Nature (1982–…): Season 27, Episode 3 - American Eagle - full transcript
Everything about them is big. They are one of nature's largest raptors, with wings that can span eight feet, and nests that can weigh up to a ton. Unique to North America, the bald eagle is the continent's most recognizable aerial predator, with a shocking white head, electric yellow beak and penetrating eyes. Yet most people know little about it beyond its striking appearance. In the 1960s, the bald eagle was on the brink of extinction caused by the pesticide DDT and other human pressures. Following their protection as an endangered species, bald eagles have come roaring back. But even in the best of times, life in the wild for these birds is a surprisingly tough struggle. From the pristine wilderness of Alaska to the Upper Mississippi River Valley, American Eagle goes behind the scenes and into the nest to provide the ultimate bird's eye view into the private life of an American icon.
Narrator: FROM THE SKIES
OVER THE MISSISSIPPI
COMES A PERSONAL STORY
OF OUR NATION'S SYMBOL...
Man: WHEN I WAS A KID,
JUST TO SEE A BALD EAGLE
WAS JUST A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME
EXPERIENCE...
IT'D BE ON THE FRONT
PAGE OF THE PAPER...
"A BALD EAGLE WAS SEEN."
Narrator: NOW, ALL
THAT HAS CHANGED.
WE'RE REALLY HOPING TO
INSTALL MULTIPLE CAMERAS...
MAYBE ONE ON THIS LIMB,
PERHAPS ONE ON THE OTHER LIMB.
Narrator: WE'RE
AFTER THE ULTIMATE
BIRD'S-EYE VIEW
INTO THE PRIVATE LIFE
OF AN AMERICAN ICON.
Man: WE'VE BEEN
WORRIED ABOUT WHETHER
THE YOUNGER SMALLER CHICK
IS GOING TO SURVIVE OR NOT.
Narrator: SIBLING RIVALRY...
PARENTS IN CRISIS...
PARTNERS...
FOR BETTER OR WORSE.
Man: AND HE'S THE BOSS.
BOY, THIS IS HIS NEST...
NO MATTER WHAT SHE DOES,
HE COMES BACK AND REARRANGES IT.
Narrator: A NATIONAL TRIUMPH
— RECLAIMING ITS PLACE
IN THE NATURAL WORLD.
THE AMERICAN EAGLE... IS BACK.
Narrator: THE FOURTH
OF JULY, 1776.
ON A DAY OF HIGH EMOTIONS...
HOURS AFTER DECLARING
INDEPENDENCE...
CONGRESS ASKED THOMAS JEFFERSON,
BEN FRANKLIN, AND JOHN ADAMS
TO CHOOSE AN EMBLEM
FOR THE FLEDGLING UNITED STATES.
WHAT SYMBOL WOULD BEST
REPRESENT A NEW SOVEREIGN NATION,
AND A FREE PEOPLE?
THE COMMITTEE FIRST
LOOKED TO HISTORY,
AND BEGAN WITH A
CLASSICAL DESIGN.
THEN INSPIRATION STEPPED IN...
THEY TURNED TO NATURE,
TO SOMETHING POWERFULLY ALIVE.
THE BALD EAGLE WAS
DISTINCTLY AMERICAN.
THE ULTIMATE EMBLEM OF A
NATION WITH SOARING ASPIRATIONS.
SINCE THEN, THE AMERICAN
EAGLE HAS HAD SWINGS OF FORTUNE
EVERY BIT AS DRAMATIC AS
THOSE OF THE UNITED STATES.
Man: I THINK THAT BEING
AN EAGLE IS A TOUGH THING.
I MEAN, THEY'RE OUT
THERE EVERY DAY
LIVING ON THE EDGE OF SURVIVAL.
I'M NEIL RETTIG, I'M A
NATURAL HISTORY FILMMAKER,
I'VE BEEN MAKING
WILDLIFE DOCUMENTARIES
FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
MY BIG PASSION IN LIFE, THOUGH,
HAS BEEN BIRDS OF PREY.
THE REALLY NEAT THING
ABOUT THIS IS THAT,
ON A DAY LIKE TODAY, YOU
HAVE UNLIMITED VISIBILITY.
AND 180°.
AFTER ALL THESE YEARS,
I DECIDED IT WAS THE
TIME TO LEARN MORE ABOUT
THE NATIONAL BIRD...
A BIRD THAT AMERICANS REALLY
DON'T KNOW ALL THAT MUCH ABOUT.
AND SO WE SET OUT TO
DISCOVER THEIR SECRET LIFE...
HOW THEY BREED, HOW THEY HUNT...
TO DEPICT A REAL PREDATOR...
A CHASER OF DUCKS,
A CATCHER OF GAME.
AND WHAT WE FOUND WAS IN SOME
WAYS INCREDIBLY MIND-BLOWING.
THEY WILL FACE ANY KIND
OF THREAT WITH FULL FORCE,
AND THEY WON'T HOLD BACK.
HERE'S A COUPLE MORE CHASING
EACH OTHER DOWN HERE, LOOK AT.
THEY'RE GONNA COME BY...
WE'RE GONNA GET SOME SHOTS.
Abraham: ALONG A
TRIBUTARY OF THE MISSISSIPPI,
NEIL FINDS THE
PERFECT NEST SITE.
IT HAPPENS TO BE RIGHT
ABOVE THE STATE FISH HATCHERY,
IN A HUGE COTTONWOOD TREE.
Rettig: NOW THESE
EAGLES TURNED OUT TO BE
AN EXTRAORDINARY
PAIR TO WORK WITH.
NOT ONLY WERE THEY
VERY TOLERANT OF HUMAN ACTIVITY,
BUT THEY WERE
ALSO CATCHING TROUT
RIGHT UNDER THE NEST IN
THE FISH HATCHERY PONDS.
THE FEMALE WAS A
PARTICULARLY COOL CHARACTER...
SHE HAD ONE EYE MISSING.
WATCHING THESE
BIRDS WORK ON THE NEST
IN THE DEAD OF WINTER
WAS REALLY SOMETHING.
BUT THE MOST EXCITING THING
WAS WATCHING THEM
ACTUALLY SWOOP DOWN
INTO THE WATERS OF
THE FISH HATCHERY POND.
EVEN THOUGH THE FEMALE
HAD ONE EYE, I WAS
AMAZED AT HER ACCURACY
IN ACTUALLY CATCHING TROUT.
THERE WAS NO TOLERATION
OF TRESPASSERS.
THE NEST SITE IS THE
NUCLEUS OF THEIR ACTIVITIES,
AND THEY HAVE TO PROTECT THE
RESOURCES RIGHT NEAR THE NEST.
ANY OTHER EAGLE THAT WOULD COME
ANYWHERE NEAR THAT
FISH HATCHERY POND
WOULD BE CHASED OFF.
IT'S A DEMONSTRATION, TOO,
OF SPEED AND AGILITY...
THE MANEUVERS WERE
REMARKABLE THROUGH THE BRANCHES,
AND THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT HAS ALWAYS JUST
SURPRISED ME ABOUT THIS SPECIES...
HOW FAST THEY ARE.
Abraham: ALL WINTER,
EVEN AS TEMPERATURES
DIPPED TO 20° BELOW,
THE PAIR HAS WORKED
TOGETHER, REFURBISHING THE NEST.
Rettig: I THINK A LOT OF
THE NEST BUILDING ACTIVITY
IS PART OF PAIR BONDING,
BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO
GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER
AS A MATTER OF SURVIVAL.
Abraham: IT'S NOW
THE END OF MARCH,
AND THE FEMALE
SETTLES INTO THE NEST
WITH A TELLTALE WAGGLE.
Rettig: BALD EAGLES NORMALLY
LAY TWO TO THREE EGGS.
BUT THIS SPRING,
THE ONE-EYED FEMALE
ONLY LAID ONE EGG.
Abraham: THE COUPLE
BEGINS A DAILY ROUTINE.
FOR FIVE LONG WEEKS,
THEY'LL TAKE TURNS
INCUBATING THE EGG.
AS WINTER EBBS,
THE WELL-PRACTICED TEAM
SEEMS TO BE HEADED FOR SUCCESS,
BUT SPRING IS A FICKLE SEASON.
Rettig: IN MID-APRIL,
THERE WAS A FREAK
SNOWSTORM... I'LL NEVER FORGET IT.
THE NEST WAS BEING BLOWN
AROUND BY THIS VIOLENT WIND,
THE SNOW WAS GOING
ABSOLUTE HORIZONTAL.
AND IT JUST KEPT REMINDING ME
OF WHAT THESE BIRDS ARE
FACING IN EVERYDAY LIFE.
THEY WERE WELL INTO INCUBATION,
SO THE CHANGING OF THE
GUARD WAS ALWAYS QUICK.
BECAUSE YOU GOTTA REMEMBER,
THEY HAVE DELICATE EGGS
THAT THEY'RE PROTECTING
AND KEEPING WARM.
THERE SEEMED TO BE SHIFTS
OF AN HOUR, HOUR AND A HALF,
WHERE ONE EAGLE
WOULD SIT ON THE EGG
WHILE THE OTHER WAS
OUT FORAGING FOR FOOD.
THROUGH THIS STORM,
THE MALE SAT, WAITING
FOR THE FEMALE TO RETURN.
TRAGICALLY,
SOMETHING HAPPENED TO
HER... WE'RE NOT SURE WHAT.
THERE'S SO MANY THINGS OUT THERE
THAT CAN WORK
AGAINST THE SURVIVAL
OF THESE MAGNIFICENT BIRDS,
AND IT MAKES YOU REALIZE
HOW FRAGILE THEIR
EXISTENCE ACTUALLY IS.
Abraham: COLD AND HUNGRY,
THE FATHER ABANDONS HIS EGG.
NOW HE HAS LOST
ALMOST EVERYTHING.
HE MAY FIND ANOTHER MATE
AND START ALL OVER AGAIN.
BUT UNTIL THEN, HE MUST
DEFEND HIS TERRITORY... ALONE.
WHEN EUROPEANS ARRIVED
IN NORTH AMERICA,
THE CONTINENT
TEEMED WITH AS MANY AS
HALF A MILLION BALD EAGLES.
BUT AS SETTLERS ADVANCED,
THE RAPTORS BECAME TARGETS,
AND THEIR NESTING
TREES FELL TO THE BLADE.
FOR RAPTOR SPECIALIST
BOB ANDERSON, THE
PIONEERS' ATTITUDE
WAS SIMPLY ARROGANT...
AND IGNORANT.
Anderson: ALL BIRDS OF PREY
WERE JUST CONSIDERED VERMIN.
I MEAN, THEY WERE
ALL CHICKEN HAWKS,
THEY WERE ALL BAD BIRDS.
