Nature (1982–…): Season 28, Episode 5 - Hummingbirds: Magic in the Air - full transcript

HUMMINGBIRDS
ARE THE SMALLEST BIRDS

ON THE PLANET...

BUT THEY HAVE POWERS
AND ABILITIES

FAR BEYOND THOSE OF OTHER BIRDS.

EVERYTHING ABOUT THEM
IS AMAZING --

AND MYSTERIOUS...

THE WAY THEY LOOK...

THE WAY THEY FLY...

THE WAY THEY'RE BUILT
FOR SURVIVAL.

HUMMINGBIRDS LIVE THEIR LIVES
IN FAST-FORWARD,

INHABITING A REALM



THAT'S LARGELY INVISIBLE TO US.

FINALLY WE HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY
TO BREAK DOWN

BARRIERS OF TIME AND SPACE...

AND IT'S BECOMING CLEAR THAT

HUMMINGBIRDS ARE
EVEN MORE AMAZING

THAN WE COULD HAVE GUESSED.

ENTER THE WORLD OF
THE HUMMINGBIRD,

WHERE THERE'S MAGIC IN THE AIR.

NATURE IS MADE POSSIBLE

IN PART BY:

CANON

PROUD SPONSOR
FOR 20 YEARS.

AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS
TO YOUR PBS STATION

FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.



Narrator (Abraham): THEY ARE THE MOST
REMARKABLE THINGS ON TWO WINGS.

HUMMINGBIRDS ARE INTRIGUING...

ENCHANTING...

UTTERLY CAPTIVATING.

BUT THEY SELDOM PROVIDE US WITH
MORE THAN A FLEETING GLIMPSE.

NOW, AT LAST, WE'RE ABLE TO
SLOW THEM DOWN

AND GET UP CLOSE.

AND AS WE EXPLORE
THEIR UNIVERSE,

WE DISCOVER SOMETHING NEW
AT EVERY TURN.

HUMMINGBIRDS LIVE ONLY IN
THE AMERICAS,

BUT WITH NEARLY
350 DIFFERENT SPECIES,

THEY ARE DAZZLING
IN THEIR DIVERSITY.

THE SMALLEST OF ALL
WARM-BLOODED CREATURES,

THEY LIVE ON
THE EDGE OF SURVIVAL.

BUT THEY ARE EQUIPPED BY NATURE
TO MEET THE CHALLENGE.

PERHAPS THEIR GREATEST GIFT
IS THEIR TALENT FOR FLIGHT.

JUST WATCH HOW
THIS HUMMINGBIRD,

A SPECIES CALLED

"THE MAGNIFICENT,"

STANDS ITS GROUND
WHILE IT FEEDS --

EVEN IF THE FLOWER IS
BLOWING IN THE WIND.

WHAT IS THE SECRET OF

THE HUMMINGBIRD'S
AERIAL AGILITY?

BIOLOGIST DOUG ALTSHULER

WAS INTRIGUED BY THAT QUESTION,

AND HE DECIDED TO INVESTIGATE.

Altshuler: I HAVE TREMENDOUS
RESPECT FOR HUMMINGBIRDS.

THEY REALLY ARE, I THINK,
SOME OF THE MOST

ELITE ATHLETES
IN THE ANIMAL WORLD.

Abraham: HE HAS TURNED HIS LAB

AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
AT RIVERSIDE

INTO A KIND OF
HUMMINGBIRD TRAINING CENTER,

WITH CUSTOM-DESIGNED
WORKOUT STATIONS,

WHERE HE CAN ASSESS
THE LIMITS OF THEIR ABILITIES.

TO TEST THEIR COORDINATION,

HE USES A REVOLVING FEEDER
FILLED WITH NECTAR --

THE HUMMER'S FAVORITE FOOD.

MULTIPLE CAMERAS RECORD HOW THIS

ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD
TWISTS AND TURNS,

FINE-TUNING ITS POSITION
SO IT CAN KEEP UP.

Altshuler: ONE OF THE THINGS

WE'VE BEEN QUITE
SURPRISED TO LEARN

IS THAT IF WE LOOK AT ALL
OF THESE BEHAVIORS,

WE SEE THAT THERE'S ACTUALLY
A VERY RESTRICTED SET

OF SMALL TYPES OF MANEUVERS.

Abraham: FROM A LIMITED
REPERTOIRE OF MOVES,

THE HUMMINGBIRD CONSTRUCTS
A DANCE

OF INCREDIBLE GRACE
AND PRECISION.

Altshuler: YOU COULD ALMOST
THINK OF IT LIKE THE MOVES

THAT A BALLERINA MAKES --

SHE MIGHT MAKE A PIROUETTE.

AND SHE MIGHT MAKE
OTHER SPECIFIC MOVES.

AND, FROM THOSE,
CONSTRUCT A MORE COMPLEX

AND INTRICATE DANCE.

AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE SEE
THAT THE HUMMINGBIRDS ARE DOING.

Abraham: THE CHOREOGRAPHY OF
THESE TINY DANCERS

REVOLVES AROUND ONE TALENT
IN PARTICULAR --

THEY CAN HOVER.

THAT'S WHY HUMMINGBIRDS SEEM SO
PERFECTLY BALANCED IN MID-AIR,

AS IF THEY WERE FLOATING,
RATHER THAN FLYING.

THEIR WINGS ARE UNLIKE THOSE OF
ANY OTHER BIRDS.

WITH THEIR FLEXIBLE SHOULDERS

THEY CAN EVEN MOVE THEM
IN A FIGURE EIGHT --

AND THEY GAIN LIFT
FROM BOTH SIDES.

Altshuler: HUMMINGBIRDS ARE
QUITE IMPRESSIVE

IN THE FLIGHT BEHAVIORS
THAT THEY ENGAGE IN.

AND THIS INCLUDES MANEUVERING
AND REALLY THE ABILITY TO DO

SORT-OF UNUSUAL BEHAVIORS
SUCH AS FLYING BACKWARDS,

TURNING ON A DIME,

AND EVEN BRIEFLY FLYING
UPSIDE DOWN.

ALL OF THESE BEHAVIORS,

REALLY, ARE RELATED TO
THEIR ABILITY TO HOVER.

Abraham: THE HOVERING SKILL
OF THE HUMMINGBIRD

IS UNIQUE IN THE AVIAN WORLD.

ONLY INSECTS CAN FLY LIKE THAT.

THE HUMMINGBIRDS' ABILITY
TO HOVER

EVOLVED FOR A SIMPLE REASON --

IT ENABLES THEM
TO DINE ON NECTAR.

SINCE MOST FLOWERS DON'T OFFER
A PLACE TO PERCH,

HOVERING IS THEIR
ONLY ALTERNATIVE.

THIS UNUSUAL DIET

HAS FORGED AN EVOLUTIONARY BOND

BETWEEN HUMMINGBIRDS
AND FLOWERS.

IN THE MOUNTAIN FORESTS
OF ECUADOR,

THERE LIVES A HUMMINGBIRD
THAT GOES TO GREAT LENGTHS

IN ORDER TO FEED.

THE SWORDBILL
LIVES UP TO ITS NAME.

ITS 4-INCH BILL IS ACTUALLY
LONGER THAN ITS BODY.

IT'S EASY TO SEE WHY...

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FLOWER
ON WHICH IT FEEDS.

THE TRUMPET-LIKE BLOSSOMS
OF THE DATURA

HANG STRAIGHT DOWN.

AND ITS NECTAR IS TUCKED AWAY
AT THE VERY TOP.

BECAUSE THE NECTAR
IS SO HARD TO REACH,

ONLY THOSE WITH THE RIGHT
EQUIPMENT CAN GAIN ACCESS.

OVER TIME,
THE BLOSSOMS HAVE GROWN LONGER,

AND SWORDBILLS HAVE EVOLVED
TO KEEP UP.

THE DATURA HAS
AN ULTERIOR MOTIVE --

IT'S BRIBING THE SWORDBILL
TO GAIN ITS HELP

IN REPRODUCTION.

AS THE BIRD FEEDS,
IT'S DUSTED WITH POLLEN --

WHICH IT CARRIES TO
THE NEXT BLOSSOM.

THE SWORDBILL HAS BECOME
A DATURA SPECIALIST,

AND THAT MAKES IT
THE PERFECT POLLINATOR.

THIS MAY BE THE ULTIMATE
IN "FLOWER POWER" --

A PLANT REMAKING A BIRD
TO DO ITS BIDDING.

THE DATURA IS FAR FROM UNIQUE.

SOME 8,000 PLANT SPECIES
THROUGHOUT THE AMERICAS

DEPEND ON HUMMINGBIRDS ALONE
FOR POLLINATION.

THEIR WIDE RANGE OF
FLOWER SHAPES HAS CO-EVOLVED

WITH HUMMINGBIRD POLLINATORS

TO PRODUCE AN INFINITE VARIETY
OF LONG BILLS,

SHORT BILLS,

AND CURVED BILLS --

ALL DESIGNED TO FIT
THEIR FAVORITE BLOSSOMS,

LIKE A KEY IN A LOCK.

BUT CO-EVOLUTION ALONE

CANNOT EXPLAIN THE BIZARRE CASE
OF THE PURPLE-THROATED CARIB.

IT'S A MYSTERY THAT UNFOLDS

ON THE TINY CARIBBEAN ISLAND
OF DOMINICA.

LUSH RAIN FORESTS
COVER THE MOUNTAINS

OF THE ISLAND'S INTERIOR.

THEY'RE HOME TO
SPECTACULAR FLOWERING PLANTS,

AND TO HUMMINGBIRDS
THAT HARVEST THEIR NECTAR.

THAT INCLUDES TWO HUMMERS

WHOSE BILLS HAVE
VERY DIFFERENT SHAPES.

AND HERE'S THE TWIST --

THESE TWO BIRDS BELONG TO
THE SAME SPECIES.

THEY ARE BOTH
PURPLE-THROATED CARIBS --

THE MALE ON THE LEFT,
THE FEMALE ON THE RIGHT.

THE QUESTION IS,

WHY DID THIS SPECIES END UP WITH

SUCH DRAMATIC
GENDER DIFFERENCES?

BIOLOGIST ETHAN TEMELES

KNEW THAT THE BEST PLACE
TO LOOK FOR THE ANSWER

WAS IN THE FLOWERS.

MALE AND FEMALE CARIBS
BOTH FEED ON HELICONIAS,

WHICH HAVE
VERY COMPLICATED BLOSSOMS

HIDDEN WITHIN
BIG MODIFIED LEAVES.

I'LL CUT THIS AWAY
FOR YOU HERE.

YOU CAN SEE THE FRESH FLOWER
PEEKING OUT RIGHT THERE.

THIS LITTLE THING,
I'M LIFTING IT UP RIGHT HERE.

OKAY, THAT'S CALLED
THE STAMINODE.

AND IT BLOCKS
THE NECTAR CHAMBER.

SO WHEN THE BIRD FEEDS,
IT ACTUALLY

STICKS ITS BEAK IN
ALL ALONG HERE,

AND THEN ITS TONGUE WILL GO BACK
INTO THE NECTAR CHAMBER

AS IT FEEDS ON THE NECTAR.

Abraham:
THERE ARE SEVERAL VARIETIES

OF THE HELICONIA
ON THIS ISLAND.

AND THE MALES AND FEMALES

HAVE EVOLVED TO FEED ON
DIFFERENT ONES.

Temeles: THIS IS A MALE
PURPLE-THROATED CARIB.

THE BILL IS SHORT AND STRAIGHT.

THERE GOES HIS TONGUE.

A FEMALE BEAK IS ABOUT
THAT MUCH LONGER,

AND MUCH MORE CURVED.

Abraham: THE FEMALE FEEDS ON

THE VARIETY CALLED
HELICONIA BIHAI,

WHOSE LONG, CURVED FLOWER
PERFECTLY MATCHES HER BILL.

THE MALE PREFERS
A DIFFERENT KIND --

HELICONIA CARRIBAEA.

NOT ONLY DOES ITS
SHORT, STRAIGHT FLOWER

HAVE THE RIGHT SHAPE
FOR HIS BILL,

IT'S ALSO EXTREMELY RICH
IN NECTAR.

IN FACT, IT HAS ABOUT
50 TIMES MORE NECTAR

THAN A TYPICAL
HUMMINGBIRD FLOWER.

THE MALE CARIB
IS BIGGER THAN THE FEMALE,

SO HE HAS THE WILL AND THE MEANS
TO DEFEND HIS TREASURE

AGAINST ANY COMPETITORS.

TEMELES BELIEVES THAT

WHEN THE ANCESTORS OF
MODERN CARIBS

FIRST COLONIZED THE ISLAND,

THE AGGRESSIVE MALES STAKED OUT
THE RICHEST FOOD SOURCE,

AND NEVER LET IT GO.

