Original subtitles

The Zugspitze, Germany's highest mountain,

lies on the border with Austria.

A towering bastion at the edge of vast plains.

The steep slopes are a bridge between two very different,

yet equally spectacular natural environments,

the mountains and the valleys.

Some locals travel between the different worlds,

while others have established a permanent home

and distinctive behavior patterns.

It is a fascinating, mysterious region

in which even the moors appear to breathe deeply.

This is a journey into the northern foothills of the Alps,

which stretch from Switzerland in the west over Southern Germany

to the east of Austria.

The landscape can be challenging even for the robust chamois.

But from its perch on a rocky ridge, it enjoys an unparalleled view

of an intriguing world between worlds.

Red deer, 2,400 meters above sea level.

One of the most spectacular animal migrations in Central Europe

takes place in September every year without fail.

Emerging from the various corners of their mountain habitat,

the large deer congregate and travel in a single direction,

as though following some secret command.

Hinds with their calves, playful young animals,

and the powerful stags who lead the charge.

They all descend towards the valley

and the region's last remaining moors.

It is an event that has become rare in Europe.

An animal migration from mountain slopes to swamps and moors,

unimpeded by highways and human settlements.

Subterranean cast springs carry crystal clear water

from the mountains to the moors.

The traces of the migrating animals remain visible

long after they have passed.

Eventually, the red deer reach their destination,

the foothills of the Alps.

The mountain fauna now mingles with the animals of the plains,

increasing local biodiversity.

The region is home to a last few areas of intact,

untouched wilderness.

Light and water combine to create a magical atmosphere.

Here, far from human influence,

nature's artists create fragile, yet perfect masterpieces.

A network of seemingly endless trails carves its way through the region.

It may resemble Africa's Okavango Delta

or Brazil's Pantanal wetlands, but it is in fact,

one of the last wide-ranging moor landscapes in Southern Germany.

The arrival of the red deer after their long journey

marks the beginning of the annual rutting season.

(deer bleat)

The Alpine foothills are a gigantic irrigation system.

Enumerable streams and rivers carry the valuable water into the valley.

Perhaps the greatest of these water courses is the Isar,

which originates in Tyrol and flows through Germany before feeding

into the Danube upon its return to Austria.

Unregulated, untamed, and uninterrupted,

the Isar here is defined by meandering branches and gravel banks.

Water and sediment are carried out of the mountains and into basins

once created by glaciers.

Over time, this gave rise to the spectacular

lakes of the Alpine foothills.

Lakes like the Eibsee at the foot of the majestic Zugspitze mountain.

Nearby, well-hidden and often inaccessible forests

obscure rivalry and conflict.

In autumn, the season of hiding and hoarding begins.

Squirrels store seeds and nuts, particularly hazelnuts and acorns,

throughout the forest.

These stores are designed to get the rodents through the winter,

but some are forgotten, giving rise to a new generation of trees.

(squirrel barks)

Someone is standing guard,

♪ (intriguing music)

but the squirrel is unaware that it is being watched.

Very little of what happens in the forest escapes

the attentions of the European Jay.

This small bird is related to crows, ravens, and magpies,

and is similarly skilled at finding food.

Deception, distraction, and teamwork are the secrets

of the bird's success.

The Jays join forces to deplete the squirrel's stores nut by nut.

This strategy displays both audacity and intelligence.

As the unfortunate squirrels turn on each other,

the bird waits for the perfect moment to make off with the very last nut.

The steep slopes of the Alps form an imposing physical barrier

that prevents some species from moving into new habitats

and blocks air currents.

Winds, clouds, and fog gather above the alpine foothills.

The moisture they contain can quickly transform otherwise dry areas

covered in pine trees, into lush rainforests.

The mist envelops the slopes,

eventually obscuring every mountain inhabitants.

(bird caws)

When the mist recedes, the landscape reveals itself once more.

There is trouble on the horizon.

Cranes tower above the landscape

as humans move closer and closer to the pristine wilderness.

Built up areas and infrastructure now cover land

that was once nature's realm.

Animals increasingly find themselves

confronted by the modern world

and have to adapt to an ever-changing environment.