BE IT A BALD EAGLE,
A GOLDEN EAGLE,
A RED-TAILED HAWK,
THEY WERE ALL SHOT.
Abraham: AT THE START
OF THE 20th CENTURY,
BALD EAGLES WERE UNDER
SIEGE ACROSS THE LOWER 48.
ALASKA SEEMED LIKE
THE LAST WILD PLACE.
AND THERE,
THE BALD EAGLE THRIVED.
BUT IN 1917,
THE TERRITORY
INTRODUCED A CASH BOUNTY.
BY MID-CENTURY,
OVER 120,000 EAGLES
HAD BEEN SHOT...
AND THE GRAVEST
THREAT WAS STILL TO COME.
AFTER WORLD WAR Il, DDT
CAME INTO WIDESPREAD USE
TO CONTROL INSECT PESTS.
BALD EAGLE NUMBERS
WENT FROM DECLINE
TO FREE FALL.
Anderson: WHEN I WAS A KID,
JUST TO SEE A BALD EAGLE
WAS JUST A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME
EXPERIENCE...
THE PHONES WOULD RING IF A
BALD EAGLE WAS SEEN ANYWHERE.
I MEAN, EVERYBODY WOULD
CALL— IT WOULD BE ON
THE FRONT PAGE OF THE
PAPER, "A BALD EAGLE WAS SEEN."
Abraham: DDT MADE
EGGSHELLS THIN AND FRAGILE,
SHARPLY REDUCING THE
NUMBER OF HATCHING CHICKS.
Anderson: THE CRASH WAS
TAKING PLACE SO RAPIDLY.
I WAS JUST CONVINCED
WHATEVER EAGLE I SAW WAS
JUST GOING TO BE A DINOSAUR,
IN MY LIFETIME, THEY
WERE GOING TO BE EXTINCT.
Abraham: IN THE 1960s,
JUST OVER 400 NESTING PAIRS
REMAINED IN THE
CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES.
IN THE '70s,
TWO CENTURIES AFTER
EMBRACING AN ICON OF WILDNESS,
THE U.S. DECLARED THE
BALD EAGLE "ENDANGERED."
AMERICA'S SYMBOL OF STRENGTH
HAD BECOME AN EMBLEM OF
ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION.
BUT AMERICA WAS NOT ABOUT TO
FORSAKE ITS TROUBLED SYMBOL.
RESEARCHERS FINALLY
PERSUADED CONGRESS
TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST DDT.
BY 1973, GENERAL USE OF
THE PESTICIDE WAS BANNED.
ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, BALD
EAGLES STARTED TO REBOUND.
IN 2007, THE AMERICAN
EAGLE WAS REMOVED FROM
THE ENDANGERED SPECIES LIST.
BY TAPPING OUR
OWN BETTER NATURES,
WE HAD GIVEN PRIMAL
NATURE A SECOND CHANCE.
Rettig: IT WAS LATE SUMMER AND
THE EAGLE HAD LEFT THE NEST.
IT WAS A PERFECT
OPPORTUNITY TO CLIMB
THE 80 FEET UP AND INVESTIGATE.
BOB AND I WANTED TO HAVE A LOOK
TO SEE JUST WHAT
WAS ON THE NEST.
WOW! WOW, LOOK
AT THE FOOD UP HERE!
AMAZING.
HERE'S A SKULL OF SOME MAMMAL...
THE TOP PART OF THE
BRAIN OF SOME MAMMAL.
AND HERE WE'VE GOT
THE REMAINS OF A...
THIS IS A RABBIT FOOT HERE,
YOU SEE A LITTLE
BIT OF THE FEMUR.
BONES HERE.
AND HERE'S A FEATHER.
A DARK FEATHER THAT
ALMOST LOOKS LIKE
IT MIGHT BE FROM A
CROW, POSSIBLY A DUCK.
Abraham: BOB AND NEIL
DECIDE TO LOOK FOR
POSSIBLE POSITIONS
TO PUT CAMERAS.
BOB IS A NEST-CAM EXPERT.
ONE THING THAT WE WE'RE
REALLY HOPING TO INSTALL
HERE IN THE NEXT WEEK OR
TWO ARE MULTIPLE CAMERAS...
YOU KNOW, ONE ON THIS
LIMB, MAYBE ONE OF THIS LIMB,
PERHAPS ONE ON THE OTHER LIMB,
ALL POINTING INTO
THIS GENERAL AREA,
THE BOWL OF THE NEST.
YOU'VE HEARD OF "SEA LEGS"?
WE HAVE TO HAVE TREE LEGS
WHEN YOU'RE WORKING THIS JOB.
Abraham: BOB WILL
HAVE A BIRD'S-EYE VIEW
IN THE COMING NESTING
SEASON, NO MATTER WHETHER
THE SINGLE MALE
SUCCEEDS OR FAILS.
OCTOBER IN THE UPPER
MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
THE FALL WEATHER IS MILD
AND EAGLES ARE FREE FROM
THE BURDENS OF THE NEST.
WATER BIRDS, SOON TO DEPART
FOR WARMER HAVENS,
ARE BRIEFLY ABUNDANT.
JOINING THE EAGLES THAT
LIVE HERE YEAR-ROUND
ARE BALD EAGLE MIGRANTS
FLYING SOUTH FROM CANADA.
SOME HAVE FLOWN 1,400
MILES TO FIND OPEN WATER.
THIS SURGE OF EAGLES
NOW TURNS TO HUNTING.
BALD EAGLES WILL
SOMETIMES CHASE MALLARDS.
BUT THE RIVER OFFERS
MUCH EASIER PREY.
COOTS RAFT TOGETHER
BY THE THOUSANDS,
AND THESE CALM BIRDS
ARE A FAVORITE MEAL.
A STRONG WIND ALLOWS
AN EAGLE THE RARE CHANCE
TO HOVER LIKE A
SMALLER RAPTOR, THE KITE.
THERE'S MORE THAN ENOUGH
PREY FOR EVERY EAGLE,
BUT THIEVERY IS IN THEIR NATURE.
AS ONE HUNTER LANDS
AT A MUSKRAT HUT,
OTHER EAGLES IMMEDIATELY
TRY TO STEAL HIS PRIZE.
THIS AUTUMN BOUNTY
IS A RETURNING GLIMMER
OF THE OLD DAYS.
IN NOVEMBER, WHEN
THE EAGLES ARE STAGING
ON THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI,
THERE IS ONE PLACE
FAR TO THE NORTH
THAT IS ALMOST PRIMEVAL...
AN UNTOUCHED WILDERNESS.
THIS IS THE CHILKAT
RIVER IN ALASKA,
WHERE GREAT RUNS OF SALMON
BRING EAGLES FROM AS FAR AS
A THOUSAND MILES AWAY.
THE SALMON HAVE MADE
THEIR OWN EPIC JOURNEY
IN FROM THE SEA TO SPAWN.
THEY WILL DIE SOON AFTERWARDS,
BUT THEY WILL SUSTAIN
THIS GREAT GATHERING OF EAGLES,
AS THEY HAVE DONE EACH
AUTUMN FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.
Rettig: I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO GO
TO THE CHILKAT, AND
IT WAS NOT A LETDOWN.
I HAVE NEVER SEEN SO
MANY EAGLES IN ONE PLACE.
THERE CAN BE AS MANY AS 2,000
IN ONE SMALL AREA OF THE RIVER.
IT'S LIKE GOING BACK
INTO TIME BEING THERE.
BECAUSE BALD
EAGLES DO SPECIALIZE
OFTEN IN FISH, THEIR FEET
ARE MODIFIED, WITH
TINY PROJECTIONS
ON THE BOTTOM OF THE TOES,
AND THE PADS OF THE FEET,
WHICH ACTUALLY MAKE IT
EASY FOR THEM TO GRIP FISH.
THEIR BEAKS ARE
INCREDIBLY EFFICIENT
AT RIPPING THE FLESH OF FISH
AND OTHER PREY THAT THEY CATCH.
EAGLES GENERALLY CAN GO FAIRLY
LONG PERIODS WITHOUT EATING.
THEY HAVE WHAT'S
CALLED A "CROP,"
WHICH IS AN EXTENSION
OF THE ESOPHAGUS,
WHICH IS A STORAGE BAG FOR FOOD.
WHEN THERE'S PLENTY
OF FOOD AROUND,
THEY'LL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
IT BY GORGING THEMSELVES.
AND THEY CAN ACTUALLY
GO, AFTER A GORGE,
FOR A WEEK TO TEN DAYS
WITHOUT FEEDING IF THEY HAVE TO.
BUT AS SOON AS A BALD
EAGLE CATCHES SOMETHING,
YOU CAN BET THAT WITHIN SECONDS,
ANOTHER ONE'S GONNA
COME IN AND HASSLE IT.
Abraham: BACK ALONG
THE MISSISSIPPI,
AUTUMN IS ON THE WANE.
WINTER MAKES A GENTLE ENTRANCE.
BALD EAGLES CAN NOW
WALK ON THE RIVER,
ALTHOUGH SOME SEEM
TO PREFER SKATING.
GIZZARD SHAD CAN
STILL BE PLUCKED UP,
BUT THEY WILL SOON
BE ENTOMBED IN ICE.
AS OPEN WATER FREEZES OVER,
AN EAGLE MUST BE
EVER MORE PRECISE.
AT THE HATCHERY NEST,
BOB ANDERSON HAS BEEN KEEPING
AN EYE ON THE WIDOWED MALE.
Anderson: THE MALE
WILL ALWAYS MAKE
OCCASIONAL VISITS TO THE NEST.
HE STILL MAINTAINS
THE TERRITORY.
HE'S WORKING ON HIS NEST,
ADDING LITTLE TRINKETS
THAT MIGHT MAKE
IT MORE ATTRACTIVE.
THIS PARTICULAR NEST
IS PRIME PROPERTY...
IT'S LOCATED SO CLOSE
TO A PRIME FOOD SOURCE.
MANY, MANY EAGLES HAVE BEEN
VYING TO GET INTO THE TERRITORY.
NOW THAT HE'S ALONE,
AN APPROACHING FEMALE
WOULD BE COURTED.
Abraham: AFTER
REARRANGING HIS CORN HUSKS,
THE MALE SETS OFF TO
COVER HIS TERRITORY.
BUT NOW ANOTHER
EAGLE BUZZES THE NEST.
IT'S A FEMALE.
AN AERIAL DUET MAY BE A CHANCE
FOR THE PROSPECTIVE COUPLE
TO SIZE-UP EACH
OTHER'S CONDITION.
A HEALTHY EAGLE CAN CRUISE AT
40 MILES AN HOUR IN LEVEL FLIGHT
AND HIT 100 IN A DIVE.
AFTER A FEW MINUTES WITH
THEIR HEADS IN THE CLOUDS,
THE COURTSHIP IS OVER.
ROMANCE IS A LUXURY...
THERE'S WORK TO BE DONE.
Anderson: WHEN THE EAGLES
FIRST LAND TOGETHER ON THE NEST,
THEY'RE A LITTLE
BIT APPREHENSIVE,
AND I THINK THE MOVING
AROUND OF STICKS TOGETHER
AND GRASS TOGETHER JUST
KIND OF CEMENTS THE BOND,
IT KIND OF CREATES THE MARRIAGE
THAT WILL ONLY GET
DEEPER AND DEEPER
AS THE WEEKS PROGRESS.
BUT IRONICALLY,
IN THIS SITUATION,
THE MALE HAS THE FINAL SAY...
EVEN THOUGH SHE BRINGS A STICK
AND TRIES TO PUT
IT IN SOMEPLACE,
THE MALE WILL GRAB HER STICK
AND PUT IT SOMEPLACE ELSE.
WE THINK SHE'S A FOUR-YEAR-OLD,
THOUGH SHE DOES HAVE
SPECKLES ON HER HEAD,
BUT YOU CAN SEE A LITTLE DARK
STREAK ON TOP OF HER BEAK.
THAT DARK STREAK TELLS US
THAT MAYBE SHE'S A FOUR-YEAR-OLD.
HE'S GOT A YOUNG BRIDE,
PROBABLY COMING INTO
HER FIRST BREEDING SEASON.
Abraham: WINTER DRAINS THE
LAST WARMTH FROM THE RIVER.
FRESH PERILS APPEAR
FOR ALL THE CREATURES
ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI.
AND NOW THE MOST
BRUTAL SEASON TIPTOES IN.
AT THE FISH HATCHERY,
THE MALE HAS WAITED OUT
THE FIRST SNOWFALL
OF THE SEASON.
EACH STORM WILL TEST
HIS NEST AGAINST THE WIND
AND THE EXTRA WEIGHT
OF SNOW AND ICE.
NEIL RETTIG FINDS THAT
EAGLES PAY A HUGE PRICE
FOR THESE STORMS EVERY YEAR.
WHAT WE'VE GOT SCATTERED
ALL OVER THE GROUND HERE
IS THE REMAINS OF
THIS EAGLE NEST,
WHICH JUST FELL A COUPLE
NIGHTS AGO IN A WINDSTORM.
IT WAS IN A CROTCH OF A
SILVER MAPLE UP ABOVE ME HERE.
AND THIS IS THE
NEST BOWL ITSELF.
ENCRUSTED IN THIS NEST BOWL
IS THE CENTER OF THE NEST—
THE NEST BOWL IS RIGHT HERE...
IS ALL THESE COOT
FEATHERS AND PREY REMAINS.
THERE'S SCALES OF FISH ON
HERE, ON THE TOP OF THE NEST.
THERE'S A CHUNK OF ICE,
WHICH IS TYPICAL
THIS TIME OF THE YEAR,
AND THE EAGLES
ARE DEALING WITH ICE
IN PREPARATION OF EGG LAYING,
BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S SUCH A SHAME.
THESE EAGLES WORKED
HARD SINCE OCTOBER,
AND IN ONE VIOLENT
WINDSTORM A COUPLE DAYS AGO,
THE WHOLE THING IS
OVER FOR THE SEASON.
Abraham: NATURE ISN'T
THE ONLY CHALLENGE
FOR BALD EAGLES.
DEER CARCASSES ARE A CONSISTENT
MEAL THROUGH THE WINTER.
BUT NOT ALL THESE DEER
DIE A NATURAL DEATH.
HUNTERS LEAVE MANY
OF THESE REMAINS,
AND THEIR BULLETS ARE
OFTEN MADE OF LEAD...
A POWERFUL NERVE TOXIN
THAT CAN KILL.
Rettig: WATCHING AN EAGLE
DYING FROM LEAD-POISONING,
SUFFERING, IS ONE OF THE MOST
SADDENING AND MOVING EXPERIENCES
I CAN REMEMBER SEEING.
I COULD HARDLY BEAR TO FILM IT.
THE LUCKY ONES ARE THE ONES
THAT ARE DISCOVERED BY HUMANS.
AND WITH THE KIND HELP
OF ANIMAL REHABILITATORS,
THESE BIRDS CAN BE SAVED.
SHH!
IT'S A COSTLY AND
VERY TIME-CONSUMING
AND DIFFICULT PROCESS,
BUT SOMETIMES THE
BIRDS WILL RECOVER
AND CAN BE RELEASED
INTO THE WILD.
IT'S OKAY, SHH...
SHH...
Abraham: IN A WORKSHOP
BENEATH THE IOWA HATCHERY NEST,
BOB ANDERSON
CHECKS ON HIS REALITY SHOW.
Anderson: WHAT A VIEW!
WHAT AN INCREDIBLE ANGLE
OF LOOKING AT THE
AMERICAN BALD EAGLE.
AND THERE SHE IS, ALSO.
AND HE'S THE BOSS,
BOY— THIS IS HIS NEST.
I MEAN, HE CALLS THE SHOTS.
HE'S IN CHARGE OF
ALL CONSTRUCTION.
NO MATTER WHAT SHE DOES,
HE COMES BACK AND REARRANGES IT.
AND... 100% OF THE TIME!
NOW, SHE BROUGHT IN
A LITTLE BIT OF GRASS,
AND IF SHE FLIES OFF NOW,
HE WILL GO TAKE THAT GRASS
AND PUT IT SOMEPLACE ELSE.
Abraham: DESPITE
SQUABBLES OVER DECOR,
THE NEW COUPLE IS
STARTING TO EMBRACE
THEIR COMMON PURPOSE.
Anderson: YOU CAN
ACTUALLY SEE THEM,
THEY'RE BUMPING EACH
OTHER, THEY'RE INTERACTING,
THERE'S NO
AGGRESSIVENESS AT ALL.
A MONTH AGO, THEY WOULD
HAVE NEVER TOLERATED
BEING THIS CLOSE TO EACH OTHER.
IT'S LIKE, NOW THEY'RE A TEAM.
WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE GETTING
CLOSE TO LAYING THEIR EGGS
WHEN YOU START
SEEING THIS BEHAVIOR.
Abraham: THE YOUNG FEMALE
LAYS HER QUARTER-POUND EGG
BEFORE DAWN.
EXPOSED, AN EGG CAN
FREEZE IN A MINUTE.
AND SO THE FATHER WILL NEED
TO MOVE IN FOR HIS FIRST SHIFT.
Anderson: THE FIRST EGG WAS
LAID EARLY IN THE MORNING.
WE ACTUALLY MISSED IT.
WE SAW THE BIRDS
SITTING IN THE BOWL,
WE KNEW THAT IT WOULD BE SOON.
BUT WE WERE KIND OF
SURPRISED TO SEE THIS FIRST EGG.
BUT WE CAN SEE HIM,
HOW CAREFUL HE IS WITH HIS FEET.
HIS FEET ARE BALLED-UP,
AND HE'S TRYING
TO HIDE HIS TALONS.
HE DOESN'T WANT THOSE NAILS TO
POKE A HOLE IN THAT FRAGILE EGG.
IT'S TOUCHING TO
WATCH THAT SENSITIVITY
THAT THIS OLD GUY
HAS HAD, YOU KNOW,
WITH MANY, MANY EGGS,
PROBABLY, IN HIS LIFETIME.
Abraham: IF A SECOND
EGG IS COMING,
IT'S DUE TWO DAYS
AFTER THE FIRST.
COME ON, STAND UP.
SHE LOOKS LIKE SHE'S ABOUT
READY TO STAND UP, BUT...
WHAT DO WE HAVE?
WE HAVE TWO EGGS!
WE'VE GOT TWO EGGS,
SEE THIS? SEE 'EM BOTH?
Rettig: SO, DO YOU
FEEL LIKE A PAPA?
WHEN THEY HATCH
I'LL FEEL LIKE A PAPA.
NOW WE JUST HAVE TO
WAIT 35 DAYS FROM TODAY
TO SEE OUR FIRST BABY.
Abraham: IF EAGLES
CAN FEEL PRIDE OR JOY,
THE NEW PARENTS
MUST BE BRIMMING OVER.
THEY WILL NOW WORK
NEARLY UNBROKEN SHIFTS,
BUT EVEN SUCH AN
EFFORT CAN'T GUARANTEE
THAT THE EGGS WILL HATCH SAFELY,
ESPECIALLY SINCE
THEY MUST SURVIVE
ONE OF THE LONGEST INCUBATIONS
OF ANY BIRD ALONG
THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI.
EGG THIEVES ABOUND.
RACCOONS AND CROWS
ARE EVERYWHERE.
SO EACH PARENT
IS HIGHLY ATTUNED
TO ANY SIGHT OR SOUND OF MENACE.
AND THEN...
ANOTHER STORM.
Anderson: WE KNEW A
STORM WAS COMING,
AND WE REALLY WANTED TO SEE
THE FIRST REACTION
OF THE BIRDS WAKING UP,
COVERED IN SNOW.
SO WE MADE SURE WE HAD
OUR RECORDERS RUNNING
LONG BEFORE DAYLIGHT.
I WAS AT FIRST DISAPPOINTED
WE HAD SNOW ON THE LENS,
BUT IT JUST SHOWS HOW
UGLY THE CONDITIONS
REALLY, REALLY ARE— I MEAN,
THIS BIRD'S COVERED IN SNOW.
AND SHE'S SCREAMING
RIGHT NOW, AT THE MALE,
GOING, "COME AND RELIEVE
ME, COME AND TAKE MY PLACE."
AND HE DOES.
Abraham: THE SPECKLE-HEADED
FEMALE FINALLY PROVES HERSELF,
AND THE DEVOTED
FATHER KNOWS HIS JOB.
WITH A LITTLE LUCK,
THE EGGS WILL HATCH
IN ANOTHER WEEK.
ON A MINNESOTA
FARM 40 MILES AWAY,
ANOTHER FAMILY IS FURTHER ALONG.
THEIR TWO EAGLETS
HAVE ALREADY HATCHED.
THE MOTHER FEEDS HER
FOUR-DAY-OLD DAUGHTER.
THE TWO-DAY-OLD MALE,
HARDLY ABLE TO HOLD HIS HEAD UP,
DOESN'T SEEM TO BE
GETTING A FAIR SHARE.
ALTHOUGH BOTH
PARENTS ARE DEDICATED,
THEY HAVE A BLIND SPOT
FOR ONE PARTICULAR PERIL,
ONE WITHIN THE FAMILY.
SIBLING RIVALRY.
