0:00:08 > 0:00:13I'm about to embark on a mission which may turn out to be an impossible challenge.
0:00:15 > 0:00:18To keep up with individual migrating animals
0:00:18 > 0:00:24as they fight their way over some of the most hostile environments on the planet.
0:00:24 > 0:00:27Will the animals make it? Many don't.
0:00:27 > 0:00:31And can I keep up with the Earth's most extraordinary natural athletes?
0:00:45 > 0:00:49This is just the start of an incredible journey
0:00:49 > 0:00:53that's likely to take me the entire length of the United States,
0:00:53 > 0:00:55and way beyond.
0:00:55 > 0:00:59I've absolutely no idea where we're going to end up.
0:01:01 > 0:01:02Whooaaa!
0:01:05 > 0:01:08HE WHOOPS WITH EXHILARATION
0:01:11 > 0:01:15And if it's anything like this, it's going to be a fantastic ride!
0:01:24 > 0:01:28In this Incredible Journey, I'm going to try to keep up with animals
0:01:28 > 0:01:34that can travel over 300 miles a day, on their annual migration.
0:01:36 > 0:01:38I'll be entirely at their whim.
0:01:38 > 0:01:45Wherever they go, I will try to follow, guided by the latest satellite-tracking technology.
0:01:47 > 0:01:51At this moment, I have no idea how this adventure is going to turn out.
0:01:51 > 0:01:56Truly, in the next 60 minutes, anything may happen.
0:02:06 > 0:02:08And look, Mother.
0:02:08 > 0:02:09I was wearing a parachute!
0:02:11 > 0:02:12And here is the plan.
0:02:12 > 0:02:17We're going to try and follow one of the world's most enigmatic birds of prey.
0:02:17 > 0:02:22It's beautiful, it's acrobatic, it's deadly, it's the osprey.
0:02:39 > 0:02:42Ospreys are not only masters of the air...
0:02:45 > 0:02:47..but of the sea as well.
0:03:05 > 0:03:09Every year they take part in an extraordinary migration
0:03:09 > 0:03:15of around 6,000 miles between the perfect nesting sites in the north,
0:03:15 > 0:03:18and the best fishing - way, way south.
0:03:22 > 0:03:27Our journey begins north of New York, in Martha's Vineyard.
0:03:27 > 0:03:3265 pairs of ospreys breed on this little island.
0:03:32 > 0:03:35And they're all about to leave.
0:03:35 > 0:03:41Osprey biologist Rob Bierregaard has been studying their migration for the last five years.
0:03:42 > 0:03:46He attaches little solar-powered transmitters to wild ospreys.
0:03:46 > 0:03:51Via satellites, they beam the birds' location back to him,
0:03:51 > 0:03:55so he can see where they are anywhere on the planet.
0:03:55 > 0:04:01He might look tame, but this is a totally wild osprey.
0:04:01 > 0:04:06This year, for the first time, he's putting tracking devices on three youngsters
0:04:06 > 0:04:09about to embark on their very first migration.
0:04:09 > 0:04:12It's these three we're going to try and travel with.
0:04:12 > 0:04:17They'll dictate my every move over the next three weeks.
0:04:17 > 0:04:19Let's meet the intrepid travellers.
0:04:21 > 0:04:26First, little Tasha, eight weeks old and the youngest of the three.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32She's still almost totally dependent on her parents.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35She hasn't even tried to fly yet.
0:04:36 > 0:04:44If she doesn't learn to fly and fish for herself soon, she won't have the strength to start the journey.
0:04:47 > 0:04:49Next is Bunga.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55He only learned to fly the day before he was tagged.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58But he's showing all the signs of independence.
0:05:09 > 0:05:13When he discovered his wings, there was no holding him back.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37Finally, a real feisty one.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40We're going to call him Jaws
0:05:40 > 0:05:43because he gave Rob a good nip as he fitted the transmitter.
0:05:43 > 0:05:47At 12 weeks old, he's way ahead of Tasha and Bunga.
0:05:47 > 0:05:53He's already been exploring the world beyond the nest, and has started to wind up the neighbours.
0:05:53 > 0:05:56The local songbirds don't like birds of prey.
0:06:08 > 0:06:12Right. It looks like we've got a major problem already.
0:06:13 > 0:06:16Bunga has gone missing.
0:06:16 > 0:06:18So we're going to have to find Rob Bierregaard.
0:06:18 > 0:06:23He's our osprey expert and has been keeping tabs on the birds all summer,
0:06:23 > 0:06:25so he should have a good idea what's going on.
0:06:25 > 0:06:31We haven't had a signal from Bunga in about a week or ten days, which is a bad sign.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34It means either that the radio malfunctioned,
0:06:34 > 0:06:37or that the bird got the radio off, which is pretty unlikely
0:06:37 > 0:06:40and the worst-case scenario is the bird is dead.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43'That's not great.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46'We've lost one of our birds and we haven't even started.'
0:06:46 > 0:06:53Remember, only about one out of ten baby ospreys makes it from leaving the nest to a year later.
0:06:53 > 0:06:54- How many?- One out of ten.
0:06:54 > 0:06:59'One out of ten. So the odds are well stacked against them.'
0:06:59 > 0:07:02So that means it's time to move on to Jaws.
0:07:02 > 0:07:04OK, he's our next best bet then, is he?
0:07:04 > 0:07:05Yeah. And he is a good bet.
0:07:05 > 0:07:10It looks like he may have started to move three or four days ago.
0:07:10 > 0:07:12But we can pinpoint Jaws.
0:07:12 > 0:07:14- And Tasha.- Oh, yes, and Tasha.
0:07:14 > 0:07:18We have another young who is apparently a bit of a slow learner.
0:07:18 > 0:07:20She's still hanging around the nest.
0:07:20 > 0:07:25'Tasha might be stalling, but right across North America, thousands of young ospreys'
0:07:25 > 0:07:29are getting ready to leave the safety of their nests,
0:07:29 > 0:07:31and fly south for the very first time.
0:07:32 > 0:07:35So why do they go?