(bird calls)

The red kite is an inhabitant of the plains and valleys,

while the chamois make their homes in the mountains.

Yet both have had to learn to live alongside humans.

When the last traces of mist give way to sunshine

and the soils and rocks grow warmer, the air currents change.

♪ (delicate orchestral music)

Throughout the Alps, the resulting thermal updrafts

are welcomed by birds of prey, including red kites,

black kites, and buzzards.

The aerial predators take advantage of the warm air currents.

The larger the wings are in relation to the body,

the faster the birds climb,

often rising between 2 and 5 meters a second.

Within minutes, the buzzard is carried

thousands of meters into the air,

high above the snowline,

despite expending very little energy.

It then descends again, soaring over the slopes and forests

towards the valley. (bird calls)

Forests like the one that covers the rocky slopes

of the Hohe Wand Plateau in lower Austria.

At first glance, it is merely a normal mixed forest.

However, a closer look reveals some very unusual inhabitants.

Ibex,

and not just any Ibex.

These Ibex are able to climb trees. ♪ (amusing music)

The herd has adapted to its surroundings.

Unlike their relatives who graze high above the tree line in the mountains,

these animals seek out the coniferous trees

that provide a large part of their diet.

Shaped by evolution, their hooves are ideally suited

to navigating coarse, angular rocks.

They are far less suited to round, soft, branches.

It is a challenging balancing act.

And yet, the juicy needles of the European yew trees

make all the hard work worth it.

At the eastern edge of the Alps, the high life of the mountains

collides with the vast expanse of the lowlands.

This marks the boundary of ibex territory.

The Pannonian Plain is visible in the distance,

but the Ibex prefers the safety of higher ground.

(wind whooshes)

A cold front approaches.

Even now, at the end of February, winter can return with full force.

More than a meter of snow falls in just a few hours.

♪ (ethereal orchestral music)

It is the most challenging time of the year for the red deer.

The animals have to conserve energy at all costs.

They move slowly through through the white drifts.

If the snow gets too deep,

they have no choice but to plow a path.

(water laps)

A stream provides the deer with a brief respite,

to the misfortune of the underwater creatures that inhabit it.

Every deer dislodges stones and gravel,

launching a tiny tsunami along the stream bed.

This disturbs stonefly and mayfly larvaves,

destroying their hiding places.

And creating a lavish feast for white-throated dippers

and grey wagtails.

The meal comes at a cost.

Temperatures far below zero cause the wagtail's legs to freeze over.

Rich pickings still lie below the water's surface,

but the little bird gets cold feet.

♪ (merry music)

Some animals welcome the cold snap.

In fact, they appear almost ecstatic.

While the deer can't wait for the snow to melt,

the stote makes the best of the unexpected situation.

The animal's fur is white in winter,

providing a measure of camouflage in the snow.

This stote, however,

seems intent on attracting attention.

Global warming and fluctuating temperatures

now cause the fresh snow here to melt quickly.

Within a few days, the winter wonderland begins to fade.

Soon, the days grow longer and the soils grow warmer.

Nature takes on a new lease of life.

Spring is most certainly in the air.

A quick wash before the courtship display

increases the chances of success.

(hollow tapping)

A rhythmic tapping rings out

at the edge of the forest.

Is it a woodpecker?

No, it's the Eurasian nuthatch.

This small bird is something of an acrobat.

It is the only bird able to descend a tree headfirst

while tap-tap-tapping away at the trunk.

Despite its diminutive size,

the Eurasian nuthatch is remarkably confident and unafraid.

Some might say even cheeky.

Mating season begins,

and the male spends all his time wooing his intended partner.

It is hard work.

The eventual reward is sweet...

..But short.

Eurasian nuthatches typically collect clay

and leave it to dry around the nest.

The birds settle in abandoned woodpecker nests

or natural hollows in trees,

using the clay to make the entrance smaller.

♪ (captivating music)

This behavior has never been captured on camera before.

Each leaf around the entrance to the nest is carefully removed,

presumably to ensure that the nuthatch has an unobstructed view

of its surroundings.

Birds of prey could otherwise use the cover of the leaves

to launch an attack.

