01x01 - Homecoming

[bunniefuu]

[whimsical music playing]

[narrator] There are

a lot of movies about penguins.

Penguins on ice,

penguins in the snow,

tons of marching.

Then…

there's these birds.

They boldly go

where no penguins have gone before.

Meet the endangered African penguins.

Around here, they're known as…

[braying loudly]

jackass penguins.

Every summer, they descend

on Simon's Town, South Africa…

and mingle with the masses.

[upbeat music playing]

But they're not just here to socialize.

Step aside, paparazzi.

These birds are taking over this town.

The locals give them full VIP access.

Some penguins may be emperors.

In this place…

they are gods.

[penguin braying]

The takeover begins every November

as penguins arrive in waves.

Literally.

They have six months to complete

their most important mission.

[uplifting music playing]

Choose a partner,

stake a claim,

and…

make more penguins.

All…

while staying out of trouble.

Sounds easy enough.

[cars honking]

Right?

If they get it wrong,

they face extinction.

No pressure.

[penguins squawking and braying]

Colony numbers have been declining.

Their survival

depends on strong relationships.

Few work harder at that

than these two.

[romantic music playing]

The perfect pair.

The poster penguins for monogamy.

Meet the Bougainvilleas.

They're around twelve years old.

Middle-aged for penguins.

And they have been together

most of their adult lives.

This couple knows how to build the colony

better than anyone.

But before they get down to business,

they need a good home.

The Bougainvilleas have learned a secret.

In Simon's Town,

the closer to humans, the safer the nest.

[light upbeat music playing]

But not too close.

[car honking]

The best part of living with giants,

they scare predators away.

[penguin braying]

Dangerous animals don't get

the same backstage pass that penguins do.

Nevertheless, penguin housing

is first come, first served.

And the Bougainvilleas already know

the best nest around.

[whimsical music playing]

They've raised a dozen penguins…

right here in this bush.

If something works, why change it?

It's one of the coolest spots

in the neighborhood.

Crucial in this African heat.

But just 'cause they've been

coming here for years,

doesn't mean they own the place.

[penguin braying in distance]

At least that's how

this grumpy young loner sees it.

He doesn't have love

or a shady place to chill.

[braying]

He wants what they have.

Don't let the cute faces fool you.

The Bougainvilleas are prepared

to defend their turf.

[light suspenseful music playing]

And…

it's two against one.

[braying softly]

The Bougainvilleas have the upper hand…

for now.

But the loner leaves them a clear message.

He's not done causing trouble.

[upbeat rock music playing]

On the beach to the north,

this dashing young bachelor

is a lover, not a fighter.

Well, he's not a lover yet.

[indistinct chatter]

He's four, finally old enough to mate.

But he's not just looking to hook up.

He wants someone to grow old with.

Finding penguin love

in this modern world can be tricky.

There's no app for that.

Plus, there's stiff competition.

And many of the hens

have already found someone.

But wait.

Check her out.

[romantic music playing]

She's beautiful.

And single!

Quick.

Go sweep her off her feet

before another guy does.

[dramatic music playing]

Oh, she's watching…

every move he makes.

Good swimmers with big beaks

make good partners.

-[narrator groans]

-[music stops]

Maybe she didn't see that.

[upbeat pop-rock music playing]

He's put his best flipper forward.

Now, it's up to her.

At the end of the day,

there's got to be chemistry.

You say that you don't care ♪

But love is in the air ♪

You know it's true ♪

You just passed me by ♪

But you don't realize

That you want me, too ♪

[narrator] Some couples

are just meant to be.

It's a nice day

for a black and white wedding.

A little dancing.

And a bunch of making out.

You guys are just too cute!

Introducing, for the first time ever,

Mr. and Mrs. Culvert.

No time for a honeymoon.

They need a nest.

And the housing rush is really heating up.

[upbeat jazz music playing]

More than a thousand penguin couples

will settle here this mating season.

That means prime real estate

fills up fast.

And competition for that perfect spot…

gets ugly.

At least their human neighbors

are less territorial.

Almost nothing is off-limits.

