 00:37:42,440 --> 00:37:46,320 ..so, effectively, they're tiny packages of fresh water. 384 00:37:49,080 --> 00:37:52,400 The swallows gorge on them and get all the water they need. 385 00:37:55,920 --> 00:37:58,400 And they're not the only ones. 386 00:37:58,400 --> 00:38:02,000 Wagtails also break their northern journey for the fly bonanza. 387 00:38:10,960 --> 00:38:13,720 This is the swallows' only stopover, 388 00:38:13,720 --> 00:38:15,720 but it's enough to get them across the desert. 389 00:38:21,360 --> 00:38:23,800 By the time they reach Europe, 390 00:38:23,800 --> 00:38:26,000 spring has arrived in the Northern Hemisphere. 391 00:38:29,680 --> 00:38:34,080 They now have four months to feed up and raise their family before they 392 00:38:34,080 --> 00:38:36,360 fly all the way back to Africa. 393 00:38:47,120 --> 00:38:49,200 For other animals on the move, 394 00:38:49,200 --> 00:38:52,680 the challenge is not so much about distance, but navigation. 395 00:38:57,400 --> 00:38:59,760 In the Arctic, spring unlocks 396 00:38:59,760 --> 00:39:03,040 the land, but the vast areas of frozen sea 397 00:39:03,040 --> 00:39:04,200 take longer to crack. 398 00:39:05,680 --> 00:39:07,880 So animals here must find their way 399 00:39:07,880 --> 00:39:10,680 through a constantly shifting landscape. 400 00:39:13,760 --> 00:39:18,800 As the sun gets more intense and the sea ice melts, pools begin to form. 401 00:39:20,240 --> 00:39:25,520 The darker water absorbs warmth and the pace of the ice melt increases. 402 00:39:34,880 --> 00:39:37,920 The great sheet of ice starts to split. 403 00:39:40,080 --> 00:39:43,760 These huge cracks are known as leads, 404 00:39:43,760 --> 00:39:46,440 and they're just what one animal is looking for. 405 00:39:53,760 --> 00:39:54,760 Narwhal. 406 00:39:57,840 --> 00:40:03,280 These strange whales are some of the most secretive animals in the ocean. 407 00:40:04,680 --> 00:40:07,480 Over winter, they've been feeding at 408 00:40:07,480 --> 00:40:10,240 the edge of the sea ice but, in spring, 409 00:40:10,240 --> 00:40:14,920 as the ice begins to shrink, predators start to move in. 410 00:40:20,360 --> 00:40:21,400 Killer whales. 411 00:40:22,600 --> 00:40:24,240 They have a taste for narwhal. 412 00:40:28,800 --> 00:40:33,160 To avoid them, the narwhal begin a 600-mile journey north to find 413 00:40:33,160 --> 00:40:34,760 safer waters close to land. 414 00:40:38,080 --> 00:40:40,680 And these giant leads are the only pathway through. 415 00:40:57,520 --> 00:40:59,600 It's a hazardous journey. 416 00:40:59,600 --> 00:41:01,760 These cracks could close over at any time. 417 00:41:03,680 --> 00:41:05,280 The narwhal will have to navigate 418 00:41:05,280 --> 00:41:08,120 carefully through a constantly shifting maze of ice. 419 00:41:21,920 --> 00:41:24,560 They've barely got going and they've hit a dead end. 420 00:41:26,480 --> 00:41:29,840 They use their heads and tusks to try to batter their way through. 421 00:41:40,560 --> 00:41:41,760 The ice is too thick. 422 00:41:44,880 --> 00:41:48,480 Rather than go back, their only option is to look for another lead. 423 00:41:51,200 --> 00:41:53,160 But that means going under. 424 00:41:58,200 --> 00:42:00,920 They need to surface every 15 minutes to breathe... 425 00:42:02,160 --> 00:42:04,560 ..or they'll drown, 426 00:42:04,560 --> 00:42:07,240 so it's a constant search for the next airhole. 427 00:42:28,960 --> 00:42:30,320 They've found another lead. 428 00:42:36,640 --> 00:42:38,320 But the gap has suddenly narrowed. 429 00:42:40,560 --> 00:42:42,480 There's barely room for one-way traffic. 430 00:42:48,040 --> 00:42:50,480 And they hit another snag. 431 00:42:50,480 --> 00:42:53,920 Another pod of narwhal is trying to find their way through, 432 00:42:53,920 --> 00:42:56,560 and they're coming from the opposite direction. 433 00:42:58,600 --> 00:42:59,680 It's a stand-off. 434 00:43:10,800 --> 00:43:13,040 There's nothing to be gained from a fight. 435 00:43:13,040 --> 00:43:17,120 The newcomers give way and everyone continues in the same direction. 436 00:43:24,400 --> 00:43:26,200 These tussles will soon be over. 437 00:43:34,440 --> 00:43:35,960 The Arctic sea ice will melt... 438 00:43:38,120 --> 00:43:41,880 ..and the narwhal will spend their summer breeding in the bays. 439 00:43:57,520 --> 00:43:59,720 Some animals spend their whole life travelling. 440 00:44:02,560 --> 00:44:04,520 In the North American tundra, 441 00:44:04,520 --> 00:44:08,320 caribou make the longest migration of any land mammal on Earth. 442 00:44:12,760 --> 00:44:16,200 When calves are born in the spring, they have to be ready to run. 443 00:44:18,440 --> 00:44:21,400 This far north, by the end of spring, 444 00:44:21,400 --> 00:44:25,720 the sun is warming the tundra almost 24 hours a day. 445 00:44:25,720 --> 00:44:27,760 The grass is fresh and nutritious, 446 00:44:27,760 --> 00:44:31,000 and the caribou barely stop eating. 447 00:44:43,040 --> 00:44:45,120 More than two million animals 448 00:44:45,120 --> 00:44:47,680 move across the tundra on a constant search 449 00:44:47,680 --> 00:44:48,720 for the best grazing. 450 00:44:56,520 --> 00:45:00,960 They might travel over 20 miles a day without even stopping to sleep. 451 00:45:05,360 --> 00:45:09,000 But while they're benefiting from spring's good times, 452 00:45:09,000 --> 00:45:11,040 it's about to bring out their worst enemy. 453 00:45:14,280 --> 00:45:15,560 At this time of year, 454 00:45:15,560 --> 00:45:18,600 the sun is strong enough to melt the permafrost, 455 00:45:18,600 --> 00:45:21,440 the frozen soil beneath the grass. 456 00:45:21,440 --> 00:45:27,480 The tundra is covered in pools of water, and they're the perfect place 457 00:45:27,480 --> 00:45:29,320 for mosquitoes to breed. 458 00:45:35,440 --> 00:45:39,520 Great clouds of them emerge and head straight for the caribou. 459 00:45:49,680 --> 00:45:52,480 The mosquitoes are voracious. 460 00:45:52,480 --> 00:45:55,320 They can drain half a pint of blood in a day. 461 00:45:56,920 --> 00:46:00,000 They drive the caribou crazy. 462 00:46:04,080 --> 00:46:06,840 The caribou do anything they can to avoid being bitten. 463 00:46:08,560 --> 00:46:11,360 The ones on the outside of the herd are the most exposed... 464 00:46:14,440 --> 00:46:18,280 ..so everyone tries to shuffle into the middle for maximum protection. 465 00:46:27,720 --> 00:46:31,280 When they can't stand it any more, they bolt to higher ground. 466 00:46:49,160 --> 00:46:52,960 Up here, there are still patches of snow, and it's too cold for 467 00:46:52,960 --> 00:46:54,400 the mosquitoes to follow. 468 00:46:56,440 --> 00:46:58,840 The caribou finally get some relief. 469 00:47:09,040 --> 00:47:11,800 The constant search for fresh grass 470 00:47:11,800 --> 00:47:15,040 drives the caribou's nomadic way of life. 471 00:47:15,040 --> 00:47:19,960 Every year, they cover distances of 3,000 miles. 472 00:47:30,200 --> 00:47:34,440 Round the world, spring is one big race to grab the good times. 473 00:47:35,680 --> 00:47:38,280 The increasing power of the sun makes plants grow... 474 00:47:39,960 --> 00:47:41,440 ..and brings out the insects... 475 00:47:42,800 --> 00:47:45,840 ..and that provides food for everything else. 476 00:47:50,680 --> 00:47:55,520 As the sun's strength increases, in forests, a feast is about to appear. 477 00:47:57,520 --> 00:48:03,040 After 1,000 hours of winter chilling, buds start to burst. 478 00:48:04,760 --> 00:48:07,920 Inside each one, the leaves are neatly pleated, 479 00:48:07,920 --> 00:48:10,520 spring-loaded to expand as quickly 480 00:48:10,520 --> 00:48:13,280 as possible and start capturing the sun. 481 00:48:23,840 --> 00:48:27,000 But from the moment they unfurl, they're under attack. 482 00:48:33,120 --> 00:48:36,200 Caterpillars are insatiable, 483 00:48:36,200 --> 00:48:39,440 but they're a vital link in the spring food chain. 484 00:48:44,960 --> 00:48:49,400 Bluetits feed each of their chicks 15,000 caterpillars by the time 485 00:48:49,400 --> 00:48:50,480 they leave the nest. 486 00:48:55,440 --> 00:48:58,560 Even in rivers, sunlight brings out the insects. 487 00:49:00,360 --> 00:49:02,200 In southern France, 488 00:49:02,200 --> 00:49:05,520 a damselfly is just beginning her new life as an adult. 489 00:49:12,160 --> 00:49:14,480 But when there's a hungry marsh frog in the water... 490 00:49:17,680 --> 00:49:18,840 ..it's rather brief. 491 00:49:23,320 --> 00:49:27,800 In some places, the emergence of insects is truly sensational. 492 00:49:29,840 --> 00:49:32,960 Beneath the surface of an English river, 493 00:49:32,960 --> 00:49:35,520 mayflies are beginning to stir. 494 00:49:38,160 --> 00:49:41,680 They've spent the last two years living underwater as larvae. 495 00:49:43,840 --> 00:49:46,520 But on one day in spring, 496 00:49:46,520 --> 00:49:48,960 as the sun gets more intense, 497 00:49:48,960 --> 00:49:53,200 they emerge as adults in spectacular numbers. 498 00:49:56,840 --> 00:49:59,880 Their only mission is to find a mate and lay their eggs. 499 00:50:02,560 --> 00:50:06,200 By hatching all together, they increase their chances of success. 500 00:50:14,920 --> 00:50:18,560 They may only live for 24 hours, so they have to be quick. 501 00:50:30,160 --> 00:50:33,400 They appear like this on rivers across Europe every spring. 502 00:50:38,360 --> 00:50:42,000 It's a brief free-for-all, and everyone joins in. 503 00:51:05,080 --> 00:51:08,720 But millions escape and live just long enough to lay their eggs. 504 00:51:11,800 --> 00:51:14,640 The show's over until next spring. 505 00:51:19,160 --> 00:51:20,960 But it's in the open ocean 506 00:51:20,960 --> 00:51:24,400 that spring puts on the most spectacular feast of all. 507 00:51:27,240 --> 00:51:30,040 It all starts very small. 508 00:51:30,040 --> 00:51:32,920 In seas with plenty of nutrients, 509 00:51:32,920 --> 00:51:37,400 the increasing sunlight sparks the growth of microscopic plankton. 510 00:51:40,680 --> 00:51:44,880 This assorted collection of tiny life forms drifts around with 511 00:51:44,880 --> 00:51:48,200 the currents but, in spring, 512 00:51:48,200 --> 00:51:50,120 their population explodes. 513 00:51:53,360 --> 00:51:58,120 They multiply 1,000 times in just a few days and create great 514 00:51:58,120 --> 00:52:02,560 oceanic blooms that stretch for hundreds of miles. 515 00:52:06,400 --> 00:52:09,960 They're so big, they can be seen from Space. 516 00:52:20,240 --> 00:52:23,480 These explosions of plankton are so rich, 517 00:52:23,480 --> 00:52:27,720 they can support some of the biggest animals on Earth. 518 00:52:27,720 --> 00:52:29,200 WHALE WHISTLES 519 00:52:34,840 --> 00:52:39,320 Humpback whales - a mother and her two-week-old calf. 520 00:52:48,120 --> 00:52:50,720 They've just left Hawaii, where her baby was born. 521 00:52:53,000 --> 00:52:57,000 They're heading north to the plankton-rich seas off Alaska. 522 00:53:04,760 --> 00:53:08,200 The warm waters of Hawaii were the perfect nursery, 523 00:53:08,200 --> 00:53:11,280 but there wasn't enough food to sustain them. 524 00:53:11,280 --> 00:53:14,280 She's had nothing to eat for six months, 525 00:53:14,280 --> 00:53:16,320 and she's still providing her calf 526 00:53:16,320 --> 00:53:18,360 with more than 100 litres of milk a day. 527 00:53:24,160 --> 00:53:27,080 They have a 3,000-mile journey ahead of them. 528 00:53:29,880 --> 00:53:34,400 Together, they have to cross the North Pacific, the world's biggest ocean. 529 00:53:39,560 --> 00:53:41,920 It's a tough journey for an adult. 530 00:53:41,920 --> 00:53:44,560 For a tiny calf, it's a marathon. 531 00:53:46,400 --> 00:53:50,840 His mother slows her pace to let him keep up and supports him from below 532 00:53:50,840 --> 00:53:51,800 when he gets tired. 533 00:53:58,760 --> 00:54:00,920 But if she times it right, 534 00:54:00,920 --> 00:54:04,600 they'll arrive to a feast of such epic proportions, 535 00:54:04,600 --> 00:54:06,880 it will keep them fed for months. 536 00:54:11,160 --> 00:54:15,200 In the seas off Alaska, the water is filling with life. 537 00:54:18,280 --> 00:54:21,960 Vast numbers of animals are turning up to graze on the plankton. 538 00:54:26,360 --> 00:54:31,920 Billions of krill arrive - tiny shrimp-like animals. 539 00:54:35,560 --> 00:54:39,000 A single swarm can contain two million tonnes of them. 540 00:54:41,480 --> 00:54:44,200 They're one of the most abundant animals on the planet. 541 00:54:49,160 --> 00:54:52,600 And that, in turn, feeds a lot of fish. 542 00:55:01,160 --> 00:55:04,720 Huge shoals of herring come up from the depths to feed on the krill. 543 00:55:15,560 --> 00:55:18,840 And they are the feast that everyone has been waiting for. 544 00:55:23,720 --> 00:55:27,280 Sea birds have travelled thousands of miles to make the most of it. 545 00:55:39,720 --> 00:55:41,400 And the herring bonanza draws in 546 00:55:41,400 --> 00:55:43,600 one of the mightiest predators of them all. 547 00:56:09,600 --> 00:56:14,080 For a humpback whale and her calf, this is what their journey has all been for. 548 00:56:16,520 --> 00:56:19,200 She might eat up to a tonne of herring a day. 549 00:56:22,520 --> 00:56:26,080 It's a feast that will carry on all through summer. 550 00:56:34,800 --> 00:56:38,640 All across the world, spring brings unique opportunities. 551 00:56:40,680 --> 00:56:42,640 But you've got to be ready to make the most of them. 552 00:56:44,440 --> 00:56:47,280 Those who time it right will reap the rewards. 553 00:56:50,440 --> 00:56:55,080 In Britain, barn swallows will spend the long summer days feeding up 554 00:56:55,080 --> 00:56:56,720 before they head back to Africa. 555 00:56:58,800 --> 00:57:01,080 In Alaska, young grizzly bears 556 00:57:01,080 --> 00:57:03,640 will spend a few more months with their mothers, 557 00:57:03,640 --> 00:57:06,520 learning all they need to know for a life on their own. 558 00:57:13,160 --> 00:57:17,560 In Antarctica, Adelie penguin parents will fatten up their chicks 559 00:57:17,560 --> 00:57:19,160 with the bounty from the sea. 560 00:57:23,880 --> 00:57:26,200 Spring may have brought challenges 561 00:57:26,200 --> 00:57:31,120 but, for many animals, it's given them the perfect start in life. 46746

Can't find what you're looking for?
Get subtitles in any language from opensubtitles.com, and translate them here.