[birds singing] [narrator] We envy birds,
their mastery of the air, watching them enjoy the freedom
of a 3-dimensional space. Flight allows them to get
to hard-to-reach places and perform aerial acrobatics in protecting home ranges
and searching for food. [birds chirping] [squawking] But it's not always easy. It takes a lot of effort
to graduate air school, and there is a new bunch
of cadets arriving, all hoping to get their wings. [chicks calling] Some birds seem to come out of the egg
ready to take to the wing. [calling] In the meadows of Europe,
common quails scrape out their living, gathering seeds, leaves and bugs. [quails calling] Their chicks grow at a rate of knots, learning from their mother
what to eat and not to eat. And though they are best suited
to a life on the ground, running and hiding from danger, it will be just 11 days
before they are ready to take flight. It's good for emergencies. When a predator is on the prowl,
they can make a speedy escape. The buzzard will have to
make do with worms. They're easier to catch. While the quails are flying
from the word go, there are other families that engage
in a more long-term commitment. The white stork is a famous flyer,
long embroiled in mythology. It was said to deliver new-born babies. Of course it doesn't,
not human ones anyway, but was a convenient way for parents to explain to children
"where babies come from." Because they have long been considered
a symbol of good luck, storks are welcomed into communities and often nest on buildings
or even purpose-built nesting platforms. The male chooses the nest site,
and he'll need to make a good decision. The platform will need to support
his family for more then two months. [bills clacking] The female seems to like his handiwork. They begin a ritual
to cement their relationship. The head bobbing and bill clapping
are dance moves and chat-up lines. The female can't resist joining in. They'll mate and lay eggs. It will be another month
until the little ones hatch. [stork squawking] He plans to do some home renovation. The nests are added to every year
and can reach three metres in height. His craft is hampered
when the materials fight back. [squawking] The timber arrives
courtesy of two-metre wings. [bills clacking] Nesting is a demanding business, and the ability to fly makes a huge
difference in the delivery of materials. But all over the world, wings are at work
creating platforms for parenthood. [birds calling] Other birds, like bee-eaters,
use their wings to nest high, flying to cliff faces
where they can excavate chambers that are out of reach of predators. They have some noisy neighbours: rollers. [rollers squawking] In the early days of the breeding season, there is much competition
for the best spots. Pairs stake out their favourite perches
and try to keep trespassers at bay. It doesn't always work,
and a featherweight fight ensues. This colourful community is made entirely
from insect catchers. As their names suggest,
bee-eaters specialise in bees and bash the insects to get rid
of their painful stings. Once disarmed, the bugs make
for a romantic meal. Though there is a bit of a queue
for the best table in the house. [squawking] Once again the male uses food
to butter up his mate. Less romantic is the way they discard
the hard beetle shells. Once they get their perch back,
the bee-eaters can seal the deal. Then it's time to start
preparing the nursery. Both male and female birds
will do the hard graft, though sometimes they also
bring in contractors, perhaps last year's chicks
who hang around and help out. They break up the ground
with their sharp beaks, then kick away the rubble. Flight enables birds
to live wherever they want. [woodpeckers pecking] In the case of woodpeckers,
it means they can enjoy tree trunks and use their wood bashing fame
to carve out a fortress of a nest. [bird squawks] [bird squawks] [chicks peeping] Other birds prefer to be out on a limb. The golden orioles can't afford to rest when they have
such a hungry brood to feed. [peeping] For most bird species,
a close bond forms between the parents. They need to work together
in their child rearing. The female woodchat shrike
is on babysitting duty and must rely on her mate
to keep the food coming. One of the challenges for nesting birds
is that, for the most part, chicks take a long time to go
from pink and useless to capable fliers. And for the weeks or months of growth, it means the parents
are constantly on the go. Nesting in trees or tucked away
in the undergrowth is one way of avoiding predators,
but another is to nest on an island. [birds calling] Hundreds of thousands of seabirds may share the least inviting,
most windswept of rocks. With their mastery of the air, gannets are perfectly at home
on the sea-battered cliffs. Guillemots, too, crowd the ledges... [birds calling] ...ferrying in fish for their young. Being surrounded by sea keeps the chicks
safe from land predators. But attacks can still come from the skies
from predatory birds. A skua, the pirate of the sea,
looks for an unguarded baby. But there are some places that are
out of reach to any would-be threat. Thanks to some of
the longest wings on earth, over three metres tip to tip, the Andean condor can live
on top of the world. Condors have mastered low-cost flights. Living over mountains, they can find
rising thermals and air currents and use their broad wings to catch a ride. Throughout South American mountain ranges, they seek ledges thousands of metres