0:07:35 > 0:07:40In summer, Martha's Vineyard is the perfect place for ospreys to start life.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43Plenty of nest sites and loads of fish.
0:07:43 > 0:07:49But as winter approaches, temperatures plummet and the food dries up.
0:07:49 > 0:07:53If they don't migrate to where there's more food, they'll starve.
0:07:56 > 0:07:57When it's time to go,
0:07:57 > 0:08:00the chicks' parents abandon them.
0:08:00 > 0:08:02They're now entirely on their own.
0:08:04 > 0:08:09As the chicks set off, they have no idea what lies ahead.
0:08:09 > 0:08:12They're just following the instinct to go south.
0:08:14 > 0:08:16The question is, where south?
0:08:16 > 0:08:20Where are our birds going to take us?
0:08:21 > 0:08:24We have no idea where these three are going.
0:08:24 > 0:08:27The young have never migrated so they don't know where they're going.
0:08:27 > 0:08:30The adults in some sense know where they're going,
0:08:30 > 0:08:33We haven't followed them before so we don't know.
0:08:33 > 0:08:37Who knows where you'll wind up? You're heading into Terra Incognita.
0:08:37 > 0:08:41'So we're going to need every bit of help we can get.
0:08:41 > 0:08:45'Our challenge is to follow their route as closely as we possibly can.
0:08:45 > 0:08:49'This radio tracker will guide us in when we get really close to the birds.
0:08:49 > 0:08:56'But for the bigger picture, satellites beam the birds' location to a website, which Rob checks daily.
0:08:56 > 0:09:03'We'll be totally dependent on Rob's updates to locate our birds over the next three weeks.'
0:09:03 > 0:09:06OK, wow! Tasha has moved.
0:09:06 > 0:09:10Tasha, who I thought was going to be the last to go, or maybe not even go at all,
0:09:10 > 0:09:14has gone and left the Vineyard, went to New York City.
0:09:14 > 0:09:18- OK.- ..down into New Jersey and she's at Cape May.- So the race is on.
0:09:18 > 0:09:21- You'll keep me updated?- I will be talking to you every day
0:09:21 > 0:09:25- and giving you co-ordinates of where the birds are.- Right.
0:09:25 > 0:09:29- Get your little ground tracker out there and go.- See if we can find them.- Say hello.
0:09:29 > 0:09:33- So we're going to have to get our skates on, then.- Time to go!
0:09:37 > 0:09:40- OK!- Good luck!- No worries! Excellent!
0:09:49 > 0:09:53From now on, Rob is mission control.
0:09:53 > 0:10:00From the end of the phone, he'll be our only connection to Jaws, Tasha and Bunga - if he turns up again.
0:10:00 > 0:10:04Wherever they go, we'll try to follow - any way we can.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15And so...the adventure begins.
0:10:17 > 0:10:20It seems almost impossible.
0:10:20 > 0:10:26These young ospreys are setting off on a journey that will take them thousands of miles south.
0:10:26 > 0:10:29They'll travel maybe 300 miles a day.
0:10:29 > 0:10:33Yet a few short weeks ago, they couldn't even fly!
0:10:33 > 0:10:38Not all of them will make it, as this is a desperately hazardous journey.
0:10:38 > 0:10:45How they do it, the dangers they face, and where they end up is what I'm going to try and find out.
0:10:49 > 0:10:52Tasha flew right over the city.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55So first stop, New York.
0:11:21 > 0:11:27Not ospreys, but Tasha was here just yesterday.
0:11:27 > 0:11:29Still no news from Bunga, though.
0:11:34 > 0:11:36You are the Naked Cowboy?
0:11:36 > 0:11:41# I'm the Naked Cowboy - coming to a town near you! # What do you think?
0:11:41 > 0:11:45- Yeah, I think you're a Naked Cowboy. - Yes.- Do you know where Cape May is?
0:11:45 > 0:11:48Er...Australia? Known for my looks, not my brains!
0:11:52 > 0:11:57Cities aren't really my bag, baby, but New York is pretty special.
0:11:57 > 0:12:01Everybody here is so diverse, and they're really, really friendly,
0:12:01 > 0:12:03but they don't know much about ospreys!
0:12:04 > 0:12:07MOBILE PHONE RINGS
0:12:07 > 0:12:09We've got a phone call.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12- 'Yeah, Steve!' - How are you doing, Rob?
0:12:12 > 0:12:19- 'I'm good. Well, we have some news - Tasha decided not to wait for you in Cape May.'- Tasha's gone?
0:12:19 > 0:12:22'She's already on the Chesapeake.'
0:12:22 > 0:12:23Oh, my hat!
0:12:23 > 0:12:28'But the good news is that if you're still in New York, Jaws is probably pretty close to you.
0:12:28 > 0:12:33'He spent last night on Long Island, and my guess is
0:12:33 > 0:12:38'that you and he may meet up in Cape May tonight or tomorrow morning.'
0:12:38 > 0:12:41I think it's time to leave New York.
0:12:42 > 0:12:45'The problem is most of the cabbies haven't heard of Cape May,
0:12:45 > 0:12:49'which is, admittedly, in a different state.
0:12:49 > 0:12:51'So they're not that keen.'
0:12:51 > 0:12:54538 bucks?!
0:12:58 > 0:13:00- Even if it's only just to New Jersey? - Yeah.
0:13:00 > 0:13:02OK, that's cool.
0:13:07 > 0:13:09So, er...
0:13:10 > 0:13:13..where did you want to go?
0:13:13 > 0:13:16If we can just head south - we're migrating!
0:13:17 > 0:13:21HORN BLOWS
0:13:21 > 0:13:25Do you legally have to sound your horn every few minutes? Is that...?
0:13:25 > 0:13:27Yes, that is, er... that is the law. Yes.
0:13:27 > 0:13:31- That is the law? Just to lean on the horn every few minutes? - Yes, that's right.
0:13:34 > 0:13:39At least our cab driver knows where he's going - unlike Jaws, Bunga and Tasha.
0:13:39 > 0:13:43They're heading off on their journey with no idea of what lies ahead.
0:13:57 > 0:14:00How ospreys find their way is intriguing.
0:14:03 > 0:14:09Adults can use their memory of landmarks from previous journeys to create a mental map of the route.
0:14:13 > 0:14:19But Jaws, Tasha and Bunga are making this journey for the first time.
0:14:19 > 0:14:22How first-timers navigate is more of a mystery.
0:14:25 > 0:14:31Possibly, they use prevailing winds or the sun and the stars.
0:14:31 > 0:14:35They may sense the invisible lines of magnetism that circle the Earth.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38Or even smell their way south.
0:14:42 > 0:14:47All in all, they're extraordinary natural navigators - no matter how they do it.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56'What a contrast!
0:14:56 > 0:15:01'From high rise New York to this!
0:15:01 > 0:15:04'This is olde-worlde Cape May -
0:15:04 > 0:15:09'and Jaws is heading this way to join the thousands of migrating birds
0:15:09 > 0:15:12'who mass at the end of this peninsula.
0:15:12 > 0:15:18'They wait here until wind conditions are perfect to launch them over the bay.'
0:15:30 > 0:15:33Southerly winds are critical for our ospreys.
0:15:43 > 0:15:50Rising thermals of warm air work like elevators, lifting the ospreys up to a mile high,
0:15:50 > 0:15:55before they glide for maybe five or six miles to the next updraft.
0:15:55 > 0:15:58Which can save them huge amounts of energy.
0:16:00 > 0:16:04The problem for Jaws and Tasha is that they're inexperienced at finding thermals,
0:16:04 > 0:16:09so they have to resort to powered flight more often than the adults.
0:16:09 > 0:16:12It's energy they can ill afford.
0:16:12 > 0:16:16For the youngsters, this whole mission is balanced on a knife edge.
0:16:16 > 0:16:20And to prove the point, I've just got some sad news from Rob.
0:16:20 > 0:16:22He's found a body.
0:16:24 > 0:16:26'It's Bunga.
0:16:26 > 0:16:29'He could have been hit by a vehicle. We just don't know.
0:16:29 > 0:16:35'But whatever it was, now we're down to just two birds, and that's not our only problem.'
0:16:35 > 0:16:40We've been going for a few days now and we're lagging seriously behind these birds.
0:16:40 > 0:16:44Really our mission is to stick with them, so it's time to get a real pedal-on.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49But we're facing another major problem on this journey.
0:16:49 > 0:16:50A hurricane.
0:16:51 > 0:16:55It's south of us at the moment, but we're on a collision course.
0:16:57 > 0:17:02The weather's turned pretty nasty here too - makes me wonder how our birds are getting on.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06- Hello, Rob?- 'Steve, how are you?'
0:17:06 > 0:17:08- All right, how are you?- 'Great.
0:17:08 > 0:17:10'Well, here's the news on our birds.'
0:17:10 > 0:17:13- OK.- 'Jaws.'- Yeah.
0:17:13 > 0:17:18'I haven't had a signal from Jaws since yesterday afternoon -
0:17:18 > 0:17:20- 'makes me a little nervous.'- OK.
0:17:20 > 0:17:22But nothing from him?
0:17:22 > 0:17:25'Not since yesterday about midday,
0:17:25 > 0:17:27'but we'll keep checking and see what happens.'
0:17:27 > 0:17:29Things are starting to unravel a bit.
0:17:29 > 0:17:32The hurricane inland and now we've lost Jaws.
0:17:34 > 0:17:39With Bunga out of the picture, we can't afford to lose another bird.
0:17:39 > 0:17:43I'm realising just how tough this journey is for them.
0:17:43 > 0:17:46Let's hope Tasha can pull it off.
0:17:52 > 0:17:54More news from Rob today.
0:17:54 > 0:17:56Seems like the hurricane isn't all bad news.
0:17:56 > 0:18:01Its wind has sling-shotted Tasha three hundred miles south of us.
0:18:01 > 0:18:05'Great for her - but a bit of a problem for us.
0:18:05 > 0:18:09'However can we keep up with these birds?
0:18:09 > 0:18:11'They're just running away from us.
0:18:11 > 0:18:13'But I've been told matters are in hand.
0:18:13 > 0:18:15'Help is on its way.'
0:18:15 > 0:18:16HORN BLARES
0:18:24 > 0:18:26It's all very brown.
0:18:26 > 0:18:27It's very, very nice.
0:18:27 > 0:18:29Bunk beds.
0:18:29 > 0:18:32Now we can eat, drink and sleep on the road if we have to!
0:18:34 > 0:18:38We are going to make up some ground now. This is just what we need.
0:18:43 > 0:18:47This bus is vital if we're to keep up with our birds.
0:18:47 > 0:18:51'Now we can keep going day and night.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54'Look out, Tasha, here we come!'
0:18:57 > 0:19:00We're really blessed with technology to be able to do this -
0:19:00 > 0:19:04we've got GPS, we've got maps, we've got satellite tracking on the bus,
0:19:04 > 0:19:07so we know where we are in any point in time.
0:19:07 > 0:19:11We know what's coming ahead - something these birds haven't a clue about.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14They left Martha's Vineyard for the first time ever.
0:19:14 > 0:19:16Not with their parents - on their own.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19They don't know where they're going, whether they can feed.
0:19:19 > 0:19:23They must be quite tired - it's physically exhausting, probably.
0:19:23 > 0:19:2530 days or so,
0:19:25 > 0:19:28that'll stop, and they'll stop.
0:19:28 > 0:19:33But where that'll be, we don't know, and we're in the whim of them, really, and where they end up.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52SIREN BLARES
0:19:52 > 0:19:57We pulled over on this fantastic bridge to do some filming.
0:19:57 > 0:20:03And whenever you get a camera out at the moment, you kind of get swarms of police cars coming.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06Ospreys don't have this problem.
0:20:06 > 0:20:09But they do have other problems.
0:20:09 > 0:20:11Take food, for instance.
0:20:11 > 0:20:16Ospreys have to catch fresh fish every day to keep them going.
0:20:18 > 0:20:20They're superbly equipped for the job.
0:20:23 > 0:20:29Eyesight so sharp they can see a fish underwater from 30 metres up.
0:20:30 > 0:20:35Split-second calculation of the target's speed, depth, size.
0:20:39 > 0:20:41Talons open.
0:20:43 > 0:20:47Hip joints swing the weapons forward to strike position.
0:20:54 > 0:20:58But youngsters like Jaws and Tasha have never been taught to fish.
0:20:58 > 0:21:05They're hunting with instinct - mastering the art only comes with practice.
0:21:05 > 0:21:08Being a fast learner is a matter of life and death.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19We've been on the road for two days now.
0:21:19 > 0:21:24Just as I feared, the hurricane's heading straight for us.
0:21:24 > 0:21:29Still no news of Jaws, so that leaves us with Tasha.
0:21:29 > 0:21:35We followed her track for over 300 miles from Cape May
0:21:35 > 0:21:38and finally, we're here -
0:21:38 > 0:21:41Lake Mattamuskeet.
0:21:49 > 0:21:54Rob's told us Tasha spent the night on this very causeway crossing the lake.
0:21:56 > 0:22:00This might be our one and only chance of actually seeing her.
0:22:01 > 0:22:03Since we've left,
0:22:03 > 0:22:07this is the first time we've been even in the remote area with her,
0:22:07 > 0:22:10she's always been ahead of us.
0:22:12 > 0:22:17It's so frustrating - not a squeak out of her all day.
0:22:17 > 0:22:20And it's a nightmare because she's on this lake somewhere.
0:22:20 > 0:22:24Our only chance is that as the weather is so bad and it's getting dark,
0:22:24 > 0:22:27that she might roost up somewhere.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31Even our mobiles are useless out here.
0:22:31 > 0:22:34If I can get to a phone and phone Rob,
0:22:34 > 0:22:39then at least we can get a fix on her and then hopefully be there first thing in the morning.
0:22:39 > 0:22:41Or find her in the dark if we have to.
0:22:42 > 0:22:48'The good news that she's not going to go anywhere if you've got nasty weather like that.'
0:22:48 > 0:22:50- Yeah.- 'The bad news is that, um...
0:22:50 > 0:22:55'her solar panels may not be getting enough sunlight to really juice up her batteries.
0:22:55 > 0:22:57- 'It may be why we're not...' - That is bad news.
0:22:57 > 0:23:03If her transmitter's not getting charged up, then we've no idea how she's getting on.
0:23:04 > 0:23:06Today has been really hard.
0:23:06 > 0:23:13Um...the weather is against us and Tasha has just proved very elusive today.
0:23:13 > 0:23:15It's just very stressful.
0:23:15 > 0:23:17And it's made me think, actually,
0:23:17 > 0:23:19it's made me think today -
0:23:19 > 0:23:22are the birds enjoying it?
0:23:22 > 0:23:24Are they finding it tough?
0:23:24 > 0:23:27But they might be thinking, "This is great!
0:23:27 > 0:23:33"Coming to new places like this, swooping down, grabbing fish, perching up."
0:23:33 > 0:23:36They might be loving it, who knows?
0:23:38 > 0:23:42'But the reality is, we've lost all three of our birds...
0:23:43 > 0:23:47'..Bunga, Jaws and now Tasha.
0:23:47 > 0:23:51'This is about as bad as it could get.
0:23:51 > 0:23:54'But while there's even a faint glimmer of hope,
0:23:54 > 0:23:56'we've got to push on.'
0:24:06 > 0:24:10The hurricane continues to mash the coast south of us.
0:24:10 > 0:24:12And we're heading straight for it.
0:24:18 > 0:24:22What chance have our birds got in this?
0:24:29 > 0:24:32We can only hope that the weather improves.
0:24:39 > 0:24:40MOBILE PHONE RINGS
0:24:40 > 0:24:45- Hi Rob. - 'Hey, Steve.'- How are you doing?
0:24:45 > 0:24:47- 'I'm good, how are you?' - Not too bad.
0:24:47 > 0:24:49- 'And I have some good news.'- Oh, OK.
0:24:49 > 0:24:52'Jaws has resurrected himself.'
0:24:52 > 0:24:54- Oh, wow! - 'And he's sneaking up behind you.
0:24:54 > 0:24:58'His radio is back and in good shape.'
0:24:58 > 0:25:01Fantastic! Oh, that's really good news.
0:25:01 > 0:25:04Jaws is actually alive!
0:25:04 > 0:25:11That's great. Over the last three days, he's covered the thousand miles between Cape May and Florida.
0:25:11 > 0:25:15And now he's just 20 miles from us.
0:25:15 > 0:25:19This is our best chance yet to actually clap eyes on him.
0:25:19 > 0:25:25Despite the weather conditions and everything else, we've just got to get out there and give it a go.
0:25:33 > 0:25:34TRACKER BEEPS
0:25:34 > 0:25:36That's it.
0:25:36 > 0:25:38TRACKER BEEPS TWICE
0:25:38 > 0:25:40That's Jaws.
0:25:42 > 0:25:45He could be in any one of these trees here, just perched up.
0:25:45 > 0:25:49But that's him - that is definitely him.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52That's fantastic. Oh!
0:25:52 > 0:25:57He's directly in there and that says, "No Trespassing,"
0:25:57 > 0:26:00so we might have to get on the blower tomorrow morning
0:26:00 > 0:26:05and see if we can find out who can get us access, because he's in there!
0:26:05 > 0:26:10And he's so close, and it's pishing it down as well!
0:26:16 > 0:26:19The rain hasn't let up.
0:26:19 > 0:26:24But if we have any hope of seeing him, we've got to get back to his roost site before dawn.
0:26:57 > 0:26:58He's gone.
0:27:07 > 0:27:09Well, he didn't hang around!
0:27:10 > 0:27:13This weather's really sad.
0:27:13 > 0:27:15There's so much water about.
0:27:15 > 0:27:21We've decided to sort of scan the area again, but no luck.
0:27:21 > 0:27:23Not a dicky bird.
0:27:23 > 0:27:25But he's alive.
0:27:25 > 0:27:27We're back on track.
0:27:38 > 0:27:39At last, the weather's cleared.
0:27:41 > 0:27:47With it being so bad over the last week, most of the ospreys will have struggled to hunt.
0:27:47 > 0:27:52But now, along with Jaws and Tasha, they'll seize the chance to grab themselves a meal.
0:27:53 > 0:28:00But for many birds, catching a fish doesn't always equal eating a fish.
0:28:00 > 0:28:03Hungry eyes are always watching.
0:28:16 > 0:28:19And if the watcher is a heavyweight like a bald eagle,
0:28:19 > 0:28:22the ospreys are in trouble.
0:29:05 > 0:29:08Our young ospreys will face these dangers.
0:29:08 > 0:29:13And every meal lost means less energy to complete the journey.
0:29:23 > 0:29:27But for now, another update from Rob.
0:29:27 > 0:29:31Tasha is back on line! The sunshine has recharged her batteries.
0:29:31 > 0:29:34And she's caught up with us.
0:29:34 > 0:29:41So, as we reach the end of the United States, Jaws, Tasha and us are neck-and-neck.
0:29:44 > 0:29:46But we're not there yet.
0:29:57 > 0:30:01In just a few days, despite appalling weather,
0:30:01 > 0:30:06Jaws and Tasha have travelled an astounding 1,300 miles
0:30:06 > 0:30:09and are now here in Miami, Florida.
0:30:09 > 0:30:14This is just about as far south as it's possible to get in the United States.
0:30:14 > 0:30:18But that's not the end of it. Oh, no, that would be far too easy.
0:30:20 > 0:30:23'Jaws and Tasha have survived the hurricane,
0:30:23 > 0:30:26'but now they're facing miles of open water.
0:30:28 > 0:30:32'It must be a pretty scary sight, and they're likely to hang back.
0:30:34 > 0:30:37'But we can't afford to wait.
0:30:37 > 0:30:40'This is a good chance to get ahead of them.'
0:30:57 > 0:31:03As the ospreys reach the tip of North America, their next landfall is way over the horizon.
0:31:05 > 0:31:10Even adult ospreys hesitate to launch out over the sea.
0:31:10 > 0:31:13But imagine it being the first time.
0:31:15 > 0:31:19Just launching yourself out across open water -
0:31:19 > 0:31:25absolutely no idea what's out there - driven on by irresistible instinct.
0:31:29 > 0:31:32They've already coped with a lot.
0:31:32 > 0:31:36But this is a serious test for our young ospreys.
0:31:36 > 0:31:40It's a genuine leap into the unknown.
0:31:40 > 0:31:42Will they make it?
0:31:59 > 0:32:00Havana.
0:32:00 > 0:32:06Only ninety miles from the States - but it seems like another world!
0:32:27 > 0:32:33So many different races, creeds, colours here, and it's completely inter-mingled.
0:32:33 > 0:32:36I don't think I've ever seen a place quite like it.
0:32:44 > 0:32:47'I'm getting nervous.
0:32:47 > 0:32:50'We are having no luck getting through to the States.
0:32:50 > 0:32:54'So we haven't talked to Rob since Miami.
0:32:54 > 0:33:00'It makes me realise how dependent we are on the technology linking us to our birds.
0:33:00 > 0:33:03'Have they left the States?
0:33:03 > 0:33:06'Are they out there somewhere?
0:33:06 > 0:33:09'I just hope they're OK.'
0:33:16 > 0:33:18Just got another message from Rob.
0:33:18 > 0:33:23The birds are already in Cuba, and they're miles ahead of us.
0:33:23 > 0:33:27Tasha's hightailed it to a lake halfway down the island.
0:33:27 > 0:33:30And Jaws is skidaddling down the north coast.
0:33:30 > 0:33:32We're going to have to get a move-on.
0:33:34 > 0:33:37'We're chasing them again.
0:33:37 > 0:33:41'We're on our way to Rob's most recent fix for Tasha on that lake.
0:33:48 > 0:33:50'Let's hope she's still there.'
0:34:04 > 0:34:06Ooh! There's one.
0:34:06 > 0:34:09Not Tasha, though. And another.
0:34:09 > 0:34:11AND another!
0:34:13 > 0:34:15They're everywhere!
0:34:17 > 0:34:19This place is osprey heaven.
0:34:20 > 0:34:23The numbers here are staggering.
0:34:23 > 0:34:28And they're really successful, this place is full of fish.
0:34:28 > 0:34:32Tasha's chosen the perfect spot to re-fuel,
0:34:32 > 0:34:34but so far, no sign of her.
0:34:37 > 0:34:40This is why this migration makes so much sense -
0:34:40 > 0:34:42for them to keep moving down.
0:34:42 > 0:34:46And it just gets better and better fishing the further south they go.
0:34:49 > 0:34:51It's not just ospreys that go fishing here.
0:34:51 > 0:34:54But there's no competition.
0:34:54 > 0:34:57In fact, the fishermen have a close relationship with the ospreys.
0:34:57 > 0:35:00Do the fishermen watch the ospreys to see where the fish are?
0:35:03 > 0:35:05HE SPEAKS SPANISH
0:35:05 > 0:35:10If you see an osprey diving in the same place, that's where the fish are.
0:35:10 > 0:35:13That's where the fish are? They help, they're good?
0:35:13 > 0:35:17And are they better fishermen than him, or is he a better fisherman than them?
0:35:20 > 0:35:26You can say that. You can say that the osprey never fails.
0:35:26 > 0:35:28Ah, OK, that's fair enough.
0:35:28 > 0:35:29When the osprey goes fishing,
0:35:29 > 0:35:31it's a catch for sure.
0:35:35 > 0:35:39Apart from the ominous roll of thunder in the distance,
0:35:39 > 0:35:42all I can hear is the call of ospreys.
0:35:42 > 0:35:47It's strange, we've been looking for them for so long and here we are absolutely surrounded by them.
0:35:47 > 0:35:51All you can hear is cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep.
0:35:51 > 0:35:53It's beautiful.
0:35:55 > 0:35:58It's great to see so many ospreys.
0:35:59 > 0:36:02But it would have been lovely if one was Tasha.
0:36:07 > 0:36:11I'm finding it quite frustrating -
0:36:11 > 0:36:15getting through to Rob is really difficult in the States from Cuba,
0:36:15 > 0:36:17so we're being thwarted by our technology.
0:36:17 > 0:36:24But the good news is the birds are doing it - they're flying, they're fishing, they're surviving,
0:36:24 > 0:36:29which is, I suppose, at the end of the day, more than we could have hoped for.
0:36:29 > 0:36:31And I think they're going to make it.
0:36:35 > 0:36:38They've been on the move for 16 days.
0:36:38 > 0:36:41And have travelled nearly 2,000 miles.
0:36:41 > 0:36:46By now, young ospreys have gained a huge amount of experience.
0:36:46 > 0:36:48But they haven't got it all worked out.
0:37:00 > 0:37:04Even now, they can sometimes misjudge a catch.
0:37:07 > 0:37:10It can be a fatal mistake.
0:37:25 > 0:37:30If a weak and desperate osprey locks onto a fish that's too heavy for it,
0:37:30 > 0:37:31it could drown.
0:38:32 > 0:38:34She's done it to us again -
0:38:34 > 0:38:37while we were searching for Tasha on the lake,
0:38:37 > 0:38:40she flew further east and now is miles ahead of us.
0:38:40 > 0:38:42So it's back on the road.
0:38:44 > 0:38:47Jaws, in the meantime, is hot on her tail.
0:38:47 > 0:38:52We're now heading to the far tip of the mountain range that runs along the edge of Cuba.
0:38:52 > 0:38:55It's bang on Jaws' and Tasha's flight path -
0:38:55 > 0:38:59along with thousands of other ospreys who come this way every year.
0:38:59 > 0:39:01Gran Piedra!
0:39:09 > 0:39:13When you travel to some of the most amazing places in the world,
0:39:13 > 0:39:15just areas of natural splendour,
0:39:15 > 0:39:19there's one thing you're guaranteed to see,
0:39:19 > 0:39:20and it's that down here - litter.
0:39:20 > 0:39:24I don't know what possesses people, just to drop their litter.
0:39:24 > 0:39:28If this was you, I'm coming round to your house and I'm going to kick your ass!
0:39:38 > 0:39:40'It's a fair old climb.
0:39:40 > 0:39:43'But Rob said it would be good to come up here with Freddie Santana,
0:39:43 > 0:39:46'who's involved in an osprey conservation project.'
0:39:52 > 0:39:53Oh, awesome!
0:39:56 > 0:39:58Now that is a view.
0:40:00 > 0:40:03Welcome to Gran Piedra!
0:40:05 > 0:40:07Now that was worth it.
0:40:07 > 0:40:08Look at that!
0:40:15 > 0:40:19Oh, I've just noticed there's a little brass compass here.
0:40:19 > 0:40:211952.
0:40:21 > 0:40:25That's quite handy because that tells me that that way is direct east,
0:40:25 > 0:40:28which is exactly where Jaws is as of last night.
0:40:28 > 0:40:32So yesterday he crossed this ridge, flew down there,
0:40:32 > 0:40:36and he's probably still down there, but we can't go there.
0:40:36 > 0:40:38That's Guantanamo Bay,
0:40:38 > 0:40:41and they don't like cameras.
0:40:44 > 0:40:50So what is it about these mountains that makes it such a mecca for migrating ospreys?
0:40:50 > 0:40:54This line. I mean, this mountain range is like a highway for ospreys
0:40:54 > 0:40:58because here they can find up-draughts and thermals.
0:40:58 > 0:40:59They can travel all the way.
0:40:59 > 0:41:06all the way along the Sierra Maestra mountain ridge, which is like 200 or 300 kilometres long - for free.
0:41:06 > 0:41:08They don't have to waste much energy.
0:41:08 > 0:41:10So how many birds will you see during a day?
0:41:10 > 0:41:15Well, our record was last year in August 27 -
0:41:15 > 0:41:19we count 607 ospreys in a single day.
0:41:19 > 0:41:23'607 ospreys in a single day!
0:41:23 > 0:41:28'It's easy to see why this is the perfect place to study these birds.
0:41:28 > 0:41:33'But what's the best way to help migrating ospreys, like Jaws and Tasha?'
0:41:33 > 0:41:40The best thing to do is protect all those lakes and wetlands
0:41:40 > 0:41:43that they feed on, in.
0:41:43 > 0:41:47Those are the most important places for ospreys all along the route.
0:41:47 > 0:41:52- So make sure those service areas are still there for them in years to come.- Yes.
0:41:52 > 0:41:57None of your researchers have seen an osprey with an antenna? A little aerial?
0:41:57 > 0:42:01No, we have seen ospreys with a fish but not with an antenna.
0:42:01 > 0:42:06In North America, they call it "packing a lunch".
0:42:06 > 0:42:10- They come across here with fish? - Yeah, with a fish.- Seriously?- Yes.
0:42:10 > 0:42:15- That's amazing. All the way up here! "Packed lunch" you call it?- Yeah.
0:42:15 > 0:42:17That's great!
0:42:21 > 0:42:24So where are all these ospreys, then?
0:42:25 > 0:42:33Well, every day at noon, almost like clockwork, the clouds roll in -
0:42:33 > 0:42:36indicators that the thermals are building.
0:42:36 > 0:42:42Suddenly ospreys start appearing out of nowhere.
0:42:42 > 0:42:46- A naked eye, you can see an osprey. That's an osprey.- Oh, yes, yes. - Over there.
0:42:46 > 0:42:48Just at the lower fringe of the cloud? Yes.
0:42:48 > 0:42:51Yes, that's an osprey.
0:42:51 > 0:42:55Most of the time we've seen our birds they've been perching or feeding.
0:42:55 > 0:42:58- But this is...- They are on migration.
0:42:58 > 0:43:02This is definitely migrating, isn't it? They're just cruising along.
0:43:05 > 0:43:08- That's fantastic! - There is another one up there.
0:43:08 > 0:43:11I can see it. That's thermalling, isn't it?
0:43:11 > 0:43:14- It's circling.- Yeah, they are thermalling right now.
0:43:14 > 0:43:17That's great, just coming out of the front of this cloud.
0:43:17 > 0:43:21So it reached the top of that thermal and now it's just going to use all that height...
0:43:21 > 0:43:23- Yeah.- ..to keep gliding.
0:43:28 > 0:43:33It's amazing to think that two days ago, for Tasha,
0:43:33 > 0:43:36she just came cruising along here just like this,
0:43:36 > 0:43:40and even probably as late as last night Jaws did exactly the same thing.
0:43:43 > 0:43:47But for us, this is the end of the line in Cuba.
0:44:03 > 0:44:08Somehow they've survived, and we've managed to keep up with them.
0:44:08 > 0:44:13It's been a tough journey but Jaws and Tasha have made it here, to the end of Cuba.
0:44:13 > 0:44:18They've cruised down those mountains there and now they've reached the edge.
0:44:18 > 0:44:21But their journey's by no means over.
0:44:26 > 0:44:31Our young ospreys are about to face the biggest challenge of their little lives.
0:44:31 > 0:44:34Soon they're going to be heading out over the Caribbean Sea.
0:44:34 > 0:44:38That's 350 miles of open water.
0:44:38 > 0:44:41Nowhere to fish, nowhere to rest.
0:44:41 > 0:44:43This is it. This is where ospreys fall.
0:44:43 > 0:44:46There's a real chance they might die out there.
0:44:52 > 0:44:55That's it, I've lost them,
0:44:55 > 0:44:56they're on their own now.
0:44:58 > 0:45:00Let's hope they make it across.
0:45:00 > 0:45:04But we've absolutely no idea where they'll end up.
0:45:15 > 0:45:22The fledglings don't know it, but they're on the verge of 350 miles of open water.
0:45:28 > 0:45:33If they haven't fuelled up enough, they'll become exhausted before they reach the other side.
0:45:36 > 0:45:41Or they could be blown off-course and may never find land.
0:45:45 > 0:45:47Anything could happen.
0:46:12 > 0:46:15Four days after leaving Cuba,
0:46:15 > 0:46:17Tasha stopped transmitting.
0:46:32 > 0:46:37The good news is that Jaws finally made it to South America.
0:46:37 > 0:46:40But you'll never guess where he settled down!
0:46:40 > 0:46:44It's the one place we most dreaded he'd go - Colombia -
0:46:46 > 0:46:48infamous for kidnappings and cocaine.
0:46:48 > 0:46:53You keep your hands where the guerrillas can see them. No sudden movements.
0:46:53 > 0:46:55All smiles, very calm.
0:46:55 > 0:46:57Nobody gets out of the car.
0:46:57 > 0:47:00- If they ask you, then we do what we're told.- OK.
0:47:00 > 0:47:03But without invitation, we do not move.
0:47:03 > 0:47:05'Trust Jaws to have settled here!
0:47:05 > 0:47:08'But at least he made it.'
0:47:08 > 0:47:11Tasha wasn't so lucky.
0:47:11 > 0:47:16She did really well to get this far, but somewhere out there,
0:47:16 > 0:47:19she just dropped off the map.
0:47:19 > 0:47:22But Jaws was strong enough,
0:47:22 > 0:47:26and now he's here on the edge of northern Colombia.
0:47:26 > 0:47:29Our mission now is to try to get to Jaws' new home
0:47:29 > 0:47:34and see for ourselves what makes prime osprey real estate.
0:47:36 > 0:47:39Right now, something rather strange is going on -
0:47:39 > 0:47:43it's beginning to look like Jaws has parked himself
0:47:43 > 0:47:46in the middle of a desert?
0:47:50 > 0:47:52Amongst the dirt tracks and the cacti,
0:47:52 > 0:47:55a few souls eke out a living here.
0:47:55 > 0:48:01No electricity, no running water, and eight hours to the nearest shop.
0:48:05 > 0:48:11But one of the families here have kindly allowed us to stay with them whilst we try and find Jaws.
0:48:13 > 0:48:18It's a little bit cramped, our one room sleeps seven.
0:48:18 > 0:48:22But this is mission control for the final push.
0:48:22 > 0:48:25'But now it's late. First things first.
0:48:25 > 0:48:28'I've offered to cook.'
0:48:28 > 0:48:30That's about Gas Mark 4.
0:48:30 > 0:48:34'Top entertainment for all the family!'
0:48:41 > 0:48:45We've got a preparatory curry paste which says "hot" on it.
0:48:45 > 0:48:49Now I've had these before and they're not particularly hot.
0:48:49 > 0:48:53I'm not a big massive vindaloo person myself,
0:48:53 > 0:48:58I like more of a...balti sort of level.
0:48:58 > 0:49:01I'm ready for TV cheffery now, aren't I?
0:49:14 > 0:49:17Mmm, that is, whoo! That's quite hot!
0:49:19 > 0:49:23Time to see what our hosts think of my efforts.
0:49:25 > 0:49:27OK?
0:49:27 > 0:49:29LAUGHTER
0:49:29 > 0:49:31Picante!
0:49:31 > 0:49:33Is it picante?
0:49:33 > 0:49:34Picante!
0:49:35 > 0:49:37Oh-h!
0:49:46 > 0:49:48Right, time to make a plan.
0:49:48 > 0:49:53We know Jaws is out there somewhere, but this area's huge.
0:49:53 > 0:49:58And what is it about this place that's so attractive to him?
0:49:59 > 0:50:01I hardly dare say it,
0:50:01 > 0:50:05wouldn't it be fantastic if we actually clapped eyes on him?
0:50:07 > 0:50:13It's the last few miles of Jaws' and my epic journey -
0:50:13 > 0:50:15what are we going to find?
0:50:35 > 0:50:38A little chunk of osprey paradise.
0:50:44 > 0:50:47Where northern Colombia meets the sea,
0:50:47 > 0:50:51the desert transforms itself into a vast, rich lagoon
0:50:51 > 0:50:56surrounded by greenery, teeming with fish and bird life.
