OH, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE?

NOW, THIS IS A SAW-WHET OWL.

ISN'T HE BEAUTIFUL?

AND LISTEN, OWLS ARE A BIG PART OF OUR NIGHTTIME MISSION, AND, OH, I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT HIM, BUT I'M NOT THE NATURALIST HERE, SO, CHRIS, I'M IN LOVE.

TELL ME EVERYTHING YOU'VE GOT ON THE SAW-WHET.

SAM, SAM.

WHAT?

FALL FOOD IS A BIG PART OF NEW ENGLAND.

I'M JUST ABOUT TO TUCK IN.

NO, NO, NO.

THAT IS THE FOOD FOR THE SHOW.

WE'RE DOING FOOD IN THE SHOW, CHRIS.

YOU ARE EATING THE SHOW!

THIS IS A BRILLIANT COOKIE.

SUPERB.

WE'D BETTER START.

WELCOME TO "AUTUMNWATCH NEW ENGLAND."

[THEME MUSIC PLAYING] WELL, HELLO, AND WELCOME BACK TO "AUTUMNWATCH NEW ENGLAND."

I'M SAMANTHA BROWN, HOST OF "PLACES TO LOVE" ON YOUR PBS STATIONS.

AND I'M CHRIS PACKHAM.

I'VE COME FROM THE U.K. TO HELP WITH "AUTUMNWATCH."

MY SPECIALTY TONIGHT IS WILDLIFE.

AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE PLENTY OF THAT IN THE SHOW.

BUT I'M VERY, VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE, I HAVE TO SAY.

IT'S ONE OF THE FINEST PLACES TO SEE AUTUMN ANYWHERE ON EARTH, AND WHILST IT'S PITCH-BLACK OUTSIDE AT THE MOMENT, DURING THE DAY, IT'S BEEN A RIOT OF COLOR.

ABSOLUTELY, AND WE ARE COMING TO YOU LIVE FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE TO SHOW YOU THAT RIOT OF COLOR AND EVERYTHING THAT COMES WITH THE FALL SEASON.

NOW, I WANTED TO GIVE CHRIS, WHO-- AGAIN, HE'S FROM THE U.K.-- A LITTLE SLICE OF NEW ENGLAND LIFE.

I GREW UP HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.

AND SO I THOUGHT, WHY NOT TAKE CHRIS ON A LEAF-PEEPING ROAD TRIP?

BUT BEFORE WE DO THAT, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE.

WE'RE BASED ON THE SIDE OF SQUAM LAKE.

SO BEAUTIFUL, PRISTINE.

THIS IS YOUR TYPICAL PRISTINE LAKE HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.

WE'RE USED TO THIS.

WE'RE USED TO THE FALL FOLIAGE-- THE SCARLET REDS, THE ORANGES, THE YELLOWS.

LOOK AT THAT MIST COMING UP.

AND TELL ME WHAT THAT ANIMAL IS.

YOU'RE THE NATURALIST.

THAT IS A LOON, AND IT'S SPECIAL.

IT'S FANTASTIC!

I WAS GONNA SAY DUCK.

I'M GLAD I DIDN'T.

[LAUGHTER] BUT WE'VE GOT THAT COLOR THAT EVERYONE LOVES NEW ENGLAND FOR.

AND LET ME TELL YOU, THESE AREN'T...

THIS ISN'T FOOTAGE THAT WE BOUGHT, STOCK FOOTAGE.

THESE ARE LIVE CAMERAS.

THESE ARE OUR CAMERAS BRINGING YOU WHAT WE ARE SEEING RIGHT NOW HERE IN NEW ENGLAND.

IT REALLY IS A GLORIOUS PLACE TO BE AT THIS TIME OF YEAR.

IT IS GLORIOUS.

THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

WE'VE HAD A FANTASTIC SUNNY DAY HERE TODAY, BUT LAST NIGHT, THE TEMPERATURE DROPPED, AND WE ACTUALLY GOT A BIT OF SNOW.

SNOW.

NOW, SAM-- I WAS EXCITED!

COME ON.

IT'S SNOW.

YOU DON'T GET SNOW IN THE U.K. WE DON'T GET MUCH SNOW.

CERTAINLY WHERE I COME FROM, IN THE SOUTH, NO, WE DON'T.

BUT I WASN'T EXPECTING THIS.

I WASN'T EITHER, BUT WHEN I SAW IT, IT FILLED ME WITH JOY.

I GO BACK TO BEING 10 YEARS OLD AGAIN, WHERE THERE'S NO SCHOOL.

HA HA.

BUT OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE SCHOOL TODAY, AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT DOESN'T AFFECT THE ANIMALS AT ALL.

NO.

I MEAN, THIS IS JUST A SMATTERING OF SNOW, ISN'T IT?

THEY GET UP TO 100 INCHES IN SOME PARTS OF NEW ENGLAND THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE WINTER.

SO THEY'RE USED TO IT, BUT THEY'RE STILL BUSY PREPARING FOR THAT WINTER HERE.

LOOK, A CHIPMUNK STUFFING ITS CHEEKS.

GREY SQUIRRELS COMING IN TO ARGUE ABOUT THE FOOD.

THAT IS INCREDIBLE.

AND SO, WE ACTUALLY ARE CAPTURING THIS WITH ALL OF OUR LIVE REMOTE CAMERAS AS WELL.

WE'VE GOT 17 CAMERAS OUT IN THE WOODS.

WE CAN GO TO THE-- WOW.

LOOKS LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF ACTION COMING HERE NOW.

YEAH, LOOK AT THAT.

WE'VE GOT A RACCOON ON THE PICNIC TABLE, FILLING ITSELF THERE WITH A PUMPKIN BEHIND.

HA HA HA!

WOW!

NOW LOOK AT THAT.

WE'VE GOT A FLYING SQUIRREL AS WELL.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.

A FLYING SQUIRREL?

THAT'S JUST OUTSIDE OUR CABIN, WHERE WE ARE, SAM.

YOU CAN SEE THE LIGHTS OF THE CABIN BEHIND.

NEW HAMPSHIRE HAS FLYING SQUIRRELS?

FLYING SQUIRRELS.

WHOA!

THERE HE GOES!

AND IT JUST FLEW.

OF COURSE, THESE AREN'T THE ONLY ANIMALS WE'VE GOT HERE.

THERE'S BEEN A WHOLE RANGE OF SPECIES THAT WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT ALREADY THIS WEEK, AND ONE OF THEM--WOW.

I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.

I WAS VERY EXCITED TO SEE THIS--A BEAR.

NO LESS THAN A BEAR TURNED UP ON ONE OF OUR CAMERAS IN FRONT OF THE PICNIC TABLE.

THAT'S A HUGE BEAR.

SUPERB.

LOTS OF COLORFUL BIRDS AS WELL IN THE WAY IN THE FORM OF THIS CARDINAL HERE.

NOW, I KNEW I WAS GONNA SEE CHIPMUNKS, BUT I DIDN'T THINK I WAS GONNA SEE ONE EVERY TIME I LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW.

WE HAVE MILLIONS OF CHIPMUNKS.

THEY ARE EVERYWHERE.

BLUE JAYS AS WELL, OF COURSE.

PLENTY OF THOSE SQUAWKING ABOUT.

AND HERE WE ARE.

LOOK.

THERE'S ANOTHER ONE.

A FLYING SQUIRREL.

NOW I KNOW WHAT IT IS.

FINEST ANIMALS IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD.

AND WE'LL SEE THEM IN ACTION LATER IN THE PROGRAM.

OH, MY GOSH.

I HAVE TO ADMIT, THEY DON'T ACTUALLY FLY.

THEY'RE MORE OF A GLIDING SQUIRREL.

BUT THEY ARE SPECTACULAR.

WELL, WE HAVE GOT WILDLIFE COVERED IN THIS SHOW.

BUT WE'RE ALSO GONNA FOCUS ON THE PEOPLE.

LIKE I SAID BEFORE, THIS IS ABOUT AUTUMN AND THE CULTURE THAT COMES FROM IT, AND THERE'S SO MUCH THAT GOES ON ON HOW WE SAVOR, HOW WE ENJOY THIS TIME OF YEAR.

AND I REALLY WANTED CHRIS TO UNDERSTAND THE NEW ENGLAND THAT I WAS BROUGHT UP IN.

SO I THOUGHT, WHAT BETTER WAY TO SHOW HIM THAN GO ON A LEAF-PEEPING ROAD TRIP?

[MUSIC PLAYING] SAM: I'M TAKING CHRIS ON A SCENIC TOUR OF NEW HAMPSHIRE SO I CAN SHOW HIM THE MANY WONDERS THIS AREA HAS TO OFFER IN THE FALL, FROM MOUNTAIN ROADS FULL OF GORGEOUS FOLIAGE TO BEAUTIFUL COVERED BRIDGES...

THIS IS NOT OLD.

HA HA HA!

SAM: AND EVEN A PUMPKIN FARM.

CHRIS: YOU GUYS ARE OBSESSED WITH PUMPKINS.

[MUSIC PLAYING] WELL, I FEAR THAT I HAVEN'T IMPRESSED YOU AS MUCH AS I WANTED TO, AND I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM-- AN OLDER COUNTRY.

THE AUTHENTICITY OF YOUR HISTORY, OF YOUR DOMICILES ARE GREAT AND WELL-NOTED, BUT ONE THING WE DO HAVE IS SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU HAVE.

YOU HAVE WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, AND I WANT YOU TO MEET WHO WE CONSIDER THE BARD OF NEW ENGLAND.

OK.

I'M UP FOR THAT.

[MUSIC PLAYING] MOOSE CROSSING!

COME ON.

COME ON.

WE WANT TO SEE A MOOSE.

WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS AREA OF NEW ENGLAND IS THIS IS WHERE YOU REALLY SEE THESE VISTAS, THIS...THIS ROLLING CARPET OF COLOR THAT IS UNBROKEN, AND IT REALLY JUST...

IT TAKES YOUR BREATH AWAY.

BUT I CAN'T THINK OF SOMEWHERE IN THE U.K. WHERE I'VE SEEN THIS MUCH COLOR IN ONE PLACE.

IT JUST WOULDN'T HAPPEN, JUST LIKE FOURTH GEAR IS NOT HAPPENING.

THAT WAS SECOND.

OH, THERE IT IS.

HO HO HO HO HO.

OH, THAT HURT.

SORRY THERE.

OH, THAT HURT.

YEAH.

[MUSIC PLAYING] SAM: OUR JOURNEY IS ALMOST AT ITS END.

[MUSIC PLAYING] SO I'M HOPING THE HOME OF ONE OF AMERICA'S MOST BELOVED POETS, ROBERT FROST, WILL HELP CHRIS FALL EVEN MORE IN LOVE WITH NEW ENGLAND.

[MUSIC PLAYING] DO YOU KNOW THAT POEM "THE ROAD NOT TAKEN"?

I DON'T KNOW IT WELL, BUT I'VE HEARD OF IT.

