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00:00Welcome to the Americas.
00:12An extraordinary journey across Earth's great supercontinent.
00:23From the northern reaches of Canada.
00:30Through the breathtaking landscapes of the United States.
00:39South to the iconic Amazon rainforest.
00:47And the very tip of Patagonia.
00:53Capturing the widest variety of life on the planet.
01:00Five years in the making.
01:09With 180 separate expeditions.
01:16Revealing new discoveries.
01:20Only found here.
01:21For the first time.
01:27Experience the strength.
01:30The heart.
01:33The hope.
01:34About me.
01:40The untold story.
01:47Of a unique wonderland.
01:48Wonderland.
01:57This time.
01:58On the Americas.
01:59The Atlantic coast.
02:00A world of wonder.
02:05The Atlantic coast.
02:10A world of wonder.
02:13Where enchanted seas.
02:22Meet fairytale forests.
02:24And life finds a home.
02:26Amongst the bright lights.
02:28Of a new world.
02:30Although over a hundred million people live on America's east coast.
02:44This is also where you find.
02:47Two hundred thousand square miles.
02:51Of historic forest.
02:53And where the Carolinas.
02:58Vast coastal plains.
03:00Slip beneath the waves.
03:02Reemerging as the ever shifting sands.
03:09Of the outer banks.
03:14These islands.
03:16Are home.
03:18To surprising castaways.
03:19Wild horses.
03:26They live a perilous life.
03:32Braving tides.
03:34And strong currents.
03:41Legend has it.
03:43Their ancestors were marooned here.
03:45When the ships of conquistadors.
03:46Were wrecked on these shores.
03:57But one stallion.
03:59Is doing very well here.
04:07He rules this part of the island.
04:10Carpeted in lush meadows.
04:11And at its heart.
04:15Lies the key to his success.
04:22A fresh water spring.
04:33Controlling this vital supply.
04:36Gives him.
04:37Power.
04:41For a decade.
04:43He's defended the well.
04:44And his family.
04:48From other stallions.
04:52He bears the scars.
04:54To prove it.
04:55The star.
04:56He's done.
04:57He's done.
04:58He's done.
04:59On the coast.
05:01He's done.
05:02He's done.
05:03The stallion.
05:05He's done.
05:06But at 15 years old.
05:08The stallion.
05:09May be past his prime.
05:10could be the end of his reign.
05:21That fight looks to be on the cards, because it's breeding season.
05:33He can smell that one of his mares is ready to mate.
05:40To heighten his senses, he curls his lips
05:44in what's known as the Flamin' Response.
05:48But other stallions have noticed, too.
05:57Including his arch-rival.
06:10This intruder may have dainty white feet,
06:17but his 500 pounds of testosterone-fueled attitude.
06:30The aging stallion must rise to the challenge.
06:33Like prize-fighters, they size each other up,
06:40stamping and posturing.
06:49The intruder is younger and bigger.
06:53But the wily old stallion has years of combat experience.
07:01A stamp of his foot says,
07:04bring it on.
07:05The old stallion skillfully dodges flying hooves.
07:08The reverse of them.
07:09The
07:13emergency
07:15The
07:28simulation
07:29The
07:30The old stallion skillfully dodges flying hooves.
