Ducks in the Arctic
In Ducks in the Arctic, narrator Sir David Attenborough shows ducks on their annual migration through the Arctic. They stop to rest and eat where gaps in the ice allow them to access the rich waters below. But the ocean is freezing over and when a winter storm comes, the gamble of staying longer in the freezing Arctic will not pay off for some of them. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Frozen Planet, a series that shows a fragile world of beauty and hostility, where nature finds a way to survive and thrive in frigid conditions.
Lesson Express
Q: What gamble or risk do the ducks take? What happens?
A: The ducks stay longer than they should as the water freezes. They stay so they can eat more food that is in the ocean, but when a winter storm comes through, some ducks freeze.
Q: Why do the ducks risk staying later in the Arctic?
A: They are about to make a long migration, so they need to fuel up for the long flight. If they eat more food before they go, they will be stronger for the trip.
Q: Look at a map of the Bering Sea. What do you notice about this location?
A: Student responses will vary. Students may notice the proximity to different countries, or how far north it is.
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In How Krill Survive in Antarctica, narrator Sir David Attenborough explains how Antarctica is different from the Arctic and how Antarctica changes in winter and summer. Learn how krill survive under the Antarctic ice. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Blue Planet, a definitive documentary series diving into the mysterious depths of the sea to discover the natural history of the world’s oceans and the rarely seen marine life that reside there.
In Inside a Glacier, geologist Iain Stewart describes how scientists work inside an ice cave carved deep in a glacier in Norway. They learn how ice, a brittle substance, can be powerful, strong, and fluid at the same time. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Earth: The Power of the Planet, a documentary series in which Dr. Iain Stewart discovers how Earth's forces can shape nature, species, and even the climate.
In A Haven for Beluga Whales, narrator Sir David Attenborough discovers how and why beluga whales come to an estuary in the Arctic. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Blue Planet, a definitive documentary series diving into the mysterious depths of the sea to discover the natural history of the world’s oceans and the rarely seen marine life that reside there.
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