NARRATOR: AND NOW, IT’S TIME FOR SOME MORE “AMAZING ANIMALS.”
NUMBER 75,555…
THE AMAZING SECRETARY BIRD.
- SECRETARY BIRD: WELL, HELLO, DARLING. SO NICE FOR YOU TO MEET ME.
- NARRATOR: THIS INCREDIBLY UNIQUE BIRD OF PREY IS THE ONLY CREATURE ON EARTH THAT LOOKS AND HUNTS LIKE THIS. TEN POINTS FOR ORIGINALITY, MADAM SECRETARY.
- SECRETARY BIRD: YES, LOOK INTO MY EYES. YOU ARE UNDER MY CONTROL.
- NARRATOR: SECRETARY BIRDS ARE FOUND IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA, MOSTLY IN OPEN GRASSLANDS AMONGST THE ACACIA TREES.
- SECRETARY BIRD: ENOUGH ABOUT THE TREES, DARLING. I AM A SECRET AGENT WITH NINJA WEAPONS. MY LEGS, FOR EXAMPLE.
- NARRATOR: RIGHT, THE SECRETARY BIRD CAN GROW UP TO FOUR FEET TALL AND THEIR TOUGH, SCALY, LEGS AND TALONS ARE BUILT TO STOMP THEIR PREY TO DEATH.
- CHAMELEON: WHOA, WHAT?
- NARRATOR: WE’RE TALKING BONE – CRUSHING STRENGTH.
- SECRETARY BIRD: WHAT DID I TELL YOU? I LIKE MY PREY SOFT AND CHEWY.
- NARRATOR: A LITTLE MOUSE OR LIZARD HAS NO CHANCE.
- SECRETARY BIRD: WHAT MOUSE? I DIDN’T SEE ONE!
- NARRATOR: THE SECRETARY BIRD IS BASICALLY AN EAGLE ON STILTS.
- SECRETARY BIRD: KEEP LOOKING AT MY PRETTY HEAD FEATHERS. THEY WILL BE THE LAST THING YOU SEE.
- NARRATOR: THEY’RE SKILLFULLY USED TO CONFUSE THE PREY BEFORE THE SECRETARY BIRD STOMPS ON IT.
- SECRETARY BIRD: WELL, YES. THEY’RE ALL PART OF MY KILLER LOOKS.
- NARRATOR: THEY MAKE THEIR NESTS HIGH UP IN THE THORNY ACACIA TREES, WHERE THEIR CHICKS CAN BE SAFE FROM PREDATORS.
- BABY BIRD: MAMA.
- NARRATOR: THE SECRETARY BIRD IS ONE OF THE FEW BIRDS THAT REGURGITATES FOOD AND WATER FOR ITS CHICKS.
- SECRETARY BIRD: DARLING, THAT’S ENOUGH. A GIRL HAS TO HAVE SOME SECRETS.
- NARRATOR: THEY MIGHT BE LOVELY, LANKY-LOOKING PREDATORS, BUT THE SECRETARY BIRD IS ABSOLUTELY AN AMAZING ANIMAL.
