0:00:08 > 0:00:11It's a universal dream to fly like a bird.
0:00:12 > 0:00:15To soar on wings into the heavens.
0:00:16 > 0:00:20But it's nothing compared to the reality.
0:00:21 > 0:00:26This is our planet seen as never before.
0:00:27 > 0:00:30A bird's eye view.
0:00:33 > 0:00:37Theirs is a journey that covers the world...
0:00:39 > 0:00:41..filled with astonishing natural events...
0:00:43 > 0:00:46..extreme challenges...
0:00:48 > 0:00:50..and hard-won rewards.
0:00:51 > 0:00:54This is the world on the wing.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20It's autumn across the northern steppes of Asia
0:01:20 > 0:01:24and flocks of demoiselle cranes are heading south for the winter.
0:01:26 > 0:01:28It's a race against time,
0:01:28 > 0:01:30as they must reach India before winter closes in.
0:01:32 > 0:01:35Blocking their path is the Himalayas,
0:01:35 > 0:01:38the highest mountain range on Earth.
0:01:45 > 0:01:48It's a barrier that extends for 1,500 miles
0:01:48 > 0:01:52and, in places, soars five miles high.
0:01:59 > 0:02:01Flying over the top isn't an option.
0:02:01 > 0:02:04The only way through is a treacherous maze
0:02:04 > 0:02:05of valleys and canyons.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14Each year, thousands of cranes negotiate a pass
0:02:14 > 0:02:17that leads them 200 miles to the other side.
0:02:22 > 0:02:25They have a huge challenge ahead of them.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28Many will not make it out alive.
0:02:32 > 0:02:36Already they face danger - bad weather is closing in.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07They gain height to face the challenge,
0:03:07 > 0:03:10but they are battling against a headwind.
0:03:27 > 0:03:31No matter how hard they try, they make little progress.
0:03:31 > 0:03:34It's the last thing they need so early in their journey.
0:03:51 > 0:03:56The wind stops them in their tracks, forcing them to fly lower and lower.
0:04:07 > 0:04:11On the valley floor, villages nestle in the most sheltered spots.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14It's here that the cranes find refuge.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23They mustn't hang around for long.
0:04:23 > 0:04:27If winter comes early, they won't make it out alive.
0:04:27 > 0:04:31These cranes aren't the only ones attempting the journey.
0:04:31 > 0:04:35Above are some of nature's most skilled high-fliers.
0:04:40 > 0:04:43Five miles above the face of the Earth,
0:04:43 > 0:04:47bar-headed geese take on the Himalayas...the hard way.
0:04:49 > 0:04:52Here, the temperature plummets to -40 degrees
0:04:52 > 0:04:57and the air is so thin most animals would die within minutes.
0:05:04 > 0:05:08But these extreme aeronauts take it in their stride.
0:05:08 > 0:05:12They could climb to twice this height and still survive.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16Their blood can absorb oxygen better than any other bird -
0:05:16 > 0:05:19a real help in this rarefied air.
0:05:25 > 0:05:29Bar-headed geese cross the vast mountain range in just a few hours.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32Ahead lies their winter destination -
0:05:32 > 0:05:35the warm lowlands of the Indian subcontinent.
0:05:47 > 0:05:49They've spent the summer
0:05:49 > 0:05:52on the sparsely inhabited steppes of Siberia.
0:05:52 > 0:05:57Now they are heading for the second most populated country on Earth.
0:06:02 > 0:06:06The "Blue City" of Jodhpur in Rajasthan
0:06:06 > 0:06:10is one of the first landmarks that migrating birds encounter.
0:06:21 > 0:06:25Long-legged buzzards are among the early arrivals
0:06:25 > 0:06:28and they are desperately in need of a meal.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48Compared to the barren steppes,
0:06:48 > 0:06:52this landscape of roads and buildings is actually a land of plenty.
0:06:58 > 0:07:03The famous Mehrangarh Fort is home to the buzzard's favourite prey.
0:07:07 > 0:07:12By gaining height, he can study their movements.
0:07:16 > 0:07:18Pigeons love this ancient citadel.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23Their ancestors would have nested on cliff faces.
0:07:23 > 0:07:26Nowadays, these battlements offer superior accommodation.
