BBC: Wings 3D Page #4

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...and react to the slightest updraft.

By understanding

the way the landscape shapes the wind...

...they use little energy looking for a meal.

The Colorado has sustained life

in these deserts...

...for the last 17 million years.

It still feeds a growing population...

...of bald eagles today.

[EAGLE SCREECHING]

Wherever there's an opportunity...

...birds will grasp it...

...and reap the rewards.

The marshlands of South Carolina...

...provide an unusual opportunity

for another fish hunter.

The great egret...

...could teach the eagle

a thing or two about fishing.

[DOLPHIN SNORTING]

They let dolphins do all the work.

The egrets shadow their subjects,

waiting for them to corral the fish.

Then, in one explosive charge...

...the dolphins drive the fish ashore.

[EGRETS SQUAWKING]

As their prey ounder,

the dolphins scoop them up.

And so do the hungry egrets.

Stranding

is a dolphin's worst nightmare...

...but this pod

has made it their specialty.

[SQUAWKS]

The young dolphins

learn the knack from their parents...

...as do the egrets that follow them.

With food so easy to come by...

...the egrets have become experts

on the dolphins' behavior...

...and no longer fish for themselves.

Countless other birds rely on a similar

knowledge of other creatures...

...to find their food.

As summer reaches its height

in the northern hemisphere...

...South Africa hosts an even more

astonishing feeding event.

The kelp gull knows exactly

when it's about to occur...

...and sets off to Seal Island

near Cape Point.

Here, 10,000 Cape fur seals...

...gather to breed.

[GULLS CAWING]

The gulls are opportunists...

...scavenging a meal

wherever they can.

But by studying the seals,

they are guaranteed a feast.

[S EALS BARKI N G]

The gulls wait until the seal pups

are brave enough...

...to venture away from the island.

They follow as the youngsters

enjoy their nevvfound freedom.

The young seals

are oblivious to danger...

...but the gulls know otherwise.

A great white shark.

Just what the gulls were expecting:

A buffet of seal meat,

there for the taking.

[CAWING]

In July, great whites migrate

to feed on the novice seals...

...attacking up to 40 times a day.

As the year moves on...

...it's East Africa's turn...

...to host another great event.

Vultures circle above the Great Plains...

...spiraling upward

in thermals of hot air.

[AIR WHISTLING]

Her broad wings ride the air for hours...

...as she searches for the dead or done for.

Every feather reacts

to the tiniest breath of air...

...adjusting its angle

to perfect the vulture's flight.

She splays her wingtip feathers

to reduce drag...

...and uses her tail to steer.

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