0:51:00 > 0:51:03But where is Jaws?
0:51:05 > 0:51:09TRACKER BEEPS
0:51:11 > 0:51:13BEEPS AGAIN
0:51:13 > 0:51:15That's definitely him.
0:51:15 > 0:51:19TRACKER BEEPS
0:51:19 > 0:51:22He's in this mangrove here.
0:51:26 > 0:51:27TRACKER CONTINUES TO BEEP
0:51:27 > 0:51:31'Well, there's absolutely no doubt Jaws is here.
0:51:31 > 0:51:33'I've never had such a strong signal.
0:51:33 > 0:51:36'So at least we know he's alive and well.'
0:51:36 > 0:51:39The only question is, can we get any closer?
0:51:39 > 0:51:41TRACKER BEEPS
0:51:41 > 0:51:44We might need a boat.
0:51:48 > 0:51:51Why's he baling lots of water out of the bottom of it?
0:51:51 > 0:51:55- He doesn't want us to sink now, just later.- Oh, OK.- Is that OK?- Fine!
0:51:55 > 0:51:56That's fine with me.
0:52:12 > 0:52:16As you can see, the water here isn't deep at all,
0:52:16 > 0:52:18right in the middle of the stream,
0:52:18 > 0:52:24which means it's perfect for the ospreys because they can see all the way to the bottom.
0:52:24 > 0:52:26This is why Jaws is here.
0:52:30 > 0:52:32This lagoon is huge.
0:52:34 > 0:52:39He's definitely here, but getting up close is starting to look like a bit of a mission.
0:52:44 > 0:52:48This mangrove is utterly impenetrable to us.
0:52:48 > 0:52:53We can get around it on the boat, but it's absolutely enormous.
0:52:53 > 0:52:57So we have options of about four miles that way
0:52:57 > 0:53:01or about four miles this way, and our bird is about two miles that way!
0:53:02 > 0:53:06'On the one hand, it's awesome we finally tracked Jaws down.
0:53:07 > 0:53:10'But on the other, it's frustrating we can't see him.
0:53:10 > 0:53:12'Because we know he's here.
0:53:12 > 0:53:18'If we're to have any hope of seeing him tomorrow, we're going to have to have a re-think.'
0:53:22 > 0:53:25I love these hammocks.
0:53:25 > 0:53:29I couldn't quite believe that we were going to be actually sleeping in hammocks.
0:53:29 > 0:53:32But they're absolutely beautifully made.
0:53:32 > 0:53:36Let me show you the sort of intricate sort of part of it -
0:53:36 > 0:53:40all these tassel things and embroidered patterns and stuff.
0:53:40 > 0:53:43DOG BARKS Dog's going mental.
0:53:43 > 0:53:48But I didn't think I was going to be able to sleep in the hammocks with dogs barking,
0:53:48 > 0:53:52and the cockerel goes off at about four o'clock every morning,
0:53:52 > 0:53:56but I've actually been able to sleep quite well.
0:53:56 > 0:53:59And it's...it's very, very cool.
0:53:59 > 0:54:01Fingers crossed for tomorrow.
0:54:06 > 0:54:09No-one fully understands how it works,
0:54:09 > 0:54:14but for our ospreys, the urge to fly south suddenly weakens
0:54:14 > 0:54:17and then switches off.
0:54:18 > 0:54:22Adult ospreys will fly north next spring to start a new family.
0:54:22 > 0:54:26But for Jaws, this is home for the next year and a half
0:54:26 > 0:54:28until he matures.
0:54:29 > 0:54:35Only then will he make the return journey to Martha's Vineyard to find a mate of his own.
0:54:41 > 0:54:44And here's the most extraordinary thing -
0:54:44 > 0:54:52based just on this first journey, Jaws now has a mental map of the entire, three-thousand-mile route.
0:54:54 > 0:54:56When he eventually flies back up north,
0:54:56 > 0:54:59he will follow exactly the same path,
0:54:59 > 0:55:03picking up the same landmarks he saw on the way down.
0:55:05 > 0:55:12Jaws will use this mental map again and again for the rest of his life.
0:55:25 > 0:55:28'Jaws is moving around over an enormous area.
0:55:28 > 0:55:30'It's turning out to be really difficult
0:55:30 > 0:55:32'to get up close and personal.
0:55:33 > 0:55:37'We've worked out he goes fishing every morning at about nine o'clock,
0:55:37 > 0:55:42'so I guess we're just going to have to wait for him to come to us.
0:55:42 > 0:55:44'Well, we hope.'
0:55:45 > 0:55:50TRACKER BEEPS
0:55:54 > 0:55:56BEEP
0:55:57 > 0:55:58BEEP
0:56:02 > 0:56:04Hang on, hang on!
0:56:10 > 0:56:13That's him there - that's definitely him.
0:56:21 > 0:56:24That is definitely, definitely Jaws.
0:56:24 > 0:56:28There are no other birds in the sky there.
0:56:30 > 0:56:33Diving, diving, yes! Hit the water.
0:56:51 > 0:56:52That's our bird, that's our boy!
0:56:54 > 0:56:57He's led us a merry, merry dance.
0:57:03 > 0:57:07Right down the coast of North America, through Cuba,
0:57:07 > 0:57:11across the Caribbean Sea, all the way to here -
0:57:11 > 0:57:19Jaws covered 2,886 miles to claim a little bit of Colombia all for himself.
0:57:21 > 0:57:26This has got to be one of the hardest journeys we'll ever have to do,
0:57:26 > 0:57:29and we only have to do it once.
0:57:35 > 0:57:38Jaws and all the ospreys that made it to South America
0:57:38 > 0:57:42will undertake this epic journey every year
0:57:42 > 0:57:45for the rest of their adult lives.
0:57:45 > 0:57:49A six-thousand-mile round trip.
0:57:57 > 0:58:01Jaws' tale is not over by any means.
0:58:01 > 0:58:05Because, as with all the animals in Incredible Journeys,
0:58:05 > 0:58:09this osprey is still writing his own story.
0:58:50 > 0:58:52Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd.