Beak & Brain - Genius Birds from Down Under

A WORLD LIKE ANOTHER PLANET--THE ISLANDS OF NEW ZEALAND AND NEW CALEDONIA.

HERE, THE BIRDS RULED SINCE TIME IMMEMORIAL.

THERE WERE NO MAMMALS UNTIL HUMANS INTRODUCED THEM.

IT IS NO WONDER THAT THE BIRDS SCALED NEW HEIGHTS WITH UNIQUE CAPABILITIES.

THIS IS WHERE CROWS LIVE WHO CAN USE TOOLS LIKE NO OTHER CREATURE IN ANIMAL KINGDOM.

AND THIS IS WHERE KEAS LIVE,

PARROTS WHO EXPLORE THE WORLD AND SOMETIMES ALSO DECONSTRUCT IT.

WHAT IS IT THAT MAKES THESE BIRDS SO INTELLIGENT,

AND HOW HIGH DOES THEIR FLIGHT OF THE INTELLECT SOAR?

AT LAST, IT'S STARTED SNOWING IN THE MOUNTAINS OF NEW ZEALAND.

THIS SUITS THE KEAS DOWN TO THE GROUND. THEY ARE THE ONLY PARROTS WHO ACTUALLY LIKE SNOW,

ICE, AND COLD.

BUT ONE THING THEY DON'T LIKE IS BEING ALONE.

THEY ENJOY COMPANY AND, LIKE US,

THEY OFTEN GO VISITING FRIENDS AND RELATIVES, AND THEY CALL IN ADVANCE TO ANNOUNCE THEIR VISIT.

BUT THERE'S NO RUSH; THE LAST FEW METERS CAN BE DONE ON FOOT.

THAT WAY, YOU CAN CHECK WHETHER YOU'RE WELCOME AND MAKE YOUR OWN GOOD INTENTIONS CLEAR.

THE TACTIC PAYS OFF; THE GREETING IS NICE AND FRIENDLY.

BUT THESE TWO ARE STILL YOUNG,

AS ONE CAN TELL FROM THE YELLOW CIRCLES AROUND THEIR EYES,

AND VERY SOON, THE CUDDLES BECOME RATHER LESS GENTLE.

AN UNAMBIGUOUS GESTURE.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

NO PROBLEM. ONE CAN GO LET OFF STEAM SOMEWHERE ELSE AND LOOK FOR ADVENTURE.

THE MORE BUSTLE, THE MERRIER.

THE SKI CIRCUIT TURNS INTO AN AMUSEMENT PARK.

"COME ON, LET'S GO."

IT'S ALWAYS THE SAME GAME WITH THE BAGS.

AS SOON AS YOU RUN TO GET IT, THE KEA RUNS AWAY.

IN THE MEANTIME, REAL WINTER SPORTS--THE CAMPER ROOF AT A TOBOGGAN RUN.

NOT BAD, BUT TODAY THERE'S AN EXTRA-SPECIAL ATTRACTION.

WHAT A STRANGE DEVICE.

MUST TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.

AMANDA GREER BUILT THIS THING IN THE SNOW.

SHE IS CONDUCTING RESEARCH INTO WHAT KEAS EAT,

AND SO SHE MUST KNOW AS ACCURATELY AS POSSIBLE WHAT THEY WEIGH.

THE WHOLE CABOODLE IS A SCALE,

ESPECIALLY MADE FOR KEAS, AS EYE-CATCHING AS

POSSIBLE TO AROUSE THEIR CURIOSITY, BUT ALSO AS STABLE AS POSSIBLE.

WELL, WHO'D HAVE THOUGHT IT?

JUST UNDER A KILO.

WE'LL RETURN TO AMANDA'S KEA RESEARCH LATER. RIGHT NOW,

THE BIRDS ARE CONDUCTING THEIR OWN RESEARCH.

"WHAT HOLDS THE WORLD TOGETHER?

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, HOW CAN I TAKE IT APART?"

GANGS OF YOUNG KEAS ARE THE SCOURGE OF THE SKI RESORTS.

THEIR BEAK IS AS VERSATILE AS A SWISS ARMY KNIFE. IT CAN CUT,

PRESS, PRY OPEN, AND IT BEARS FRUIT.

A KEA BEAK IS THE IDEAL TOOL TO TAP INTO NEW SOURCES OF FOOD.

BUT THAT'S NOT THE ONLY WAY TO DO IT.

1,000 MILES AWAY IN THE CLOUD FORESTS OF NEW CALEDONIA LIVES A UNIQUE SPECIES OF CROW.

THESE BIRDS DO NOT RELY ON THEIR BEAKS AS A TOOL, RATHER THEY

MAKE TOOLS TO GET TO HIDDEN FOOD.

LIKE OTHER CROWS, THEY ARE OMNIVOROUS, ON THE LOOKOUT FOR FRUIT, NUTS, OR INSECTS.

INDEED, THEY WOULDN'T TURN UP THEIR BEAKS AT THIS HEFTY LONGHORN BEETLE...

IF ONLY THEY COULD CATCH THE CRITTER.

FOR TWO FULL YEARS, HE HAS GNAWED HIS WAY AS A LARVA

THROUGH THE WOOD, AND THERE ARE MORE LIKE HIM GNAWING AWAY...

IN THE OLD, HALF-ROTTEN TRUNK.

LONGHORN BEETLE LARVAE ARE RICH IN FAT AND PROTEIN.

JUST A COUPLE ARE ENOUGH TO SATISFY THE CROW'S ENTIRE DAILY NUTRITION

REQUIREMENT, SO THAT MAKES THE EXERTION WORTH THE WHILE.

UNFORTUNATELY, THEY ARE MOSTLY HIDDEN DEEP IN THE WOOD,

MUCH TOO DEEP FOR THE BEAK OF THE CROW-- VERY VISIBLE,

BUT WAY OUT OF REACH.

WHAT WE NEED HERE IS A TOOL;

FOR EXAMPLE, A STRONG LEAF STALK.

BUT THIS ONE IS TOO LONG, AND ABOVE ALL, TOO BENT.

LOOKS LIKE ALL IT NEEDS IS A BIT OF POKING AROUND,

BUT THAT WOULD ONLY PUSH THE LARVA DEEPER INTO THE TRUNK.

NO, ONE NEEDS TO IRRITATE AND ANNOY IT UNTIL IT BITES.

THAT'S THE TRICK.

WELL, IT WOULD HAVE WORKED IF THE CROW HAD BEEN MORE CAREFUL.

AND IT MAKES ITS OWNERSHIP CLAIM "MY LARVA."

KEEP FISHING UNTIL IT BITES.

A MAGNIFICENT CATCH. THE CROW KNOWS EXACTLY HOW TO DO IT AND WHAT TO USE.

IN NEW ZEALAND, THE SAME GAME LOOKS VERY DIFFERENT.

THE KEAS DON'T NEED TOOLS; THEIR BEAK IS TOOL ENOUGH.

THEY BREAK EVERYTHING DOWN INTO SMALL PIECES...

AND THEY'RE NOT ABOUT TO MAKE ANYONE ELSE A PRESENT...

APART FROM THEIR LIFELONG PARTNER.

WITH THEM, THINGS ARE SHARED, ALMOST TENDERLY.

"HALF FOR YOU, HALF FOR ME"...

UNLESS ONE IS JUST PRETENDING.

WHAT A SUPER WAY TO PASS THE TIME, EVEN IF THE LARVAE HAVE LONG SINCE BEEN GOBBLED UP.

NOW THE WOOD HAS COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATED, THE FUN IS OVER.

LUCKILY, A NEW ADVENTURE FLOATS IN--

MIST,

FLYING EXERCISES IN HIGH WINDS WITH BAD VISIBILITY CONDITIONS.

AT THE SAME TIME, AN APPRENTICESHIP FOR YOUNG KEAS IN AERODYNAMICS.

WIND-SURFING...

LANDING BACKWARDS...

BUT THIS HERE IS EVEN MORE ATTRACTIVE. TINTED GLASSES ARE MEANT TO BE GOOD IN MIST,

AREN'T THEY?

AND APPARENTLY HIGHLY DESIRABLE.

BACK TO NEW CALEDONIA, WHERE NEW THINGS ARE AFOOT.

THE ORNITHOLOGIST GAVIN HUNT IS WELL-ACQUAINTED WITH THE CLOUD

FORESTS. FOR YEARS, HE HAS BEEN OBSERVING BIRDS HERE.

EVERYTHING SEEMS NORMAL UNTIL HE MAKES A SURPRISING DISCOVERY...

STRANGE INCISIONS IN THE LEAVES OF THE PANDANUS TREE.

ALWAYS THE SAME PATTERN, ALWAYS THE SAME DEPTH.

GAVIN HAS A HUNCH. FOR DAYS,

HE EXAMINES THE GROUND WITH A KEENER EYE UNTIL HE FINDS IT--

THE MATCHING PART.

LOOKS LIKE SOME KIND OF TOOL.

AT THE BOTTOM, A WIDE HANDLE, AT THE TOP, A SHARP TIP WITH BARBS

ALONG THE EDGE...

WITH THE SPINES OF THE PANDANUS LEAF--AN EXACT FIT.

GAVIN BETS IT'S THE CROWS.

SURELY THEY CREATED THIS, BUT HOW CAN HE PROVE IT?

HE DECIDES TO OPEN A RESTAURANT FOR CROWS IN THE FOREST.

WOOD TRUNKS WITH PRE-DRILLED HOLES, IN WHICH HE STOWS

TEMPTING PORTIONS OF MEAT, BUT TOO DEEP FOR A CROW'S BEAK.

CONCEALED IN THE CAMOUFLAGED TENT, HE HAS A BIRD'S-EYE VIEW.

HE HOPES THE CLEVER CROWS WILL USE THEIR TOOLS AGAIN IN FRONT OF HIS VERY EYES.

BUT THE GUESTS ARE A LONG TIME COMING.

ARE THEY SUSPICIOUS, OR IS IT BECAUSE THE WEATHER IS RAPIDLY DETERIORATING?

LOOKS LIKE GAVIN'S FOREST RESTAURANT IS A FLOP.

THE KEAS IN NEW ZEALAND ARE ON ANOTHER WAVELENGTH.

THEY ARE NOT AT ALL DISINCLINED TO EATING OUT, NOT EVEN AT NIGHT...

AND THAT CAUSES SOME CONFUSION IN THE FAMOUS WOBBLY KEA.

GLENN IS THE BOSS HERE, AND THE BOSS TAKES CARE OF THE COOKING HIMSELF.

BUT NOW IT'S CLOSING TIME.

ONLY ONE THING STILL TO DO-- SHUT EVERYTHING UP FOR THE NIGHT, A DAILY RITUAL.

TURNS OFF ALL THE LIGHTS...

AND CLOSES THE SLIDING DOOR TO THE KITCHEN. SO FAR, SO GOOD.

BUT DURING THE NIGHT, STRANGE THINGS HAPPEN IN THE WOBBLY KEA.

AND THE NEXT MORNING, THE CLUES ARE HIGHLY CONSPICUOUS.

A LID IS LYING ON THE KITCHEN FLOOR,

AND SOMEONE'S BEEN AT THE MARGARINE.

GLENN SETS UP A SURVEILLANCE CAMERA.

HE HAS HIS SUSPICIONS, BUT TWO LOCKED DOORS?

THE CAMERA LIES IN WAIT.

IN THE MEANTIME, IT'S WORTH JUMPING BACK TO NEW CALEDONIA

BECAUSE THERE IS SOMETHING AFOOT IN THE CLOUD FOREST OF THE TOOLED CROWS.

THE WORD ABOUT THE OPENING OF GAVIN'S RESTAURANT HAS EVIDENTLY GOTTEN AROUND.

THE FIRST GUESTS ARRIVE.

WHAT'S ON THE MENU TODAY? HMM. NOT BAD.

ONLY THE CUTLERY'S MISSING, BUT IN THAT DEPARTMENT,

THE CROWS ARE IN THEIR ELEMENT. A FRESH TREE SHOOT.

CUT OFF THE GREEN BIT.

THAT SHOULD DO THE TRICK.

QUICK, BACK TO THE TABLE.

BUT AT THE FIRST ATTEMPT, IT'S ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THE STICK IS TOO SHORT.

JUST AN OVERSIGHT, OR IS IT LACK OF EXPERIENCE?

IN ANY CASE, GAVIN'S NEXT GUEST OPTS FOR A LONGER DEVICE.

CAREFULLY PRY OUT THE MEAT, USE THE FOOT TO PUSH AGAINST THE EDGE OF THE HOLE.

SEEMS THE FIRST BITE IS TASTY.

OK, NOW FOR THE WHOLE PIECE.

BUT WATCH OUT. THE TRUNK IS ROUND, AND IT'S ROLLING AWAY.

THAT'S THE WAY THE COOKIE CRUMBLES.

THE PERFECT PROBING TOOL NEEDS A HOOK AT THE TIP.

AHA! THAT'S THE WAY TO DO IT.

IT WORKS!

EXPERIENCED CROWS KNOW THIS, OF COURSE, AND THEY SEEM TO KNOW OTHER THINGS, TOO.

GAVIN HOLDS HIS BREATH;

HIS SUPER TOOL IS ALSO BEING PUT TO USE.

THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT;

THESE CROWS ARE NO FOOLS WHEN IT COMES TO TOOLS, BUT DO THEY REALLY UNDERSTAND TECHNOLOGY,

AND CAUSE AND EFFECT?

THE QUESTION LEADS US TO SOUTH GERMANY.

THERE ARE NEW CALEDONIAN CROWS THERE, TOO.

THEY BELONG TO AUGUSTE VON BAYERN'S RESEARCH STATION,

WHERE THE GOAL IS TO PROVIDE EXAMPLES OF THEIR INTELLIGENCE.

DO THEY THINK LIKE US WHEN IT COMES TO TECHNICAL THINGS?

SOMEWHAT FORMALLY, AUGUSTE OFFERS US A CHOCOLATE.

WE MUST TAKE IT WITHOUT LIFTING THE APPARATUS.

NO CHANCE.

BUT HER CROWS COULD DO IT,

AUGUSTE CLAIMS, AND SHE SETS THEM THE SAME TASK.

HERE YOU GO.

MIGHTY EXCITING...

ESPECIALLY BECAUSE, AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TUBE,

INSTEAD OF A CHOCOLATE, IS AN ENTICING MEALWORM.

BUT HOW CAN ONE GET AT IT?

AT THE BOTTOM, EVERYTHING IS SEALED.

HOW ABOUT FROM THE TOP?

THE BOTTOM IS MUCH TOO DEEP.

THE BIRD SEEMS JUST AS BAFFLED AS US, SOMEHOW A RELIEF FOR US.

AUGUSTE NOW GIVES A HINT-- THE BOTTOM IS ACTUALLY A TRAP DOOR.

USING A WIRE AS A LEVER, YOU CAN TRIGGER IT OPEN.

ALTHOUGH YOU CAN'T TELL THE CROW THAT IN SO MANY WORDS,

IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG BEFORE IT FINDS OUT FOR ITSELF.

A SLIGHT PRESSURE, AND THE TRAP DOOR DROPS OPEN, AND THE CROW

GETS THE WORM. BUT DOES IT UNDERSTAND THE TECHNICAL

PRINCIPLE, THAT WHEN YOU EXERT PRESSURE ONTO THE BOTTOM, IT FALLS OPEN?

LET'S SEE. AUGUSTE REMOVES THE LEVER. NOW EVERYTHING IS AS IT

WAS BEFORE, EXCEPT THAT THE CROW IS A BIT WISER.

THE WORM IS LYING READY.

THE WIRE IS GONE, BUT IT SEEMS TO HAVE AN IDEA.

IT HAS NEVER HANDLED STONES BEFORE, A BRILLIANT TECHNICAL IDEA.

HEY, THANKS FOR THE ADVICE.

QUICKLY, BACK TO THE MOUNTAINS OF NEW ZEALAND.