Temeles: MALES CLAIMED
THE MOST REWARDING HELICONIA,

THE FEMALES WERE LEFT WITH
THE LESS REWARDING,

AND THEN OVER TIME
THE BILLS OF THESE BIRDS

EVOLVED AND ADAPTED TO
THE TWO SPECIES OF HELICONIA.

Abraham: THIS ODD
EVOLUTIONARY CHAIN OF EVENTS

WAS PREDICTED BY NONE OTHER THAN
CHARLES DARWIN.

BACK IN THE 1870's

HE THEORIZED THAT
SEPARATE FOOD SOURCES

COULD PRODUCE
DIFFERENT BILL SHAPES

IN MALE AND FEMALE BIRDS.

IT TURNS OUT DARWIN WAS RIGHT --

AND THE CARIBS ARE LIVING PROOF.

ALTHOUGH HUMMINGBIRDS
ARE BUILT TO FEED ON NECTAR,

THEY CANNOT LIVE
BY NECTAR ALONE.

IT DOESN'T PROVIDE ANY PROTEIN.

SO HOW DO THEY FILL OUT
THEIR DIET?

SURPRISINGLY, THESE CREATURES

THAT APPEAR SO DELICATE
AND PEACEFUL

ARE ACTUALLY AGGRESSIVE HUNTERS.

THEY PREY ON INSECTS,

WHICH CAN MAKE UP MORE THAN
A QUARTER OF THEIR DAILY DIET.

AND THEY COME BY THEIR TASTE
FOR BUGS QUITE NATURALLY.

HUMMINGBIRDS ARE EVOLUTIONARY
COUSINS OF SWIFTS --

SPEEDY LITTLE BIRDS
WITH SHORT BILLS,

WHICH LIVE MAINLY ON INSECTS.

AND, LIKE SWIFTS, HUMMINGBIRDS
ARE EXPERTS AT AERIAL PREDATION.

BUT SCIENTISTS

HAD NEVER REALLY FIGURED OUT
HOW HUMMINGBIRDS --

WHOSE BILLS ARE DESIGNED TO
FEED ON FLOWERS --

MANAGE TO CATCH INSECTS
WITH SUCH DEADLY ACCURACY.

BIOLOGIST GREGOR YANEGA WAS
IMPRESSED BY THE BIRDS' SKILL --

BUT STUDYING THEIR TECHNIQUE
WOULD NOT BE EASY.

Yanega: IT'S HARD TO SEE.

THEY ARE VERY SMALL
AND IT HAPPENS VERY FAST.

AND, FOR THAT REASON,
WE REALLY DO NEED TO USE

SOME SORT OF TECHNOLOGY,
LIKE HIGH-SPEED VIDEO,

TO GET A LOOK AT
WHAT'S GOING ON.

Abraham: TO EXAMINE THEIR
METHODS, YANEGA CONSTRUCTED

A MORE CONFINED HUNTING GROUND.

IT'S BASICALLY A BIG FISH TANK

STOCKED WITH A LOT OF
FRUIT FLIES

AND ONE HUNGRY
ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD.

YOU MIGHT EXPECT THAT

THE HUMMER WOULD USE
HIS LONG BILL

LIKE TWEEZERS OR CHOPSTICKS

TO SNATCH INSECTS
OUT OF THE AIR.

THAT WOULD BE QUITE A FEAT.

Yanega: IF OUR LIPS AND JAWS
COULD EXTEND IN FRONT OF US

APPROXIMATELY FOUR FEET
IN LENGTH,

YOU KNOW,
THEN IMAGINE TRYING TO,

YOU KNOW,
GRAB YOUR NEAREST ORANGE

OR SOMETHING, WITH JAWS
THAT ARE FOUR FEET LONG.

Abraham: SLOW MOTION REVEALS

JUST HOW THE HUMMINGBIRD
MAKES THE KILL.

OH, THAT'S A GOOD ONE!

Abraham: RATHER THAN USING
THE TIPS OF HIS BILL

LIKE CHOPSTICKS,
THE HUMMER OPENS WIDE --

AND THE FLIES
NEVER STAND A CHANCE.

Yanega: HE'S NOT GOING ALONG
WITH THE CHOPSTICK MODEL OF,

"I'M GOING TO PICK EVERYTHING
OFF WITH THIS LONG BEAK,"

AND ONLY USE
THE TIP OF THE BEAK.

HE'S USING, REALLY,
THE BASE OF THE BEAK

AND TRYING TO USE
THE FATTEST PART OF HIS JAWS

TO CATCH THE FLIES.

Abraham: THE HUMMER'S LOWER BILL
CAACTUALLY BEND

IN THE MIDDLE,
TO SPREAD AN EXTRA 20 DEGREES,

CONVERTING THOSE CHOPSTICKS INTO
A CATCHER'S MITT.

Yanega: THROUGH THIS FLEXION
OF THEIR JAWS,

THEY ARE ABLE TO MAKE
A REALLY LARGE CAPTURE SURFACE.

Abraham: WITH THAT BIG GULP,

A HUMMINGBIRD MANAGES TO KEEP
ITS LONG BILL

OUT OF THE WAY.

AND THAT MAKES IT
A LETHAL PREDATOR.

LESS LIKE "TINKERBELL,"
AND MORE LIKE "JAWS."

WHETHER THEY'RE FEEDING ON
BUGS OR BLOSSOMS,

HUMMINGBIRDS MUST CONSUME

A LOT OF FOOD JUST TO MAKE IT
THROUGH THE DAY.

ON AVERAGE, MORE THAN HALF THEIR
BODY WEIGHT, IN NECTAR ALONE.

THAT MEANS VISITING
MORE THAN A THOUSAND FLOWERS

BETWEEN DAWN AND DUSK.

AND IT'S NO WONDER
THEY EAT SO MUCH --

A HUMMINGBIRD'S METABOLISM

IS STUCK IN OVERDRIVE.

EVEN AT REST,

THE BIRD'S HEART RATE CAN BE
UP TO 600 BEATS PER MINUTE.

[ HEART BEATING RAPIDLY ]

AND THAT CAN DOUBLE
WHEN IT'S FLYING.

[ HEART BEATING MORE RAPIDLY ]

[ WINGS HUMMING ]

AND THOSE TINY WINGS

BEAT UP TO 200 TIMES
EVERY SECOND.

IT'S AN ENDLESS CYCLE --

CONSTANT FEEDING GIVES HUMMERS

THE ENERGY TO STAY ON THE MOVE.

BUT THEY BURN CALORIES

AT SUCH A STEEP RATE,
IT LEAVES THEM ONLY

A NARROW MARGIN OF SURVIVAL.

TO FIND ENOUGH TO EAT,
SOME HUMMINGBIRDS,

LIKE THE WHITE-WHISKERED HERMIT,

RANGE OVER A WIDE AREA,

FEEDING ON
ANY AVAILABLE FLOWERS.

OTHERS, LIKE THIS
GREEN-CROWNED BRILLIANT,

STAKE OUT A PATCH OF
NECTAR-RICH FLOWERS

AND DEFEND IT AT ALL COSTS.

HUMMINGBIRDS WON'T
TOLERATE TRESPASSERS,

AND THEIR AERIAL DOGFIGHTS
ARE INTENSE.

FOR BOTH BIRDS,
THE NECTAR IN THESE FLOWERS

COULD BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
LIFE AND DEATH.

BUT FINDING FOOD
IS ONLY PART OF THE EQUATION.

CONSERVING ENERGY
IS CRUCIAL, TOO.

AT NIGHT, WHEN A HUMMINGBIRD
CAN'T FEED,

IT FACES THE RISK OF
SIMPLY RUNNING OUT OF FUEL

AND PERISHING IN ITS SLEEP.

ONCE AGAIN,
HUMMERS HAVE EVOLVED A WAY OF

DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM.

WHEN DARKNESS FALLS,

THE HUMMINGBIRD SETTLES
ONTO A SAFE PERCH,

AND IT FLUFFS UP ITS FEATHERS
LIKE A DOWN COAT

TO RETAIN BODY HEAT.

INFRARED VIDEO SHOWS WARMER
AREAS AS RED, COOLER AS BLUE.

AS THE TEMPERATURE
CONTINUES TO FALL,

THE HUMMINGBIRD
CONSERVES ENERGY

BY ADJUSTING ITS THERMOSTAT,
AND PRODUCING LESS HEAT.

IT ENTERS A LOW-ENERGY STATE
CALLED "TORPOR."

IT'S LIKE GOING
INTO HIBERNATION.

THE BIRD'S BODY TEMPERATURE,

NORMALLY 105 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT,

CAN DROP BY MORE THAN HALF.

IN INFRARED,
THE HUMMINGBIRD IN TORPOR

APPEARS AS COOL BLUE,
LIKE THE AIR AROUND IT.

AND ITS HEART RATE
SLOWS WAY DOWN --

TO AS LOW AS
36 BEATS PER MINUTE.

[ HEART BEATING SLOWLY ]

THEN, WHEN THE AIR WARMS

AT DAWN,
THE BIRD SLOWLY EMERGES

FROM TORPOR --

AND ITS VITAL SIGNS
RAMP BACK UP TO NORMAL.

SOME HUMMINGBIRDS HAVE FOUND
ANOTHER WAY TO SAVE ENERGY.

INSTEAD OF HOVERING TO FEED,
THE ANDEAN HILLSTAR HOPS.

THE HILLSTAR LIVES ON

THE HIGH VOLCANIC PLAINS
OF SOUTH AMERICA,

AT AN ALTITUDE OF 12,000 FEET.

THE THIN MOUNTAIN AIR
MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT TO FLY,

LET ALONE HOVER.

FORTUNATELY, MOST OF THE FLOWERS
HERE GROW CLOSE TO THE GROUND.

THIS MAY SEEM LIKE
A STRANGE

FORAGING TECHNIQUE
FOR A HUMMINGBIRD.

HOPPING AND PERCHING CONSUME
A LOT LESS ENERGY THAN HOVERING.

WITH THEIR AMAZING ADAPTATIONS,

HUMMINGBIRDS CAN SURVIVE
EXTREME CONDITIONS.

THE SURVIVAL OF A SPECIES,

HOWEVER, INVOLVES A WHOLE OTHER
SET OF SKILLS.

FOR HUMMINGBIRDS,
AS FOR MANY OTHER CREATURES,

SEX IS A GAME
IN WHICH FEMALES MAKE THE RULES.

A FEMALE KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT
SHE'S LOOKING FOR.

IT'S UP TO MALES
TO MAKE A GOOD IMPRESSION.

[ CALLING ]

SOME MALES LIKE TO ANNOUNCE
THEIR PRESENCE WITH A SONG,

LIKE THE INSISTENT CHIRPING

OF THIS ECUADORIAN
LONG-BILLED HERMIT.

THE LONG-TAILED SYLPH
USES HIS FEATHERS TO WOO A MATE.

ONLY THE MALE SPORTS
THAT EXTRAVAGANT ACCESSORY.

WHEN A MALE RUFOUS
SPOTS A FEMALE IN HIS TERRITORY,

HE LAUNCHES INTO A DANCE,
BEST APPRECIATED IN SLOW MOTION.

WHILE HE SHUTTLES
BACK AND FORTH,

THE FEMALE PLAYS COY,
HIDING IN THE FLOWERS.

BUT HE KNOWS RIGHT WHERE
HIS AUDIENCE IS.

WHEN IT COMES TO
HUMMINGBIRD MATING DISPLAYS,

NOTHING CAN TOUCH THE ANNA'S.

MALE ANNA'S,
WITH THEIR TRADEMARK

FIERY RED CROWNS AND NECKS,

PUT ON AN ELABORATE DISPLAY

TO INTIMIDATE RIVALS
AND ATTRACT A MATE.

THE MAIN EVENT IS A STEEP DIVE
AT BREAKNECK SPEED --

ALMOST TOO FAST
FOR THE HUMAN EYE.

[ BRIEF SQUEAK ]

YOU MAY HAVE MISSED IT,

BUT THE FEMALE
CERTAINLY NOTICED.

HERE'S ANOTHER LOOK.

[ SQUEAK ]

THERE'S ONE THING
YOU CAN'T MISS --

EVERY DIVE IS PUNCTUATED BY
A HIGH-PITCHED SQUEAK.

[ SQUEAK ]

SO THIS IS THE TERRITORY
I WAS TELLING YOU ABOUT...

Abraham:
BIOLOGIST CHRIS CLARKE

IS INVESTIGATING
THE ANNA'S MATING DISPLAY.

HE AND HIS ASSISTANT,
TERESA FEO,

HAVE BROUGHT SOME
SPECIALIZED GEAR

TO A PARK ON THE EDGE OF
SAN FRANCISCO BAY.

Clarke: OKAY, IT'S RIGHT THERE.

Feo: OH, I SEE -- YEAH.

Clarke: THE FEMALE
WILL GO AROUND

TO SEVERAL MALES' TERRITORIES,

AND THE MALE
IS DOING THIS DISPLAY

IN AN EFFORT TO IMPRESS HER,

TO TRY AND CONVINCE A FEMALE
TO MATE WITH HIM,

RATHER THAN WITH
THAT OTHER GUY OVER THERE.

Abraham: THE MALE'S DIVE

IS HIS WAY OF FLAUNTING
HIS PHYSICAL FITNESS,

AND THAT UNUSUAL CHIRP
IS A KIND OF SERENADE

TO HELP WIN HER OVER.

BUT CHRIS IS CURIOUS TO KNOW
HOW THE MALE MAKES THAT NOISE.

Clarke: THE SOUND SOUNDS VOCAL.

PEOPLE THINK THAT
IT'S MADE VOCALLY,

JUST LIKE THEIR SONG IS VOCAL.

BUT THERE'S ALSO A GROUP OF
PEOPLE OUT THERE

THAT THINK THAT IT MAY BE
THE TAIL THAT MAKES THE SOUND.

BUT NOBODY HAS TESTED
THIS IDEA BEFORE.

Abraham: CHRIS AND TERESA WILL
USE A HIGH-SPEED VIDEO CAMERA

TO RECORD THE DIVES AT
500 FRAMES PER SECOND.

A SENSITIVE MICROPHONE
WILL CAPTURE THE CHIRPS.

THE REAL TRICK

WILL BE GETTING THE MALE TO DIVE

RIGHT IN FRONT OF
CHRIS'S CAMERA.

Clarke: IT IS QUITE A CHALLENGE
TO FILM THESE GUYS.

WHEN THEY'RE DIVING, THEY GO --

WE THINK AT ABOUT
60 MILES AN HOUR OR SO,

AND, OF COURSE, THIS IS A LITTLE
BIRD THAT'S ABOUT THIS BIG,

WHIZZING BY AT THE SPEED OF
FREEWAY TRAFFIC.

Abraham: CHRIS KNOWS THAT MALES
TEND TO DIVE TOWARD THE SUN,

TO SHOW OFF THEIR RED MARKINGS
TO BEST ADVANTAGE,

AND THAT HELPS HIM
POSITION THE CAMERA.

HE'LL BE COMING FROM OVER HERE,
SO RIGHT HERE

WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE
FOR THE CAMERA.

Abraham: TO PROVOKE THE MALE
INTO PUTTING ON A DISPLAY,

THEY PLACE A FEMALE INSIDE
A MESH ENCLOSURE.

AND AS ADDED INSURANCE,

ANOTHER FEMALE --
A STUFFED ONE --

IS MOUNTED ON A POLE.

Clarke: THIS IS A FEMALE THAT WE
GOT FROM A WILDLIFE HOSPITAL.

SHE DIDN'T SURVIVE
AFTER BEING ADMITTED.

Abraham: WITH THEIR GEAR
IN PLACE AND READY TO ROLL,

THERE'S NOTHING TO DO
BUT WAIT FOR THE SHOW TO START.

AND IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG.

HE'S GOING UP
FOR A DIVE!

THE MALE BEGINS
HIS DISPLAY

BY FLYING STRAIGHT UP
ABOUT A HUNDRED FEET

AND HOVERING
TO ATTRACT ATTENTION.

THEN HE PLUNGES TOWARD
THE GROUND

IN A DEATH-DEFYING DIVE.

Clarke: DESCENDING!
[ SQUEAK ]

DIVE ONE...
HE'S GOING UP.

[ SQUEAK ]
THAT WAS DIVE 2.

GOING UP.

[ SQUEAK ]
DIVE 3.

THAT WAS DIVE 3.

Clarke:
ESTIMATES I HAVE FROM VIDEOS

ARE THAT THE G-FORCES
ARE ABOUT 10 G's...

[ SQUEAK ]
DIVE 7!

WHICH IS ABOUT THE SAME AS WHAT
A PILOT BLACKS OUT UNDER

IN FIGHTER AIRCRAFT.
[ SQUEAK ]

DIVE 14.
DIVE 14.

Clarke: IT'S PHENOMENAL THAT
THIS IS JUST

A ROUTINE PART OF
THEIR DISPLAYS THAT THEY DO.

DESCENDING -- DIVE 16.
[ SQUEAK ]

OKAY, HE'S BACK ON HIS PERCH.

YEAH, CHECK THIS OUT!

Abraham:
NOW THAT THEY'VE RECORDED

MORE THAN A DOZEN DIVES,
THEY CAN TAKE A CLOSER LOOK --

IN SLOW MOTION.

SO RIGHT NOW YOU CAN SEE HE'S
JUST OFF-SCREEN UP HERE,

BUT HE'S GOING TO APPEAR
AND HE'S GOING TO COME DOWN.

SEE THAT?
HE SPREADS HIS TAIL!

YEAH, THAT'S
REALLY COOL!

AND HE HAS HIS TAIL SPREAD FOR
THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME

AS IT TAKES HIM
TO MAKE THE SOUND.

[ DISTORTED SQUEAK ]

Abraham: THE MALE IS SPREADING
HIS TAIL FEATHERS

RIGHT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE DIVE.

THE ACTION LASTS JUST
60 MILLISECONDS,

BUT IT COINCIDES PRECISELY
WITH THE MALE'S CHIRP.

WOW, THAT'S
REALLY COOL.

Abraham:
IS IT JUST A COINCIDENCE,

OR ARE THE FEATHERS
ACTUALLY PRODUCING THE SOUND?

[ SQUEAK ]

CHRIS HAS DEVISED A SIMPLE

BUT INGENIOUS WAY
TO TEST THE THEORY.

Clarke: WE HAVE TUBES THAT HAVE
AIR COMING THROUGH THEM,

FROM AN AIR SOURCE.

WHEN WE PUT THE FEATHER HERE,

WE PUT IT IN A JET OF AIR THAT'S
MOVING 60 MILES AN HOUR.

[ WHISTLING ]

Abraham:
THE FEATHER MAKES A SOUND,

VIBRATING LIKE
A REED IN A CLARINET.

IT'S A DEAD MATCH FOR
THE MALE ANNA'S CHIRP.

[ SQUEAK ]
YEAH, RIGHT THERE.

THE EXPERIMENT PROVES THAT
THE TAIL FEATHERS

ARE MAKING THE SOUND.

SOMEHOW THE MALE IS ABLE TO DIVE

AT JUST THE RIGHT
ANGLE AND SPEED,

SO HIS TAIL FEATHERS PRODUCE
THE PRECISE FREQUENCY

THAT THE FEMALE IS LOOKING FOR.

BY SHOWING OFF HIS FLYING SKILL

HE LETS HER KNOW THAT HE'S
A GOOD CHOICE FOR A MATE.

[ SQUEAK ]

MALE HUMMINGBIRDS USE ANOTHER
LURE TO ATTRACT A FEMALE --

IRIDESCENT FEATHERS.

LOOK AT THEM ONE WAY,
AND THEY'RE DULL --

BLACK OR BROWN.

BUT WHEN THE LIGHT HITS THEM
JUST RIGHT,

THOSE FEATHERS SHIMMER.

AS USUAL IN THE BIRD WORLD,

IT'S THE MALES
THAT REALLY SHINE.

THEIR NAMES OFTEN REFLECT
THEIR FLASHIEST ATTRIBUTE --

"PURPLE-THROATED"...

"RUBY-THROATED"...

"FIRECROWNED"...

SURPRISINGLY,
A HUMMINGBIRD'S COLORS

ARE NOT THE RESULT OF PIGMENTS.

INSTEAD, THEY'RE CREATED BY
SPECIAL CELLS IN THE FEATHERS

THAT BREAK DOWN LIGHT
AND EMIT PARTICULAR WAVELENGTHS.

THOSE COLORS ENSURE THAT WHEN
THE MALE HUMMER TURNS HIS HEAD,

IT'S THE BEST WAY
TO CATCH HER EYE.

WHATEVER TRICK HE USES
TO MAKE HIMSELF ATTRACTIVE,

IF A MALE IS PERSUASIVE ENOUGH,

A FEMALE MIGHT DECIDE TO
MATE WITH HIM.

BUT THE RELATIONSHIP WON'T LAST.

SHE'LL MAKE HER HOME
AND RAISE HER YOUNG ALONE.

FEMALE HUMMINGBIRDS
BUILD THEIR NESTS

WITH SOFT BITS OF LEAVES,
FEATHERS, OR LICHEN,

OFTEN PASTED TOGETHER WITH
SPIDER WEBS,

TO MAKE THEM
STRONG AND STRETCHY.

NESTS VARY ENORMOUSLY,

DEPENDING ON THE SPECIES
AND THE MATERIALS AVAILABLE.

IN THE DENSE LOWLAND FORESTS
OF ECUADOR,

THE BUFF-TAILED SICKLEBILL
BUILDS HERS OVER A STREAM

FOR DEFENSE AGAINST PREDATORS.

AND SHE ATTACHES IT TO
THE UNDERSIDE OF A LEAF

TO PROVIDE SHADE.

THE BRONZY INCA LIVES ON
THE WESTERN SLOPES OF THE ANDES.

SHE USES LONG STRANDS OF MOSS
TO BIND HER NEST TO A BRANCH.

A FEMALE USUALLY LAYS
TWO TINY EGGS.

THE CHICKS EMERGE
IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

[ CHIRPING ]

THEY GROW FAST,

ON A STEADY DIET OF
REGURGITATED NECTAR AND INSECTS.

SOON, THEY'RE BIGGER THAN
THEIR MOTHER.

AND THEY'LL KEEP ON GROWING

UNTIL THEY'VE NEARLY
OUTGROWN THE NEST.

EVEN AFTER THEY FLEDGE,

THE CHICKS WILL STILL RELY ON
THEIR MOTHER FOR A WHILE.

ONCE THEY'RE FINALLY
FENDING FOR THEMSELVES,

THEY'LL LOSE THOSE
FLUFFY FEATHERS

AND BURN OFF THEIR BABY FAT.

IN THE CHIRACAHUA MOUNTAINS
OF SOUTHEASTERN ARIZONA,

SOME HUMMINGBIRD MOMS HAVE
COME UP WITH A UNIQUE STRATEGY

FOR SUCCESSFUL NESTING.

BIOLOGIST HAROLD GREENEY
IS AN EXPERT ON THE SUBJECT.

Greeney: SO WE JUST HAVE THIS
SMALL DETOUR RIGHT HERE.

Abraham: HE HAS A TALENT
FOR FINDING NESTS.

Greeney: AND IT'S RIGHT IN THERE
ON THAT SECOND BRANCH.

SEE IT BACK THERE?

Abraham: THE FEMALE
BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD

BUILDS HER WALNUT-SIZED NEST

ON A HIGH TREE LIMB.

WE'LL CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Abraham: EVEN WAY UP HERE,

HUMMINGBIRD NESTS
ARE VULNERABLE --

OH, YES,
STILL GOT EGGS.

SUBJECT TO ATTACK
BY A HOST OF MARAUDERS.

HUMMINGBIRD EGGS
ARE SO SMALL,

THEY'RE LIKE
LITTLE TIC TACS,

THAT JUST ABOUT ANYBODY
THAT FINDS THEM

I THINK
WOULD EAT THEM.

GREENEY AND HIS TEAM

SPEND A LOT OF TIME MONITORING
NESTS AND THEIR CONTENTS.

Greeney:
I THINK THIS IS HATCHED TODAY.

Abraham:
IT TAKES A VERY SENSITIVE SCALE

TO WEIGH A BABY HUMMINGBIRD.

Greeney: SO, 0.401 GRAMS.

Abraham: THAT'S ABOUT THE WEIGHT
OF A POST-IT NOTE.

THERE WE GO,
BACK SAFE AND SOUND.

GREENEY RECENTLY DISCOVERED
SOMETHING ASTONISHING

ABOUT THESE BLACK-CHINNED NESTS.

IT APPEARS THEIR LOCATIONS
ARE ANYTHING BUT RANDOM.

Greeney: WE WERE JUST OUT
TO SEE WHAT WE COULD SEE

AND LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE
ABOUT THEIR NESTING,

WHEN WE NOTICED THAT
THIS SPECIES OF HUMMINGBIRD

OFTEN HAVE ALL THEIR NESTS

CLUSTERED IN
ONE PARTICULAR AREA.

Abraham: IT TURNS OUT THAT
RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE

OF EACH CLUSTER
OF HUMMINGBIRD NESTS

IS THE NEST OF
ANOTHER KIND OF BIRD --

A COOPER'S HAWK.

