Videos  
Video

Thirsty Chicks: Life in the Kalahari

In Thirsty Chicks: Life in the Kalahari, narrator Sir David Attenborough describes how ostrich parents tirelessly search for water in the Kalahari Desert. After a long day, they find a watering hole teeming with giraffes, elephants, and zebras. However, danger looms as predators are nearby. When these predators chase away the larger animals, the ostrich family takes the opportunity to drink, demonstrating how survival requires adapting to challenges and opportunities. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Africa, a study of the landscape and wildlife of the world’s wildest continent, Africa.

Video Details
Location:
Kalahari Desert
Grades:
3-56-8
Program:
Africa
Time:
5:12
Subject:
Science
Topic:
Life Science

Lesson Express

Q: How do the predators at the watering hole help the ostrich family?
A: The predators, like lions and tigers, scare away the larger animals at the watering hole, which gives the ostrich family the chance to drink water safely without having to compete with the bigger animals.

Q: What might happen if the ostrich parents didn’t find water for their chicks?
A: If the ostrich parents couldn’t find water for their chicks, the chicks would likely not survive because they need water to stay hydrated. This shows how crucial water is for survival in such a dry environment.

Q: What does this video teach us about how animals adapt to their environment?
A: The video shows how animals, like the ostriches, adapt to challenges by being patient and waiting for the right moment to drink water. They use the behavior of predators to their advantage, demonstrating how survival depends on making the most of opportunities in their environment.

Standards
Keywords
Share:

More Like This

Video
Young Animals in the Desert: Finding Food and Water
In Young Animals in the Desert: Finding Food and Water, narrator Gordon Buchanan explores the different ways baby animals get food and water. Many different animals in the Kalahari Desert, both mammals and birds, are shown and discussed including baby ostriches and cheetahs. In many situations, young animals have to be resourceful in order to seek out enough food and water to survive. This video is excerpted from BBC's Animal Babies, a heartwarming show that follows the first breaths, first steps and first feeds of some adorable baby animals, revealing the challenges they face to survive in some of the toughest but most beautiful places on the planet.
Video
The Search for Water: The Sandgrouse's Daily Journey
In The Search for Water: The Sandgrouse's Daily Journey, narrator Sir David Attenborough describes the extraordinary efforts of a male sandgrouse as he embarks on a treacherous 200-kilometer round trip each day through the Kalahari Desert to find water for his chicks. Along the way, he faces dangerous predators like the goshawk, and endures the heat of the desert. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Planet Earth II, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
Video
The Desert’s Biggest Trickster!
In The Desert’s Biggest Trickster!, narrator Sir David Attenborough describes the mysterious Kalahari Desert, a dry and ancient land full of strange wonders. Discover the bond between meerkats and clever drongo birds, one of nature’s biggest tricksters. During winter, the drongo mimics warning calls to steal food from the meerkats, but they’re smart enough to catch on to its tricks. Despite his sneaky ways, the drongo is a loyal ally most of the year. This video is excerpted from BBC's Africa, a study of the landscape and wildlife of the world’s wildest continent, Africa.
Video
The Hunt for Food: A Leopard’s Survival in the Kalahari
In The Hunt for Food: A Leopard’s Survival in the Kalahari, narrator Sir David Attenborough describes how a one-year-old African leopard in the Kalahari Desert learns how to survive on his own by hunting for food. With limited food sources, the young leopard has to be clever and patient. He misses a few chances to catch food, but he keeps trying. Eventually, he returns to find a meal left high in the trees, but getting to it won't be so easy. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Africa, a study of the landscape and wildlife of the world’s wildest continent, Africa.