If you can climb it…

it's yours.

[pleasant music playing]

In the garden, the Bougainvilleas

are way ahead of the curve.

A finished nest already?

Nice!

Experience pays off.

But laying eggs and raising chicks

will take a lot of energy.

They need to fatten up.

Time to go fishing.

The downside to living in the suburbs…

it's three long blocks to the ocean.

On really short legs.

They're getting

their 10,000 steps in today.

Welcome to Burghers' Walk.

Penguins from all over

the south side of town

converge here on their way to work.

It's like Grand Central Station,

on the rocks.

The Bougainvilleas join up

with a waddle of penguins.

Yep, that's what they're called on land.

In the water, they become a raft.

A quick fluff of air into their feathers

helps them stay waterproof.

And it's time to head out.

They may be awkward on land…

out here, they're sleek,

sophisticated hunters.

They'll swim ten miles on an average day

in search of their favorite food.

Sardines,

the silver lifeblood of the colony.

The penguins' goal?

To get as fat as they can

as fast as they can.

It's like Weight Watchers in reverse.

But out here, penguins are not

the top of the food chain.

[dramatic music playing]

This is great white shark territory.

But the biggest threat

to the Bougainvilleas?

These things.

Cape fur seals k*ll

more than 150 penguins here.

Every year.

The Bougainvilleas know

traveling in a raft

increases their chances

of making it back alive.

There's safety in numbers.

Not everyone has learned that yet.

Inexperienced youngsters

are the most vulnerable to attack.

Half of them don't make it to adulthood.

[tense music playing]

This two-year-old

is one lucky son of a hen.

[pleasant music playing]

Meet Junior.

[braying]

He's just survived

more than a year alone at sea.

A major milestone.

But he has more than his share

of bumps and bruises.

And his trials on land are just beginning.

[man] Can you move, please?

[narrator] His first order of business,

he has to molt.

Every year,

penguins replace their old feathers

with a brand-new waterproof coat.

It's an arduous three-week fast

that burns through half their body weight.

This will be Junior's first adult molt.

Where he finally trades his juvenile brown

for the signature black and white.

But his struggles at sea have left him

weak and skinny.

He needs a place

he can rest and ride it out.

[man] Hey, that's my towel. Get off there.

Come on, get a move on.

[narrator] If Junior's fat reserves

run out,

he won't survive the summer.

[upbeat pop-rock music playing]

Just up the shore,

the newlywed Culverts are still looking

for their dream home.

Picking a safe spot to lay eggs

will determine their success as parents.

But these first-timers don't have a clue.

All the best spots are filling up.

And… Oh, there goes another one!

Bummer.

But, wait. What's this?

Sturdy concrete.

Added security.

[dog whines]

It even has a roof!

And it's a short walk to the beach?

How is this still available?

[animal screeching]

Privacy could be improved.

Rock hyrax are known for being nosy.

It's decision time.

[braying]

And… they'll take it.

The hunt for their first love nest

is finally over.

The Culverts have a home…

with a view.

Time to make some eggs.

[romantic pop-rock music playing]

As the race for space continues,

the Bougainvilleas' bush

is more attractive than ever.

While they're out fishing…

their grumpy neighbor makes his move.

[tense music playing]

Nice of them to clean it up for him.

This will make a super cool bachelor pad.

But there's just one problem.

The Bougainvilleas are back.

[light suspenseful music playing]

[braying]

And send him packing.

[all screeching and braying]

Hit the road, Jack.

This nest is taken.

The grumpy loner clearly can't manage

a takeover on his own.

But there are plenty

of other frustrated penguins nearby.

Maybe they should start a g*ng.

Then, they could show

the Bougainvilleas who's boss.

[braying]

By New Year's, most of the colony

is settled in and finished molting.

[braying]

But there are always a few

who can't keep up.

[blues music playing]

Junior has really gone downhill.

He's lost a dangerous amount of weight.

His molt pays the price.

The feathers falling out?

Well, he's got that down.

Growing in?

Not so much.

He's stuck.

Half-naked and starving.

Things can't possibly get any worse.

What the…

[blues music continues]