07:34He takes one ferocious kick to the chest
07:46But rears up to avoid the knockout blow
07:50That was the challenger's best shot
07:59And it wasn't enough
08:02The stallion runs the intruder off his land
08:09A victory for the veteran means
08:24He can stay with his family
08:26And his place on these unique islands
08:32Is secure
08:33For now
08:36But here
08:45Danger is never far away
08:48Out to sea
08:52Atlantic waters are deadly
08:55Both above and below
09:02In the waters just off the coast of North Carolina
09:12This sand tiger is heading to a shark rendezvous
09:1710 feet long with teeth to die for
09:28This female certainly looks the part
09:32But she is about to reveal
09:40A very different side to her nature
09:44Sand tiger sharks are surprisingly sociable
09:55Every summer hundreds assemble here
10:04Every summer hundreds assemble here
10:07But the purpose of these extraordinary gatherings
10:14Is still a mystery to scientists
10:18They happen in a place of eerie beauty
10:30Known as the graveyard of the Atlantic
10:34More than 2,000 ships have met their end on this coastline
10:42From Spanish galleons and pirate ships
10:46To merchant vessels sunk in World War II
10:49These rusting hulks create new habitats
10:54Swiftly colonized by many creatures
10:58Including vast shoals of scad
11:05But these little fish
11:17Have a big problem
11:19They're on the menu
11:22For jacks
11:2830 pound high speed hunters
11:33And not just one of them
11:36The scad must seek safety
11:51And they find it
11:59Somewhere extraordinary
12:02With the sharks
12:10The scad use the sand tigers
12:21As bodyguards
12:23Each shark finds itself
12:32Cloaked in a shimmering veil
12:34Of tiny scad
12:36Cloaked in a shimmering veil
12:36Of tiny scad
12:39Cloaked in a shimmering veil
12:40Of tiny scad
12:41Cloaked in a shimmering veil
12:42Cloaked in a shimmering veil
12:43Cloaked in a shimmering veil
12:44Cloaked in a shimmering veil
12:45Cloaked in a shimmering veil
12:46Cloaked in a shimmering veil
12:47Cloaked in a shimmering veil
12:48Cloaked in a shimmering veil
12:49Cloaked in a shimmering veil
12:50Cloaked in a shimmering veil
12:51Cloaked in a shimmering veil
12:52Cloaked in a shimmering veil
12:53Cloaked in a shimmering veil
12:54Cloaked in a shimmering veil
12:55Cloaked in a shimmering veil
12:56Cloaked in a shimmering veil
12:57Cloaked in a shimmering veil
12:58It's a remarkable relationship, and one rarely filled.
13:09A hidden wonder where the human world and the natural world meet.
13:35Journey 200 miles up the Atlantic coast, and you'll discover the largest estuary in the U.S., Chesapeake Bay, where 150 rivers meet the sea.
13:54It's here that this true American icon is forced to meet its greatest challenge head on.
14:05The streams and rivers that feed Chesapeake Bay are a haven for wildlife.
14:20But they are also among North America's busiest waterways.
14:35To thrive here takes a particular kind of attitude.
14:42A bald eagle.
14:45The Atlantic coast's great success story.
14:49In the 1970s, there were no eagles on this stretch of river.
14:58But thanks to protection and the banning of harmful pesticides, now there are more than 300 breeding pairs.
15:07Their numbers are soaring.
15:14With a seven-foot wingspan and eyesight five times better than ours, this female looks the perfect predator.
15:32But for a bird that likes to hunt fish, she has one major flaw.
15:46She's not built to take off from water.
15:57For all her power, fishing is not easy.
16:01Missed again.
16:02For most of the year, she can do well enough.
16:21But in the spring, everything changes.
16:24Ospreys arrive.
16:37Birds of prey supremely adapted to just one thing.
16:43Fishing.
16:44In March each year, 20,000 ospreys migrate here from the south.
17:08They stay for the summer to raise their chicks.
17:11Now, they're in the eagles' territory.
17:18Ospreys can hit the water at 70 miles an hour.
17:26Their long legs stretch down to grab fish three feet below the surface.
17:32Equipped with waterproof feathers, takeoff is no problem for them.
17:38They're taking a lot of fur fish.
17:41They're taking a lot of fur fish.
17:59Outclassed on home turf?
18:03It's time to impose a fish tax.
18:08Bald eagles have some powers that ospreys can't match.
18:13.
18:24Bald eagles have some powers that ospreys can't match.
18:28.
18:32Audacity.
18:35.
18:36distance, and sheer strength.
19:06Daylight robbery. A quick barrel roll. And it's time for her to collect.
19:32North America's comeback queen, flourishing on this most crowded coast.