COME ON
OVER HERE.

THE COOPER'S HAWK JUST LANDED
RIGHT NEXT TO THE NEST,

AND HE'S OUT ON THE BRANCH.

Abraham: UNLIKE HUMMINGBIRDS,
COOPER'S HAWKS EAT MEAT --

INCLUDING SQUIRRELS

AND MANY KINDS OF BIRDS.

IN FACT, BIRDS ARE
A COOPER'S HAWK SPECIALTY.

THE HAWKS CAN FLY WITH GREAT
AGILITY THROUGH A THICK FOREST

TO CATCH THEM ON THE WING.

STRANGELY, THE COOPER'S HAWK'S
SKILLS AS A KILLER

MAY BE EXACTLY WHY
THE HUMMERS LIKE TO STAY CLOSE.

THE HAWKS' FAVORITE FOODS

ARE ALL ANIMALS THAT PREY ON
HUMMINGBIRD NESTS.

BUT THE HUMMINGBIRDS THEMSELVES
ARE TOO SMALL

AND FAST FOR THESE
BIG RAPTORS TO BOTHER WITH.

SOMEHOW, THE BLACK-CHINS
HAVE FIGURED OUT

THAT HAWKS MAKE
GOOD NEIGHBORS --

AND THAT SURVIVAL STRATEGY
REALLY PAYS OFF.

SCIENTISTS LIKE HAROLD GREENEY

AREN'T THE ONLY ONES KEEPING
A CLOSE EYE ON HUMMINGBIRDS,

OR MAKING SURPRISING NEW
DISCOVERIES ABOUT THEM.

IN BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA,
A TEAM OF DETECTIVES

IS SETTING UP A STAKEOUT.

THEY'RE LOOKING FOR
A TINY CRITTER

THAT'S NOT NATIVE
TO THESE PARTS.

ONCE THEIR TRAP IS SET, THEY
ONLY HAVE TO WATCH AND WAIT.

Woman: WE GOT ONE!

[ CHUCKLING ]

Abraham: HEADING UP THE TEAM
IS NANCY NEWFIELD.

SHE'S A LICENSED
HUMMINGBIRD BANDER.

NANCY IS PART OF A NETWORK OF
BANDERS ACROSS NORTH AMERICA,

KEEPING TABS ON
THE BIRDS' MOVEMENTS.

THIS IS
A RUBY-THROAT.

THE LITTLE RUBY-THROAT
WILL BE HELD CAPTIVE

JUST LONG ENOUGH TO
GET A PHYSICAL...

3.4 --
NICE WEIGHT.

AND HAVE A TINY NUMBERED BAND
ATTACHED TO HER TINY LEG.

NEXT TIME SHE'S SPOTTED,
THAT NUMBER,

CHECKED AGAINST
A CENTRAL DATABASE,

WILL PROVIDE CLUES TO
WHERE SHE'S TRAVELED.

YOU READY TO GO,
SWEETHEART?

Abraham: THE RUBY-THROAT HAS
A LONG TRIP AHEAD OF HER.

THERE WE GO.

Abraham: NEARLY ALL OF
THE HUMMINGBIRDS

FOUND IN THE U.S. AND CANADA
ARE SEASONAL MIGRANTS --

BREEDING AND NESTING UP NORTH,
BUT SPENDING THE WINTER

IN THE TROPICS OF
CENTRAL AMERICA.

TWICE A YEAR THEY MAKE A JOURNEY
THAT IS TRULY EPIC.

GIVEN THEIR BODY LENGTH,

HUMMINGBIRD MIGRATIONS ARE
THE LONGEST OF ANY BIRD.

A RUFOUS MIGHT COVER UP TO
6,000 MILES ROUND TRIP,

SHUTTLING BETWEEN ITS
WINTER HOME IN CENTRAL MEXICO

AND THE NORTHERN END
OF ITS BREEDING RANGE

IN SOUTHERN ALASKA.

A RUBY-THROAT'S MIGRATION
BETWEEN PANAMA

AND ITS SUMMER BREEDING GROUNDS
IN THE EASTERN U.S.

IS NEARLY AS LONG.

THAT JOURNEY INCLUDES
A MARATHON FLIGHT

ACROSS THE GULF OF MEXICO.

IT'S AN 18-HOUR ORDEAL
OVER 500 MILES OF OPEN WATER,

WITH NO PLACE TO STOP,
AND NOWHERE TO FEED

UNTIL THEY REACH LAND.

BACK IN BATON ROUGE,

NANCY NEWFIELD
IS MAKING HOUSE CALLS.

I HEAR
A CUSTOMER.

THIS IS
AN ADULT MALE RUFOUS.

AND -- OH, HE'S A LOOKER.

Abraham: SOME OF THE BIRDS
SHE CATCHES

ARE ALREADY WEARING BANDS.

Newfield: 358 --
SO THAT'S TWO YEARS AGO.

Abraham:
AND A FEW WERE EVEN BANDED

RIGHT HERE ON PREVIOUS TRIPS.

I'VE HAD RUFOUS COME BACK
FOR EIGHT YEARS,

RUBYTHROATS, BLACK-CHINS,
CALLIOPES FOR UP TO SIX.

Abraham: BANDERS HAVE DISCOVERED

THAT HUMMINGBIRDS CAN LIVE
AS LONG AS 12 YEARS --

A RIPE OLD AGE
FOR SUCH A SMALL ANIMAL.

LET HER SIT
IN YOUR HAND.

AND THE BIRDS FOLLOW THE SAME
ROUTES YEAR AFTER YEAR,

RETURNING TO THE VERY SAME
GARDENS AND BREEDING GROUNDS.

[ BIRD CHIRPS,
NEWFIELD LAUGHS ]

[ BIRD CHIRPING ]

Newfield: THIS IS A BANDED BIRD,
A RETURNEE ADULT MALE RUFOUS.

3.9, SO HE'S GETTING
A LITTLE PORKY.

HE'S PUTTING ON WEIGHT,
GETTING READY TO LEAVE.

Abraham: TO SURVIVE THE RIGORS
OF THEIR LONG MIGRATION --

HE'S GOT A FAT OF TWO.

HUMMERS GO ON
AN EATING BINGE,

AND STORE THE EXTRA FOOD AS FAT.

ZERO CORRUGATIONS.

THEY MAY DOUBLE THEIR WEIGHT
BEFORE SETTING OUT,

PUTTING ON THE EXTRA
TWO OR THREE GRAMS

TO SUSTAIN THEM
ON THEIR JOURNEY.

FOR THE MIGRANT HUMMERS,
THERE'S PLENTY TO EAT --

AS MORE AND MORE GARDENERS
AND BACKYARD BIRDERS

SET UP FEEDERS...
AND PLANT NATIVE FLOWERS,

WHICH TEND TO BE
RICHER IN NECTAR.

LATELY, THERE ARE
SOME SURPRISE GUESTS

AT THIS BANQUET.

BANDING DATA REVEAL THAT
MIGRATION PATTERNS ARE CHANGING.

IN THE LAST FEW DECADES,

MORE HUMMINGBIRDS HAVE BEEN
SHOWING UP

ALONG THE EAST COAST
DURING THE WINTER --

WHEN THEY'RE USUALLY FOUND
IN MEXICO.

VAN REMSEN
IS A BIOLOGY PROFESSOR

AT LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY.

Remsen: WHEN I FIRST GOT HERE,

ANY HUMMINGBIRD IN BATON ROUGE
WAS A BIG DEAL.

NOW, MOST PEOPLE WHO HAVE
HUMMINGBIRD FEEDERS OUT

HAVE TWO, THREE, FIVE, TEN.

IT'S A SPECTACULAR CHANGE
FROM JUST THE LATE '70s.

Abraham: REMSEN BELIEVES THESE
HUMMINGBIRDS ARE FIRST MIGRATING

TO THE TROPICS AS USUAL,

AND THEN VEERING NORTH AGAIN
A FEW MONTHS LATER,

TO THE GULF COAST.

NO ONE KNOWS EXACTLY WHY.

IT'S POSSIBLE THAT
A GENETIC VARIATION

ALTERED THE INTERNAL NAVIGATING
SYSTEM IN A FEW BIRDS,

CAUSING THEM
TO CHANGE THEIR ROUTE.

SINCE THE NEW MIGRATION PATTERN
IS REWARDED WITH FOOD,

THE VARIATION IS PASSED ON
TO NEW GENERATIONS.

Remsen:
BUILT INTO HUMMINGBIRD BIOLOGY

IS THIS ABILITY TO
TRACK RESOURCES.

THEY CAN ADAPT TO
NEW SITUATIONS.

I MEAN, THEY HAVE ADDED

THE GULF COAST
OF THE UNITED STATES

TO THE WINTERING RANGE.

AND WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT
JUST A FEW INDIVIDUALS --

THERE ARE PROBABLY
HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS,

MAYBE SEVERAL THOUSAND
HUMMINGBIRDS OF SEVERAL SPECIES

THAT HAVE ADDED
THIS PIECE OF REAL ESTATE

TO THEIR WINTER RANGE,
COME BACK YEAR AFTER YEAR.

VERY FLEXIBLE.

Abraham: THAT FLEXIBILITY IS
A HUMMINGBIRD HALLMARK,

AND A KEY TO THEIR SURVIVAL.

BUT TODAY, MANY OF THE NEARLY
350 SPECIES OF HUMMINGBIRDS

ARE THREATENED OR ENDANGERED,

AS THEY LOSE THEIR HABITATS
AND FOOD SOURCES.

LUCKILY, THEY ARE
FINDING CHAMPIONS --

IN SURPRISING PLACES.

A FEW YEARS AGO,
A GROUP OF EUROPEAN BIRDERS

JOURNEYED TO THE HIGHLAND
FORESTS OF NORTHEASTERN PERU,

HOPING FOR A GLIMPSE OF ONE OF
THE WORLD'S RAREST HUMMINGBIRDS.

TO FIND IT, THEY ENLISTED
THE HELP OF A LOCAL FARMER

NAMED SANTOS MONTENEGRO.

[ MONTENEGRO SPEAKING SPANISH ]

Abraham: GUIDED BY SANTOS,

THE BIRDERS WERE ABLE TO WITNESS
SOMETHING SEEN BY FEW OUTSIDERS,

AND ONLY RECENTLY FILMED
FOR THE FIRST TIME.

THE BIRD IS
THE MARVELLOUS SPATULETAIL,

AND IT IS TRULY A MARVEL.

THE MALE USES HIS TWO

SPECIALLY MODIFIED TAIL FEATHERS
IN AN EXTRAORDINARY DISPLAY.

TO IMPRESS A FEMALE,
HE TWIRLS HIS FEATHERS,

LIKE A COWBOY DOING ROPE TRICKS.

[ CLICKING AND BUZZING ]

NO ONE HAS FIGURED OUT
HOW HE MAKES THAT SOUND.

THERE ARE FEWER THAN
A THOUSAND OF HIS KIND LEFT,

AND MOST OF THEM ARE FOUND ON
THE EASTERN SLOPES

OF A SINGLE RIVER VALLEY
IN PERU.

SURVIVAL IN THIS REGION

IS DIFFICULT FOR HUMMINGBIRDS,
AND FOR PEOPLE, TOO.

THE VILLAGERS MAKE THEIR LIVING

BY GROWING SUGAR CANE
ON THE HILLSIDES.

AS FARMING ENCROACHES ON

THE MARVELLOUS SPATULETAIL'S
HABITAT,

THE BIRD IS FACING EXTINCTION.

SANTOS MONTENEGRO HAS BECOME
THE MARVELLOUS SPATULETAIL'S

AMBASSADOR --
AND ITS PROTECTOR.

[ MONTENEGRO SPEAKING SPANISH ]

Abraham: SANTOS HAS PERSUADED
MANY OF HIS NEIGHBORS

THAT ECOTOURISM IS A MORE
REWARDING USE OF THEIR LAND

THAN FARMING.

THE SPATULETAIL RESERVE
WAS ESTABLISHED

TO SAVE A SINGLE SPECIES,

BUT IT WILL ALSO PROTECT
AN ENTIRE ECOSYSTEM.

SUCH IS
THE HUMMINGBIRD'S POWER --

AND ITS POWERFUL HOLD UPON US.

WHEREVER HUMMINGBIRDS FLY...

THERE HE GOES!

PEOPLE FLOCK TO SEE THEM.

AND IS IT ANY WONDER?

THESE LITTLE BIRDS
HAVE CONQUERED THE AIR

AND MASTERED
THE ART OF SURVIVAL.

HUMMINGBIRDS ARE MORE THAN
JUST BEAUTIFUL --

THEY ARE BRILLIANT.