0:07:29 > 0:07:31But even in the midst of the city,
0:07:31 > 0:07:35the pigeons can't escape their natural predators.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48The buzzard dives at the masses.
0:07:53 > 0:07:58The pigeons take evasive action, falling like leaves.
0:08:01 > 0:08:05A single bird makes a far easier target.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10But he drops out of reach.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13The fort's defences provide vital bolt-holes.
0:08:17 > 0:08:21But he's not called the long-legged buzzard for nothing.
0:08:24 > 0:08:28Although all he gets this time is a fistful of feathers.
0:08:42 > 0:08:45He checks another pigeonhole.
0:08:45 > 0:08:47But nothing.
0:08:51 > 0:08:52He's spoilt for choice.
0:08:52 > 0:08:57So many pigeons, but which one to go for?
0:09:00 > 0:09:03The pigeons all use the same tactic.
0:09:03 > 0:09:05He needs to up his game.
0:09:25 > 0:09:27He soars high to find a likely victim.
0:09:41 > 0:09:45And dives at over 100mph.
0:10:05 > 0:10:09It will be a welcome meal after such a long journey to get here.
0:10:16 > 0:10:20Pigeons have succeeded by learning to adapt to our way of life.
0:10:20 > 0:10:24They are now found on every continent except Antarctica.
0:10:29 > 0:10:31As well as a few humble pigeons,
0:10:31 > 0:10:35Australia boasts a colourful selection of native birds
0:10:35 > 0:10:37that have also taken to urban living.
0:10:44 > 0:10:48More species of parrot live here than in any other continent.
0:10:48 > 0:10:52A dazzling array of over 50 varieties.
0:11:00 > 0:11:02As well as in Sydney,
0:11:02 > 0:11:06rainbow lorikeets are found all along Australia's east coast.
0:11:29 > 0:11:34The popular Gold Coast is also one of their favourite locations.
0:11:40 > 0:11:44These cheeky birds have adapted their lifestyle to our own
0:11:44 > 0:11:48and now prefer the sweet delights of city parks and gardens.
0:11:49 > 0:11:53They can't resist ripe fruit, especially the cultivated varieties.
0:11:57 > 0:12:02After a spot of scrumping, their thoughts turn to romance.
0:12:04 > 0:12:07The males try to impress the opposite sex by clowning around.
0:12:14 > 0:12:15It usually works.
0:12:15 > 0:12:19Parrots have proved very successful at breeding in our backyards.
0:12:22 > 0:12:24Even in the outback,
0:12:24 > 0:12:28parrots have multiplied by living on our free handouts.
0:12:32 > 0:12:35Cockatoos - thousands upon thousands of them.
0:12:43 > 0:12:47They form huge raiding parties, laying waste the farms
0:12:47 > 0:12:52and agricultural fields that bring riches to an otherwise barren land.
0:12:58 > 0:13:02A life of petty theft means living on their wits.
0:13:02 > 0:13:06They are the most intelligent pest a farmer is likely to encounter.
0:13:10 > 0:13:15But one of the most familiar parrots of all lives a blameless existence
0:13:15 > 0:13:18right in the heart of the outback.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock,
0:13:29 > 0:13:31lies at the very centre of the continent.
0:13:38 > 0:13:42It's remote spots like these that the budgerigar calls home.
0:13:48 > 0:13:52This tiny parrot is the most popular of all pet birds
0:13:52 > 0:13:55but, in the wild, it lives far from human company
0:13:55 > 0:13:58in some of the driest parts of the outback.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01For much of the time they flit around in small groups
0:14:01 > 0:14:02just a few hundred strong,
0:14:02 > 0:14:07sharing information on where the best food and water can be found.
0:14:13 > 0:14:17These small search parties look for the wild grass seeds
0:14:17 > 0:14:20that make up the budgie's staple diet.
0:14:39 > 0:14:42Grazing animals such as kangaroos
0:14:42 > 0:14:46show where ripe grasses are most likely to be found.
0:14:46 > 0:14:50The budgies also watch what other flocks of birds are getting up to.
0:15:05 > 0:15:09Gradually, the merry band gathers followers.
0:15:16 > 0:15:20Soon, it numbers many thousands.
0:15:23 > 0:15:26Then it grows to millions.
0:15:26 > 0:15:31This is one of the largest flocks of budgerigars ever seen.
0:15:41 > 0:15:44They now act like a super-organism,
0:15:44 > 0:15:48pooling their knowledge to find the best sources of food and water.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54With so many minds working together,
0:15:54 > 0:15:58they have an overview of vast areas of the outback.
0:16:00 > 0:16:03And, finally, they hit the jackpot.
0:16:05 > 0:16:08A remote waterhole.
0:16:20 > 0:16:24Wave upon wave take turns to drink.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45Each bird has just seconds to swallow what it can
0:16:45 > 0:16:47before another drops in to take its place.
0:16:55 > 0:17:00But, wherever birds gather, so do their predators.
0:17:01 > 0:17:04Black falcons take up residence,
0:17:04 > 0:17:08confident that each day food will land right on their doorstep.
0:17:24 > 0:17:28But thirsty budgerigars give them a run for their money.
0:17:37 > 0:17:41Budgies can perform some of the fastest manoeuvres of any bird.
0:17:47 > 0:17:52They are so skilled, they even sneak in a drink between attacks.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08It drops like a stone just before the grab.
0:18:34 > 0:18:38Again it falls, just out of reach.
0:18:40 > 0:18:45Turning on a dime, it out-flies the falcon time and time again.
0:19:03 > 0:19:08Despite their best efforts, the falcon and his partner go hungry.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24A waterhole gives the budgies a break from wandering,
0:19:24 > 0:19:27but once the local grasses have been plundered
0:19:27 > 0:19:31the huge flocks will split into small roaming parties once more.
0:19:41 > 0:19:45Back in the Himalayas, the weather has cleared.
0:19:46 > 0:19:49The downed cranes have survived the days of bad weather
0:19:49 > 0:19:52by raiding farmers' fields.
0:19:54 > 0:19:58Himalayan villages have inadvertently become a lifeline
0:19:58 > 0:20:01for migrating birds that run out of luck.
0:20:09 > 0:20:12But the crane's presence isn't welcomed here.
0:20:22 > 0:20:25The travellers are pushed further down the valley.
0:20:31 > 0:20:37As the sun appears, the dry riverbed creates eddies of rising hot air.
0:20:48 > 0:20:53They feel the welcome breeze and open their wings to catch it.
0:21:00 > 0:21:04The demoiselles begin to levitate upwards, as if by magic.
0:21:41 > 0:21:46With clear skies and a light wind, it seems their luck has changed.
0:21:51 > 0:21:55But before them lies an even greater challenge -
0:21:55 > 0:21:58a Himalayan valley of death.
0:22:01 > 0:22:04Here, airborne predators patrol the canyon walls.
0:22:04 > 0:22:07They've been expecting the cranes.
0:22:07 > 0:22:10Golden eagles are among the waiting birds of prey.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18They launch a high-speed ambush from the heavens.
0:22:31 > 0:22:33The eagle singles out an exhausted crane.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44The eagle is part of a double act...
0:22:48 > 0:22:52..driving the crane into the talons of her mate.
0:22:57 > 0:23:00They're well-practiced at this manoeuvre.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08For the pair, it's now a game.
0:23:35 > 0:23:37The rest of the flock make their escape.
0:23:41 > 0:23:44But these hills have other eyes.
0:23:52 > 0:23:56Peregrine and lagger falcons are the next big challenge.
0:24:10 > 0:24:12Half the crane's size,
0:24:12 > 0:24:16they rely on speed and sheer force of impact to kill.
0:24:18 > 0:24:20But the crane reacts by dropping away,
0:24:20 > 0:24:23reducing the speed of any collision.
0:24:46 > 0:24:50The falcon's only hope is to knock it off balance.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10This young crane isn't out of the woods yet.
0:25:18 > 0:25:21She has been separated from her family
0:25:21 > 0:25:24and is alone and exhausted.
0:25:26 > 0:25:30Above, Himalayan vultures are starting to gather.
0:25:42 > 0:25:47At this time of year, they make a good living from birds that perish on migration.
0:25:54 > 0:25:59She'll need all the luck she can get if she is ever to see India.
0:26:05 > 0:26:09The remote Himalayas aren't the only place where vultures can be found.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11Back in Rajasthan,
0:26:11 > 0:26:14these scavengers can make a living without leaving town.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20Vultures were once a common sight over India.
0:26:20 > 0:26:24Today, Jodhpur is one of the few cities where they still make a home.
0:26:26 > 0:26:29Indian vultures now mostly live on roadkill,
0:26:29 > 0:26:33but, if this fails, they'll find food the old-fashioned way -
0:26:33 > 0:26:37waiting for one of India's most famous hunters to provide a meal.
0:26:52 > 0:26:57They can fly for miles with hardly a wing flap.
0:26:59 > 0:27:04The vulture's keen vision spots a tiger on the prowl.
0:27:25 > 0:27:28Deer are a tiger's favourite prey.
0:27:31 > 0:27:35And running deer ring the dinner bell.
0:27:48 > 0:27:51Dinner is served.
0:28:06 > 0:28:10But a vulture won't risk landing while the owner's around.
0:28:17 > 0:28:19They gather and wait their turn.
0:28:24 > 0:28:28But, suddenly, the tiger ups and leaves her prey.
0:28:28 > 0:28:31She must have other things on her mind.
0:28:37 > 0:28:40The vultures won't waste this golden opportunity.
0:28:54 > 0:28:58But the reason the tigress left soon becomes clear.
0:28:58 > 0:29:00She has young cubs.
0:29:17 > 0:29:21At three-months-old, the cubs have started to eat meat.
0:29:21 > 0:29:25It's time to give them a treat... if there's any left, that is.
0:29:38 > 0:29:41The vultures are good at bolting their food
0:29:41 > 0:29:44and retreating when the rightful owners arrive.
0:29:44 > 0:29:46TIGER ROARS
0:29:47 > 0:29:50This is no time for heroics.
0:29:52 > 0:29:55The tigress returns just in time.
0:29:55 > 0:29:58Her cubs won't go hungry today.
0:30:07 > 0:30:09Back in civilisation,
0:30:09 > 0:30:13the pigeons are also on the hunt for any scraps they can find.
0:30:18 > 0:30:23Their travels take them over some of the most magnificent sights in this part of India.
0:30:30 > 0:30:33The Palace of Winds in Jaipur.
0:30:38 > 0:30:41The Lake Palace of Udaipur.
0:30:54 > 0:30:58A favourite destination is one of the hundreds of temples that abound here.
0:31:28 > 0:31:33Below, a stream of people are arriving bearing gifts of food.
0:31:33 > 0:31:36Here, pigeons should reach Nirvana.
0:31:37 > 0:31:41But these offerings are not for lowly pigeons,
0:31:41 > 0:31:43they are for another scavenger.
0:31:43 > 0:31:46One revered by the visitors.
0:31:46 > 0:31:48Black rats.
0:31:48 > 0:31:51Over 6,000 live in Deshnok Temple.
0:31:51 > 0:31:54They are protected by the local people,
0:31:54 > 0:31:58who believe the rats are their reincarnated ancestors.
0:32:00 > 0:32:02It's tantalizing for the pigeons,
0:32:02 > 0:32:07as it's the black rats that get all the gifts.
0:32:08 > 0:32:12The rats enjoy their elevated status
0:32:12 > 0:32:16and feel confident enough to chase off the competition.
0:32:28 > 0:32:30To get a meal,
0:32:30 > 0:32:33pigeons must snatch it from under the noses of these exulted beings.
0:32:36 > 0:32:40If they can dodge the rats, there's plenty of food to be had.
0:32:43 > 0:32:45But this is easier said than done.
0:32:47 > 0:32:51Males box and fight each other for mating rights.
0:32:59 > 0:33:01There are rats everywhere,
0:33:01 > 0:33:04chasing each other and creating utter chaos.
0:33:16 > 0:33:19And there's only so much a pigeon can take.
0:33:20 > 0:33:23Having snatched some crumbs from the holy one's table,
0:33:23 > 0:33:26they take a break outside,
0:33:26 > 0:33:30but the temple forecourt has its own hazards.
0:33:31 > 0:33:34A steppe eagle is on the prowl.
0:33:42 > 0:33:46But this time the pigeons have some extra muscle.
0:33:47 > 0:33:50Hooded crows act as their bodyguards.
0:33:56 > 0:34:00They intercept anything that invades their airspace.
0:34:04 > 0:34:07They work as a mob, taking turns to harass the eagle.
0:34:14 > 0:34:16One nearly lands on its back.
0:34:39 > 0:34:41Eagles depend on surprise.
0:34:41 > 0:34:46Once he's been rumbled, he know he stands little chance of making a kill.
0:34:53 > 0:34:55With the eagle sent packing,
0:34:55 > 0:34:59the pigeons resume their never-ending quest for scraps.
0:35:05 > 0:35:10Back in the Himalayas, the young crane is on borrowed time.
0:35:15 > 0:35:20Overhead, lammergeiers join the other circling vultures.
0:35:24 > 0:35:28It would be suicide for the crane to continue the journey alone.
0:35:28 > 0:35:31She doesn't know the way.
0:35:31 > 0:35:35The scavengers have decided her days are numbered.
0:35:35 > 0:35:39But the migration season isn't over yet.
0:35:42 > 0:35:48Suddenly, another flock, delayed by the weather, appears on the horizon.
0:36:02 > 0:36:05It's just the help she needs.
0:36:16 > 0:36:19With them, she'll find safety in numbers.
0:36:19 > 0:36:23Together, they continue onwards through the pass.
0:36:23 > 0:36:27The worst part of the crane's journey is now over.
0:36:39 > 0:36:42Once the cranes put the Himalayas behind them,
0:36:42 > 0:36:45the final hurdle is the Great Thar Desert -
0:36:45 > 0:36:50a band stretching from Pakistan across North-West India.
0:37:06 > 0:37:11A procession makes its way across the drifting sands.
0:37:18 > 0:37:23These camel trains are just the start of something far bigger.
0:37:38 > 0:37:44Pushkar Fair - the greatest gathering of camels anywhere on Earth.
0:37:44 > 0:37:49Here, these "ships of the desert" are traded by local tribes.
0:37:50 > 0:37:54But, of course, wherever people gather, so do the pigeons.
0:38:08 > 0:38:13With so much animal feed around, this isn't their greatest challenge.
0:38:13 > 0:38:18In fact, for the next five days, they will have everything they could wish for.
0:38:22 > 0:38:26They just have to learn the camel's feeding times.
0:38:42 > 0:38:47Pigeons are endlessly adaptable. It's the secret of their success.
0:39:02 > 0:39:07For most of the time these pigeons scrape a living in desert towns
0:39:07 > 0:39:12but, once the yearly fair arrives, they join in the festivities.
0:39:16 > 0:39:18But everything comes with a price.
0:39:21 > 0:39:24A feral cat is on the prowl.
0:39:28 > 0:39:31This is no domestic moggy.
0:39:31 > 0:39:34Her hunting skills are essential for survival.
0:39:45 > 0:39:49At first, it all seems just too easy.
0:39:56 > 0:40:00But she soon realizes she must raise her game.
0:40:07 > 0:40:12Her hunting skills are as good as any tiger.
0:40:45 > 0:40:48They may not escape predators all the time,
0:40:48 > 0:40:51but by adapting to every aspect of human life,
0:40:51 > 0:40:56pigeons have become one of the most successful species on the planet.
0:41:12 > 0:41:16The mysterious, ancient landscape of China.
0:41:17 > 0:41:19The people here have a long association
0:41:19 > 0:41:23with some special birds that arrive each year.
0:41:27 > 0:41:31Swallows and swifts have been revered down the ages
0:41:31 > 0:41:34as bringers of peace and tranquillity.
0:41:45 > 0:41:47They are one of the very few animals
0:41:47 > 0:41:49that are welcomed into people's homes.
0:41:57 > 0:42:00Red rump swallows use the mud at the edge of paddy fields
0:42:00 > 0:42:03to construct their nests,
0:42:03 > 0:42:07but, as payback for being allowed to nest, the birds return the favour.
0:42:11 > 0:42:16The swallows hunt along the forested hillsides and rice fields for food,
0:42:16 > 0:42:20ridding the countryside of crop pests and biting insects.
0:42:32 > 0:42:34They are found throughout China.
0:42:34 > 0:42:38Many nest on the watchtowers of the Great Wall.
0:42:44 > 0:42:48Down the centuries, swifts have even been encouraged
0:42:48 > 0:42:51to nest in the ancient eaves of the Forbidden City in Beijing.
0:42:51 > 0:42:54A tradition that continues today.
0:42:59 > 0:43:03And amid the modern chaos of the ancient city of Xian,
0:43:03 > 0:43:08it's the ancient bell towers that swifts use to make their home.
0:43:11 > 0:43:16Here, they act as pest controllers, catching the wood-boring insects
0:43:16 > 0:43:19that could destroy these revered buildings.
0:43:22 > 0:43:26Their labours are repaid by tolerance and respect.
0:43:34 > 0:43:36Also in the Orient,
0:43:36 > 0:43:41Japan has taken other species of migrating birds to its heart.
0:43:43 > 0:43:47The onset of winter marks the arrival of whooper swans
0:43:47 > 0:43:50to the northern island of Hokkaido.
0:43:56 > 0:44:01They too are escaping the even harsher winters found in Siberia.
0:44:15 > 0:44:18They have travelled 2,000 miles to get here.
0:44:18 > 0:44:20But they have a problem.
0:44:20 > 0:44:23The lake they are returning to is frozen.
0:44:31 > 0:44:34They are one of the world's heaviest flying birds
0:44:34 > 0:44:38and usually rely on water to cushion their landing.
0:44:38 > 0:44:41Landing on ice requires an unfamiliar set of skills.
0:44:55 > 0:44:59Each bird has to rapidly devise his own technique.
0:45:13 > 0:45:17It's like water skiers trying to use their skis on snow.
0:45:30 > 0:45:33The huge webbed feet are mainly used as paddles
0:45:33 > 0:45:37but they also help spread the load when landing on water.
0:45:43 > 0:45:47On ice, they just get in the way.
0:45:50 > 0:45:54It can easily go horribly wrong.
0:46:00 > 0:46:05Where the ice has thawed, the swans make a more controlled landing.
0:46:13 > 0:46:17The water is warmed by hot springs from below,
0:46:17 > 0:46:20so it rarely freezes completely.
0:46:21 > 0:46:23It has become the favourite winter wonderland
0:46:23 > 0:46:25for most of the swans in Japan.
0:46:25 > 0:46:29They know that there will always be open water somewhere.
0:46:34 > 0:46:39Whooper swans pair for life and couples celebrate their arrival.
0:46:48 > 0:46:52But this doesn't stop single males trying to muscle in.
0:47:21 > 0:47:23Soon, peace is restored.
0:47:27 > 0:47:29The strength of the swans' relationship
0:47:29 > 0:47:33is displayed through the symmetry of their greeting.
0:47:40 > 0:47:46Above their heads, Japan's most revered bird is also arriving.
0:47:50 > 0:47:52Japanese cranes.
0:48:03 > 0:48:06The arrival of the cranes has been considered a symbol
0:48:06 > 0:48:09of good luck and fidelity for centuries.
0:48:28 > 0:48:30They are so admired,
0:48:30 > 0:48:34every winter the local people venture out on to the ice to feed them fish -
0:48:34 > 0:48:38a welcome handout in harsh times.
0:48:45 > 0:48:49These gifts of kindness have seen the population of cranes grow
0:48:49 > 0:48:53from just 33 in 1952 to over 1,200 today.
0:48:57 > 0:49:02It's now such a prime spot, many have stopped migrating altogether.
0:49:03 > 0:49:07The local crows have grown in number too.
0:49:12 > 0:49:16But it's not all Zen serenity.
0:49:22 > 0:49:24A red fox.
0:49:27 > 0:49:31He can easily tackle a full-grown crane.
0:49:46 > 0:49:49But the fox is not their only concern.
0:49:49 > 0:49:52White-tailed eagles are gathering too.
0:49:52 > 0:49:57In winter, these bird-hunters move inland from the coast.
0:50:15 > 0:50:19Then the emperor of eagles arrives - a Steller's.
0:50:19 > 0:50:23One of the biggest eagles in the world.
0:50:25 > 0:50:28The cranes are outnumbered by some of their worst enemies
0:50:28 > 0:50:30but none try to get away.
0:50:30 > 0:50:35These brave birds are quite prepared to stand their ground.
0:50:41 > 0:50:45They know they are not the eagle's real target.