19:50Almost a third of Americans make the Atlantic coast home. The towns and cities we build have
19:58been the biggest force of change here. Where animals can sometimes find themselves in an
20:07alien world. But here in the suburbs, there are aliens living among us. This peaceful
20:25corner of Maryland is about to be invaded. Something is stirring. And it is not alone. This male,
20:32and thousands of others, have spent seventeen years deep underground. This male, and thousands
20:39of others, have spent seventeen years deep underground. They are called periodical cicadas. And each
20:46is on a critical mission to secure the next generation.
20:53but things here have changed.
21:02They are called periodical cicadas, and each is on a critical mission to secure the next generation.
21:14But things here have changed.
21:19Seventeen years earlier, George W. Bush was in the White House.
21:25No one had heard of a smartphone, and many suburban developments were still plots of woodland.
21:39Instinct drives the swarm to climb.
21:46Many fall at the first hurdle.
21:49But this male has found a good spot.
22:00A tall tree.
22:08The ideal place to make a dramatic transformation.
22:19Breaking free from the husk of his old body, he unfurls new wings.
22:37Breaking free from the husk of his old body, he unfurls new wings.
22:44And his adult form is revealed.
22:55Around him, the others change too.
23:02Ahead of the next stage of the mission.
23:04Ahead of the mission.
23:14It might seem a beautiful day in the neighborhood.
23:23But the human residents wake to an audio onslaught.
23:27The volume can exceed 96 decibels.
23:30It's like a rock concert in your front yard.
23:34With cicadas on vocals.
23:38But for the cicadas, this isn't a horror story.
23:42It's a romance.
23:43And the language of love is music.
23:45Bud style.
23:51With many males for every female, it isn't straightforward.
23:53Perhaps three's a crowd.
24:02With many males for every female, it isn't straightforward.
24:11Perhaps three's a crowd.
24:17Maybe she's the one.
24:24It's time for a cicada serenade.
24:31Vibrating his body like a tiny violin, he waits for a special signal from her.
24:45And there it is.
24:48A snap of her wings that shows his charms have won her over.
25:01After 17 years of waiting, a brief encounter is all it takes to fertilize her 500 eggs.
25:20For the males, adult life is very short.
25:30After just a month, it's all over.
25:36Now their bodies will nourish the soil for the next generation.
25:44While above, the female lays her precious eggs.
25:53A few weeks later, the young will drop to the ground and burrow deep into the earth.
26:01When they emerge, in 17 years' time, who knows what they'll find?
26:08To keep up with the pace of the modern world, animals have to be versatile.
26:23Meet one of the most adaptable in all the Americas.
26:27She can think and feel her way through any challenge.
26:40Getting a drink out of a water-filled tree hole?
26:43No problem.
26:46But she'll need all her wits about her.
26:51Because this raccoon doesn't live in the woods.
26:59She's a New Yorker.
27:11The city is home to 8 million people.
27:15But even here, a wild wolf finds a way.
27:24Making the most of 20,000 acres of parks and gardens is one of the cleverest animals in the Americas.
27:44A raccoon.
27:45Country raccoons are nocturnal.
27:49But here, they emerge in the daytime as well.
27:53So, they must be wary of people, dogs, and cars.
27:59Be kind of street smart.
28:10This female needs to take extra care.
28:14She's a mom.
28:16The wall provides high-rise living for her growing family.
28:25These kits are four months old.
28:29And they share their home with an older brother.
28:33He's getting ready to leave home for good.
28:38But raccoons aren't the only ones with a taste for city living.
28:50A red-tailed hawk.
28:51And it has its sights set on the kits.
29:04Mom is alert to any sign of trouble.
29:10Mom is alert to any sign of trouble.
29:24Come on.
29:25Come on.
29:26Back inside.
29:27With that hawk nearby, she needs to stick around.
29:40There may be safety in numbers, but this is becoming a tight squeeze.
29:46And something's gotta give.
29:52But it's best to wait for nightfall.
29:57This city may never sleep.
30:04But luckily, hawks do.
30:11It's a chance for the eldest kid to bid farewell.
30:16To the family.
30:36As mom watches him go, he's tentative at first.
30:47He's on his own now.
30:50She must stay with her younger kids.
31:01But soon, he's free-sullowing with ease.
31:04His super-sensitive paws help him find the safest footholds.
31:16And they're not bad for shucking snails, either.
31:32But alone on the parapet, he needs to keep on his toes.
31:49He needs to keep on his toes.
32:00Yeah.
32:01Nice move.
32:02He seems ready to face the city on his own.
32:19In fact, there's evidence that an urban upbringing makes raccoons better at problem solving.
32:24He's gonna be just fine.
32:36Just fine.
32:37He needs to be just fine.
32:38You've got to get a nice way around.
32:56Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
32:58Away from the magical bright lights of New York is a different fairy tale world.
33:11Deep in the Appalachian woods for a few bewitching summer nights, fireflies take the stage.
33:28Males flash to attract females.
33:34The chemical light they produce is one of the most energy efficient on Earth.
33:43For the fireflies, flashing in synchrony increases their impact.
33:49For us, it's pure wonder.
33:54For us, it's pure wonder.
34:22Forests cover 65% of the Atlantic coast.
34:31In one corner of Tennessee, there are so many trees.
34:35They seem to create smoke.
34:38In fact, it's a unique fog.
34:45This is the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
34:51And here, one black bear mom is having trouble with some very hungry cubs.
35:07It's late summer in the National Park with the greatest biodiversity in America.
35:16The huge range of trees and plants provides a varied menu for this mother bear and her six-month-old cubs.
35:28With winter just a few months away, they need to pile on the pounds, and there's one food that will help them get there.
35:36Cherries.
35:42They're high in fats and protein.
35:47So it's crucial the cubs make the most of them.
35:52But someone beat them to it, a trespasser, an adult male.
36:02And what's worse, males sometimes kill cubs.
36:07He's no match for a protective mom.
36:37Now the family can focus on getting those cherries.
36:53The tasty fruits are not easy to reach, especially if you're a cub.
37:03Mom's got to work around.
37:07Her cubs, though, don't yet have the strength, or the skill.
37:32But they do appear to be fearless.
37:37Hmm, this is going out on a limb.
37:45At just 30 pounds, the cubs are light enough to climb to the ends of branches.
37:53But a fall from this height could be fatal.
37:55They've got the hang of it, and these calorie-packed cherries will help the cubs to gain the weight
38:09they'll need to survive the coming winter.
38:13The Smokies are a magical place, and as America's most visited national park, they bring that magic to millions.
38:28Heading north, the ancient Appalachians formed the backbone of the Atlantic coast.
38:42Eventually, their weathered peaks reached New England.
38:45Two hundred years ago, the woods here were cleared for agriculture.
38:52But when many farmers headed west, the forest made a spectacular return.
39:00And now there are six and a half billion trees.
39:05In the heart of Massachusetts stands a queen of the woods, a red oak tree, known here as triple oak.
39:21She has weathered 130 years of change.
39:34Right now, she faces the inevitable turn of the seasons.
39:42Throughout the long days of summer, her leaves captured the sun's energy.
39:48Using green chlorophyll to produce the sugar she needs to thrive and grow.
39:56And the oxygen we need to breathe.
40:05But winter is coming.
40:10Shorter days mean there won't be enough sunlight to power her leaves.
40:13So, triple oak must do something remarkable.
40:23She withdraws her chlorophyll.
40:28As the green pigment is extracted, all the other colors are revealed.
40:33For a few short weeks, triple oak wears a gown of burnished gold.
40:51But her work isn't finished.
40:53In winter storms, a tree in full leaf catches the wind like a ship in full sail.
41:00She could be uprooted.
41:02So, her leaves must go.
41:07Triple oak creates a layer of cells that seal the leaf off from its twig.
41:11And is cast aside.
41:25And is cast aside.
41:28Triple oak then heals the scar.
41:31A process she repeats 200,000 times.
41:44Across New England, countless oaks, maples, beech and birch all follow suit.
41:52A spectacle so vast, it can be seen from space.
42:09New England in the fall is one of planet Earth's greatest natural wonders.
42:13And it happens on America's spellbinding Atlantic coast.
42:43New England in the fall is one of the best.
42:52New England in the fall isации.
43:11New England in the fall
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