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Examining the extraordinary physiology of animals who launch themselves into the air - whether winged or wingless; bearing feathers, fur, or scales; by day or night. Shot both in the field and on controlled sets, the series reveals the minute details of wing beats and the science of how a tiny Leaf Hopper pulls 500G on takeoff. Each episode concludes with a behind-the-scenes view of how it was made.
In Africa, a caracal catches birds in flight with a 'rocket-propelled' launch; in the Australian outback, a kangaroo's hop locates water in a vast desert; on an English farm, an insect accelerates at 700G with help from a clutch in its crotch; and high above the jungles of Borneo, a leaping snake's unique shape allows it to glide through the air without wings.
How peregrine falcons can top 200 miles an hour, a hummingbird is slave to its manic lifestyle, and the albatross's nose helps it fly for free; heavyweight beetles break the rules to find love; a devious sparrow-hawk executes a lightning-fast raid on his prey; and half a million mother bats dominate air space both above and below the ground with dazzling aerial prowess.
The world's most aggressive bird creates sound out of thin air with the world's fastest courtship display; in a South American jungle, bats and moths fight for the upper hand in one of the world's oldest arms races; and a giant flock of half a million birds avoids colliding in the same air space.