0:50:51 > 0:50:54For, here, a strange alliance has developed.
0:50:54 > 0:50:59The predators have learnt to scavenge on the free handouts meant for the cranes.
0:51:31 > 0:51:35In this surreal gathering, predators lay down their arms
0:51:35 > 0:51:39and call a truce with their former prey.
0:51:41 > 0:51:46It's a strange and temporary amnesty but one in which everyone benefits.
0:52:07 > 0:52:10The change of behaviour of all these birds
0:52:10 > 0:52:14is brought on by the nation's love of the Japanese crane.
0:52:23 > 0:52:27Back in India, migrating demoiselle cranes
0:52:27 > 0:52:30have also gained from the kindness of the local people.
0:52:38 > 0:52:41They've travelled 2,000 miles to reach here.
0:52:41 > 0:52:44In the past, many would have spread out across India.
0:52:49 > 0:52:53But, today, 9,000 of these wetland birds
0:52:53 > 0:52:56choose to converge on a town in the heart of the desert.
0:52:59 > 0:53:03It's the last place on Earth you would expect them to go.
0:53:28 > 0:53:33They circle over the town of Khichan, waiting for a sign.
0:53:33 > 0:53:36And then below, in a barbed wire compound,
0:53:36 > 0:53:39a local man scatters grain.
0:53:46 > 0:53:49As ever, the pigeons won't miss out on free lunch,
0:53:49 > 0:53:52even if the offerings aren't for them.
0:53:57 > 0:54:01But it's the cranes that the villagers want to attract
0:54:01 > 0:54:04and these visitors could hardly be more welcome.
0:54:21 > 0:54:24These normally timid birds descend among the villagers
0:54:24 > 0:54:26to collect their reward.
0:54:36 > 0:54:40Like the Japanese, the people here treasure the return of the cranes,
0:54:40 > 0:54:43scattering grain each day to encourage them down.
0:54:47 > 0:54:50What was once a quick desert stop-over
0:54:50 > 0:54:54has become a place to spend the entire winter.
0:55:00 > 0:55:05The cranes have even changed their migration routes to converge on this welcoming spot.
0:55:06 > 0:55:08They have been fed here for decades
0:55:08 > 0:55:13and in the very centre of this desert town, they know they can find safe haven.
0:55:17 > 0:55:19Now, so many birds come here,
0:55:19 > 0:55:25they consume an extraordinary 5,000 kilos of grain each day.
0:55:26 > 0:55:30The compound has been built for their protection.
0:55:30 > 0:55:32And, on the other side of the fence,
0:55:32 > 0:55:35a second shift of cranes waits in the wings.
0:55:38 > 0:55:41Each knows its allotted dinner time.
0:55:46 > 0:55:49When those inside have had their fill they change places,
0:55:49 > 0:55:53leaping back over the fence and allowing the second sitting to begin.
0:56:10 > 0:56:12In this most unlikely of places,
0:56:12 > 0:56:17one of the greatest bird spectacles on Earth can be found.
0:56:19 > 0:56:22It's a gathering that only exists
0:56:22 > 0:56:25because of the villagers' devotion to the birds.
0:56:30 > 0:56:34Back in Japan, tranquillity has been restored.
0:56:37 > 0:56:40The cranes begin one of the most intricate
0:56:40 > 0:56:43and beautiful courtship dances in the world.
0:56:58 > 0:57:02Japanese cranes can live for 60 years or more,
0:57:02 > 0:57:06making their partnerships among the most enduring of any bird.
0:57:28 > 0:57:33These dances keep their relationship strong.
0:57:45 > 0:57:47It's an event that has been encouraged
0:57:47 > 0:57:51by a special partnership between birds and people.
0:57:59 > 0:58:05It's relationships like these that have sustained countless species,
0:58:05 > 0:58:09from the parrots of Australia to the vultures of Jodhpur.
0:58:09 > 0:58:12Even the humble pigeon finds sanctuary
0:58:12 > 0:58:15wherever man makes his home.
0:58:18 > 0:58:21Next time, we will look at the close relationships
0:58:21 > 0:58:23between birds and people
0:58:23 > 0:58:29that allowed Earthflight to spread its wings and fly across the world.
0:58:44 > 0:58:48Subtitling by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:58:48 > 0:58:51E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk