0:00:02 > 0:00:06Penguins - behind their feisty charm lies an amazing character.
0:00:10 > 0:00:13These cheeky birds have to bring up their chicks
0:00:13 > 0:00:16against the most extraordinary odds.
0:00:16 > 0:00:20SpyCams discover just how special they really are.
0:00:27 > 0:00:30From the freezing Antarctic...
0:00:30 > 0:00:34to the scorching tropics...
0:00:34 > 0:00:37this is the story of nature's most devoted parents -
0:00:37 > 0:00:39filmed as never before.
0:00:48 > 0:00:51A chick's-eye view of an emperor penguin's mum and dad.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58His parents have trekked across a frozen sea
0:00:58 > 0:00:59and battled blizzards to raise him.
0:01:03 > 0:01:05The Humboldt is just as dedicated.
0:01:07 > 0:01:08Shielding their chicks
0:01:08 > 0:01:12from the desert sun is just one of the many tasks they face.
0:01:14 > 0:01:18Rockhoppers rear their young in the storm-lashed South Atlantic.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26No other penguin is so daring and spirited.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31These parents will face huge challenges as they bring up
0:01:31 > 0:01:33chicks in the toughest places on Earth.
0:01:37 > 0:01:41Their struggles only end when their young leave for the ocean.
0:01:41 > 0:01:44But their incredible story begins
0:01:44 > 0:01:47long before their chicks are even born.
0:01:52 > 0:01:58The Antarctic is home to just 2 of the world's 17 types of penguin.
0:01:59 > 0:02:03But a new variety has just appeared -
0:02:03 > 0:02:04PenguinCam.
0:02:09 > 0:02:13As well as a camera in its body, there's another in its eye.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19It just has to wait for its legendary subjects to arrive.
0:02:42 > 0:02:45They are emperors - the world's tallest
0:02:45 > 0:02:48and most regal penguin, standing a metre high.
0:02:56 > 0:02:58Their curiosity is encouraging.
0:02:58 > 0:03:00They must accept EmperorCam
0:03:00 > 0:03:03if it is to film their lives up close for nearly a year.
0:03:11 > 0:03:13Emperors are a very special penguin -
0:03:13 > 0:03:17the only animal on Earth to breed through the Antarctic winter.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28As the long journey to their breeding grounds begins,
0:03:28 > 0:03:31the penguins accept EmperorCam as one of their own.
0:03:41 > 0:03:43Ahead, more penguins are on the march.
0:03:43 > 0:03:49They can't delay - their destination lies many miles across a frozen sea.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15The Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic,
0:04:15 > 0:04:18the breeding grounds of the rockhopper.
0:04:18 > 0:04:23Our second remarkable penguin - RockhopperCam -
0:04:23 > 0:04:27will record the rockhoppers' arrival, using a camera concealed in its eye.
0:04:29 > 0:04:31It's joined by an aquatic version
0:04:31 > 0:04:34that can film both above and below the water.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42Its camera-eye captures the penguins' homecoming.
0:04:49 > 0:04:53After five months at sea, these rockhoppers are returning
0:04:53 > 0:04:56to build new nests where they themselves were born.
0:05:15 > 0:05:19They appear at the same time each year, having travelled 400 miles
0:05:19 > 0:05:22from their fishing grounds off Argentina to be here.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30The real challenge begins when they reach the shallows -
0:05:30 > 0:05:32they must somehow make it ashore.
0:05:34 > 0:05:36It won't be easy.
0:05:36 > 0:05:38These are some of the roughest waters in the world.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53The first to appear are all males.
0:05:53 > 0:05:577,000 will arrive in small landing parties over the next five days.
0:06:06 > 0:06:09Rockhoppers are spirited characters.
0:06:09 > 0:06:14Tough, irrepressible, with a reputation of never giving up.
0:06:14 > 0:06:16It's just as well.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19As soon as they're ashore, the waves reclaim them.
0:06:44 > 0:06:48The heavy swells toss them like flotsam, but they won't be deterred.
0:06:55 > 0:06:56Success at last!
0:06:58 > 0:07:01But victory is brief.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18Despite their ordeal, they must try again -
0:07:18 > 0:07:21a new generation of rockhoppers depends on it.
0:07:24 > 0:07:28When they do, RockhopperCam will be ready.
0:07:41 > 0:07:46The Atacama desert in Peru, the most arid in the world.
0:07:46 > 0:07:50The surprising home of our third and least known penguin...
0:07:52 > 0:07:54..the Humboldt.
0:07:57 > 0:07:59Sophisticated robotics allow HumboldtCam
0:07:59 > 0:08:03to patrol the shoreline where the penguins are due to arrive.
0:08:07 > 0:08:11But they're late - the beach sadly deserted.
0:08:15 > 0:08:18Then, after days of waiting, they finally arrive.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26These Humboldts will face their own extraordinary challenges
0:08:26 > 0:08:29as they struggle to reach their nesting grounds
0:08:29 > 0:08:30and raise a new generation.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35They're so shy that they've rarely been filmed,
0:08:35 > 0:08:39but already HumboldtCam is capturing the closest shots ever recorded.
0:08:46 > 0:08:49It even moves among them without ruffling a feather.
0:08:53 > 0:08:57Humboldts are the only mainland penguin to live in the tropics.
0:08:57 > 0:08:59Their survival depends on the Humboldt current that brings
0:08:59 > 0:09:02both food and cold water to these shores.
0:09:05 > 0:09:09Like the other penguins, they accept the SpyCam as one of their own,
0:09:09 > 0:09:11even testing its reaction.
0:09:19 > 0:09:21But it's only a brief encounter.
0:09:24 > 0:09:26Fur seals!
0:09:29 > 0:09:30PENGUINS SQUAWK
0:09:36 > 0:09:39Chasing penguins is one of their favourite pastimes.
0:09:51 > 0:09:52To the seals, it's just a game.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55They normally prey on fish and squid.
0:09:58 > 0:10:02But the Humboldts aren't taking any chances.
0:10:02 > 0:10:05Higher up the beach is a colony of sea lions.
0:10:05 > 0:10:08Although they look just like fur seals,
0:10:08 > 0:10:11they're three times bigger and they will kill penguins.
0:10:11 > 0:10:13SEA LIONS GRUNT
0:10:14 > 0:10:16There's also rather a lot of them.
0:10:21 > 0:10:2320,000 in all,
0:10:23 > 0:10:26blocking the way to the penguins' nest site.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37Crossing the blockade won't be easy.
0:10:45 > 0:10:48HumboldtCam is already in the thick of it
0:10:48 > 0:10:52as the first penguin tries his luck.
0:10:53 > 0:10:57Near the shore, sea lions are thin on the ground.
0:10:57 > 0:10:59It seems surprisingly straightforward.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06But nothing is ever that simple.
0:11:10 > 0:11:12It's so easy to put a foot wrong.
0:11:16 > 0:11:19But there's no turning back now.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30Their best chance is to run for their lives.
0:11:37 > 0:11:39SEA LIONS SNARL
0:11:48 > 0:11:51Fortunately for them, sea lions are slow
0:11:51 > 0:11:53and clumsy on land.
0:11:53 > 0:11:56The penguins outmanoeuvre them every time.
0:12:01 > 0:12:04A close call...then a bite!
0:12:04 > 0:12:06But he escapes with his life.
0:12:12 > 0:12:13The advanced party makes it.
0:12:15 > 0:12:17But only just!
0:12:17 > 0:12:19They desperately clamber to safety.
0:12:22 > 0:12:24Their followers aren't so lucky.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39Just in time, they find a place to hide - a sea cave.
0:12:41 > 0:12:45It might offer shelter or hold hidden dangers.
0:12:45 > 0:12:47No-one's keen find out.
0:12:52 > 0:12:53Back in Antarctica,
0:12:53 > 0:12:58the emperor penguins' trek to their breeding grounds is well under way.
0:13:03 > 0:13:08It's a long slog and the frozen sea ice presents all kinds of challenges.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23But the occasional slip-up is the least of their worries.
0:13:26 > 0:13:28A small crack has appeared.
0:13:33 > 0:13:36It's enough to stop the whole march in its tracks.
0:13:48 > 0:13:52Cracks form as the sea beneath the ice rises and falls.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59He's nervous, but the march must go on.
0:14:05 > 0:14:09The rest try their luck with varying degrees of success.
0:14:18 > 0:14:21They have reason to be frightened -
0:14:21 > 0:14:23leopard seals patrol these tide-cracks,
0:14:23 > 0:14:25looking for struggling penguins.
0:14:30 > 0:14:33As more pile in, they pulverise the ice,
0:14:33 > 0:14:35making it even harder to escape.
0:14:39 > 0:14:41But they possess a useful tool -
0:14:41 > 0:14:44an ice pick that gets them out of trouble.
0:14:59 > 0:15:03On the Falklands, RockhopperCam returns to duty
0:15:03 > 0:15:06as the penguins begin their second assault on the shore.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19The weather still isn't helping.
0:15:19 > 0:15:21But they remember an old tactic -
0:15:21 > 0:15:23face danger head on!
0:15:27 > 0:15:31This streamlines the impact and keeps their feet firmly on the ground.
0:15:35 > 0:15:39They've passed the first hurdle, but their challenges are far from over.
0:15:43 > 0:15:47Rockhoppers build their nests as far from the waves as possible,
0:15:47 > 0:15:50at the top of a cliff that's a hundred metres high!
0:15:53 > 0:15:57It's a tough climb - but they aren't called rockhoppers for nothing.
0:16:11 > 0:16:16They haven't hopped for five months and they're out of practice.
0:16:43 > 0:16:46Made it! But that was just the first few metres.
0:16:46 > 0:16:48There's nearly a hundred to go!
0:16:53 > 0:16:57RockCam prepares to record the next of their many trials.
0:17:07 > 0:17:09It's designed to film on the move.
0:17:13 > 0:17:18A cliff path seems deceptively easy, but RockCam soon has to give up.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28There are sheer drops below and the waves are steadily building.
0:18:14 > 0:18:16Just one left...
0:18:23 > 0:18:25..and then there were none.
0:18:32 > 0:18:35They will just have to try yet again.
0:18:39 > 0:18:44Back at the cave, the Humboldts are still too nervous to enter.
0:18:48 > 0:18:51But it just takes one brave soul and the rest soon follow.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58It was wise to be cautious.
0:18:58 > 0:19:00The cave holds a nasty surprise.
0:19:03 > 0:19:05Vampire bats.
0:19:06 > 0:19:10They feed on any warm-blooded creature and birds are no exception.
0:19:20 > 0:19:25There's no reprieve, the sea lions have cut off their escape.
0:19:25 > 0:19:27SEA LIONS SNARL
0:19:30 > 0:19:33Their only choice is to face their fears.
0:19:39 > 0:19:42BATS SQUEAK
0:19:47 > 0:19:51While their eyes adjust to the dark, they can't see the danger.
0:19:53 > 0:19:57Vampires can last just two days without feeding on blood -
0:19:57 > 0:19:59they never turn down a meal.
0:20:04 > 0:20:07They home in by sensing body heat.
0:20:16 > 0:20:17As fortune has it,
0:20:17 > 0:20:20the cave offers an escape route.
0:20:20 > 0:20:24It's a tunnel that bypasses the sea lions and reaches the other side.
0:20:37 > 0:20:38As they scramble up the cliff,
0:20:38 > 0:20:41another PenguinCam records their achievement.
0:20:53 > 0:20:58But the penguins face a new challenge - the baking hot desert.
0:20:58 > 0:21:00Year after year,
0:21:00 > 0:21:05they return to this parched and inhospitable place to lay their eggs.
0:21:05 > 0:21:06They have no choice -
0:21:06 > 0:21:09the desert borders the coast for hundreds of miles.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20They must reach their nest sites before it gets too hot -
0:21:20 > 0:21:22an unusual concern for a penguin!
0:21:27 > 0:21:30In Antarctica, emperors face an opposite problem.
0:21:32 > 0:21:34A glacier entering the frozen sea
0:21:34 > 0:21:38creates an ice maze riddled with crevasses -
0:21:38 > 0:21:41one mistake could prove fatal.
0:21:53 > 0:21:57Even here, the penguins' incredible sense of direction guides them
0:21:57 > 0:21:59towards their breeding grounds.
0:22:01 > 0:22:02By keeping together
0:22:02 > 0:22:06and sharing knowledge, they are less likely to get lost.
0:22:10 > 0:22:12It's a matter of follow-the-leader,
0:22:12 > 0:22:15but all it takes is one false move...
0:22:17 > 0:22:20..and it can all go horribly wrong.
0:22:23 > 0:22:25PENGUIN SQUAWKS
0:22:36 > 0:22:39Alone, the ice maze seems strangely disorientating.
0:22:52 > 0:22:55He calls, but his voice is lost on the wind.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08His companions continue without him.
0:23:18 > 0:23:20He escapes the maze,
0:23:20 > 0:23:22but it's too late.
0:23:33 > 0:23:36He must attempt the journey alone.
0:23:49 > 0:23:53Hardened by battle, the rockhoppers stage one more assault.
0:23:57 > 0:24:01In the race to the top, one penguin cadges a ride.
0:24:09 > 0:24:12With the tide receding, the cliff path seems safer.
0:24:12 > 0:24:14But appearances can be deceptive.
0:24:20 > 0:24:24He's caught in a trap and the sea isn't finished yet.
0:24:40 > 0:24:42He makes it!
0:24:42 > 0:24:44This time the sea is more forgiving.
0:24:45 > 0:24:48Rockhoppers are notoriously tenacious.
0:24:49 > 0:24:50It's just as well -
0:24:50 > 0:24:53an even steeper cliff lies ahead.
0:24:55 > 0:24:59There are no easy routes, but he's chosen one of the most difficult.
0:25:02 > 0:25:05Mountaineering techniques are required.
0:25:06 > 0:25:09He uses his flippers as arms,
0:25:09 > 0:25:12his claws as crampons
0:25:12 > 0:25:14and his bill as a climbing axe.
0:25:26 > 0:25:28He triumphs,
0:25:28 > 0:25:32but a loss of concentration then throws it all away.
0:25:37 > 0:25:40Fortunately, body fat makes a great shock-absorber.
0:25:43 > 0:25:46This time he selects a less challenging route.
0:25:51 > 0:25:52At the summit,
0:25:52 > 0:25:57the penguins show that their hopping skills have returned.
0:25:57 > 0:26:02It's a sack-race to reclaim old nest-sites.
0:26:24 > 0:26:26But other males have beaten them here.
0:26:29 > 0:26:33And it's difficult to remember exactly where you nested last year.
0:26:42 > 0:26:45Those that have already staked a claim won't budge.
0:26:45 > 0:26:48And they don't take kindly to newcomers.
0:26:56 > 0:26:59Among the crowds, a familiar face -
0:26:59 > 0:27:02RockhopperCam.
0:27:02 > 0:27:05Like other PenguinCams, it can manoeuvre
0:27:05 > 0:27:09to find the best viewpoint without disturbing the colony.
0:27:10 > 0:27:13It doesn't get better than this.