IT'S NOT UNUSUAL
FOR THE OLDER EAGLET
TO TURN ON THE
YOUNGER AND SMALLER.
IN NATURE'S COLD CALCULATION,
WHY SHARE YOUR MEALS
WHEN YOU CAN EAT MORE ALONE?
NEIL HAS BEEN
DOCUMENTING THE STORY
FROM A STIFLING BLIND
JUST A STONE'S
THROW FROM THE NEST.
THE DYNAMICS OF
THIS WHOLE SYNDROME
IS THAT THE CHICK THAT'S BEAT UP
BECOMES WEAKER AND WEAKER,
COWERS, IS KIND OF AFRAID
TO EVEN STAND UPRIGHT,
AND THE FEMALE WILL ALWAYS
FEED THE CHICK THAT'S MORE ROBUST.
AND IT'S CALLED THE
"CAIN AND ABEL SYNDROME."
THE FEEDINGS GO ON FOR
ABOUT, OH, FIVE TO EIGHT MINUTES,
SOMETIMES MAYBE 12 MINUTES.
THE BIGGER CHICK IS GETTING
UP TO 30 OR 40 PIECES
OF FOOD PER FEEDING.
THE LITTLE ONE WOULD GET
ABOUT SIX TO EIGHT PIECES.
THE LAST FEW DAYS
WE'VE BEEN WORRIED...
A LOT... ABOUT WHETHER
THE YOUNGER, SMALLER CHICK
IS GOING TO SURVIVE OR NOT.
SO WE'VE GOT OUR FINGERS
CROSSED THAT LITTLE U.D...
WE CALL HIM "UNDERDOG"...
IS GOING TO BE OKAY.
Abraham: THE BATTLE
WILL RESOLVE,
ONE WAY OR ANOTHER...
AND SOON.
WATER FLOWS AGAIN AT LAST.
SPRING HAS COME TO
THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI.
THINGS ARE LOOKING UP
FOR ALL OF THE CREATURES
ALONG THE RIVER.
EAGLES VISITING FROM CANADA
NOW RETURN NORTH TO
THEIR NESTING TERRITORIES.
FOR YEAR-ROUND RESIDENTS
LIKE THE HATCHERY COUPLE,
SPRING MEANS GETTING
READY FOR EAGLETS.
Anderson: THE FIRST
BABY'S HATCHED NOW,
AND YOU CAN SEE HOW KIND OF
INEPT AND CLUMSY
THIS YOUNG BIRD IS.
SHE DOESN'T QUITE
KNOW WHAT TO DO.
THAT BABY'S BEGGING FOR FOOD,
AND YET SHE'S NOT
FULLY RESPONDING TO IT.
THERE'S FOOD OFF TO
THE RIGHT IN THE NEST.
AND THESE FIRST FEW DAYS
WERE SO PAINFUL FOR US.
IF IT WASN'T FOR THE MALE,
I DON'T THINK THE BABIES
WOULD HAVE SURVIVED.
Abraham: THE EAGLET IS
TOO EXHAUSTED TO BEG.
AND NOW THE MOTHER
STARTS TO FEED HERSELF.
PARENT AND YOUNG
ARE FAILING TO CONNECT.
SUDDENLY, THE MOTHER
FOCUSES ON HER CHICK...
AS IF SEEING IT
FOR THE FIRST TIME.
Anderson: SHE DOESN'T
KNOW HOW TO APPROACH,
AND SHE'S KIND OF...
SHE'S TRYING TO
BALL UP HER FEET.
SHE JUST STEPPED
ON THE BABY THERE.
IT'S A LOT DIFFERENT
THAN A HARD EGG.
Anderson: THIS SHOT HERE
REALLY JUST SURPRISED US.
SHE HAD HER TAIL
FACING INTO THE WIND.
THE WINDS GUSTED
TO 40 MILES AN HOUR.
THE WIND ACTUALLY LITERALLY
BLEW HER OUT OF THE NEST,
AND SHE ALMOST TOOK
THE BABY WITH HER...
SOMETHING AN EXPERIENCED
BIRD WOULD NEVER DO.
Abraham: IT'S BEEN A TRYING DAY
AND THE STAKES
ARE ONLY GOING UP.
Anderson: HERE'S OUR YOUNG
FEMALE JUST STANDING UP,
AND, AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'VE
GOT OUR SECOND BABY...
IT DID HATCH.
AND AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE THAT
SHE'S GETTING A LITTLE
BIT BETTER WITH HER FEET.
ALREADY THERE'S BEEN
A LITTLE BIT OF LEARNING,
I GUESS, THAT'S TAKEN PLACE.
AND NOW THE OLD
MAN WILL COME IN,
THE GUY THAT'S SO PROVEN.
THAT'S HIM ON THE RIGHT.
SHE'S STEPPING OFF NOW.
HERE'S THE ADULT MALE... HE'S
CLEARLY FED BABIES BEFORE.
HE JUST WALKS IN AND JUST...
HE'LL PUT THE FOOD
RIGHT IN THAT BABY'S BEAK
AFTER ONE OR TWO TRIES.
HE'S VERY EXPERIENCED.
Abraham: AND PATIENT.
IT WILL TAKE THE
EAGLET A LITTLE PRACTICE
TO ACTUALLY GET
SOMETHING TO EAT.
AT LEAST IN THIS NEST,
THERE'S NO SIGN
OF SIBLING RIVALRY.
AT THE MINNESOTA FARM,
NEIL WAITS FOR THE OUTCOME
OF THE SIBLING BATTLE.
THE SISTER IS ALIVE AND SASSY,
BUT WHAT ABOUT UNDERDOG?
Rettig: FINALLY, I COULD SEE
THAT UNDERDOG WAS COMPETING.
HE WAS ACTUALLY GETTING
FOOD OFFERED BY THE FEMALE
AND GAINING STRENGTH.
TODAY HE DOES LOOK BETTER.
I THINK LITTLE UNDERDOG
MIGHT HAVE A CHANCE.
ONCE THE EAGLES WERE
SIX TO SEVEN WEEKS OLD,
THE CAIN AND ABEL
SYNDROME WAS LONG PAST,
AND THEY WERE BOTH
HEALTHY AND VIGOROUS.
EACH DAY, THESE
LITTLE GUYS WILL EAT
THE EQUIVALENT OF ABOUT A
HALF A POUND TO A POUND OF FISH.
THE DEMAND ON THE
PARENTS IS INCREASING,
AND THEY'LL PROBABLY BRING
FOUR OR FIVE KILLS TO THE NEST
DURING THE COURSE OF A DAY.
Abraham: SOMETIMES THEIR
PREY IS KILLED FOR THEM.
BUT THIS KIND OF
MEAL IS NO FREE LUNCH.
EVERY YEAR,
COUNTLESS BALD EAGLES
ARE STRUCK BY VEHICLES.
LOSING EITHER PARENT
MAY HURT THE YOUNG
EAGLES' CHANCES OF FLEDGING.
AT THE AGE OF 10 WEEKS,
7,000 FEATHERS HAVE REPLACED
THE DOWNY COAT OF YOUTH,
ALLOWING NEW SKILLS TO EMERGE.
UNDERDOG STARTS
BUILDING UP STRENGTH
WITH SHORT FLIGHTS TO NOWHERE.
ONLY TWO WEEKS REMAIN BEFORE
THE CHICKS' MAIDEN FLIGHTS.
SUMMER ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI
SEEMS LIKE A CAREFREE SEASON,
BUT NEW CHALLENGES LIE AHEAD.
AT THE HATCHERY NEST,
THE EAGLETS ARE STILL
GROWING THEIR FLIGHT FEATHERS.
UNDERDOG AND HIS SISTER
ARE CLOSER TO INDEPENDENCE.
AND NO ONE DECLARES INDEPENDENCE
WITHOUT TAKING RISKS.
Rettig: THIS NEST IS ABOUT
60 FEET OFF THE GROUND.
BOTH EAGLETS ARE
JUMPING UP AND DOWN
AND WING-EXERCISING
AND GETTING READY TO MAKE
THAT FIRST JUMP OFF THE NEST,
THE FIRST JOURNEY INTO THE SKY.
Abraham: NEARBY,
OTHER YOUNG EAGLES
ARE ALREADY ON THE WING.
Rettig: IT MUST FEEL
REALLY WONDERFUL
TO HAVE YOUR FIRST
FLIGHT UNDERWAY
AND FEEL THE WIND RUSHING BY.
THE LANDING IS THE TRICKY PART.
Abraham: UNDERDOG TESTS
HIS ENGINES AT FULL POWER.
HIS SISTER SEEMS
TO HAVE COLD FEET.
THE WIND PICKS UP,
AND UNDERDOG LEANS INTO IT.
Rettig: THERE ARE MISCONCEPTIONS
THAT BIRDS ARE TAUGHT TO FLY,
BUT REALLY IT'S
TOTALLY INSTINCTIVE.
THEY DO CHASE THEIR
PARENTS AROUND, HOWEVER,
POSSIBLY TO STEAL FISH,
AND ALSO BECAUSE
THEY'RE BALD EAGLES...
THEY'RE SOCIAL.
Abraham: AT THE FISH HATCHERY,
AN EMPTY NEST IS NO
LONGER A SIGN OF LOSS.
IT IS A SIGN OF TWO
SUCCESSFUL FLEDGLINGS
WHO WILL SOON JOIN A
HUNTING FREE-FOR-ALL.
AS FALL ARRIVES,
A CYCLE OF SEASONS IS COMPLETED.
ONCE AGAIN THE
MISSISSIPPI BECOMES
A CROSSROADS FOR WATER BIRDS.
FOR THIS YEAR'S
FLEDGLING EAGLES,
THE TIME HAS COME
FOR THE NEXT BIG TEST.
IT'S A BIG MOMENT
FOR A YOUNG BALD EAGLE
TO BAG HIS FIRST COOT.
Rettig: THE BALD
EAGLE IS A SURVIVOR.
IT'S GONE THROUGH
REALLY BAD TIMES,
AND NOW IS PREVAILING.
IT'S AN ILLUSTRATION
THAT WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE,
AND WE CAN BE
STEWARDS OF THIS PLANET.
Abraham: WITH FOOD SO PLENTIFUL,
BALD EAGLES... YOUNG AND OLD...
SWITCH FROM HUNTING TO
SOMETHING MORE LIKE RUGBY.
ONLY ONE HUMAN GENERATION AGO,
SUCH A CELEBRATION OF EAGLES
COULD NOT HAVE BEEN
WITNESSED ON THE MISSISSIPPI.
Rettig: I THINK THE STORY
OF THE AMERICAN EAGLE
IS A GREAT PARALLEL
TO THE TRIUMPH
AND TRIBULATIONS OF OUR COUNTRY.
AND IF WE LOOK AT THE EAGLE
AS A ROLE MODEL,
I THINK THESE BIRDS ARE
KIND OF LIVING A STRUGGLE
FOR EXISTENCE AND FREEDOM,
JUST LIKE OUR COUNTRY.
AND I CAN'T THINK OF A
BETTER NATIONAL SYMBOL
THAN THE BALD EAGLE.
OVER THE MISSISSIPPI
COMES A PERSONAL STORY
OF OUR NATION'S SYMBOL...
Man: WHEN I WAS A KID,
JUST TO SEE A BALD EAGLE
WAS JUST A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME
EXPERIENCE...
IT'D BE ON THE FRONT
PAGE OF THE PAPER...
"A BALD EAGLE WAS SEEN."
Narrator: NOW, ALL
THAT HAS CHANGED.
WE'RE REALLY HOPING TO
INSTALL MULTIPLE CAMERAS...
MAYBE ONE ON THIS LIMB,
PERHAPS ONE ON THE OTHER LIMB.
Narrator: WE'RE
AFTER THE ULTIMATE
BIRD'S-EYE VIEW
INTO THE PRIVATE LIFE
OF AN AMERICAN ICON.
Man: WE'VE BEEN
WORRIED ABOUT WHETHER
THE YOUNGER SMALLER CHICK
IS GOING TO SURVIVE OR NOT.
Narrator: SIBLING RIVALRY...
PARENTS IN CRISIS...
PARTNERS...
FOR BETTER OR WORSE.
Man: AND HE'S THE BOSS.
BOY, THIS IS HIS NEST...
NO MATTER WHAT SHE DOES,
HE COMES BACK AND REARRANGES IT.
Narrator: A NATIONAL TRIUMPH
— RECLAIMING ITS PLACE
IN THE NATURAL WORLD.
THE AMERICAN EAGLE... IS BACK.
Narrator: THE FOURTH
OF JULY, 1776.
ON A DAY OF HIGH EMOTIONS...
HOURS AFTER DECLARING
INDEPENDENCE...
CONGRESS ASKED THOMAS JEFFERSON,
BEN FRANKLIN, AND JOHN ADAMS
TO CHOOSE AN EMBLEM
FOR THE FLEDGLING UNITED STATES.
WHAT SYMBOL WOULD BEST
REPRESENT A NEW SOVEREIGN NATION,
AND A FREE PEOPLE?
THE COMMITTEE FIRST
LOOKED TO HISTORY,
AND BEGAN WITH A
CLASSICAL DESIGN.
THEN INSPIRATION STEPPED IN...
THEY TURNED TO NATURE,
TO SOMETHING POWERFULLY ALIVE.
THE BALD EAGLE WAS
DISTINCTLY AMERICAN.
THE ULTIMATE EMBLEM OF A
NATION WITH SOARING ASPIRATIONS.
SINCE THEN, THE AMERICAN
EAGLE HAS HAD SWINGS OF FORTUNE
EVERY BIT AS DRAMATIC AS
THOSE OF THE UNITED STATES.
Man: I THINK THAT BEING
AN EAGLE IS A TOUGH THING.
I MEAN, THEY'RE OUT
THERE EVERY DAY
LIVING ON THE EDGE OF SURVIVAL.
I'M NEIL RETTIG, I'M A
NATURAL HISTORY FILMMAKER,
I'VE BEEN MAKING
WILDLIFE DOCUMENTARIES
FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
MY BIG PASSION IN LIFE, THOUGH,
HAS BEEN BIRDS OF PREY.
THE REALLY NEAT THING
ABOUT THIS IS THAT,
ON A DAY LIKE TODAY, YOU
HAVE UNLIMITED VISIBILITY.
AND 180°.
AFTER ALL THESE YEARS,
I DECIDED IT WAS THE
TIME TO LEARN MORE ABOUT
THE NATIONAL BIRD...
A BIRD THAT AMERICANS REALLY
DON'T KNOW ALL THAT MUCH ABOUT.
AND SO WE SET OUT TO
DISCOVER THEIR SECRET LIFE...
HOW THEY BREED, HOW THEY HUNT...
TO DEPICT A REAL PREDATOR...
A CHASER OF DUCKS,
A CATCHER OF GAME.
AND WHAT WE FOUND WAS IN SOME
WAYS INCREDIBLY MIND-BLOWING.
THEY WILL FACE ANY KIND
OF THREAT WITH FULL FORCE,
AND THEY WON'T HOLD BACK.
HERE'S A COUPLE MORE CHASING
EACH OTHER DOWN HERE, LOOK AT.
THEY'RE GONNA COME BY...
WE'RE GONNA GET SOME SHOTS.
Abraham: ALONG A
TRIBUTARY OF THE MISSISSIPPI,
NEIL FINDS THE
PERFECT NEST SITE.
IT HAPPENS TO BE RIGHT
ABOVE THE STATE FISH HATCHERY,
IN A HUGE COTTONWOOD TREE.
Rettig: NOW THESE
EAGLES TURNED OUT TO BE
AN EXTRAORDINARY
PAIR TO WORK WITH.
NOT ONLY WERE THEY
VERY TOLERANT OF HUMAN ACTIVITY,
BUT THEY WERE
ALSO CATCHING TROUT
RIGHT UNDER THE NEST IN
THE FISH HATCHERY PONDS.
THE FEMALE WAS A
PARTICULARLY COOL CHARACTER...
SHE HAD ONE EYE MISSING.
WATCHING THESE
BIRDS WORK ON THE NEST
IN THE DEAD OF WINTER
WAS REALLY SOMETHING.
BUT THE MOST EXCITING THING
WAS WATCHING THEM
ACTUALLY SWOOP DOWN
INTO THE WATERS OF
THE FISH HATCHERY POND.
EVEN THOUGH THE FEMALE
HAD ONE EYE, I WAS
AMAZED AT HER ACCURACY
IN ACTUALLY CATCHING TROUT.
THERE WAS NO TOLERATION
OF TRESPASSERS.
THE NEST SITE IS THE
NUCLEUS OF THEIR ACTIVITIES,
AND THEY HAVE TO PROTECT THE
RESOURCES RIGHT NEAR THE NEST.
ANY OTHER EAGLE THAT WOULD COME
ANYWHERE NEAR THAT
FISH HATCHERY POND
WOULD BE CHASED OFF.
IT'S A DEMONSTRATION, TOO,
OF SPEED AND AGILITY...
THE MANEUVERS WERE
REMARKABLE THROUGH THE BRANCHES,
AND THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT HAS ALWAYS JUST
SURPRISED ME ABOUT THIS SPECIES...
HOW FAST THEY ARE.
Abraham: ALL WINTER,
EVEN AS TEMPERATURES
DIPPED TO 20° BELOW,
THE PAIR HAS WORKED
TOGETHER, REFURBISHING THE NEST.
Rettig: I THINK A LOT OF
THE NEST BUILDING ACTIVITY
IS PART OF PAIR BONDING,
BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO
GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER
AS A MATTER OF SURVIVAL.
Abraham: IT'S NOW
THE END OF MARCH,
AND THE FEMALE
SETTLES INTO THE NEST
WITH A TELLTALE WAGGLE.
Rettig: BALD EAGLES NORMALLY
LAY TWO TO THREE EGGS.
BUT THIS SPRING,
THE ONE-EYED FEMALE
ONLY LAID ONE EGG.
Abraham: THE COUPLE
BEGINS A DAILY ROUTINE.
FOR FIVE LONG WEEKS,
THEY'LL TAKE TURNS
INCUBATING THE EGG.
AS WINTER EBBS,
THE WELL-PRACTICED TEAM
SEEMS TO BE HEADED FOR SUCCESS,
BUT SPRING IS A FICKLE SEASON.
Rettig: IN MID-APRIL,
THERE WAS A FREAK
SNOWSTORM... I'LL NEVER FORGET IT.
THE NEST WAS BEING BLOWN
AROUND BY THIS VIOLENT WIND,
THE SNOW WAS GOING
ABSOLUTE HORIZONTAL.
AND IT JUST KEPT REMINDING ME
OF WHAT THESE BIRDS ARE
FACING IN EVERYDAY LIFE.
THEY WERE WELL INTO INCUBATION,
SO THE CHANGING OF THE
GUARD WAS ALWAYS QUICK.
BECAUSE YOU GOTTA REMEMBER,
THEY HAVE DELICATE EGGS
THAT THEY'RE PROTECTING
AND KEEPING WARM.
THERE SEEMED TO BE SHIFTS
OF AN HOUR, HOUR AND A HALF,
WHERE ONE EAGLE
WOULD SIT ON THE EGG
WHILE THE OTHER WAS
OUT FORAGING FOR FOOD.
THROUGH THIS STORM,
THE MALE SAT, WAITING
FOR THE FEMALE TO RETURN.
TRAGICALLY,
SOMETHING HAPPENED TO
HER... WE'RE NOT SURE WHAT.
THERE'S SO MANY THINGS OUT THERE
THAT CAN WORK
AGAINST THE SURVIVAL
OF THESE MAGNIFICENT BIRDS,
AND IT MAKES YOU REALIZE
HOW FRAGILE THEIR
EXISTENCE ACTUALLY IS.
Abraham: COLD AND HUNGRY,
THE FATHER ABANDONS HIS EGG.
NOW HE HAS LOST
ALMOST EVERYTHING.
HE MAY FIND ANOTHER MATE
AND START ALL OVER AGAIN.
BUT UNTIL THEN, HE MUST
DEFEND HIS TERRITORY... ALONE.
WHEN EUROPEANS ARRIVED
IN NORTH AMERICA,
THE CONTINENT
TEEMED WITH AS MANY AS
HALF A MILLION BALD EAGLES.
BUT AS SETTLERS ADVANCED,
THE RAPTORS BECAME TARGETS,
AND THEIR NESTING
TREES FELL TO THE BLADE.
FOR RAPTOR SPECIALIST
BOB ANDERSON, THE
PIONEERS' ATTITUDE
WAS SIMPLY ARROGANT...
AND IGNORANT.
Anderson: ALL BIRDS OF PREY
WERE JUST CONSIDERED VERMIN.
I MEAN, THEY WERE
ALL CHICKEN HAWKS,
THEY WERE ALL BAD BIRDS.
BE IT A BALD EAGLE,
A GOLDEN EAGLE,
A RED-TAILED HAWK,
THEY WERE ALL SHOT.
Abraham: AT THE START
OF THE 20th CENTURY,
BALD EAGLES WERE UNDER
SIEGE ACROSS THE LOWER 48.
ALASKA SEEMED LIKE
THE LAST WILD PLACE.
AND THERE,
THE BALD EAGLE THRIVED.
BUT IN 1917,
THE TERRITORY
INTRODUCED A CASH BOUNTY.
BY MID-CENTURY,
OVER 120,000 EAGLES
HAD BEEN SHOT...
AND THE GRAVEST
THREAT WAS STILL TO COME.
AFTER WORLD WAR Il, DDT
CAME INTO WIDESPREAD USE
TO CONTROL INSECT PESTS.
BALD EAGLE NUMBERS
WENT FROM DECLINE
TO FREE FALL.
Anderson: WHEN I WAS A KID,
JUST TO SEE A BALD EAGLE
WAS JUST A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME
EXPERIENCE...
THE PHONES WOULD RING IF A
BALD EAGLE WAS SEEN ANYWHERE.
I MEAN, EVERYBODY WOULD
CALL— IT WOULD BE ON
THE FRONT PAGE OF THE
PAPER, "A BALD EAGLE WAS SEEN."
Abraham: DDT MADE
EGGSHELLS THIN AND FRAGILE,
SHARPLY REDUCING THE
NUMBER OF HATCHING CHICKS.
Anderson: THE CRASH WAS
TAKING PLACE SO RAPIDLY.
I WAS JUST CONVINCED
WHATEVER EAGLE I SAW WAS
JUST GOING TO BE A DINOSAUR,
IN MY LIFETIME, THEY
WERE GOING TO BE EXTINCT.
Abraham: IN THE 1960s,
JUST OVER 400 NESTING PAIRS
REMAINED IN THE
CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES.
IN THE '70s,
TWO CENTURIES AFTER
EMBRACING AN ICON OF WILDNESS,
THE U.S. DECLARED THE
BALD EAGLE "ENDANGERED."
AMERICA'S SYMBOL OF STRENGTH
HAD BECOME AN EMBLEM OF
ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION.
BUT AMERICA WAS NOT ABOUT TO
FORSAKE ITS TROUBLED SYMBOL.
RESEARCHERS FINALLY
PERSUADED CONGRESS
TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST DDT.
BY 1973, GENERAL USE OF
THE PESTICIDE WAS BANNED.
ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, BALD
EAGLES STARTED TO REBOUND.
IN 2007, THE AMERICAN
EAGLE WAS REMOVED FROM
THE ENDANGERED SPECIES LIST.
BY TAPPING OUR
OWN BETTER NATURES,
WE HAD GIVEN PRIMAL
NATURE A SECOND CHANCE.
Rettig: IT WAS LATE SUMMER AND
THE EAGLE HAD LEFT THE NEST.
IT WAS A PERFECT
OPPORTUNITY TO CLIMB
THE 80 FEET UP AND INVESTIGATE.
BOB AND I WANTED TO HAVE A LOOK
TO SEE JUST WHAT
WAS ON THE NEST.
WOW! WOW, LOOK
AT THE FOOD UP HERE!
AMAZING.
HERE'S A SKULL OF SOME MAMMAL...
THE TOP PART OF THE
BRAIN OF SOME MAMMAL.
AND HERE WE'VE GOT
THE REMAINS OF A...
THIS IS A RABBIT FOOT HERE,
YOU SEE A LITTLE
BIT OF THE FEMUR.
BONES HERE.
AND HERE'S A FEATHER.
A DARK FEATHER THAT
ALMOST LOOKS LIKE
IT MIGHT BE FROM A
CROW, POSSIBLY A DUCK.
Abraham: BOB AND NEIL
DECIDE TO LOOK FOR
POSSIBLE POSITIONS
TO PUT CAMERAS.
BOB IS A NEST-CAM EXPERT.
ONE THING THAT WE WE'RE
REALLY HOPING TO INSTALL
HERE IN THE NEXT WEEK OR
TWO ARE MULTIPLE CAMERAS...
YOU KNOW, ONE ON THIS
LIMB, MAYBE ONE OF THIS LIMB,
PERHAPS ONE ON THE OTHER LIMB,
ALL POINTING INTO
THIS GENERAL AREA,
THE BOWL OF THE NEST.
YOU'VE HEARD OF "SEA LEGS"?
WE HAVE TO HAVE TREE LEGS
WHEN YOU'RE WORKING THIS JOB.
Abraham: BOB WILL
HAVE A BIRD'S-EYE VIEW
IN THE COMING NESTING
SEASON, NO MATTER WHETHER
THE SINGLE MALE
SUCCEEDS OR FAILS.
OCTOBER IN THE UPPER
MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
THE FALL WEATHER IS MILD
AND EAGLES ARE FREE FROM
THE BURDENS OF THE NEST.
WATER BIRDS, SOON TO DEPART
FOR WARMER HAVENS,
ARE BRIEFLY ABUNDANT.
JOINING THE EAGLES THAT
LIVE HERE YEAR-ROUND
ARE BALD EAGLE MIGRANTS
FLYING SOUTH FROM CANADA.
SOME HAVE FLOWN 1,400
MILES TO FIND OPEN WATER.
THIS SURGE OF EAGLES
NOW TURNS TO HUNTING.
BALD EAGLES WILL
SOMETIMES CHASE MALLARDS.
BUT THE RIVER OFFERS
MUCH EASIER PREY.
COOTS RAFT TOGETHER
BY THE THOUSANDS,
AND THESE CALM BIRDS
ARE A FAVORITE MEAL.
A STRONG WIND ALLOWS
AN EAGLE THE RARE CHANCE
TO HOVER LIKE A
SMALLER RAPTOR, THE KITE.
THERE'S MORE THAN ENOUGH
PREY FOR EVERY EAGLE,
BUT THIEVERY IS IN THEIR NATURE.
AS ONE HUNTER LANDS
AT A MUSKRAT HUT,
OTHER EAGLES IMMEDIATELY
TRY TO STEAL HIS PRIZE.
THIS AUTUMN BOUNTY
IS A RETURNING GLIMMER
OF THE OLD DAYS.
IN NOVEMBER, WHEN
THE EAGLES ARE STAGING
ON THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI,
THERE IS ONE PLACE
FAR TO THE NORTH
THAT IS ALMOST PRIMEVAL...
AN UNTOUCHED WILDERNESS.
THIS IS THE CHILKAT
RIVER IN ALASKA,
WHERE GREAT RUNS OF SALMON
BRING EAGLES FROM AS FAR AS
A THOUSAND MILES AWAY.
THE SALMON HAVE MADE
THEIR OWN EPIC JOURNEY
IN FROM THE SEA TO SPAWN.
THEY WILL DIE SOON AFTERWARDS,
BUT THEY WILL SUSTAIN
THIS GREAT GATHERING OF EAGLES,
AS THEY HAVE DONE EACH
AUTUMN FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.
Rettig: I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO GO
TO THE CHILKAT, AND
IT WAS NOT A LETDOWN.
I HAVE NEVER SEEN SO
MANY EAGLES IN ONE PLACE.
THERE CAN BE AS MANY AS 2,000
IN ONE SMALL AREA OF THE RIVER.
IT'S LIKE GOING BACK
INTO TIME BEING THERE.
BECAUSE BALD
EAGLES DO SPECIALIZE
OFTEN IN FISH, THEIR FEET
ARE MODIFIED, WITH
TINY PROJECTIONS
ON THE BOTTOM OF THE TOES,
AND THE PADS OF THE FEET,
WHICH ACTUALLY MAKE IT
EASY FOR THEM TO GRIP FISH.
THEIR BEAKS ARE
INCREDIBLY EFFICIENT
AT RIPPING THE FLESH OF FISH
AND OTHER PREY THAT THEY CATCH.
EAGLES GENERALLY CAN GO FAIRLY
LONG PERIODS WITHOUT EATING.
THEY HAVE WHAT'S
CALLED A "CROP,"
WHICH IS AN EXTENSION
OF THE ESOPHAGUS,
WHICH IS A STORAGE BAG FOR FOOD.
WHEN THERE'S PLENTY
OF FOOD AROUND,
THEY'LL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
IT BY GORGING THEMSELVES.
AND THEY CAN ACTUALLY
GO, AFTER A GORGE,
FOR A WEEK TO TEN DAYS
WITHOUT FEEDING IF THEY HAVE TO.
BUT AS SOON AS A BALD
EAGLE CATCHES SOMETHING,
YOU CAN BET THAT WITHIN SECONDS,
ANOTHER ONE'S GONNA
COME IN AND HASSLE IT.
Abraham: BACK ALONG
THE MISSISSIPPI,
AUTUMN IS ON THE WANE.
WINTER MAKES A GENTLE ENTRANCE.
BALD EAGLES CAN NOW
WALK ON THE RIVER,
ALTHOUGH SOME SEEM
TO PREFER SKATING.
GIZZARD SHAD CAN
STILL BE PLUCKED UP,
BUT THEY WILL SOON
BE ENTOMBED IN ICE.
AS OPEN WATER FREEZES OVER,
AN EAGLE MUST BE
EVER MORE PRECISE.
AT THE HATCHERY NEST,
BOB ANDERSON HAS BEEN KEEPING
AN EYE ON THE WIDOWED MALE.
Anderson: THE MALE
WILL ALWAYS MAKE
OCCASIONAL VISITS TO THE NEST.
HE STILL MAINTAINS
THE TERRITORY.
HE'S WORKING ON HIS NEST,
ADDING LITTLE TRINKETS
THAT MIGHT MAKE
IT MORE ATTRACTIVE.
THIS PARTICULAR NEST
IS PRIME PROPERTY...
IT'S LOCATED SO CLOSE
TO A PRIME FOOD SOURCE.
MANY, MANY EAGLES HAVE BEEN
VYING TO GET INTO THE TERRITORY.
NOW THAT HE'S ALONE,
AN APPROACHING FEMALE
WOULD BE COURTED.
Abraham: AFTER
REARRANGING HIS CORN HUSKS,
THE MALE SETS OFF TO
COVER HIS TERRITORY.
BUT NOW ANOTHER
EAGLE BUZZES THE NEST.
IT'S A FEMALE.
AN AERIAL DUET MAY BE A CHANCE
FOR THE PROSPECTIVE COUPLE
TO SIZE-UP EACH
OTHER'S CONDITION.
A HEALTHY EAGLE CAN CRUISE AT
40 MILES AN HOUR IN LEVEL FLIGHT
AND HIT 100 IN A DIVE.
AFTER A FEW MINUTES WITH
THEIR HEADS IN THE CLOUDS,
THE COURTSHIP IS OVER.
ROMANCE IS A LUXURY...
THERE'S WORK TO BE DONE.
Anderson: WHEN THE EAGLES
FIRST LAND TOGETHER ON THE NEST,
THEY'RE A LITTLE
BIT APPREHENSIVE,
AND I THINK THE MOVING
AROUND OF STICKS TOGETHER
AND GRASS TOGETHER JUST
KIND OF CEMENTS THE BOND,
IT KIND OF CREATES THE MARRIAGE
THAT WILL ONLY GET
DEEPER AND DEEPER
AS THE WEEKS PROGRESS.
BUT IRONICALLY,
IN THIS SITUATION,
THE MALE HAS THE FINAL SAY...
EVEN THOUGH SHE BRINGS A STICK
AND TRIES TO PUT
IT IN SOMEPLACE,
THE MALE WILL GRAB HER STICK
AND PUT IT SOMEPLACE ELSE.
WE THINK SHE'S A FOUR-YEAR-OLD,
THOUGH SHE DOES HAVE
SPECKLES ON HER HEAD,
BUT YOU CAN SEE A LITTLE DARK
STREAK ON TOP OF HER BEAK.
THAT DARK STREAK TELLS US
THAT MAYBE SHE'S A FOUR-YEAR-OLD.
HE'S GOT A YOUNG BRIDE,
PROBABLY COMING INTO
HER FIRST BREEDING SEASON.
Abraham: WINTER DRAINS THE
LAST WARMTH FROM THE RIVER.
FRESH PERILS APPEAR
FOR ALL THE CREATURES
ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI.
AND NOW THE MOST
BRUTAL SEASON TIPTOES IN.
AT THE FISH HATCHERY,
THE MALE HAS WAITED OUT
THE FIRST SNOWFALL
OF THE SEASON.
EACH STORM WILL TEST
HIS NEST AGAINST THE WIND
AND THE EXTRA WEIGHT
OF SNOW AND ICE.
NEIL RETTIG FINDS THAT
EAGLES PAY A HUGE PRICE
FOR THESE STORMS EVERY YEAR.
WHAT WE'VE GOT SCATTERED
ALL OVER THE GROUND HERE
IS THE REMAINS OF
THIS EAGLE NEST,
WHICH JUST FELL A COUPLE
NIGHTS AGO IN A WINDSTORM.
IT WAS IN A CROTCH OF A
SILVER MAPLE UP ABOVE ME HERE.
AND THIS IS THE
NEST BOWL ITSELF.
ENCRUSTED IN THIS NEST BOWL
IS THE CENTER OF THE NEST—
THE NEST BOWL IS RIGHT HERE...
IS ALL THESE COOT
FEATHERS AND PREY REMAINS.
THERE'S SCALES OF FISH ON
HERE, ON THE TOP OF THE NEST.
THERE'S A CHUNK OF ICE,
WHICH IS TYPICAL
THIS TIME OF THE YEAR,
AND THE EAGLES
ARE DEALING WITH ICE
IN PREPARATION OF EGG LAYING,
BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S SUCH A SHAME.
THESE EAGLES WORKED
HARD SINCE OCTOBER,
AND IN ONE VIOLENT
WINDSTORM A COUPLE DAYS AGO,
THE WHOLE THING IS
OVER FOR THE SEASON.
Abraham: NATURE ISN'T
THE ONLY CHALLENGE
FOR BALD EAGLES.
DEER CARCASSES ARE A CONSISTENT
MEAL THROUGH THE WINTER.
BUT NOT ALL THESE DEER
DIE A NATURAL DEATH.
HUNTERS LEAVE MANY
OF THESE REMAINS,
AND THEIR BULLETS ARE
OFTEN MADE OF LEAD...
A POWERFUL NERVE TOXIN
THAT CAN KILL.
Rettig: WATCHING AN EAGLE
DYING FROM LEAD-POISONING,
SUFFERING, IS ONE OF THE MOST
SADDENING AND MOVING EXPERIENCES
I CAN REMEMBER SEEING.
I COULD HARDLY BEAR TO FILM IT.
THE LUCKY ONES ARE THE ONES
THAT ARE DISCOVERED BY HUMANS.
AND WITH THE KIND HELP
OF ANIMAL REHABILITATORS,
THESE BIRDS CAN BE SAVED.
SHH!
IT'S A COSTLY AND
VERY TIME-CONSUMING
AND DIFFICULT PROCESS,
BUT SOMETIMES THE
BIRDS WILL RECOVER
AND CAN BE RELEASED
INTO THE WILD.
IT'S OKAY, SHH...
SHH...
Abraham: IN A WORKSHOP
BENEATH THE IOWA HATCHERY NEST,
BOB ANDERSON
CHECKS ON HIS REALITY SHOW.
Anderson: WHAT A VIEW!
WHAT AN INCREDIBLE ANGLE
OF LOOKING AT THE
AMERICAN BALD EAGLE.
AND THERE SHE IS, ALSO.
AND HE'S THE BOSS,
BOY— THIS IS HIS NEST.
I MEAN, HE CALLS THE SHOTS.
HE'S IN CHARGE OF
ALL CONSTRUCTION.
NO MATTER WHAT SHE DOES,
HE COMES BACK AND REARRANGES IT.
AND... 100% OF THE TIME!
NOW, SHE BROUGHT IN
A LITTLE BIT OF GRASS,
AND IF SHE FLIES OFF NOW,
HE WILL GO TAKE THAT GRASS
AND PUT IT SOMEPLACE ELSE.
Abraham: DESPITE
SQUABBLES OVER DECOR,
THE NEW COUPLE IS
STARTING TO EMBRACE
THEIR COMMON PURPOSE.
Anderson: YOU CAN
ACTUALLY SEE THEM,
THEY'RE BUMPING EACH
OTHER, THEY'RE INTERACTING,
THERE'S NO
AGGRESSIVENESS AT ALL.
A MONTH AGO, THEY WOULD
HAVE NEVER TOLERATED
BEING THIS CLOSE TO EACH OTHER.
IT'S LIKE, NOW THEY'RE A TEAM.
WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE GETTING
CLOSE TO LAYING THEIR EGGS
WHEN YOU START
SEEING THIS BEHAVIOR.
Abraham: THE YOUNG FEMALE
LAYS HER QUARTER-POUND EGG
BEFORE DAWN.
EXPOSED, AN EGG CAN
FREEZE IN A MINUTE.
AND SO THE FATHER WILL NEED
TO MOVE IN FOR HIS FIRST SHIFT.
Anderson: THE FIRST EGG WAS
LAID EARLY IN THE MORNING.
WE ACTUALLY MISSED IT.
WE SAW THE BIRDS
SITTING IN THE BOWL,
WE KNEW THAT IT WOULD BE SOON.
BUT WE WERE KIND OF
SURPRISED TO SEE THIS FIRST EGG.
BUT WE CAN SEE HIM,
HOW CAREFUL HE IS WITH HIS FEET.
HIS FEET ARE BALLED-UP,
AND HE'S TRYING
TO HIDE HIS TALONS.
HE DOESN'T WANT THOSE NAILS TO
POKE A HOLE IN THAT FRAGILE EGG.
IT'S TOUCHING TO
WATCH THAT SENSITIVITY
THAT THIS OLD GUY
HAS HAD, YOU KNOW,
WITH MANY, MANY EGGS,
PROBABLY, IN HIS LIFETIME.
Abraham: IF A SECOND
EGG IS COMING,
IT'S DUE TWO DAYS
AFTER THE FIRST.
COME ON, STAND UP.
SHE LOOKS LIKE SHE'S ABOUT
READY TO STAND UP, BUT...
WHAT DO WE HAVE?
WE HAVE TWO EGGS!
WE'VE GOT TWO EGGS,
SEE THIS? SEE 'EM BOTH?
Rettig: SO, DO YOU
FEEL LIKE A PAPA?
WHEN THEY HATCH
I'LL FEEL LIKE A PAPA.
NOW WE JUST HAVE TO
WAIT 35 DAYS FROM TODAY
TO SEE OUR FIRST BABY.
Abraham: IF EAGLES
CAN FEEL PRIDE OR JOY,
THE NEW PARENTS
MUST BE BRIMMING OVER.
THEY WILL NOW WORK
NEARLY UNBROKEN SHIFTS,
BUT EVEN SUCH AN
EFFORT CAN'T GUARANTEE
THAT THE EGGS WILL HATCH SAFELY,
ESPECIALLY SINCE
THEY MUST SURVIVE
ONE OF THE LONGEST INCUBATIONS
OF ANY BIRD ALONG
THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI.
EGG THIEVES ABOUND.
RACCOONS AND CROWS
ARE EVERYWHERE.
SO EACH PARENT
IS HIGHLY ATTUNED
TO ANY SIGHT OR SOUND OF MENACE.
AND THEN...
ANOTHER STORM.
Anderson: WE KNEW A
STORM WAS COMING,
AND WE REALLY WANTED TO SEE
THE FIRST REACTION
OF THE BIRDS WAKING UP,
COVERED IN SNOW.
SO WE MADE SURE WE HAD
OUR RECORDERS RUNNING
LONG BEFORE DAYLIGHT.
I WAS AT FIRST DISAPPOINTED
WE HAD SNOW ON THE LENS,
BUT IT JUST SHOWS HOW
UGLY THE CONDITIONS
REALLY, REALLY ARE— I MEAN,
THIS BIRD'S COVERED IN SNOW.
AND SHE'S SCREAMING
RIGHT NOW, AT THE MALE,
GOING, "COME AND RELIEVE
ME, COME AND TAKE MY PLACE."
AND HE DOES.
Abraham: THE SPECKLE-HEADED
FEMALE FINALLY PROVES HERSELF,
AND THE DEVOTED
FATHER KNOWS HIS JOB.
WITH A LITTLE LUCK,
THE EGGS WILL HATCH
IN ANOTHER WEEK.
ON A MINNESOTA
FARM 40 MILES AWAY,
ANOTHER FAMILY IS FURTHER ALONG.
THEIR TWO EAGLETS
HAVE ALREADY HATCHED.
THE MOTHER FEEDS HER
FOUR-DAY-OLD DAUGHTER.
THE TWO-DAY-OLD MALE,
HARDLY ABLE TO HOLD HIS HEAD UP,
DOESN'T SEEM TO BE
GETTING A FAIR SHARE.
ALTHOUGH BOTH
PARENTS ARE DEDICATED,
THEY HAVE A BLIND SPOT
FOR ONE PARTICULAR PERIL,
ONE WITHIN THE FAMILY.
SIBLING RIVALRY.
IT'S NOT UNUSUAL
FOR THE OLDER EAGLET
TO TURN ON THE
YOUNGER AND SMALLER.
IN NATURE'S COLD CALCULATION,
WHY SHARE YOUR MEALS
WHEN YOU CAN EAT MORE ALONE?
NEIL HAS BEEN
DOCUMENTING THE STORY
FROM A STIFLING BLIND
JUST A STONE'S
THROW FROM THE NEST.
THE DYNAMICS OF
THIS WHOLE SYNDROME
IS THAT THE CHICK THAT'S BEAT UP
BECOMES WEAKER AND WEAKER,
COWERS, IS KIND OF AFRAID
TO EVEN STAND UPRIGHT,
AND THE FEMALE WILL ALWAYS
FEED THE CHICK THAT'S MORE ROBUST.
AND IT'S CALLED THE
"CAIN AND ABEL SYNDROME."
THE FEEDINGS GO ON FOR
ABOUT, OH, FIVE TO EIGHT MINUTES,
SOMETIMES MAYBE 12 MINUTES.
THE BIGGER CHICK IS GETTING
UP TO 30 OR 40 PIECES
OF FOOD PER FEEDING.
THE LITTLE ONE WOULD GET
ABOUT SIX TO EIGHT PIECES.
THE LAST FEW DAYS
WE'VE BEEN WORRIED...
A LOT... ABOUT WHETHER
THE YOUNGER, SMALLER CHICK
IS GOING TO SURVIVE OR NOT.
SO WE'VE GOT OUR FINGERS
CROSSED THAT LITTLE U.D...
WE CALL HIM "UNDERDOG"...
IS GOING TO BE OKAY.
Abraham: THE BATTLE
WILL RESOLVE,
ONE WAY OR ANOTHER...
AND SOON.
WATER FLOWS AGAIN AT LAST.
SPRING HAS COME TO
THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI.
THINGS ARE LOOKING UP
FOR ALL OF THE CREATURES
ALONG THE RIVER.
EAGLES VISITING FROM CANADA
NOW RETURN NORTH TO
THEIR NESTING TERRITORIES.
FOR YEAR-ROUND RESIDENTS
LIKE THE HATCHERY COUPLE,
SPRING MEANS GETTING
READY FOR EAGLETS.
Anderson: THE FIRST
BABY'S HATCHED NOW,
AND YOU CAN SEE HOW KIND OF
INEPT AND CLUMSY
THIS YOUNG BIRD IS.
SHE DOESN'T QUITE
KNOW WHAT TO DO.
THAT BABY'S BEGGING FOR FOOD,
AND YET SHE'S NOT
FULLY RESPONDING TO IT.
THERE'S FOOD OFF TO
THE RIGHT IN THE NEST.
AND THESE FIRST FEW DAYS
WERE SO PAINFUL FOR US.
IF IT WASN'T FOR THE MALE,
I DON'T THINK THE BABIES
WOULD HAVE SURVIVED.
Abraham: THE EAGLET IS
TOO EXHAUSTED TO BEG.
AND NOW THE MOTHER
STARTS TO FEED HERSELF.
PARENT AND YOUNG
ARE FAILING TO CONNECT.
SUDDENLY, THE MOTHER
FOCUSES ON HER CHICK...
AS IF SEEING IT
FOR THE FIRST TIME.
Anderson: SHE DOESN'T
KNOW HOW TO APPROACH,
AND SHE'S KIND OF...
SHE'S TRYING TO
BALL UP HER FEET.
SHE JUST STEPPED
ON THE BABY THERE.
IT'S A LOT DIFFERENT
THAN A HARD EGG.
Anderson: THIS SHOT HERE
REALLY JUST SURPRISED US.
SHE HAD HER TAIL
FACING INTO THE WIND.
THE WINDS GUSTED
TO 40 MILES AN HOUR.
THE WIND ACTUALLY LITERALLY
BLEW HER OUT OF THE NEST,
AND SHE ALMOST TOOK
THE BABY WITH HER...
SOMETHING AN EXPERIENCED
BIRD WOULD NEVER DO.
Abraham: IT'S BEEN A TRYING DAY
AND THE STAKES
ARE ONLY GOING UP.
Anderson: HERE'S OUR YOUNG
FEMALE JUST STANDING UP,
AND, AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'VE
GOT OUR SECOND BABY...
IT DID HATCH.
AND AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE THAT
SHE'S GETTING A LITTLE
BIT BETTER WITH HER FEET.
ALREADY THERE'S BEEN
A LITTLE BIT OF LEARNING,
I GUESS, THAT'S TAKEN PLACE.
AND NOW THE OLD
MAN WILL COME IN,
THE GUY THAT'S SO PROVEN.
THAT'S HIM ON THE RIGHT.
SHE'S STEPPING OFF NOW.
HERE'S THE ADULT MALE... HE'S
CLEARLY FED BABIES BEFORE.
HE JUST WALKS IN AND JUST...
HE'LL PUT THE FOOD
RIGHT IN THAT BABY'S BEAK
AFTER ONE OR TWO TRIES.
HE'S VERY EXPERIENCED.
Abraham: AND PATIENT.
IT WILL TAKE THE
EAGLET A LITTLE PRACTICE
TO ACTUALLY GET
SOMETHING TO EAT.
AT LEAST IN THIS NEST,
THERE'S NO SIGN
OF SIBLING RIVALRY.
AT THE MINNESOTA FARM,
NEIL WAITS FOR THE OUTCOME
OF THE SIBLING BATTLE.
THE SISTER IS ALIVE AND SASSY,
BUT WHAT ABOUT UNDERDOG?
Rettig: FINALLY, I COULD SEE
THAT UNDERDOG WAS COMPETING.
HE WAS ACTUALLY GETTING
FOOD OFFERED BY THE FEMALE
AND GAINING STRENGTH.
TODAY HE DOES LOOK BETTER.
I THINK LITTLE UNDERDOG
MIGHT HAVE A CHANCE.
ONCE THE EAGLES WERE
SIX TO SEVEN WEEKS OLD,
THE CAIN AND ABEL
SYNDROME WAS LONG PAST,
AND THEY WERE BOTH
HEALTHY AND VIGOROUS.
EACH DAY, THESE
LITTLE GUYS WILL EAT
THE EQUIVALENT OF ABOUT A
HALF A POUND TO A POUND OF FISH.
THE DEMAND ON THE
PARENTS IS INCREASING,
AND THEY'LL PROBABLY BRING
FOUR OR FIVE KILLS TO THE NEST
DURING THE COURSE OF A DAY.
Abraham: SOMETIMES THEIR
PREY IS KILLED FOR THEM.
BUT THIS KIND OF
MEAL IS NO FREE LUNCH.
EVERY YEAR,
COUNTLESS BALD EAGLES
ARE STRUCK BY VEHICLES.
LOSING EITHER PARENT
MAY HURT THE YOUNG
EAGLES' CHANCES OF FLEDGING.
AT THE AGE OF 10 WEEKS,
7,000 FEATHERS HAVE REPLACED
THE DOWNY COAT OF YOUTH,
ALLOWING NEW SKILLS TO EMERGE.
UNDERDOG STARTS
BUILDING UP STRENGTH
WITH SHORT FLIGHTS TO NOWHERE.
ONLY TWO WEEKS REMAIN BEFORE
THE CHICKS' MAIDEN FLIGHTS.
SUMMER ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI
SEEMS LIKE A CAREFREE SEASON,
BUT NEW CHALLENGES LIE AHEAD.
AT THE HATCHERY NEST,
THE EAGLETS ARE STILL
GROWING THEIR FLIGHT FEATHERS.
UNDERDOG AND HIS SISTER
ARE CLOSER TO INDEPENDENCE.
AND NO ONE DECLARES INDEPENDENCE
WITHOUT TAKING RISKS.
Rettig: THIS NEST IS ABOUT
60 FEET OFF THE GROUND.
BOTH EAGLETS ARE
JUMPING UP AND DOWN
AND WING-EXERCISING
AND GETTING READY TO MAKE
THAT FIRST JUMP OFF THE NEST,
THE FIRST JOURNEY INTO THE SKY.
Abraham: NEARBY,
OTHER YOUNG EAGLES
ARE ALREADY ON THE WING.
Rettig: IT MUST FEEL
REALLY WONDERFUL
TO HAVE YOUR FIRST
FLIGHT UNDERWAY
AND FEEL THE WIND RUSHING BY.
THE LANDING IS THE TRICKY PART.
Abraham: UNDERDOG TESTS
HIS ENGINES AT FULL POWER.
HIS SISTER SEEMS
TO HAVE COLD FEET.
THE WIND PICKS UP,
AND UNDERDOG LEANS INTO IT.
Rettig: THERE ARE MISCONCEPTIONS
THAT BIRDS ARE TAUGHT TO FLY,
BUT REALLY IT'S
TOTALLY INSTINCTIVE.
THEY DO CHASE THEIR
PARENTS AROUND, HOWEVER,
POSSIBLY TO STEAL FISH,
AND ALSO BECAUSE
THEY'RE BALD EAGLES...
THEY'RE SOCIAL.
Abraham: AT THE FISH HATCHERY,
AN EMPTY NEST IS NO
LONGER A SIGN OF LOSS.
IT IS A SIGN OF TWO
SUCCESSFUL FLEDGLINGS
WHO WILL SOON JOIN A
HUNTING FREE-FOR-ALL.
AS FALL ARRIVES,
A CYCLE OF SEASONS IS COMPLETED.
ONCE AGAIN THE
MISSISSIPPI BECOMES
A CROSSROADS FOR WATER BIRDS.
FOR THIS YEAR'S
FLEDGLING EAGLES,
THE TIME HAS COME
FOR THE NEXT BIG TEST.
IT'S A BIG MOMENT
FOR A YOUNG BALD EAGLE
TO BAG HIS FIRST COOT.
Rettig: THE BALD
EAGLE IS A SURVIVOR.
IT'S GONE THROUGH
REALLY BAD TIMES,
AND NOW IS PREVAILING.
IT'S AN ILLUSTRATION
THAT WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE,
AND WE CAN BE
STEWARDS OF THIS PLANET.
Abraham: WITH FOOD SO PLENTIFUL,
BALD EAGLES... YOUNG AND OLD...
SWITCH FROM HUNTING TO
SOMETHING MORE LIKE RUGBY.
ONLY ONE HUMAN GENERATION AGO,
SUCH A CELEBRATION OF EAGLES
COULD NOT HAVE BEEN
WITNESSED ON THE MISSISSIPPI.
Rettig: I THINK THE STORY
OF THE AMERICAN EAGLE
IS A GREAT PARALLEL
TO THE TRIUMPH
AND TRIBULATIONS OF OUR COUNTRY.
AND IF WE LOOK AT THE EAGLE
AS A ROLE MODEL,
I THINK THESE BIRDS ARE
KIND OF LIVING A STRUGGLE
FOR EXISTENCE AND FREEDOM,
JUST LIKE OUR COUNTRY.
AND I CAN'T THINK OF A
BETTER NATIONAL SYMBOL
THAN THE BALD EAGLE.