above sea level, their preferred nesting ground. They pair for life and will both help
raise their young. As long as the weather's reasonable, they can glide for hours without
expending any energy flapping their wings. They are so fuel efficient that they can
afford to live by scavenging, soaring effortlessly over
their 200-kilometre territories until they spot a carcass. On the ground, they are nervous
and eat quickly. [condors snarling] They'll cram in as much as they can, sometimes to the point
where they can barely take off. The mated pair watch from the wings. Once the carcass is stripped bare, they climb the thermals
back to their nest. The condor's flap-free gliding
couldn't contrast more with the high-powered flight
of the hummingbird. The smallest birds on earth, the hummers
are also the most manoeuvrable. Their wings beat in a figure of eight,
flapping 90 times a second. Like mini helicopters,
they can go in any direction. This type of flight requires
a huge amount of fuel and so the hummingbirds must eat
twice their body weight every day in energy rich nectar. [wings humming] There is even more pressure
for the single mums, when they have to provide for their
bee-sized baby as well as themselves. [birds calling] Peregrine falcons are often
considered the fastest birds, but that's only when diving, where their performance is enhanced
by the forces of gravity. Nonetheless, they are
fast and skilful fliers, but it takes a lot of practise
to master their art. These downy chicks
still have a long way to go. Birds of prey are some
of the most spectacular flyers, using their skills to hunt. With less speed
but lots of power and agility, a long-legged buzzard has its eye
on a pheasant pair. [pheasant squawks] [bird squawks] [mouse sniffing] Owls have a unique flying adaptation. Their feathers are covered with tiny
hair-like down that reduce turbulence. It means they are silent in flight
and can take their prey by surprise. [squawking] Birds of prey can even move
between mediums. From high above, the osprey
can look down into the water. Rough pads on his feet
grip the slippery prey. [chirping] This fish is a gift for his mate. Being a smooth mover is very attractive
to other birds of prey, so they often show off their skills. When courting or training their young,
harriers perform aerial acrobatics. These chicks are totally dependent
on their parents for food. And when the male arrives
with a food package, rather than dropping it off at the nest,
it's passed in mid air. Dinner is served. It was a generous meal, but not enough
to stop the chicks from fighting. Survival of the fittest
is played out in nests. [chicks peeping] Usually the oldest
and therefore biggest chick has the greatest chance of growing up. Luckily for this family,
both parents seem especially good at keeping up with the food demands. Fishermen are among
the most agile of flyers, and few more so than the terns. [squawking] Despite their delicate appearance,
Arctic terns migrate from pole to pole. All of their kind are among
the most acrobatic of birds. They dip and dive for fish
to feed their rapidly growing young. [chick screeching] They also put their aerial skills
to the test in defending their nests from
any intruder, no matter how big. [squawking] Wings are the tools of flight, but they
probably didn't evolve for that purpose. Fossil evidence suggests feathered wings
were first used for display to attract mates or intimidate rivals,
and they still serve that role. [squawking] Cranes display
with their spectacular wings. However feathers need
a great deal of upkeep. All birds groom, keeping
their plumage in good shape. [squawking] Because a bird in bad shape
is not going to last long. Grounded, the young kittiwake's
fate is sealed. To make sure they don't get caught out,
birds take every opportunity to bathe. [squawking] And if they can't get to water,
they improvise. Dust bathing can rid the bird
of parasites and dead skin, keeping the sparrows in top health. Or in the frozen north,
even a snow bath can help. And for ravens, it seems to be fun too. The jay takes a different approach:
a chemical bath. It solicits an ant army. The angry insects don't like intruders
on their mound. They swarm the jay. But as they clamber through its feathers, they remove parasites
and squirt a toxic pesticide. Once the treatment gets a bit rough,
the jay moves on. [bird squawks] Perhaps the most impressive
feat of cleaning is the extreme showering of swifts. Clinging on with tiny feet,
they let water run over their bodies. Waters of the enormous Iguazu Falls. These aerial acrobats spend
most of their lives on the wing. Some kinds of swifts even travel the globe and only land when it's time
to have their young. These swifts use the waterfall as a screen
behind which they can conceal their nests. Wings give birds
their incredible gift of flight, but they have other functions as well. When the desert mountains get too hot, a mother vulture can use her wings
to shield her vulnerable chick. They can also shield a meal
from any potential thief. A fisherman's friend,
wings can cast shadows to lure fish or remove reflections,
making it easier to spot prey. And for marine hunters,
wings turn flippers for submarine flight. Despite their buoyant bodies,
the powerful wings of harlequin ducks can propel them down several metres
to feed on shellfish on the sea floor. [calling] And for a booming bustard,
the wings have decorative value. They almost seem to turn themselves
inside out to impress a mate. [bustard "booming"] The wings are almost three metres across, and although a male bustard
may weigh 18 kilos, it can still get airborne, making it
possibly the heaviest flyer on the planet. These innocuous birds have yet
another use for their wings. The African thick-knees, or dikkops, nest on a riverbank close to crocodiles, hoping that the massive monsters
will keep other predators at bay. But it doesn't always work, and when a monitor lizard comes marauding,
the birds are ready to take it on. The bold markings on the wings
are like false eyes, creating a dramatic appearance. The birds look bigger
and scarier than they really are. And it's usually enough
to dissuade an attacker. [squawking] Wings can also be used
more directly in warfare. It's a bit of urban myth that
a swan's wing can break your arm, but they are certainly effective when
trying to keep a whooping swan Casanova from your missis. The intruder swaggers,
virtually standing on its own beak to show off its coordination. The couple try to make it clear
that they are an "item." [wings flapping] But the stalker won't go away. [trumpeting] [trumpeting] [trumpeting] Beaten and bitten,
he's finally got the message. [both trumpeting] White storks are busily gathering frogs,
mice, insects, whatever they can catch
to take back to their nests. They have chicks to get airborne. Already the youngsters have grown. Mother drops off some extra bedding
and then unloads the dish of the day. Already the chicks are nearly as big
as she is and stretch their huge wings. For these young birds,
the wings have a vital function. They have been born to become
long distance travellers. As soon as they have the strength, they will need to fly
from Europe to Africa. [birds squawking] Other birds put their flying skills
to less honourable uses. During the cold Japanese winter, kind fishermen throw leftovers
from their catch to help cranes through the tough months. But aerial acrobats
keep an eye on the goings on. White-tailed sea eagles. These huge birds are good
at catching fish for themselves, but when it's being handed out for free,
they are not afraid to fight for it. [squawking] The cranes do their best
to defend their prize. But against these accomplished thieves
it's futile. [birds squawking] Birds have a number of ways
of exploiting other animals. On the Pampas of South America,
a capybara finds itself with baggage. The cling-on is a chimango caracara,
a small hawk. It's posing as pest control, helping to remove ticks and other insects
from the rodent's fur. But it has an inner vampire,
and when it cleans the capybara's wounds, it nibbles just a little bit deeper
than it should. Here's another marauding mob. [bird screeching] But the jays have purpose. [osprey calling] Songbirds, and especially
members of the crow family, seem to delight
in harassing birds of prey. But in truth it's a safety mechanism. By calling the bird's bluff, they are making sure they are not going
to be taken by surprise, ending up on the menu themselves. Even when the bigger
female osprey returns, the jays don't give in. -[ospreys calling]
-[jays screeching] Attracted by the creatures of the forest, this young fishing owl is keen
to make his debut. [owl hoots] But unfortunately,
success on his first flight will largely be a matter of timing. Soaked through, his wings
have no resistance to the air. He's going to have to wait
and dry off a bit first. Timing is critical to the success
of all baby birds, especially ones with a long way to fall. [birds calling] Arctic seabirds cram the ledges. The guillemot chicks are growing fast
and running out of space. [birds squawking] But unlike other birds,
guillemots don't fly from the nests. They jump. On a good day, the flightless youngster
will leap to the sea, where it will be accompanied by its father until it's developed enough to fly
and take care of itself. But bad weather has pushed sheets of ice
up against the cliffs. [wind whistling] One father and son
find themselves on thin ice. And an Arctic fox
has spotted their misfortune. It's a floating maze of moving icebergs that are treacherous
to both predator and prey. But eventually the ice gets too thin. The fox doesn't want to risk
a dunking in freezing seawater, so he makes his way back to shore... [splashes] ...getting a little wetter en route
than he'd hoped. [bird calling] It's also time for the bee-eaters
to fly the nest. [calling] Mother's brought a juicy butterfly
to try and lure the little ones out. They don't seem keen to obey. She gives in and feeds them. But if they want any more, they are going
to have to come out and get it. Their mother demonstrates the principle. And dad makes encouraging sounds. [calling] Another lure. The prospect is getting more tempting. Gradually the young birds assemble and become more used
to the subtleties of their wings. Soon they will join their parents
as masters of the skies. There is no doubt that mastery
of the skies is a useful skill, and the cranes start coaxing their family
to conquer the air at a young age. The parents lead by example. In just a few short months,
the lessons pay off. There is still time for games. But when the flock takes off
to begin their migration, the youngsters fall in
behind their parents, ready to learn the route
that will bring them back next year to the place of their birth. Birds are incredible. A marvellous balance of power and grace. [squawking] They can go where they want
and look down on the world. Is it any surprise we dream
of joining them as masters of the skies?