0:27:13 > 0:27:15When the females arrive,
0:27:15 > 0:27:207,000 pairs will be jostling here as they bring up their chicks.
0:27:32 > 0:27:36Even so, RockhopperCam needs back-up...
0:27:39 > 0:27:40..EggCam!
0:27:54 > 0:27:59Ten of these EggCams are deployed throughout the colony.
0:27:59 > 0:28:04They record continuously and film closer than any other spy camera.
0:28:13 > 0:28:16The male's job is to build the nest.
0:28:16 > 0:28:20It may be just a few twigs, but every piece is treasured.
0:28:29 > 0:28:32Stealing from a neighbour is a crime that pays.
0:28:44 > 0:28:47With nest sites claimed and tidied,
0:28:47 > 0:28:49a moment to celebrate.
0:28:54 > 0:28:59Now, they have to wait a week or more for the females to arrive.
0:29:04 > 0:29:07The lone emperor continues his journey,
0:29:07 > 0:29:11determined to reach the breeding grounds.
0:29:11 > 0:29:14His companions are several miles ahead
0:29:14 > 0:29:16and the weather has started to turn.
0:29:33 > 0:29:35He's built to endure Antarctic storms,
0:29:35 > 0:29:38but it's a bad time for any penguin to be alone.
0:29:45 > 0:29:49Ahead, the others are feeling the full force of the blizzard.
0:29:49 > 0:29:50PenguinCam joins them,
0:29:50 > 0:29:53as driving snow makes the route almost impassable.
0:30:09 > 0:30:11They're now wasting precious energy.
0:30:16 > 0:30:18As winds reach 90 miles an hour,
0:30:18 > 0:30:20they start to huddle together for warmth.
0:30:20 > 0:30:22It's their best chance of survival.
0:30:28 > 0:30:30The lone penguin struggles on.
0:30:44 > 0:30:47He's weakening from exertion and the cold.
0:30:59 > 0:31:01Then, through the whiteout,
0:31:01 > 0:31:03distant shapes appear.
0:31:16 > 0:31:19Forming the huddle allowed him to catch up.
0:31:21 > 0:31:23It may have saved his life.
0:31:43 > 0:31:45The Humboldts are almost at their nesting grounds,
0:31:45 > 0:31:50but they have one last hurdle to face -
0:31:50 > 0:31:52a colony of Peruvian booby birds lies
0:31:52 > 0:31:55between the penguins and their nest-site.
0:31:57 > 0:32:00Out at sea, the two species are close competitors.
0:32:00 > 0:32:03But here, the boobies have the best weaponry.
0:32:04 > 0:32:06PENGUIN CALLS
0:32:08 > 0:32:10The penguins face an army of spears.
0:32:17 > 0:32:19A jab to the eye would spell disaster
0:32:19 > 0:32:21and there are thousands of birds to get through.
0:32:32 > 0:32:35The Humboldts' only defence is their quick reactions.
0:33:04 > 0:33:07With escape in sight, one penguin dares to retaliate.
0:33:14 > 0:33:17But he doesn't hang around for long.
0:33:25 > 0:33:27Their trials finally over,
0:33:27 > 0:33:30the nest site is within reach.
0:33:33 > 0:33:36It's a Humboldt nursery, dug into the desert.
0:33:36 > 0:33:40Here, they're safe from sea lions, nesting birds and storms -
0:33:40 > 0:33:42well worth the journey to get here.
0:33:48 > 0:33:52Humboldts are faithful birds and usually pair for life.
0:33:58 > 0:34:03The males dig burrows to protect their young from the desert sun.
0:34:10 > 0:34:12It's dirty work.
0:34:12 > 0:34:16The colony has been here so long, it's built on guano -
0:34:16 > 0:34:19centuries of accumulated penguin poo.
0:34:23 > 0:34:26Job done, his mate moves in.
0:34:31 > 0:34:34In a few days, she'll lay the first egg.
0:34:38 > 0:34:42The blizzard over, the emperors wake to a very different day.
0:34:48 > 0:34:50PENGUINS SQUAWK
0:34:54 > 0:34:56They can't delay.
0:34:56 > 0:34:58They still have miles to go.
0:35:01 > 0:35:04EmperorCam takes an early lead.
0:35:10 > 0:35:14Fresh snow creates perfect sledging conditions.
0:35:42 > 0:35:46Finally, the end of the emperors' journey is in sight.
0:35:52 > 0:35:57A frozen bay, located where the sea-ice meets the Antarctic mainland.
0:36:01 > 0:36:05Emperors have visited this hallowed spot for thousands of years.
0:36:10 > 0:36:13Here, the ice stays firm throughout the breeding season,
0:36:13 > 0:36:16giving sanctuary to 3,000 pairs.
0:36:20 > 0:36:24SpyCams are already here.
0:36:24 > 0:36:26And there are new varieties, too.
0:36:38 > 0:36:42The penguin's waddle walk is part of a display
0:36:42 > 0:36:47that shows that this new EmperorCam is regarded as just another penguin.
0:36:59 > 0:37:03EmperorCam is a fully-fledged member of the colony.
0:37:03 > 0:37:05She's also the first to lay an egg!
0:37:13 > 0:37:16A clutch of EggCams are soon in the thick of it.
0:37:31 > 0:37:35Back in the Falklands, 7,000 rockhopper males have waited
0:37:35 > 0:37:38nearly two weeks for their partners to arrive.
0:37:38 > 0:37:41Their only pastime has been a spot of housekeeping.
0:37:43 > 0:37:47Then, the sight they've been waiting for -
0:37:47 > 0:37:48the girls are back.
0:38:28 > 0:38:32Their surfing technique helps them locate their favourite landing spot.
0:38:39 > 0:38:42The tide is out, allowing a more elegant arrival.
0:39:01 > 0:39:06After five months away, they're keen to see their partners again.
0:39:06 > 0:39:09FEMALES SQUAWK
0:39:12 > 0:39:15Hopping is faster than waddling,
0:39:15 > 0:39:17so they bounce their way to the colony.
0:39:57 > 0:40:01Single males try to catch their eye.
0:40:01 > 0:40:05But rockhoppers mate for life and most females are already spoken for.
0:40:10 > 0:40:11She stops to listen.
0:40:15 > 0:40:18Her partner has a distinctive call that helps her
0:40:18 > 0:40:19pinpoint his whereabouts.
0:40:22 > 0:40:25She hasn't seen him for nearly half a year.
0:40:28 > 0:40:31Fittingly, their greeting is called an "ecstatic display".
0:40:40 > 0:40:43Preening helps rekindle their relationship.
0:40:48 > 0:40:51But not all are so lucky in love.
0:40:52 > 0:40:55This male is still waiting for his mate to return.
0:41:01 > 0:41:04Emperor penguins are spared these concerns,
0:41:04 > 0:41:06as most choose a new mate each year.
0:41:12 > 0:41:15Penguins looking for a partner set themselves apart
0:41:15 > 0:41:16and start to display.
0:41:24 > 0:41:26This male doesn't have to wait for long.
0:41:46 > 0:41:48He's unlucky this time.
0:41:53 > 0:41:55But he's spoilt for choice.
0:41:56 > 0:41:58There are 3,000 possible partners.
0:42:14 > 0:42:16Her waddle walk shows she's keen.
0:42:35 > 0:42:39They mirror each other's actions to confirm that they're now a couple.
0:42:42 > 0:42:46But their blossoming romance soon sparks jealousies.
0:42:46 > 0:42:48A second female tries to muscle in.
0:42:57 > 0:42:59She pecks at her rival,
0:42:59 > 0:43:02but the male's having none of it.
0:43:02 > 0:43:04The girls fight it out.
0:43:04 > 0:43:07It's flippers at dawn.
0:43:18 > 0:43:21She shoves her challenger to the ground,
0:43:21 > 0:43:22but it's not over yet.
0:43:27 > 0:43:29Her mate cheers her on.
0:43:35 > 0:43:37SQUAWKS
0:43:37 > 0:43:38This time she's clinched it.
0:43:38 > 0:43:41She's slapped her way to victory.
0:43:52 > 0:43:56Their synchronised waddle advertises they're an item.
0:43:56 > 0:43:58It's time to get down to business.
0:44:00 > 0:44:04It's their first breeding season and their inexperience is clear.
0:44:35 > 0:44:38And just as they get the hang of things,
0:44:38 > 0:44:41the female's love rival is back.
0:44:49 > 0:44:52She has many ways of spoiling the moment.
0:45:06 > 0:45:09Time to find a quieter spot.
0:45:36 > 0:45:38Back with the rockhoppers,
0:45:38 > 0:45:41the lonesome male is still waiting for his mate.
0:45:43 > 0:45:45But his eye soon begins to wander.
0:45:51 > 0:45:55RockhopperCam has found an admirer.
0:45:56 > 0:45:59The penguin displays to show he's keen.
0:46:05 > 0:46:09She might be a robot, but it's still love at first sight.
0:46:12 > 0:46:15Preening is a sign that the male's getting serious.
0:46:18 > 0:46:20It seems the perfect match.
0:46:29 > 0:46:32But some romances aren't meant to be.
0:46:32 > 0:46:35The rockhopper's real mate is coming home...
0:46:39 > 0:46:41..and she's in quite a hurry.
0:47:10 > 0:47:12She's a jealous bird.
0:47:12 > 0:47:15PenguinCam suffers the consequences.
0:47:18 > 0:47:20The couple reunite.
0:47:24 > 0:47:27They now only have eyes for each other.
0:47:35 > 0:47:37RockhopperCam may have been jilted,
0:47:37 > 0:47:40but she picks herself right back up again...
0:47:47 > 0:47:51..while the pair have some catching up to do.
0:48:01 > 0:48:03At the emperor colony,
0:48:03 > 0:48:06after mating, the new couples keep themselves to themselves.
0:48:11 > 0:48:16Two weeks later, it's time for their single egg to be laid.
0:48:16 > 0:48:18Both share in this precious moment.
0:48:21 > 0:48:23On ice, laying is a challenge.
0:48:28 > 0:48:31A dropped egg will quickly freeze,
0:48:31 > 0:48:33and their long march would have been for nothing.
0:48:52 > 0:48:55She flicks her tail forward to catch the egg,
0:48:55 > 0:48:57while her feet cushion the fall.
0:49:02 > 0:49:03Success!
0:49:24 > 0:49:26She shows off her treasure -
0:49:26 > 0:49:30her partner must understand that he shares the responsibility.
0:49:36 > 0:49:39It will soon be his turn to care for it.
0:49:44 > 0:49:45For the female,
0:49:45 > 0:49:47producing the egg has taken its toll
0:49:47 > 0:49:50and she must soon leave for the sea to feed and recuperate.
0:49:59 > 0:50:01The future of their developing chick
0:50:01 > 0:50:04now depends on the strength and endurance of its father.
0:50:09 > 0:50:11Back in the Falklands,
0:50:11 > 0:50:14rockhopper eggs are being laid throughout the colony.
0:50:16 > 0:50:20Rockhoppers have two eggs, the first is smaller than the second.
0:50:23 > 0:50:28The lesser egg is for insurance - it's often taken by predators.
0:50:30 > 0:50:33Skuas seize more than any other.
0:50:41 > 0:50:43Their strategy is simple -
0:50:43 > 0:50:45attack from out of the blue.
0:51:03 > 0:51:05The colony soon switches to high alert...
0:51:08 > 0:51:10..and prepares its defences.
0:51:27 > 0:51:32They create a fortress of sharp beaks, impossible to penetrate.
0:51:46 > 0:51:50The skua has lost the advantage of surprise and retreats.
0:51:52 > 0:51:56By joining forces, the colony prevails.
0:51:58 > 0:52:02And this penguin still has both her eggs.
0:52:09 > 0:52:12In Peru, the Humboldts also lay two eggs,
0:52:12 > 0:52:15but they conceal them inside a burrow.
0:52:20 > 0:52:22There are egg thieves here, too.
0:52:24 > 0:52:29Turkey vultures time their arrival for the nesting period.
0:52:37 > 0:52:40But they are nervous of entering the burrow.
0:52:47 > 0:52:50A Humboldt will fight fiercely to protect her eggs
0:52:50 > 0:52:52and she easily repels the vulture.
0:52:58 > 0:53:02Protected underground, both eggs usually survive.
0:53:06 > 0:53:10At the rockhopper colony, it's time for a change of shifts.
0:53:12 > 0:53:13After two weeks,
0:53:13 > 0:53:15the female rockhoppers usually leave for the sea.
0:53:15 > 0:53:19Like the emperor females, they hand over parenting duties to the males.
0:53:24 > 0:53:27Some mums aren't convinced that this is such a good idea.
0:53:30 > 0:53:32She needs some gentle persuasion.
0:53:37 > 0:53:39He tries a firmer approach...
0:53:44 > 0:53:46..and she still refuses to budge.
0:54:06 > 0:54:11But when push comes to shove, the call of the sea prevails.
0:54:13 > 0:54:16The females haven't eaten for two weeks.
0:54:16 > 0:54:18It's now a mad dash for the ocean and food.
0:55:06 > 0:55:08A lot rests on their success -
0:55:08 > 0:55:11when they return, there will be new mouths to feed.
0:55:17 > 0:55:22For emperors, swapping parental duties is a much riskier task.
0:55:28 > 0:55:31The male offers encouragement by showing off his brood pouch
0:55:31 > 0:55:33which will protect the egg.
0:55:39 > 0:55:41But she, too, is reluctant to trust her mate
0:55:41 > 0:55:43with such immense responsibility.
0:55:49 > 0:55:52He tenderly strokes the egg - a sign he will take good care.
0:55:56 > 0:55:59But transferring the egg is a delicate operation -
0:55:59 > 0:56:02too long on the ice and the embryo will freeze.
0:56:15 > 0:56:20Success - the egg is now cosily in his brood pouch.
0:56:34 > 0:56:37It's time for his mate to leave her treasure behind.
0:56:47 > 0:56:51She and the other females must retrace their steps back to the sea.
0:56:53 > 0:56:54It will be a long journey.
0:56:54 > 0:56:56Winter is closing in
0:56:56 > 0:56:59and the falling temperatures have frozen even more of the ocean.
0:57:05 > 0:57:09The male must cherish this egg throughout the long dark days ahead.
0:57:15 > 0:57:18The female's duty is to return with food in the spring.
0:57:20 > 0:57:24For the male, the toughest challenge is yet to come.
0:57:24 > 0:57:28As the weather closes in, he must protect their prized investment
0:57:28 > 0:57:31through the harshest winter on Earth.
0:57:46 > 0:57:49Back on the Falklands,
0:57:49 > 0:57:51there is already movement.
0:57:51 > 0:57:54An egg has started to hatch.
0:58:05 > 0:58:08It's a magical moment...
0:58:10 > 0:58:13..but this bundle of fluff will bring
0:58:13 > 0:58:16a whole new set of challenges for its parents.
0:58:19 > 0:58:24Next time, our spy cameras will discover how all these growing chicks
0:58:24 > 0:58:28survive in some of the toughest environments on Earth.
0:58:53 > 0:58:55Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd