during the dry
season over half a million turns
crowd onto this remote atoll in the
indian ocean
their chicks are still in their dark
juvenile plumage
they vary in age
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whilst the more advanced chicks take to
the air
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others aren’t quite ready yet
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there is just starting to learn to fly
use the shallow lagoon that occupies the
center of the atoll
as their training ground
it’s difficult for some of them to stay
aloft for long
[Applause]
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giant trivallis
usually they are solitary hunters
but about 50 of them have come here from
neighboring reefs
attracted by this abundance of potential
prey
the fledglings stay out of the water if
they can
they even drink on the wing
if the duvalier to catch one now
they have to up their game
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so there is a fish here that amazingly
has a brain capable of calculating the
air speed
altitude and trajectory of a bird
the time comes when every fledgling has
to take to the air
and collect food for itself
their parents lead them to the training
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grounds
uh
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ah
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[Music]
uh if they are to survive
they must learn quickly
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after a month of practicing over the
lagoon
the youngsters start to leave and take
their chances out
over the open sea
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[Music]
you
