Ep 5. Fishing for a Living

In this episode of David Attenborough: Life of Birds, titled "Fishing for a Living," viewers are taken on a breathtaking journey into the world of birds who rely on the ocean to survive. From the Arctic to the Antarctic, David Attenborough explores the different fishing techniques used by different species of birds to catch their prey, from diving seabirds to pelicans and gulls.

The episode begins with a visit to the Pribilof Islands in the Bering Sea, where we see the world's largest seabird, the albatross. These graceful birds can fly for days without landing, and they come to the islands to breed and raise their chicks. We also see how the puffin, a small auk bird, uses its wings to "fly" through the water in search of small fish.

Moving south to the galapagos islands, we meet the blue-footed booby, a comical bird with bright blue feet. These birds are expert divers, and they use their keen eyesight to spot schools of fish from the air before diving headfirst into the water to catch them.

In South Africa, we see how the African jacana has adapted to living on the water lilies of shallow ponds. Walking on the floating plants, the jacana uses its long toes to search for insects and small fish in the murky water below.

David Attenborough also takes us to the coast of Scotland, where we observe how the gannet uses its powerful wings to dive more than 60 feet into the water to catch fish. These incredible birds can reach speeds of up to 60mph as they plunge into the water, their streamlined bodies allowing them to swim with ease as they catch their prey.

The episode also explores the unique fishing technique of the pelican. These birds have a large pouch beneath their beaks that they use to scoop up fish from the water. We see pelicans in action in Baja California, where a group of brown pelicans team up to encircle and trap fish in shallow water.

Throughout the episode, we also learn about the challenges that these birds face as they try to survive in a world where fish populations are under threat from human activities like overfishing and plastic pollution. David Attenborough highlights the importance of conservation efforts to protect these incredible creatures and their habitats.

Overall, "Fishing for a Living" is a captivating and educational episode of David Attenborough: Life of Birds, showcasing the incredible diversity of bird species and their unique hunting techniques in the underwater world.