THAT'S WHAT ROBERT FROST... THAT'S HIS MOST FAMOUS POEM.

YES.

YES.

IT'S ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS POEMS OF THIS COUNTRY, AND FOR A POET TO REACH THAT SORT OF STATUS, UM, IS REALLY RARE IN THIS COUNTRY.

IT'S MORE, I THINK, PREVALENT IN YOURS.

BUT ENOUGH CANNOT BE SAID ABOUT THE MAN ROBERT FROST.

HE IS NEW ENGLAND.

WHEN YOU READ A ROBERT FROST POEM AND LOOK OUT AT A VIEW LIKE THIS, IT'S...IT'S...YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT CAME FIRST, HIS WORDS OR THIS VIEW.

[MUSIC PLAYING] CHRIS: LOOK AT THAT.

YOU CAN'T STOP.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL, ISN'T IT?

[MUSIC PLAYING] I LOVE THE TIERS OF COLOR.

YOU'VE GOT ALL OF THE DARK PINES ON THE HORIZON.

THEN YOU'VE GOT THAT MELDING INTO ALL OF THOSE ORANGES THEN ANOTHER SWEEP OF DARK PINES AND THEN ALL THE YELLOWS IN THE FOREGROUND.

NOW YOU'RE GETTING LYRICAL AND ALL POETRY YOURSELF.

SEE?

IT'S INSPIRING YOU.

I LIKE POETRY VERY MUCH.

OK. GREAT.

BECAUSE "THE ROAD NOT TAKEN," THE VERY FIRST LINE OF THAT POEM IS "TWO ROADS DIVERGED IN A YELLOW WOOD," AND RIGHT NOW, WE'RE SEEING A YELLOW WOOD.

BUT WHAT REALLY MAKES THAT POEM STRONG IS THE VERY LAST STANZA, AND IT GOES, "I SHALL BE TELLING THIS WITH A SIGH "SOMEWHERE AGES AND AGES HENCE.

"TWO ROADS DIVERGED IN A WOOD, AND I... "I TOOK THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED BY, AND THAT HAS MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE."

IT'S HARD TO SAY THAT WITHOUT CRYING.

THAT JUST MADE A SHIVER RUN DOWN MY SPINE, HONESTLY.

WOW.

OK.

THE TREES AND THE LANDSCAPE ARE SPECTACULAR.

MM-HMM.

THE BRIDGE...A SHED OVER WATER I CAN DO WITHOUT.

THE PUMPKINS...

I LOVE YOUR FESTIVALS.

I LOVE THE ENTHUSIASM AND THE GUSTO.

BUT THAT POEM... THAT POEM JUST LIFTED MY HEART.

AMAZING.

THANKS FOR THE ROAD TRIP.

IF YOU'RE EVER IN ENGLAND..

I'LL GET TO DRIVE?

THAT WILL BE A GOOD IDEA.

I'LL GET A CAR WITH AN AUTO GEARBOX.

[MUSIC PLAYING] WELL, THINKING I COULD IMPRESS YOU WITH HOW OLD NEW ENGLAND IS, WAS JUST LIKE...

IT WAS A ROOKIE MISTAKE.

IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

BUT I FELT LIKE I BROUGHT THINGS BACK WITH ROBERT FROST.

I GOT YOU BACK.

YOU GOT ME BACK.

IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL POEM.

I'VE VERY MUCH FALLEN IN LOVE WITH THIS PART OF THE WORLD, AND IT ENCAPSULATES ALL OF THAT, AND I WAS ABSOLUTELY SPEAKING FROM THE HEART WHEN I SAID, YOU KNOW, A SHIVER RAN DOWN MY SPINE.

IT'S VERY, VERY MOVING.

WONDERFUL.

AND BEING ON THE PORCH, VERY, VERY SPECIAL INDEED.

WONDERFUL.

WELL, WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU AND HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT AUTUMN.

SEND US YOUR PICTURES, YOUR COMMENTS, YOUR...

YOUR...YOUR VIDEOS EVEN.

JUST PUT IT ON ON YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA.

USE THE HASH TAG #AUTUMNWATCHPBS, AND WE MAY BE EVEN... WE MAY BE EVEN TO USE IT ON THE AIR.

BUT LET'S GO BACK TO WHERE WE ARE, BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE WE'VE ESTABLISHED THAT WE ARE DEFINITELY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.

AND IF YOU LOOK, WE'RE SORT OF NOW ONLY IN THE CENTER OF NEW HAMPSHIRE HERE IN SQUAM LAKE, WE'RE ALSO IN THE CENTER OF NEW ENGLAND, AND THIS IS "AUTUMNWATCH NEW ENGLAND."

SO WE ARE GOING TO BE GOING AND SHOWING EVERY SINGLE STATE IN NEW ENGLAND AND HOW IT IS UNIQUE.

WE'VE GOT MAINE, OUR BIGGEST STATE, NEW HAMPSHIRE, VERMONT, MASSACHUSETTS, CONNECTICUT, AND RHODE ISLAND, ALL SIX STATES, AND AS YOU'VE POINTED OUT, THERE'S AN AMAZING AMOUNT OF DIVERSITY WITH THIS REGION.

YEAH, THERE IS A DIVERSITY OF HABITAT.

YOU'VE GOT THE COAST, OF COURSE.

YOU'VE GOT THE MOUNTAIN RANGES AND AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF WOODLAND HERE.

71,000 SQUARE MILES ACROSS ALL OF THESE STATES HERE, MUCH OF WHICH IS WOODLAND, AND THEREFORE HOME TO A GREAT RANGE OF ANIMALS, AND WE'VE BEEN CATCHING A GREAT LOOK AT THEM OVERNIGHT.

THIS IS ONE WE SAW THE OTHER NIGHT, SAM.

NOW, THIS IS PRETTY SPECIAL FOR ME TO SEE THIS.

THIS IS AN ANIMAL CALLED A FISHER.

IT'S...IMAGINE A GIANT WEASEL.

IT'S RELATED TO WEASELS AND OTTERS.

IT'S A MUSTELID, AND THEY ARE FEROCIOUS PREDATORS.

THEY'RE ABOUT CAT SIZE ACTUALLY, DOMESTIC CAT SIZE.

AND THEY'RE CALLED A FISHER, BUT THEY DON'T CATCH FISH AT ANY STAGE.

THAT COMES FROM THE OLD ENGLISH NAME, FITCH, WHICH WAS FOR POLECAT OR RELATED SPECIES.

BUT THEY WILL TAKE ON QUITE LARGE ANIMALS, PARTICULARLY THINGS LIKE PORCUPINES, SNOWSHOE HARES, AND THEY'RE GREAT AT CLIMBING, TOO.

BUT GETTING A VIEW OF A FISHER, I HAVE TO SAY, HEY, PRETTY SMART.

IS THAT A GOOD ONE?

ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE IMPRESSING THE NATURALIST.

I'M VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

AND THOSE BOULDERS, THOSE ROCKS SEEM TO BE A PRETTY POPULAR STOMPING GROUND FOR OUR ANIMALS.

YEAH, WE'VE HAD OTHER ANIMALS THERE.

WE'VE HAD AN OPOSSUM ON THERE AS WELL DURING THE NIGHT.

THESE ARE UNUSUAL IN SOME WAYS BECAUSE THEY'RE A MARSUPIAL ANIMAL.

MOST OF THE WORLD'S MARSUPIALS LIVE IN AUSTRALASIA.

BUT IN SOUTH AMERICA AND NORTH AMERICA, YOU HAVE A RANGE OF OPOSSUM SPECIES.

SO, THEY ARE QUITE... WELL, DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT TO HAVE HERE, AND THEY GIVE BIRTH TO AN ENORMOUS NUMBER OF YOUNG AS WELL.

SO, IS HE, LIKE, A COUSIN TO THE KANGAROO?

CAN WE SAY WE HAVE THAT?

YEAH, I GUESS YOU COULD SAY A VERY, VERY DISTANT COUSIN.

OK. AUSTRALIA IS PRETTY FAR FROM HERE.

SO THAT WORKS OUT.

AND OF COURSE, OUR PICNIC TABLE HAS PROVEN TO BE THE PLACE TO BE.

THERE IT IS DURING THE DAY.

WE'VE STREWN IT WITH BIRDSEED, SO WE'RE REALLY ATTRACTING A LOT OF WILDLIFE THERE.

YOU'VE GOT A WHOLE RANGE OF SQUIRRELS THERE-- CHIPMUNK, GREY SQUIRREL, AND RED SQUIRREL AT THE SAME TIME, BUT, OF COURSE, THAT'S NOT THE ONLY THING WE'VE BEEN SEEING.

WE'VE GOT PLENTY MORE COMING UP AS WELL.

WE'VE GOT RACCOONS.

AND WE'VE ALREADY SEEN QUITE A FEW RACCOONS, BUT LOOK AT THIS ONE.

THIS ONE'S BEING EXTRA ADVENTUROUS.

IT'S UP ON THE PICNIC TABLE.

AND WE'VE ALSO SECRETED A CAMERA INSIDE THE PUMPKIN SO WE CAN PEEP OUT ONTO THE TABLE.

BUT THE RACCOON FANCIES HIMSELF AS A CAMERAMAN.

HE'S CHECKING HIS FOCUS.

YEAH, WANTS TO ADJUST THE FOCUS OR CHANGE THE APERTURE THERE.

HE EVENTUALLY COMES OUT WITH A LITTLE BIT OF PUMPKIN.

FANTASTIC STUFF.

SO, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF CAMERAS OUT THERE, CAPTURING THE WILDLIFE, RIGHT?

LIVE CAMERAS, REMOTE CAMERAS.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE OUR OWN WILDLIFE CAMERAMAN, BOB POOLE.

HE IS OUT THERE IN THE DARK.

NOT A COZY FIRE IN SIGHT.

HOW ARE YOU DOING, BOB?

WHAT HAVE YOU GOT FOR US?

OH, WE'RE JUST DOING GREAT OUT HERE.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL NIGHT.

WE'VE GOT WILDLIFE ALL AROUND US.

BUT TONIGHT WE'RE AFTER SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL.

WE'RE AFTER OWLS, AND NOT JUST ANY OWL.

WE'RE AFTER BARRED OWLS, AND WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF THEM AROUND HERE BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN PICKING THEM UP IN OUR REMOTE CAMERAS.

AMAZING BEHAVIOR WE'VE GOT ALREADY.

HAVE A LOOK AT THIS CLIP.

OK.

THIS IS DURING THE DAYTIME, OF COURSE.

BUT THIS OWL IS JUST CHILLING OUT.

AND LOOK AT THIS.

WHOA.

LOOK AT THIS.

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL SHOT.

ISN'T IT AMAZING?

I MEAN-- OH!

WHOA!

NOW, THAT SQUIRREL IS A PRETTY BOLD SQUIRREL.

I'LL TELL YOU WHY.

BECAUSE THIS IS A FORMIDABLE PREDATOR FOR IT, AND THERE YOU SEE THAT SQUIRREL IS MOBBING THAT OWL BECAUSE THEY REALLY DON'T LIKE THEM, JUST LIKE BIRDS, SMALL BIRDS, A LOT OF THINGS WILL PESTER OWLS, TRYING TO GET THEM TO MOVE ON, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THAT SQUIRREL IS DOING.

PRETTY BOLD MOVE.

BUT I TELL YOU WHAT, YOU KNOW, WE KEEP LOOKING AROUND OUT HERE.

WE'RE REALLY HOPING TO FIND ONE OF THESE THINGS.

YOU KNOW, THEY HUNT AT NIGHT, LIKE THIS NOW.

BUT CHECK OUT THIS.

WE CAPTURED THIS EARLIER.

THIS IS A CLIP OF A NIGHTTIME HUNT.

CHECK IT OUT NOW.

WOW.

INCREDIBLE.

DID HE GET IT?

NOT THIS TIME.

YOU KNOW WHAT?

THAT JUST HAPPENS.

IT'S NOT...

IT'S NOT EASY, YOU KNOW.

IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT STUFF.

BUT THEY CATCH PLENTY, BELIEVE ME.

AND LIKE I SAID, THESE OWLS ARE ACTIVE DURING THE DAYTIME AS WELL.

VERY SPECIAL OWLS.

CHECK OUT THIS.

THIS IS AN AMAZING CLIP.

OK.

HE'S CAPTURED ONE, AND OUR REMOTE CAMERAS GOT IT.

LOOK AT THAT.

IT'S A VOLE.

AND...OOP.

DROPPED IT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S OK.

PICK IT UP NOW.

GET IT BY THE HEAD.

THAT'S WHAT THEY LIKE.

AND DOWN THE HATCH.

JUST LIKE THAT.

INCREDIBLE STUFF.

YEAH?

SO, WE'RE GONNA STAY OUT HERE.

WE'RE GONNA KEEP USING THIS AMAZING CAMERA.

ANY TIME WE SEE AN OWL, IT'S GONNA LIGHT UP.

BECAUSE IT'S A WARM-BLOODED ANIMAL, IT'S GONNA SHOW UP AS WHITE LIGHT.

AND WE'RE GONNA BE OUT HERE LOOKING FOR THEM, AND I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.

IF I DON'T FIND ONE SOON, I'M GONNA USE AN OLD TRICK TO MAKE SURE WE GOT ONE WHEN YOU COME BACK.

SO COME BACK TO US IN A LITTLE BIT.

BOB'S A TOP BLOKE, AND I KNOW IF HE'S GOT AN OLD TRICK, IT'S LIKELY TO WORK.

AND THERE ARE NO LESS THAN 11 SPECIES OF OWLS HERE IN NEW ENGLAND.

THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THAT WE ARE GONNA GET SOME GREAT VIEWS OF OWLS TONIGHT.

YEAH.

"AUTUMNWATCH" IS SO ABOUT THE WILDLIFE, BUT IT'S ALSO ABOUT THE CULTURE, TOO, AND RIGHT NOW, THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE SEASON ARE ALL THE AGRICULTURAL FAIRS THAT ARE GOING ON ACROSS THE UNITED STATES FOR THE LAST 200 YEARS.

WE'RE TRAVELING TO ONE RIGHT NOW.

THIS IS THE FRYEBURG FAIR.

THIS WAS A PICTURE TAKEN IN THE 1900'S, BUT THAT FAIR IS STILL A VIBRANT PART OF THAT SOCIETY TODAY.

[MUSIC PLAYING] 1851 WAS THE FIRST FRYEBURG FAIR.

168 YEARS LATER, WE'RE STILL GOING.

[MUSIC PLAYING] ENJOY THE FAIR, AND HAVE A GREAT DAY.

[MUSIC PLAYING] THE LIVESTOCK, THE LARGE ANIMALS IS THE BACKBONE OF THIS FAIR.

[MOO] WE HAVE 200 ACRES, 100 BUILDINGS, ABOUT 35 DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.

[MUSIC PLAYING] WOMAN: IT'S A VERY SENSORY FAIR.

THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT SMELLS.

THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT FOOD.

BUT IT'S A LOT ABOUT OUR HISTORY, OUR OWN PERSONAL HISTORY RIGHT HERE IN MAINE, A LOT ABOUT FARMING.

[MUSIC PLAYING] IT'S JUST A CELEBRATION.

IT'S REMAINED A CELEBRATION.

[MUSIC PLAYING] WE HAVE OVER 3,000 HEAD OF ANIMALS ON THE GROUNDS.

YOU NAME IT, IT'S HERE.

[MUSIC PLAYING] WE HAVE A BIG CROWD HERE AT TIMES.

WE'VE HAD AS MANY AS 60,000 PEOPLE IN ONE DAY.

ANNOUNCER: GREAT JOB.

LAST YEAR, WE HAD PEOPLE FROM ALL 50 STATES AND 17 COUNTRIES.

YOU'VE GOT TO DIE TO GET OUT OF A JOB HERE.

I'M 80 YEARS OLD.

I MIGHT NOT MAKE IT THROUGH THE DAY.

[HOOFBEATS] MY FAVORITE PART OF THOSE FAIRS ARE WHEN COWS WIN BEAUTY PAGEANTS, RIGHT?

THEY HAVE THAT BLUE RIBBON, AND YOU CAN TELL THE COW IS PROUD OF HIMSELF.

I JUST LOVE THAT.

WELL, FOOD, OF COURSE, IS A HUGE PART OF THE SEASON, SO TONIGHT WE HAVE VIVIAN HOWARD FROM "A CHEF'S LIFE" ON PBS.

AND YOU BELIEVE THAT MAPLE SYRUP IS NOT JUST FOR PANCAKES ANYMORE.

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

YOU KNOW, MAPLE SYRUP IS JUST A FORM OF SUGAR, LIKE, A REALLY FLAVORFUL, ROBUST, UNIQUE FORM OF SUGAR, AND I USE IT TO BALANCE ALL KINDS OF SALTY AND UMAMI FLAVORS.

UMAMI, WHICH IS SORT OF LIKE A SEAWEEDY, EARTHY FLAVOR?

IT'S...IT'S, UM...

IT IS THE FIFTH TASTE.

THE FIFTH TASTE?

SORT OF LIKE THE FIFTH BEATLE.

IT DOESN'T REALLY HAVE A MEANING.

I LOVE IT.

USE IT WHEREVER YOU NEED IT.

YOU USE IT WHENEVER YOU NEED IT, AND REALLY, MAPLE SYRUP FOR YOU IS THE MAGIC INGREDIENT OF ALL THESE DISHES RIGHT HERE.

SO TAKE US THROUGH EACH ONE AND HOW YOU'VE USED THAT INGREDIENT.

RIGHT.

SO WE HAVE ROAST CHICKEN HERE WITH A WARM MAPLE VINAIGRETTE.

AND BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE MY BREATH IN THE ROOM, YOU CAN TELL THAT IT NEEDS TO BE WARM.

AND THEN HERE WE HAVE SOME LITTLE VEGETABLE DUMPLINGS, AND THEY'RE SERVED WITH A MAPLE, SOY, AND LIME DIPPING SAUCE.

YOU'VE MIXED MAPLE SYRUP WITH SOY SAUCE.

OK.

SO YOU'VE SWEETENED IT UP.

YES.

LOTS OF TIMES, THOSE TYPES OF SAUCES WILL HAVE, LIKE, A CANE SUGAR.

SURE.

AND MAPLE IS JUST EASIER TO USE BECAUSE IT'S LIQUID AT ROOM TEMPERATURE.

NOW, IS IT GONNA GIVE IT A LITTLE BIT OF A THICKNESS?

WHAT WOULD YOU CALL THAT?

A VISCOSITY.

YES, IT WILL GIVE IT A NICE VISCOSITY.

AND THEN HERE WE HAVE A PEAR AND MAPLE SHRUB.

A SHRUB.

SO, A SHRUB IS ONE OF THESE THINGS...

IT'S A VERY OLD PREPARATION, BUT IT'S TRENDY NOW.

SO IT'S A...IT STARTS WITH ANY TYPE OF FRUIT.

WE HAVE PEARS HERE.

A SUGAR.

YOU CAN USE GRANULATED SUGAR.

WE'VE USED MAPLE SYRUP.

AND THEN A VINEGAR.

AND YOU LET THE PEARS AND WHATEVER AROMATICS YOU WANT MACERATE FOR ABOUT 24 TO 48 HOURS.

THEN STRAIN OFF THE SOLIDS, AND YOU'RE LEFT WITH A SUPER-FLAVORFUL, PUNCHY LIQUID THAT YOU CAN MIX WITH CLUB SODA, GINGER BEER, OR WE HAVE A LITTLE WHISKY HOT TODDY.

OH, REALLY?

SHOULD I BE STARTING TO DRINK ON LIVE TELEVISION?

OR JUST KEEP YOUR HANDS WARM, YOU KNOW.

OH, THAT'S A VERY GOOD IDEA.

RIGHT.

WELL, YOU CAN GET ALL THESE RECIPES RIGHT NOW ON PBS' WEBSITE.

AND YOU'VE CERTAINLY GIVEN US A GREAT IDEA OF WHAT WE CAN DO WITH MAPLE SYRUP, HOW IT CAN END UP, BUT HOW DOES IT BEGIN?

AND SURPRISINGLY, THAT BEGINNING ISN'T IN AUTUMN.

IT'S NOT HARVESTED IN AUTUMN BUT ACTUALLY IN EARLY MARCH, IN EARLY SPRING.

CHEERS.

THANK YOU.

[MUSIC PLAYING] SAM: LATE MARCH, AND IT'S THE HEIGHT OF THE MAPLE-TAPPING SEASON.

THE FLUCTUATING TEMPERATURES AT THIS TIME OF YEAR ARE THE TRIGGER FOR THE SAP TO RUN, PRODUCING ENOUGH TO BE HARVESTED.

BRAD PRESBY COMES FROM A LONG LINE OF MAPLE SYRUP PRODUCERS THAT STRETCHES BACK FIVE GENERATIONS.

WITHOUT THE MAPLE TREE, YOU DON'T HAVE THE MAPLE SYRUP.

SO MAPLE TREES ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO US.

IN THE UNITED STATES, MAPLE IS A BIG, MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR OPERATION.

THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.

SAM: TRADITIONALLY, EACH TREE WOULD BE INDIVIDUALLY TAPPED, ALLOWING THE SAP TO DRIP OUT.

HOWEVER, WITH THE SCALE OF MODERN MAPLE TAPPING, NEW TECHNIQUES HAVE EVOLVED.

BRAD: FIRST OF ALL, WE LAY ALL THESE LINES OUT.

UP IN THIS AREA, WE'VE GOT ABOUT 12 MILES OF THIS TUBING YOU'RE LOOKING AT.

EACH TREE, WE'VE GOT A TAP RIGHT THERE.

IN THIS AREA, WE'VE GOT RIGHT AROUND A THOUSAND TAPS IN HERE.

YOU CAN'T TAP THEM TOO HARD.

YOU DON'T WANT TO TAP THEM TOO SOFT.

YOU WANT TO GET THEM JUST RIGHT.

YOU'LL HEAR THAT PLUNK, PLUNK, AND THAT'S WHEN YOU'RE THERE.

SO, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE HAVE A VACUUM PUMP DOWN BELOW, AND THAT LEAVES A SLIGHT VACUUM ON THE TREES.

THAT WILL HELP SUCK THE SAP OUT OF THE TREES.

IF WE'RE LUCKY, WE'LL SEE THAT SAP DRIZZLE RIGHT OUT REAL QUICK, AND THAT... THAT'S PROBABLY THE GREATEST THRILL WE GET, WHEN YOU SEE, ALL OF A SUDDEN, BOOM, OUT BUBBLES ALL THIS SAP, AND YOU GO, "WOW!"

IT'S FUN TO SEE IT DROP DOWN THE LINES.

SAM: ONCE THE SAP IS COLLECTED, IT'S PROCESSED IN THE SUGAR HOUSE.

[MUSIC PLAYING] TO CREATE THE SYRUP, 40 GALLONS OF SAP ARE NEEDED TO MAKE JUST ONE GALLON OF THE SAPPY DELIGHT.

THIS IS WHERE THE SKILLS ARE THE SUGAR MAKER ARE KEY.

BY GENTLY BOILING THE SAP, WATER EVAPORATES TO CREATE THE RIGHT CONSISTENCY.

IF THE SYRUP IS TOO WATERY, IT MAY SPOIL.

TOO THICK, AND IT WILL CRYSTALLIZE.

FOR BRAD, THIS KNOWLEDGE HAS BEEN PASSED DOWN THROUGH HIS FAMILY FOR 130 YEARS.

BRAD: JUST BEFORE MY GRANDFATHER DIED, HE CAME UP TO ME, AND HE SAID, "PLEASE DO US A FAVOR AND KEEP THE TRADITION GOING."

SAM: BRAD HOPES TO PASS HIS PASSION AND KNOWLEDGE ON TO THE NEXT GENERATION.

BRAD: IT'S SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

YOU GET IT IN YOUR BLOOD, AND IT'S HARD TO EXPLAIN UNLESS YOU'RE UP HERE AND YOU'RE IN AN AREA LIKE THIS.

THERE'S NO ONE AROUND.

YOU LOOK OFF, AND YOU CAN SEE THE VIEWS.

SOME DAYS IT'S SO BRIGHT, IT'S JUST ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.

BRAD.

BRAD, I LOVED HEARING ABOUT YOUR FAMILY FARM.

THAT WAS A BEAUTIFUL STORY, AND YOU EVEN BROUGHT A BOILING POT FROM YOUR GREAT-GREAT-GRANDFATHER.

HE USED TO USE THAT?

YES, I DID.

THIS IS A POT THAT WAS USED FOR MAKING MAPLE CREAM, MAPLE SUGAR, AND MAPLE CANDY.

ALL THE GOOD THINGS.

YES.

VERY MUCH SO.

SO, HOW DO YOU GRADE MAPLE SYRUP?

WHAT IS YOUR PROCESS?

WELL, IT'S THE SAME PROCESS THAT MOST SUGAR MAKERS USE.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE A MODERN ONE, BUT THIS IS THE MOST COMMON ONE WE USE.

THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.

SEE THAT?

THIS IS GOLDEN DELICATE, AMBER RICH, AND DARK ROBUST.

AS IT GOES DOWN AND GETS DARKER, IT'S MORE STRONGER IN FLAVOR, HENCE THAT'S WHAT IT SAYS IN THAT.

SO WHAT WE DO IS WE ACTUALLY TAKE A BOTTLE LIKE THIS.

WE'LL TAKE A SAMPLE.

WE PUT IT IN THE MIDDLE, AND WE HOLD IT UP TO THE LIGHT, AND WE TRY TO SEE WHICH ONE IT'S CLOSEST TO.

OK?

IN THIS CASE, THIS IS A DARK ROBUST.

OK?

SO, ALL OF THEM ARE GRADE "A."

ALL ARE GRADE "A."

BUT THEY HAVE DIFFERENT... WELL, YOU SAY AMBER.

AND IT'S ALL BASED ON THE COLOR.

IT'S THROUGH THE COLOR.

THAT'S HOW YOU CAN TELL WHAT...HOW STRONG THE MAPLE FLAVOR IS GOING TO BE.

I SEE.

AND SO THE COLOR AFFECTS THAT...THAT ROBUSTNESS.

SO THE ROBUST, THE DARK ROBUST IS THE STRONGEST MAPLE FLAVOR.

THAT'S RIGHT.

WELL, ACTUALLY, WE HAVE VERY DARK.

VERY DARK?

OK.

VERY DARK.

YES.

AND I ACTUALLY BROUGHT SOME TODAY OF THE VERY DARK SYRUP.

LOVELY.

CAN WE START TASTING THIS NOW?

WE SURE CAN.

I LOVE THE WAY YOU SAY "DARK."

"DAK."

YEAH, YOU'RE GETTING THE REAL NEW ENGLAND ACCENT HERE, FOLKS.

"DAK."

I'D LOVE TO TRY THE DARK MAPLE SYRUP.

SO, WHAT SHOULD WE START WITH?

THE LIGHTER, I WOULD IMAGINE.

START WITH THE LIGHT.

THAT WILL GIVE YOU AN IDEA RIGHT THERE.

SHOULD WE SMELL IT?

ABSOLUTELY.

SWIRL IT AROUND?

LIKE A FINE WINE.

A VERY THICK ONE.

MMM.

THAT IS REALLY THICK.

YEAH, IT IS.

OH, THAT HIT THE SPOT, BRAD.

THANK YOU.

OH, WONDERFUL.

AND NOW, WHAT WOULD YOU USE THIS ON, VIVIAN?

WHAT WOULD YOU PUT THIS ON OR COOK?

SO, IF I WERE APPLYING HEAT, LIKE IN THE CASE OF THE MAPLE VINAIGRETTE, I WOULD USE SOMETHING LIKE THIS, BECAUSE ANY TIME YOU SUBJECT A SYRUP TO HEAT, IT'S GOING TO REDUCE DOWN AND GET STRONGER.

SUGARY.

SUGARY, MORE FLAVORFUL, THICKER, AND SO, BETWEEN THE TWO, I WOULD DEFINITELY USE THIS ONE TO COOK WITH.

OK. ALL RIGHT.

NOW WE'LL GO WITH THE DARKER.

AND WHICH ONE IS THIS?

THIS IS THE DARK ROBUST OR THE AMBER RICH?

THIS IS ACTUALLY VERY DARK.

VERY DARK.

VERY "DAK."

OH, VERY... HA HA HA!

AND THIS IS...

IT'S SO THICK.

[BUBBLING SOUNDS] I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU CAN DO THAT.

IT'S A LOT OF WINE TASTING IN MY LIFE.

OH, WOW!

THAT OPENS UP THE WHOLE MOUTH.

WOW.

THAT GOES RIGHT TO MY NOSE, TOO.

THAT'S PERFECT.

YOU CAN REALLY TASTE THE MAPLE IN THAT.

THIS IS WHAT I THINK OF AS, LIKE, MAPLE FLAVOR-- KIND OF CARAMEL, NUTTY.

THIS WOULD BE PANCAKE.

PANCAKE.

YES.

OOH, I LIKE THAT.

OR, LIKE, MAPLE SYRUP WITH A LITTLE BIT OF PANCAKE.

YES, THAT WOULD BE GOOD.

AND ALSO ON FRENCH TOAST AND ACTUALLY SOME PEOPLE USE IT IN LIQUORS.

OH, WELL, YEAH.

THEY'RE MY KIND OF PEOPLE.

WE'RE GOING TO.

YES, WE'RE GOING TO.

EXCELLENT.

THIS IS SO GOOD.

IS THERE... ARE THERE GOOD YEARS AND BAD YEARS, BRAD, WHEN IT COMES TO MAPLE SYRUP?

IS IT LIKE A WINE?

IT'S LIKE A WINE, YES.

WELL, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A GOOD YEAR OR A BAD YEAR, IT HAS TO DO WITH THE WEATHER, AND IF THE WEATHER IS NOT COOPERATIVE, THEN HENCE WE MIGHT MAKE LESS.

IN SOME YEARS, WE MAKE A LOT.

THIS LAST YEAR WAS EXTREMELY COLD.

SO IT WAS A LONG SEASON, ONE OF THE LONGEST ONES I THINK WE'VE HAD IN...

SINCE I'VE BEEN SUGARING.

WELL, I COULD NOT BELIEVE, FROM WHAT A COLD JOB YOU HAVE, IT COMES OUT LIKE THIS.

THAT JUST WARMS OUR TUMMY.

SO IT'S JUST SUCH A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU HERE.

I'M GONNA GIVE YOU BOTH A GRADE "A."

THANKS.

WINK, WINK, NOD, NOD.

AND ALWAYS COME BACK-- I'M SORRY TO BREAK UP THE SUGAR PARTY HERE.

HE'S GOING TO START TALKING ABOUT ANIMALS AGAIN.

I'M GONNA SAVE YOU ALL FROM THE DENTIST.

THERE ARE ANIMALS THAT HAVE SWEET TOOTHS, TOO.

YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE SQUIRRELS AND PORCUPINES, THEY GNAW THE BARK AT THIS TIME OF YEAR TO GET THE SUGARY SAP, MAKE A BIT OF A PEST OF THEMSELVES, TO BE QUITE HONEST WITH YOU.

BUT IF YOU WERE WATCHING LAST NIGHT, YOU'LL KNOW THAT WE WERE FOLLOWING THE FORTUNES OF A GROUP OF SQUIRRELS THAT WERE FEEDING UNDER A BIRD FEEDER ON AN OLD FARM UP IN MAINE.

WELL, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN ON THAT OLD HICKORY TREE AND THE LIGHT FADES?

[MUSIC PLAYING] CHRIS: AS NIGHT FALLS IN THIS MAINE GARDEN, A NEW CAST OF CHARACTERS TAKES CENTER STAGE.

[MUSIC PLAYING] THERMAL-IMAGING CAMERAS ALLOW A UNIQUE LOOK INTO THEIR SECRETIVE WORLD.

THESE SQUIRRELS HAVE A SUPERPOWER...

FLIGHT.

THE SPECIALLY ADAPTED MEMBRANE BETWEEN THEIR ARMS AND LEGS ACTS LIKE AN IN-BUILT HANG GLIDER, ALLOWING THEM TO SOAR OVER 30 METERS.

HUGE EYES PROVIDE FLYING SQUIRRELS WITH EXCELLENT NIGHT VISION, MEANING HITTING THEIR TARGET IS NO PROBLEM.

[MUSIC PLAYING] BUT HOLDING ONTO A SLIPPERY PLASTIC FEEDER, WELL, THAT'S ANOTHER MATTER.

[MUSIC PLAYING] BENEATH THE FEEDER, MICE FEAST ON WHAT THE SQUIRRELS DROP.

BUT WHEN YOU'RE ALSO FOOD TO MANY OTHER CREATURES, YOU CAN'T HELP BUT BE A LITTLE JUMPY.

SO, WHEN BIGGER ANIMALS ARRIVE, IT'S TIME TO SCAMPER.

WITHOUT THEIR DISTINCTIVE MARKINGS, IT CAN BE HARD TO RECOGNIZE THESE MISCHIEVOUS MAMMALS, BUT THEIR POINTY EARS AND LONG, BUSHY TAILS GIVE THEM AWAY.

[MUSIC PLAYING] RACCOONS.

IN FALL, THE YOUNGSTERS STICK BY THEIR MOTHERS, TRAVELING AROUND IN FAMILY FEEDING PARTIES AS THEY BUILD UP FAT.

[MUSIC PLAYING] A HARSH WINTER WILL SEND THEM INTO A DEEP SLEEP, IN WHICH THEY CAN LOSE AS MUCH AS 50% OF THEIR BODY WEIGHT.

SO GORGING THEMSELVES NOW WILL PAY DIVIDENDS DOWN THE LINE.

[MUSIC PLAYING] THEIR TACTILE HANDS CONTAIN 4 TIMES MORE SENSORY RECEPTORS THAN THEIR FEET, HELPING THEM TO FEEL OUT FOOD IN NEAR TOTAL DARKNESS.

[MUSIC PLAYING] LIKE ANY FAMILY, SQUABBLES SOMETIMES BREAK OUT OVER THE DINNER TABLE.

[RACCOONS SNARLING] BUT THEY DON'T LAST LONG.

A QUICK KISS, AND ALL IS FORGIVEN.

STOMACHS FULL, THEY'RE BACK OFF INTO THE NIGHT, LEAVING THE GARDEN AND THE BIRD FEEDER FOR THE NEXT VISITOR.

I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU, WHAT I LOVE ABOUT "AUTUMNWATCH" IS THE PERSPECTIVE THAT IT GIVES OF JUST ANIMALS THAT...

I'M GONNA BE REALLY HONEST WITH YOU, CHRIS.

I'VE NEVER REALLY CARED ABOUT RACCOONS.

RIGHT?

THEY'RE JUST, LIKE, THE ANIMAL THAT GETS INTO MY TRASH, AND NOW MY NEIGHBORS KNOW I DRINK TOO MUCH RED WINE, BUT, LIKE...LIKE, YOU MAKE ME CARE.

I'M CARING ABOUT THOSE RACCOONS.

YOU'RE GONNA CARE ABOUT ONE NOW, BECAUSE WE CAN SWITCH OUR CAMERA TO THIS, AND LOOK, THERE IS A FLYING SQUIRREL.

AND THERE, IN THE BOTTOM LEFT-HAND SIDE OF THE SCREEN, ARE YOU AND I.

THERE WE ARE.

HERE WE ARE!

THAT'S US.

THAT'S GREAT.

THE LIVE SQUIRREL IS WATCHING ON.

SO, THAT'S HANGING ON THE BIRD FEEDER RIGHT ALONGSIDE THE DECK HERE AT THE BACK OF THE CABIN WHERE WE ARE.

AND LIKE I SAID, I NEVER KNEW NEW HAMPSHIRE HAD FLYING SQUIRRELS.

SO, THEY'RE NOT IN THE DAY, RIGHT?

NOT ONLY THAT.

NOT ONLY THAT.

WE CAN GO TO ANOTHER LIVE CAMERA NOW.

THIS IS WHAT WE'RE CALLING OUR CARNIVORE CAM, AND IF WE CUT TO THAT LIVE NOW, WE'VE GOT LIVE A COYOTE FEEDING HERE.

THIS IS LIVE.

IT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

NOW, WHAT IS HE LOOKING FOR?

SO, BASICALLY, WHAT WE'VE GOT HERE IS THE U.S.

FISH AND GAME GAVE US A DEER CARCASS THAT WASN'T FIT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION, AND WE LAID IT OUT ON THE EDGE OF THE WOOD.

AND REMEMBER, WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS IN TOTAL DARKNESS.

SO THE COYOTE IS IN DARKNESS.

AND THE ANIMALS HAVE BEEN FEEDING ON THIS CARCASS FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS, AND THEREFORE I'VE BEEN WATCHING THEM.

I KNOW THAT THIS IS THE LARGE DOMINANT ADULT COYOTE IN A GROUP OF AT LEAST THREE.

WE KNOW THAT WE'VE GOT TWO CUBS THAT HAVE BEEN VISITING THIS CARCASS AS WELL.

BUT LISTEN.

LET'S HAVE A LISTEN, BECAUSE YOU CAN HEAR HIM OR HER JUST TRYING TO GET THE LAST BITS OF MEAT OFF OF THIS CARCASS.

THERE WE ARE.

YEP.

YEP.

HE FOUND MORE.

LISTEN.

LISTEN.

[CHEWING SOUNDS] SO, THEY'VE BEEN FEEDING ON THE CARCASS FOR ABOUT THE LAST THREE DAYS, AND THEY'VE REDUCED IT TO PRETTY MUCH ALL BONES, BUT DO YOU SEE THE WAY IT'S USING THE SIDE OF ITS MOUTH THERE, SAM?

HE'S STILL GETTING STUFF OFF THE BONE.

YEAH.

HE'S JUST TRYING TO REMOVE THE LAST SLIVERS OF MEAT FROM THIS BONE.

NOT THE ONLY ANIMAL THAT WE'VE SEEN ON THE CARCASS, BECAUSE BEFORE THE COYOTES ARRIVED, WE HAD THIS LITTLE CHAP COMING IN.

THIS IS A GREY FOX, MUCH, MUCH SMALLER THAN THE COYOTE.

AND HERE YOU CAN SEE THE CARCASS WAS COMPLETE AT THIS STAGE, AND THIS MEANT THAT THE LITTLE FOX WAS STRUGGLING TO BREAK THROUGH THE HIDE.

WHAT WE NORMALLY SEE AT A CARCASS IS A SUCCESSION OF ANIMALS COMING.

SOMETIMES YOU NEED THE LARGER ONES TO BREAK IT OPEN SO THE LITTLE ONES CAN ACTUALLY GET ANY FOOD.

SO HERE IT'S HAVING A GOOD TUG, BUT THERE AGAIN, YOU SEE IT'S USING THE SIDE OF ITS MOUTH THERE.

IT'S LIKE HOW I USE THE SCISSORS SOMETIMES OR HOW I SEPARATE MEAT OR, LIKE, FILLET A FISH.

IT'S SHEARING.

THERE WE ARE.

IT HAS A LITTLE TUG, BUT IT DOESN'T GET TOO MUCH AWAY.

NOW, I CAN SHOW YOU HERE THE SKULLS OF BOTH OF THESE ANIMALS.

SO, HERE'S THE GREY FOX SKULL, AND YOU SEE IT'S GOT THAT CHARACTERISTIC CANINE TEETH THERE.

IT IS A PREDATOR, SO IT WOULD USE THAT TO GRAB AND HOLD ONTO ITS PREY.

BUT WHAT WE'VE SEEN IT USING NOW ARE THESE TEETH HERE, WHICH WE USED TO CALL CARNASSIAL TEETH, AND THEY'RE VERY SHARP-EDGED, TRIANGULAR TEETH, AND THEY'RE USED FOR SHEARING MEAT, FOR CUTTING, JUST LIKE A PAIR OF SHEARS, A PAIR OF SCISSORS, AND, OBVIOUSLY HERE, THE COYOTE SKULL IS RELATIVELY SMALL, AND ITS JAWS THEREFORE ARE NOT THAT STRONG.

BUT IF WE SWAP THIS FOR THIS ONE, WHICH IS-- SORRY.

THIS IS THE COYOTE SKULL.

THAT'S THE FOX SKULL.

WE SEE THE SAME SORT OF TEETH HERE.

SO WE'VE GOT THESE LARGE INCISORS, BUT LOOK, EXACTLY THE SAME DOWN HERE.

YOU'VE GOT THOSE CUTTING TEETH.

A FEW MOLARS AT THE BACK FOR...FOR GRINDING, BUT MAINLY, OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A MEAT-EATING ANIMAL.

ONE DIFFERENCE IS THAT, ON THE TOP OF THIS SKULL, YOU'VE GOT WHAT WE CALL THE SAGITTAL CREST HERE, AND THIS IS A MUSCLE-ATTACHMENT POINT.

SO THE MUSCLE GOES OVER HERE AND ATTACHES TO THIS PART OF THE JAW, AND THIS GIVES THE COYOTE A MUCH STRONGER BITE, OF COURSE, AND IT IS, OF COURSE, A MUCH LARGER ANIMAL.

SO, ALTHOUGH THEY'RE SUPERFICIALLY SIMILAR, THEY ARE, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT IN THEIR...

IN THEIR PURPOSES, AS IT WERE.

NICE TO SEE THAT.

IT IS.

SO, WE'VE BEEN SPENDING TIME WITH THE COYOTE AND THE FOX.

BUT THE BIG MEAT-EATERS AREN'T THE ONLY ONES WHO HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE FOR THE WINTER.

[MUSIC PLAYING] CHRIS: BACK IN LATE SUMMER, THERE WERE 6 BILLION TREES IN FULL BLOOM, BUT THESE LEAVES ARE IN A FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL.

THOUSANDS OF SPECIES OF CATERPILLAR BATTLE WITH THE FOREST AT THIS TIME OF YEAR.

[MUSIC PLAYING] YES, THEY'RE LIVING THE HIGH LIFE, BUT THEIR GLORY DAYS ARE NUMBERED.

[MUSIC PLAYING] FALL'S GRIP IS TAKING HOLD.

[MUSIC PLAYING] AND IT'S A RACE AGAINST TIME TO DEVOUR AS MUCH ENERGY AS POSSIBLE BEFORE STORES RUN OUT FOR GOOD.

[MUSIC PLAYING] AND THE CHANGE IN COLOR POSES ANOTHER PROBLEM.

WITH THE WORLD TRANSFORMING AROUND THEM, IF THE CATERPILLARS DON'T ADAPT, THEY'LL STICK OUT LIKE A SORE THUMB.

[MUSIC PLAYING] A GREEN OAK DAGGER HAS A CLEVER SOLUTION.

[MUSIC PLAYING] AS IT GROWS, IT TAKES ON THE COLOR OF ITS FOOD.

CHANGING ITS CAMOUFLAGE TO MATCH THE LEAVES THAT IT EATS.

MEANWHILE, THE RED-WASHED PROMINENT'S JAGGED OUTLINE BLENDS IN SEAMLESSLY WITH THE EDGES OF DYING LEAVES, ALLOWING IT TO FEED WITHOUT BEING SPOTTED.

BUT WHERE CAMOUFLAGE FAILS, BOLDNESS PREVAILS.

GAGGLES OF GREY-PATCHED PROMINENTS GOBBLE IN PLAIN SIGHT, THEIR YELLOW, BLACK, AND GRAY UNIFORMS WARNING PREDATORS OF POISONS WITHIN.

THE SPINY OAK SLUG CATERPILLAR STANDS OUT EVEN MORE, AND FOR GOOD REASON.

ITS BARBED SPINES ARE PACKED WITH A PAINFUL STING TO KEEP BIRDS AT BAY.

AS FALL MARCHES ON, FOOD SUPPLIES APPROACH ROCK-BOTTOM, AND IT'S TIME TO PREPARE FOR THE WINTER.

[MUSIC PLAYING] MANY GEOMETRID SPECIES CHOOSE TO STICK IT OUT AS CATERPILLARS.

THEY SIT TIGHT THROUGHOUT THE WINTER, FREEZING AND THAWING AS THE TEMPERATURE CHANGES, TWIGS IN SUSPENDED ANIMATION.

[MUSIC PLAYING] [BIRDS CHIRPING] [MUSIC PLAYING] FOR OTHER SPECIES, THE APPROACH OF WINTER MEANS IT'S TIME TO PUPATE AND BECOME A CHRYSALIS.

SOME MIGRATE TO THE FOREST FLOOR TO FIND A HIDEOUT AMONGST THE LEAVES.

BUT THE SPICEBUSH SWALLOWTAIL BECOMES A LEAF INSTEAD.

SEEKING OUT THE END OF A BRANCH, IT BECOMES A TOUGH-SKINNED CHRYSALIS THAT GRADUALLY FADES TO BROWN.

[MUSIC PLAYING] WITH SUCH AN IMPRESSIVE ARRAY OF COPING MECHANISMS FOR THE SEASONAL CHANGES IN NEW ENGLAND, YOU HAVE TO ADMIRE THE CLEVERNESS OF OUR CATERPILLARS.

[BIRD SQUAWKING] I'M VERY PLEASED TO SAY WE'RE JOINED NOW BY A CATERPILLAR EXPERT, SAM JAFFE, FROM THE CATERPILLAR LAB IN MARLBOROUGH IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.

IT'S A NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT'S DESIGNED TO INSPIRE PEOPLE TO GET INTO NATURE, AND IF SAM'S PICTURES ARE ANYTHING TO GO BY, THEY'RE GOING TO INSPIRE A LOT OF PEOPLE.

THEY'RE GREAT PHOTOGRAPHS, REALLY, REALLY GOOD.

THANK YOU, SAM, FOR COMING ALONG.

THANK YOU.

YEAH.

SO, WE LIKE TO INSPIRE, AND WE LIKE TO SURPRISE PEOPLE WITH WHAT'S AROUND THEM.

SO I'M HOPING TO DO THAT TONIGHT.

I BROUGHT, I THINK, ONE OF THE MORE SURPRISING CATERPILLARS THAT'S ACTIVE THIS TIME OF YEAR, THE TWIG-MIMIC GEOMETRID.

SO, THESE TWIG DISPLAYS ARE ACTUALLY COVERED IN CATERPILLARS.

AND I WANTED YOU TO MAYBE TRY AND FIND SOME.

I MEAN, WHEN I SAW THIS ON THE FILM, I...I JUMPED.

IT WAS LIKE A MAGIC TRICK.

AND SO, I'M GONNA...OH, OK. ALL RIGHT.

I GOT HIM THERE.

YEAH.

IT'S MOVING FOR YOU A LITTLE BIT.

HE'S MOVING, YEAH.

OH, WOW.

HOW ABOUT DOWN OVER HERE?

LOOK AT THAT.

AND THERE'S ACTUALLY A THIRD ONE RIGHT THERE.

NO!

SO, THESE GUYS ARE ACTUALLY GONNA SPEND THE WINTER OUTSIDE.

UM, AND, YOU KNOW, IN THE FALL NOW, ALL THE LEAVES ARE FALLING DOWN.

THEY HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE THEM IN THE WINTERTIME.

SO THEY HAVE TO BE THE PERFECT TWIG MIMIC TO AVOID BIRDS.

AND THEY REALLY ARE.

IT'S AMAZING.

THEY'RE MASTERS OF DISGUISE.

BUT NOW, WHAT WILL THIS TURN INTO?

WELL, THIS BECOMES THE COMMON LYTROSIS MOTH, WHICH IS A REALLY BIG BARK-MIMIC MOTH.

THAT'S ACTIVE IN THE SPRINGTIME, SO SEPARATED BUT SIMILAR STRATEGIES.

WOW.

BEAUTIFUL.

I'VE ALSO GOT ANOTHER CATERPILLAR HERE, SAM WHICH OVERWINTERS NOT UP ON THE TREE, BUT DOWN ON THE GROUND.

THESE ARE WHAT WE CALL WOOLLY BEARS.

YEAH, THEY'RE CURLED UP AT THE MOMENT.

AND WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THAT, AS THE FALL PROGRESSES, THE WEATHER GETS COLDER, AND THEY DEHYDRATE A LITTLE BIT, AND THEY CONCENTRATE CERTAIN SUGARS IN THEIR HEMOLYMPH, WHICH IS THEIR BODY FLUID.

AND THIS MEANS THAT IT'S RELUCTANT TO FREEZE.

SO, THE TEMPERATURE CAN DROP BELOW ZERO DEGREES CENTIGRADE, AND THE CATERPILLARS WON'T FREEZE.

THEY'VE GOT THEIR OWN ANTIFREEZE, JUST LIKE THAT YOU MIGHT PUT IN A CAR.

AND THIS MEANS THAT THEY CAN GET DOWN INTO THE LEAF LITTER.

THEY'LL SURVIVE THESE COLD PERIODS.

THEY WAKE UP IN THE SPRING, AND THEN THEY'LL PRE... PUPATE INTO THE ADULT MOTHS.

THE COAT, I SHOULD TELL YOU, THIS LOVELY FURRY COAT HERE, THAT'S NOT ABOUT KEEPING THEM WARM.

SOME CATERPILLARS HAVE HAIRS LIKE THIS WHICH ARE IRRITATING OR DISTASTEFUL OR TOXIC.

THESE ONES ARE SIMPLY DRY.

I MEAN, THEY'RE NOT THE SORT OF THING YOU WANT TO STICK IN YOUR MOUTH, EVEN IF YOU'RE A RACCOON OR A BIRD.

NO, NO.

BUT THEY'RE VERY BEAUTIFUL.

WELL, NOT ALL OF OUR BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS ARE SPENDING THE WINTER AS CATERPILLARS LIKE THE TWIGS AND THE WOOLLY BEARS.

ACTUALLY, MORE OVERWINTER AS EGGS OR PUPAE OR EVEN ADULTS.

SO, I ACTUALLY BROUGHT AN OVERWINTERING ADULT BUTTERFLY.

SO, THIS TIME OF YEAR, THESE COMMA BUTTERFLIES ARE TRYING TO FIND THE PERFECT PLACE TO SORT OF TUCK THEMSELVES AWAY, MAYBE UNDER SOME BARK OR OFTEN IN PEOPLE'S WOODPILES.

SO PEOPLE WILL BRING IN WOOD FOR THEIR FIRE AND END UP WITH BUTTERFLIES FLYING AROUND THEIR HOUSE IN MIDWINTER.

SO, THEY JUST LOOK LIKE A DEAD LEAF THERE.

I WOULD HAVE...I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT WAS A DEAD LEAF.

SO, IT JUST PERFECTLY BLENDS INTO ITS ENVIRONMENT TO MIMIC WHATEVER WOULD HAVE BEEN THERE.

AND WE HAVE ANOTHER SORT OF SURPRISE GUEST HERE.

SO, THE MONARCH ALSO SPENDS THE WINTER MONTHS AS A BUTTERFLY.

BUT IT'S NOT AS TRUE A NEW ENGLANDER AS THE COMMA.

THIS IS SORT OF LIKE SO MANY GRANDPARENTS IN THE AREA.

IT FLIES SOUTH TO WARMER CONDITIONS.

[LAUGHTER] AND THEN WHAT IS HE DOING HERE?

WELL, THIS IS THE LAST ONE WE HAVE FOR THE YEAR.

SO HOPEFULLY, ON A WARMER DAY THAN THIS, WE'LL BE ABLE TO LET IT GO, AND IT'LL MAKE ITS WAY SOUTH.

OH, BEAUTIFUL.

FANTASTIC.

SAM, THANKS EVER SO MUCH FOR COMING IN.

BEAUTIFUL PHOTOGRAPHS, TOP INFORMATION.

WE LOVE THAT.

I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.

WHY DON'T WE GO BACK OUT INTO THE WOODS AND SEE HOW BOB IS GETTING ON WITH HIS OWL SAFARI.

[HOOTING] I BET YOU THINK I'M MAD, BUT THAT'S ACTUALLY A TECHNIQUE THAT WORKS REALLY WELL FOR BRINGING IN THESE BARRED OWLS.

AND, UM...YOU KNOW WHAT?

GARY'S RECORDED SOME OF THAT.

WE SHOULD HAVE A LISTEN TO IT, BECAUSE IT'S AN AMAZING SOUND.

HAVE A LISTEN.

[OWL HOOTING] IT SOUNDS A BIT LIKE "WHO COOKED FOR YOU?

WHO COOKED FOR YOU?"

PRETTY COOL, HUH?

WELL, I KNOW THIS WORKS BECAUSE I'VE BROUGHT THEM IN HERE BEFORE.

AND YOU KNOW, THE OTHER NIGHT, I HAD SUCH AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY.

I WAS OUT ON A, UM... WITH SOME OWL ENTHUSIASTS, AND WE WERE OUT DOING REAL SCIENCE.

THESE GUYS WERE OUT TO CATCH THOSE LITTLE SAW-WHET OWLS THAT YOU SAW IN THE STUDIO A LITTLE WHILE AGO.

IT WAS INCREDIBLE, EH, TO GET SO CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH THESE LITTLE OWLS, BUT THE THING IS THEY USED THE SAME TECHNIQUE FOR DRAWING THEM IN.

CHECK THIS OUT.

[SQUEAKING] THIS IS SUPER-EXCITING.

WE'RE GOING DOWN TO GET AN OWL THAT'S IN THE MIST NET HERE.

OH, IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

IT'S JUST FANTASTIC TO BE THIS CLOSE.

WELL, SO NOW WE HAVE A LITTLE OWL STEIN, AND THESE ARE DESIGNED SO WE CAN SAFELY TRANSPORT THEM BACK TO OUR RESEARCH STATION.

BUT IS HE REALLY GONNA FIT IN HERE?

I MEAN, THOSE CANS ARE KIND OF SMALL.

YEAH.

SURPRISINGLY, THIS GUY IS MOSTLY FEATHERS, AND SO HE'LL FIT IN THERE NICE AND SNUGLY.

I KNOW, BUT HIS HEAD IS SO BIG.

YEAH.

SO, IF YOU TAKE YOUR FINGER AND YOU PUT IT IN THE BACK... KIND OF IN THE BACK OF THE NECK, YOU'LL SEE JUST HOW MUCH IS ACTUALLY JUST FEATHER BEFORE YOU GET TO THE NECK.

OH, WOW.

OH, MY GOODNESS.

THAT'S AMAZING!

WHAT A HEAD OF HAIR HE'S GOT.

PUT HIM IN?

SURE.

OH, LOOK AT THAT.

IS HE OK RIGHT THERE?

HE'S GREAT.

YEAH.

IT'S ACTUALLY A PERFECTLY COMFY...COMFY FIT.

LOOKS LIKE WE'VE GOT ROOM FOR THREE MORE.

YEAH.

YOU COULD HAVE A 4-PACK OF OWLS.

RIGHT.

SHOULD WE GO BAND HIM?

LET'S HEAD BACK.

ALL RIGHT.

AND THE NUMBER IS GONNA BE 1104.

OK.

THE LENGTH OF THE WING PLUS THE WEIGHT CAN TELL US WHETHER THE BIRD IS MALE OR FEMALE.

140, IT LOOKS LIKE.

140 MILLIMETERS.

YEP.

YOU WANT TO WRITE THAT DOWN?

95.3.

THIS IS A FEMALE.

WE'RE GONNA RELEASE THIS OWL NOW.

OK. GREAT.

THAT IS REALLY SOMETHING.

WHAT AN EXPERIENCE.

THAT WAS IT.

THAT WAS FUN.

THAT WAS GREAT.

THANK YOU.

NICE JOB.

WOW.

WHAT AN EXCITING NIGHT.

ABSOLUTELY.

SO THE...

SO THE TECHNIQUE WORKS.

THEY GOT 22 OWLS THAT NIGHT.

AMAZING.

THEY'RE DOING GREAT WORK, BECAUSE THE BANDING HAS TAUGHT THEM SO MUCH STUFF.

THEY KNOW NOW THAT THOSE OWLS GO ALL THE WAY TO WISCONSIN TO THE WEST AND CLEAR SOUTH AS KENTUCKY.

AMAZING FOR THAT LITTLE OWL TO TRAVEL THAT MUCH DISTANCE.

WELL, I'M NOT HAVING ANY LUCK TONIGHT YET, BUT I'M NOT GIVING UP.

I'M GONNA KEEP TRYING.

SO HERE WE GO.

[HOOTING] HA HA HA.

THAT WAS FANTASTIC, BOB.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE CALL.

THAT REALLY NAILED THAT SEGMENT THERE.

WELL, WE HAVE AN OWL OF OUR OWN HERE.

IT COMES TO US FROM THE SQUAM LAKE'S NATURAL SCIENCE CENTER.

WHAT HAVE WE GOT THERE, CHRIS?

THIS IS A GREAT HORNED OWL.

GREAT HORNED OWL.

IT'S THE LARGEST OWL IN THE AMERICAS.

YOU GET THEM ALL THE WAY FROM SOUTH AMERICA RIGHT UP TO CANADA AS WELL.

SO THEY'RE A VERY SUCCESSFUL OWL.

THEY SURVIVE IN A GREAT RANGE OF HABITATS, AND THEY'VE GOT A VERY BROAD DIET, DEPENDING ON THE SEX AND SIZE OF THE OWL, AND THAT VARIES BETWEEN THE RACES.

SO, THIS IS A RELATIVELY SMALL ONE.

IF I OPEN THE WINGS... YOU CAN JUST SEE THE WINGS THERE.

[HOOTS] OH, MY GOODNESS.

WOW!

DIDN'T LIKE HIS WINGS BEING OPENED.

SMALL COMPLAINT FROM THE OWL.

DO YOU SPEAK OWL?

WELL, IF I UNDERSTOOD THAT BIT.

BUT THEY CAN HAVE A WINGSPAN OF UP TO ABOUT FIVE FEET.

SO THIS IS A RELATIVELY SMALL ONE.

PRINCIPALLY A MAMMAL FEEDER, I'VE GOT TO SAY.

SMALL MAMMALS IN THE MAIN, ALTHOUGH I HAVE HEARD SOME VERY FANCIFUL STORIES ABOUT THEM KILLING BOBCATS, BUT I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE ABOUT THAT, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

BUT WHAT ABOUT HIS FACE, SAM?

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS?

TURN AROUND HERE.

LET'S HAVE A LOOK.

I MEAN, HE'S STUNNING, AND I KNOW HE HAS THAT SORT OF ROUND FACE, AND ISN'T THAT SORT OF LIKE A SATELLITE DISH?

IT IS.

IT'S EXACTLY LIKE A SATELLITE DISH.

IF YOU TURN AROUND HERE, YOU SEE THAT THE EDGES OF THAT SATELLITE DISH ARE THE EDGES... ARE LIKE THIS PART OF OUR EAR.

SO IT'S LOTS OF SOFT FEATHERS HERE TO KEEP THE FLIGHT SILENT, BUT THOSE ARE VERY STIFF FEATHERS AROUND THE EDGE OF THE EAR THERE.

THEY CAPTURE THE SOUND AND CHANNEL IT DOWN INTO TWO HUGE EARS.

AND SOUND IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR OWLS.

THEY HAVE FANTASTIC VISION, MASSIVE EYES TO LET LOTS OF LIGHT IN.

PRODUCE A VERY, VERY SHARP IMAGE AT NIGHT, MUCH BETTER THAN OUR NOCTURNAL VISION.

IT LOOKS LIKE THE CAMERA LENS.

WHEN YOU LOOK INTO THEIR EYES, THEY LOOK LIKE LARGE CAMERA LENSES, AND THE APERTURE IS JUST DIALED IN.

WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THAT THE FRONT PART OF THE EYE, THE BIT THAT WE CAN SEE, IS ABOUT THE SAME SIZE AS OURS, BUT IF WE DISSECT THE OWL AND LOOK AT THE BACK OF THE EYE, THE SCREEN, IF YOU LIKE, WHERE THE LIGHT IS PROJECTED BY THE LENS, IT'S MASSIVE.

IT'S MUCH BIGGER THAN OURS.

AND THEIR OPTIC NERVE IS ALMOST AS THICK AS MY LITTLE FINGER, THE BIT THAT GOES INTO THE BRAIN CARRYING ALL OF THAT INFORMATION TO PRODUCE THE IMAGE.

BUT YOU SEE, THESE HERE ARE NOT EARS AT ALL.

NO.

THESE ARE JUST THERE FOR DISPLAY.

OR SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT IN SOME OF THE SMALLER SPECIES OF OWLS, THAT THEY ARE THERE FOR CAMOUFLAGE PURPOSES.

BUT THEY'RE EXTRAORDINARY ANIMALS AND HIGHLY ACCOMPLISHED HUNTERS.

AND THE KEY THING IS THEY CATCH THEIR PREY BY SURPRISE.

SO AGAIN, IF I DO RISK ANOTHER COMPLAINT FROM THE OWL, I'LL GET THE...YOU KNOW.

THERE WE ARE.

THE WINGS ARE OPEN.

NOW, YOU CAN SEE THERE'S NO FLAPPING SOUND.

I'M INTIMIDATED.

I'M JUST GONNA BE REALLY HONEST WITH YOU.

THAT'S A PRETTY INCREDIBLE BIRD.

AND I THINK ACTUALLY I'M GOING TO INTERRUPT OUR OWL HERE AT THE MOMENT, SAM, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT BOB HAS FOUND AN OWL OUT IN THE WOODS.

WHAT HAVE WE GOT?

OH, LOOK AT THAT.

OK. THAT LOOKS LIKE A BARRED OWL, JUDGING BY THE HEAD SHAPE.

IT'S QUITE DIFFICULT BECAUSE WE CAN'T SEE THE MARKINGS.

REMEMBER, THIS IS A THERMAL CAMERA WE'RE LOOKING AT.

SO THE WHITE IMAGE THERE IS THE HOTTER PART OF IT.

SO YOU CAN SEE IT'S GOT A REALLY GOT FACE.

IT'S LOSING MORE HEAT THERE.

BUT JUDGING BY THE HEAD SHAPE HERE AND THE SHAPE OF THE BODY, I'D SAY THAT THAT WAS A... A BARRED OWL.

BUT IT'S GREAT THAT HE'S FOUND ONE OUT THERE.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND WHAT IS THAT OWL LOOKING FOR?

AND THEY'RE USING THEIR EYES, RIGHT, TO SEE ANY MOVEMENT?

YEAH.

LISTENING, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY, ALL OF THOSE MICE THAT ARE RUNNING AROUND ON THE DRY FOREST FLOOR ARE MAKING A LOT OF RUSTLING-LEAF NOISES.

AND THAT'S WHAT THESE THINGS ARE LISTENING FOR, THAT RUSTLING SOUND.

THEY'LL FLY CLOSER.

THEN THEY'LL SEE IT.

THEN THEY SWOOP DOWN SILENTLY, AND ALL OF THE KILLING IS DONE WITH THESE MASSIVE TALONS HERE.

HOW FAST DO THEY FLY?

I MEAN, I HEAR THEY'RE REALLY, REALLY FAST.

NO, NO.

THEY'RE RELATIVELY SLOW.

THEY DON'T NEED TO BE FAST, BECAUSE THEY'RE CAPTURING THEIR PREY ENTIRELY BY SURPRISE.

SO THEY'RE NOT LIKE A FALCON OR A HAWK, WHICH IS PURSUING THINGS.

WHEN THESE TALONS SINK INTO THE FLESH OF A JACKRABBIT, IT'S THE FIRST AND THE LAST THING THAT IT KNOWS ABOUT IT.

MY GOSH.

WELL, LUCKILY, THIS WASN'T THE ONLY BIRD I GOT TO SPEND TIME IN NEW ENGLAND WITH.

I GOT TO TRAVEL TO CONNECTICUT TO SEE A BEDTIME RITUAL LIKE NO OTHER.

[MUSIC PLAYING] [BIRDS CALLING] SAM: AT 400 MILES, THE CONNECTICUT IS NEW ENGLAND'S LONGEST RIVER.

IT FLOWS THROUGH FOUR OF ITS BEAUTIFUL SIX STATES BEFORE EMPTYING OUT INTO THE LONG ISLAND SOUND, WHICH IS JUST ABOUT 20 MILES DOWNRIVER FROM HERE.

NOW, I'VE COME TO THIS RIVER TO BE ON A TORNADO WATCH.

NOW, IT'S NOT THE TYPE OF TORNADO YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT.

WHAT I'M HERE TO SEE IS WHAT'S CONSIDERED TO BE A TORNADO OF BIRDS, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF TREE SWALLOWS THAT ALL FLY TOGETHER IN A TIGHT FORMATION, CREATING CONSTANTLY EVOLVING SHAPES.

IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE MAGNIFICENT.

I'VE NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE IN MY LIFE.

IT IS SOMETHING I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO SEE.

AND TODAY I GET TO WITNESS IT.

THERE'S A HUGE VARIETY OF BIRD LIFE ON THE RIVER, BUT THOSE FLYING IN TO TAKE THE SPOTLIGHT ARE ONE OF THE SMALLEST, THE TREE SWALLOW.

OK.

SO I BROUGHT A TRUSTY FIELD GUIDE HERE, AND IT SAYS THAT A TREE SWALLOW IS 5 TO 6 INCHES IN LENGTH.

IT HAS A STEELY BLUE-GREEN-BLACK ABOVE AND A CLEAR WHITE BELOW.

ITS VOICE IS A LIQUID TWITTER.

DOESN'T THAT SOUND WONDERFUL?

LET ME TELL YOU, THE MAN WHO WROTE THIS BOOK ACTUALLY SAID THAT SEEING THE TORNADOES OF TREE SWALLOWS WAS THE GREATEST AVIAN SPECTACLE HE HAD SEEN NOT JUST IN THE UNITED STATES, BUT THE ENTIRE WORLD.

SO I HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS.

AND I WON'T BE WATCHING ALONE.

KEEPING ME COMPANY IS MARK YUKNAT, A LOCAL WHO'S BEEN ENJOYING THIS SEASONAL SPECTACLE FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS.

MARK, YOU'VE HAD A FRONT-ROW SEAT TO THIS AMAZING PERFORMANCE.

AND IS IT LIKE A BROADWAY SHOW?

"IT'S PLACES, EVERYONE."

IT'S THE SAME SHOW EVERY SINGLE NIGHT?

IT'S NOT THE SAME SHOW EVERY NIGHT.

IT'S DEFINITELY DIFFERENT.

WEATHER, THE BIRDS, EVERYTHING IS DIFFERENT EVERY SINGLE NIGHT.

SO IT NEVER GETS OLD.

WHY IS THIS SPOT IN PARTICULAR REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US RIGHT NOW?

IT'S BECAUSE OF THE ISLAND THAT THEY'RE LANDING ON, WHICH IS RIGHT OVER HERE, AND IT'S COVERED IN A PLANT CALLED PHRAGMITES, A COMMON REED THAT MAKES IT VERY SAFE FOR THESE BIRDS TO LAND ON.

I LOOK FORWARD TO IT EVERY YEAR, THIS PARTICULAR SEASON.

SAM: WITH THE SCENE SET AND THE CLOUDS CLEARING, IT'S TIME FOR OUR PERFORMERS TO TAKE CENTER STAGE.

OH.

OK. NOW THE SKY IS BEGINNING TO FILL WITH BIRDS.

I MEAN, EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK.

JUST...THERE MUST BE THOUSANDS OF THEM IN THE AIR, AND THERE'S THIS ANTICIPATION BECAUSE IT FEELS LIKE A STORM IS GATHERING, BUT IT'S REALLY THE BIRDS.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL NIGHT.

I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER PLACE TO BE.

THERE'S A PEREGRINE COMING IN.

WHERE?

FROM THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE, GOING FROM THE RIGHT TO THE LEFT.

OH, YEAH.

WOW.

THAT JUST SPLITS THE GROUP, DOESN'T IT?

YEP, BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO BE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THAT GROUP.

YOU WANT TO BE ON THE INSIDE.

[MUSIC PLAYING] THEY'RE GOING DOWN.

OH, OH, OH, OH.

ARE THEY GOING DOWN ALREADY?

OH, YEAH, THEY ARE GOING DOWN.

OK. [MUSIC PLAYING] OH.

NICE.

SO, THAT'S THE FUNNEL.

WE'RE SEEING THE FUNNEL.

THAT IS INCREDIBLE.

I MEAN, THEY'RE, LIKE, POURING DOWN LIKE RAIN.

OH, MY GOODNESS!

IT'S JUST AMAZING.

UH!

AND IT'S JUST SWEEPING ACROSS.

OH.

AH!

LOOK AT THAT TORNADO!

AND THEY'RE GOING DOWN SLOWLY, AND THIS IS THEIR SORT OF BEDTIME DANCE.

ABSOLUTELY.

I NEED TO END MY DAY LIKE THIS.

-AND, UH...WOW.

-THEY'RE GONE.

-THAT'S IT?

-THAT'S IT.

-THEY'RE SLEEPING.

-THEY'RE ALL IN BED.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP.

YEAH.

GOOD NIGHT.

SEE YOU TOMORROW.

SLEEP TIGHT.

WHAT A SPECTACLE.

I KNOW.

WASN'T IT, THOUGH?

IT WAS LIKE SOMEONE BLEW A WHISTLE, AND THEY ALL JUST WENT DOWN, LIKE ON THEIR WORD.

A FANTASTIC NUMBER OF BIRDS IN ONE PLACE AT ONE TIME.

YEAH, I THINK HE SAID IT WAS AROUND 400,000.

YEAH, YEAH.

WELL, MAYBE 300,000.

I'M AMERICAN.

WE LIKE TO EXAGGERATE.

BUT I ASKED HIM, LIKE, HOW DO YOU COUNT BIRDS?

AND HE SAID, "WELL, IT'S EASY.

WE JUST COUNT THE WINGS AND DIVIDE BY TWO."

YEAH.

WE HAVE A SIMILAR SORT OF THING THAT HAPPENS IN THE U.K. WITH EUROPEAN STARLINGS.

AND WHEN THEY ALL GET TOGETHER IN LARGE NUMBERS, SOMETIMES HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS, WE CALL IT A MURMURATION.

A MURMURATION.

AND IF A PREDATOR COMES, THEY BUNCH VERY TIGHTLY AND PERFORM THOSE EXTRAORDINARY BALLETS, WHICH ARE FANTASTIC.

BUT, SAM, LOOK.

LET'S GO LIVE TO THAT CAMERA THAT WE'VE GOT OVER THERE AT THE MOMENT BECAUSE THE SQUIRRELS, THE FLYING SQUIRRELS ARE ON AND OFF OF IT ALL OF THE TIME.

THEY ARE EXTRAORDINARY ANIMALS.

THEY ONLY EVER COME OUT WHEN IT'S DARK.

THEY'RE STRICTLY NOCTURNAL, AND THEY'VE GOT HUGE EYES.

LOOK AT THAT!

OH!

LOOK AT THAT.

YOU SEE THE SIZE OF THE EYE?

THAT'S JUST LIKE THE OWL.

BECAUSE THEY'RE A NOCTURNAL ANIMAL, ANY AVAILABLE LIGHT THEY WANT TO GET INTO THAT EYE.

AND YOU CAN SEE THAT STRIPE RUNNING DOWN THE SIDE OF THE BODY.

THAT'S THE PATAGIUM.

THAT'S THAT MEMBRANE WHICH THEY STRETCH OUT TO GLIDE.

AND WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THAT THERE ARE TWO SPECIES OF AMPHIBIANS, THREE SPECIES OF REPTILE, AND SIX SPECIES OF MAMMAL THAT HAVE ALL EVOLVED GLIDING ACTIVITIES INDEPENDENTLY.

WHAT ABOUT THAT?

THAT IS INCREDIBLE.

WHAT A VIEW!

LIVE!

I'VE SEEN MORE FLYING SQUIRRELS IN ONE DAY THAN MY ENTIRE LIFE.

I APPRECIATE IT.

JUST TIME FOR A COUPLE OF PHOTOGRAPHS.

I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, WE OUGHT TO WELCOME OUR GUESTS IN.

OH, YEAH.

WE'D LIKE TO MURMURATE WITH OUR GUEST.

VIVIAN, BRAD.

OH, AND THEY'RE BRINGING COCKTAILS.

HERE WE GO.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ONE EACH.

ONE EACH.

THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH.

OK. WELL, LET'S HAVE A QUICK LOOK AT ONE OF THE PHOTOS.

THIS ONE IS FROM MORA CANTLIN IN VERMONT, AND SHE SENT THIS BEAUTIFUL PICTURE IN OF THE FALL COLORS THERE, VERY MUCH LIKE THE ONES THAT WE'VE GOT HERE.

AND THIS ONE FROM MORGAN KUHN AS WELL IN NEW YORK.

BEAUTIFUL PICTURE OF THE BARN THERE.

WELL, SADLY, THAT'S ALL WE'VE GOT TIME FOR.

WE'LL BE HAVING A LOT MORE ACTIVITY OBVIOUSLY TOMORROW NIGHT, SAM.

I CAN'T WAIT.

IT'S GONNA BE FANTASTIC TOMORROW.

SO YOU'RE GOING TO BE OUT AFTER CRANBERRIES.

WE ARE.

A LITTLE FALL MAGIC THERE.

INDEED, I FIND OUT WHY NEW ENGLAND IS VITAL TO OUR DAILY GLASS OF CRANBERRY JUICE.

AND I HAVE AN EXTRAORDINARY OPPORTUNITY TO MEET ONE OF MY BIRDING HEROES, THE ONE AND ONLY DAVID SIBLEY, RESPONSIBLE FOR "BIRDS OF AMERICA."

DID SOME BEAUTIFUL ILLUSTRATIONS.

AND HE GAVE ME A FEW TIPS ON SKETCHING.

AND THEN WE'LL BE HEADING STRAIGHT INTO HALLOWEEN.

THIS IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT, CHRIS.

THIS IS WHAT YOU THINK WE'RE OBSESSED WITH.

IT IS.

IT'S OUR PUMPKINS.

LOOK AT THOSE GORGEOUS PUMPKINS.

I THINK WE'VE GOT A LITTLE BUFFET FOR A RACCOON THERE.

HE WOULD LOVE THAT.

THAT'S A BIG BUFFET FOR A RACCOON.

WELL, WE'VE HAD AN EXTRAORDINARY EVENING HERE.

WE'VE HAD LIVE COYOTE.

WE'VE HAD LIVE FLYING SQUIRREL.

WE'VE HAD SOME FANTASTIC FOOD, WE HAVE TO SAY.

THANKS FOR COMING IN WITH THAT.

SUPER BUTTERFLIES.

WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW FOR SOME MORE "AUTUMNWATCH NEW ENGLAND."

GOOD NIGHT.

"AUTUMNWATCH NX.

A BOX THAT SHOWED YOU A WORLD BEYOND YOUR OWN.

IT WAS JUST A BOX BUT THE WORLD IS CHANGED AND SO HAVE WE AND NOW, THE BOX CAN BE ALMOST ANY SIZE OR SHAPE AND YOU DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT TO EXPLORE ANYTIME ANY PLACE BREAK OUT OF THE BOX WITH PBS