For days, the male defoliates the hazel plant

on his doorstep to ensure the chicks will be safe in the nest.

Once again, his acrobatic skills are on display.

Some leaves put up a fight.

While others allow themselves to be plumped easily.

It is all a matter of practice.

The last leaf has been stripped,

and the bird turns his attentions to the catkins.

Everything must go.

Eventually, the nuthatch finds himself sitting in a bare bush.

Time to look for a new pastime.

It is the end of April in lower Austria's alpine foothills.

Mist covers the rolling landscape, and the fruit trees are in bloom.

It appears that time has stopped here.

The Mostviertel region is home to one of the last of the traditional

meadow orchards,

with scattered fruit trees that date back decades and even centuries.

It is the perfect habitat for species that benefit

from human landscape cultivation.

The orchard contains a range of old fruit varieties

that grow on tall trees.

In the 1950s,

there were around 30 million of these trees across Austria.

Now, just 4 million remain,

and efforts are underway to designate

them as part of the cultural heritage to ensure their protection.

These efforts rely heavily on the region's insects.

Without their winged assistance, the pear trees would be unable

to produce a single piece of fruit.

Bees also play an important role.

As does the somewhat clumsily named Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth.

The level of biodiversity in a particular region also depends

on local cultivation methods.

After the brief blossoming of the fruit trees,

the insects require flowering meadows

that are ideally allowed to grow naturally well into summer.

If the insects thrive, so do the birds.

One of these is the rare little owl.

Other parts of the Alpine foothills are far less idyllic.

The region is home to a number of quarries and gravel pits,

where excavators and trucks generate no end of noise and dust.

However, the machines also provide an important service

for the local wildlife.

The work produces small puddles, which are quickly settled

by mosquito larvae.

It may seem strange, but this creates it's similar conditions

to those found in floodplain forests.

In the forests, periodic floods prevent vegetation

taking root permanently.

Here, the excavators serve the same purpose.

Shallow pools provide perfect conditions for certain

species to thrive.

Species like the yellow-bellied toad.

From above, the amphibian is not much to look at,

but the lower body is covered with striking patches of colour

that serve as a warning to other species.

♪ (quirky music)

Yellow-bellied toads are also masters of mosquito population control.

Their methods are simple, effective, and require very little effort.

The toad sits motionlessly on the surface

until mosquito larvae gather near its mouth.

The toad's eyes watch every movement.

As soon as enough larvae have congregated nearby,

the toad swings into action...

..Sort of.

A minimum of effort for maximum returns,

which can be repeated again and again.

Nuptial pads on the forearms of the male toads are now visibly swollen.

These secondary sexual characteristics allow the males

to grasp the females.

It is a sign that mating season is about to begin.

(toad calls)

The distinctive calls should attract females and keep rival males at bay.

At the peak of toad mating season, however, all bets are off.

Several males descend on a single female at once,

an attempt to drive off the competition.

The next day, the fruits of the wrestling match

are visible in the pools of water.

Spawn.

In larger lakes, reproduction cycles can be significantly longer.

The lake bed is home to creatures that appear to be

from another planet.

These freshwater mussels provide an important service.

Each can filter up to 1,000 litres of water a day,

ensuring that the lake remains clean.

Their muscular feet even allow the mussels to move from place to place.

These fish are loitering with intent

in the vicinity of a particular mussel.

Bitterlings have entered into one of the most surreal

symbiotic relationships in the animal kingdom.

First, the fish get to know each other

and the freshwater mussel better.

Once the courtship ritual is complete,

the bitterlings get down to business.

The female uses her ovipositor, a long organ used to lay eggs,

to release her eggs into the freshwater mussel.

Fertilization takes place within the mussel shell,

which then serves as a nursery as the young fish develop.

Saving safe from any potential predators.

The freshwater mussels are reliable partners.

After all, they can live for up to 15 years and offer a sense of stability.

The Alpine foothills are characterised by vast stretches

of wilderness, as well as large areas of land,

cultivated and altered by humans,

sometimes over the course of centuries.

The vineyards of Lower Austria are renowned for their incredible wines,

but they also serve another purpose.

When cultivated with little interference,

they provide the perfect habitat for certain species.

♪ (contemplative music)

The roebuck has made its home here,

moving carefully among the vines as it looks for food.

The European hare is also on a quest for nourishment.

Getting at the leaves requires a fair amount of stretching.

The steep slopes between the vineyard terraces

are important refuges for both plants and animals,

with a high level of biodiversity.

The roebuck leaves its mark wherever it goes.

♪ (uneasy music)

Nearby, a winemaker heads for home.

Does he pose a danger?

It's better to be safe than sorry.

The roe deer turn and flee, leaping through the vineyard.

Thanks to their comparatively small size,

they are able to duck beneath the vines

and eventually take cover some distance away.

Unlike red deer, roe deer do not necessarily

hide from potential danger.

As long as a sufficient distance is maintained,

the animals are happy to be observed by others.

As a result, roe deer are frequently to be seen

roaming cultivated landscapes.

(thunder cracks and rumbles)

A storm comes up with little warning.

Most of the vineyard's inhabitants immediately seek cover.

The little owl, on the other hand, visibly enjoys the sudden shower

and the opportunity to cool off.

Down below, the grey partridges wait impatiently for the rain to pass.

♪ (playful music)

But the little owl takes advantage of every moment of the downpour

and dances like no one is watching.

But somebody is watching.

From the sidelines, the chicks look on hungrily

as their parent enjoys the shower rather than hunting for food.

A rain dance with a rather unusual choreography.

In this part of the world, the little owl is one of the few

birds who can put on a show like this.

It is more often seen among birds of paradise in tropical rainforests.

Invariably, however, the curtain falls, or in this case,

the last raindrop.

It is the calm after the storm.

The young owls can now look forward to a hearty meal.

Usually, the little owl would hunt mice,

but variety is the spice of life.

Today, it is the dancing bird that catches the worm.

There is a moment of hesitation,

as though the owl is considering what else might be on the menu.

The chicks have learned a valuable lesson, patience.

It has been a long time since they have had to wait for their

food to be delivered.

It is late summer.

The land is calm and hot.

Most of the young birds have taken wing.

In the Alpine foothills of Lower Austria,

the vineyards are now a tranquil place to live.

The European hare takes the opportunity to lay

claim to its surroundings.

It leaves scent marks on the vines.

It's work done,

the hare settles down for an afternoon nap,

but is kept awake by the calls of the northern wheatear .

(bird chirps)

A return to the wilderness of the foothills.

Temperatures can drop rapidly here, even in early autumn.

(animal calls)

If the cold encounters moisture,

artworks that could only be created by nature suddenly appear.

♪ (tranquil music)

The next morning reveals a wonderful world of white.

Where the mist has draped itself across the slopes,

everything is covered in frost.

It is an early warning that winter is coming.

For a brief period, every blade of grass,

every branch, and every tree,

wears its own enchanted cloak of white crystals.

As autumn progresses,

high mists increasingly descend on the Alps for days at a time,

all the way from Tyrol to Lower Austria.

The foothills of the Alps are now divided

between a lower monochrome world of grey

and higher elevations bathed in sunlight.

The sinking temperatures leave their mark on the region's inhabitants.

Perhaps the most dramatic impact

is the hormonal change undergone by the stags.

They have spent the summer as part of a herd with other males,

but now suddenly become solitary animals.

The males appear from all over the region,

but they maintain their distance to others.

The air is filled filled with stimulating scents,

and every individual wants to call the shots.

(stag calls)

It is perhaps the most archaic and distinctive sound in Central Europe.

♪ (music intensifies) (stag calls)

The roars of the stags echo through the rolling hills

and across the wild moors.

Perhaps the sound that is heard throughout this extraordinary

landscape is a warning.

A call to protect the natural world of the Alpine foothills.

This region is far more than a boundary between two countries.

It is a place where wilderness and civilization have joined forces

to create a world almost unparalleled in Central Europe and beyond.

It is up to us to preserve this unique landscape for future

generations of human beings and of the many species that inhabit

the fascinating, magical world of the Alpine foothills.