Flying Andy's Baby Animals

# Andy's baby animals Andy's baby animals

# If you're a polar bear and you're going somewhere

# Andy's baby animals

# Or an elephant cub, then you'd better take care

# Andy's baby animals

# If you're a capuchin learning how to eat

# An ostrich chick trying to beat a retreat

# Andy's baby animals Andy's baby animals

# If you're a black bear looking for a tree to climb

# Andy's baby animals

# Or a penguin chasing Mum at breakfast time

# Andy's baby animals

# An orangutan trying to make your bed

# Or a meerkat struggling with a sleepy head

# Andy's baby animals Andy's baby animals

# We're growing stronger every day

# Watch and try and laugh and play

# Andy's baby animals Andy's baby animals. #

Come on, Bobby.

Oh, there we are.

Hello, I'm Andy, and these are baby owls, or owlets.

They're boobook owls.

We know that they're babies because they have these

wonderful fluffy feathers.

Owls have special feathers which means, when they fly,

they're almost silent,

which means they can swoop down on the animals that they are hunting

and surprise them.

They can't fly yet because they're still young,

but they're keen to practise.

'It must be fantastic being able to fly!'

So let's fly over to our first stop in South Georgia, Antarctica.

This is a wandering albatross.

He's a champion long-distance flyer.

During his lifetime, he can fly up to 14 million kilometres.

That's like going to the moon and back 18 times!

That's an awful lot of wandering.

Luckily, it's got the longest wings of any bird to help soar super high.

But before an albatross can take to the skies,

it has to go to flight school first.

This chick is still stuck on the ground.

Those fluffy feathers are nice and toasty.

ANDY SHIVERS

But they're no good for flying.

It needs a change of outfit.

Luckily, by the time spring rolls around,

its feathers are much more flying-friendly,

all sleek and smooth.

Nice!

So it's time to try out those giant wings for the very first time.

A little warm up to start.

Then clear the runway and prepare for takeoff.

You're going up! You're going up!

And you're going down again.

That's it! Keep trying.

Practice makes perfect.

Just make sure you don't land in any...

mud.

Oops!

It's a good job Mum and Dad aren't around to see you in such a mess.

This flying business is a lot harder than it looks.

Right, all cleaned up.

Now it's time for another go.

It can take a young albatross weeks to get the hang of it.

Wait for it. Wait for it.

And up, up and away!

And all that practice will come in handy because it's off to spend

the next five years wandering the skies.

# Andy's baby animals Andy's baby animals. #

Now we're off to Thailand.

Birds aren't the only animals who can fly, you know.

Apes can, too.

Well, maybe they don't fly quite like an albatross but,

when these lar gibbons start swinging through the forest,

it certainly looks like they're flying.

But instead of super long wings, they've got super long arms.

This is a gibbon sanctuary in Thailand,

and it's home to six-month-old Sherpa.

Today's a big day for him because it's the first time he's going out

to explore the forest.

Don't worry, though, he doesn't have to do it all on his own.

Mum and Dad are coming, too.

That's it, Dad! You lead the way.

And here comes Mum.

But where's Sherpa?

Ah, there he is!

It's always a little bit scary

when you try something new for the first time.

Let's see if Mum and Dad can persuade him to come out and play.

Come on! You've got to try it some time!

Come on, Sherpa!

You can do it.

Yes! You did it!

A quick hug from a proud dad...

..and then he's off to try out some forest flying.

Brilliant! It looks like Sherpa's a natural.

That's some nifty branch work, mate!

And if he stops to watch Mum and Dad for a bit,

he might learn a few new moves.

Yup, no-one can fly through the trees quite like a gibbon.

With their long lanky arms and extra bendy wrists,

they're the treetop super-speeders!

And it won't be long before Sherpa can fly through the forest as fast

as Mum and Dad.

# Andy's baby animals Andy's baby animals. #

Last stop - California.

Here's another animal learning to fly in the tree tops.

These two fluff balls are young great grey owls.

They're also called owlets.

One day, they will be one of the largest owls in the world,

but they've got a lot of growing up to do first,

including learning to fly.

They live amongst some of the tallest trees in the world.

It's a pretty scary place to make your first ever flight, though.

Oh, I can't watch!

Luckily, their feet have

long, sharp claws called talons to help them cling on...

even when they're upside down!

Oops! You're going to give yourself a headache!

Well, this looks more like falling than flying.

If you're not careful, you'll end up on the...

ground.

Oh, well, that's OK because, as well as being great fallers,

owlets are also great climbers.

Although it takes a lot longer going up.

Time to try again.

Three, two, one...

We have lift-off!

Now you're well on the way to being a big grown-up owl!

For an albatross chick, a baby gibbon or an owlet,

learning to fly is a huge step.

It won't be long before these three take to the skies.

See you next time.

HE CHUCKLES