Baby Flying Squirrel Takes Flight for the First Time | Mammals | BBC Earth
Summary
TLDRThe video script narrates the life of Siberian squirrels, highlighting their unique gliding ability using a furry membrane from wrists to ankles. It details their winter survival strategy, with females nursing their young in a woodpecker's nest to protect them from the harsh cold. As spring arrives, the young squirrels face the challenge of their first flight, showcasing a mix of eagerness and apprehension, as they prepare to leave the nest and embrace their new life.
Takeaways
- 🌳 The Siberian squirrel is a mammal that can glide without touching the ground, thanks to a furry membrane stretching from its wrists to its ankles.
- 🛫 This gliding ability is an efficient way of traveling for the Siberian squirrel, allowing it to move through the forest with ease.
- 👶 The female squirrels are responsible for feeding themselves and their young during the colder months.
- 🏠 The young squirrels are protected from the sub-zero temperatures by a disused woodpecker's nest hole, which serves as their shelter.
- 🍼 The mother's milk is crucial for the survival of the young squirrels throughout the harsh winter season.
- 🌱 As spring arrives, the forest warms up, signaling the time for the young squirrels to leave their nest.
- 🚀 The first flights of the young squirrels can be daunting, with some showing more eagerness than others.
- 🌲 The young squirrels climb higher up the trees before attempting their first glide, which increases the distance they can cover.
- 🎉 The first young squirrel successfully completes its glide, marking a significant milestone in its development.
- 😅 One young squirrel appears to have pre-flight nerves and hesitates, suggesting it might try again the next day.
Q & A
What unique ability does the Siberian squirrel have for getting around in the trees?
-The Siberian squirrel can glide. It has a furry membrane that stretches from its wrists to its ankles, allowing it to glide efficiently without touching the ground.
What time of the year is the script referring to when the female squirrels are raising their families?
-The script does not specify the exact season, but it implies a cold time of the year, as the female squirrels are preparing for winter by feeding and raising their young.
How do the young squirrels stay protected from the harsh sub-zero temperatures?
-The young squirrels are kept in a disused woodpecker's nest hole, which provides shelter from the cold sub-zero temperatures.
What is the role of the mother squirrel's milk in sustaining the young throughout the winter?
-The mother squirrel's milk is essential for the young squirrels' survival, as it provides them with the necessary nutrition to sustain them throughout the winter.
How many weeks later does the script mention after the young squirrels are born before they leave their nest?
-The script mentions that five weeks later, the young squirrels are ready to leave their nest.
What season is it when the young squirrels are ready to leave their nest according to the script?
-It is springtime when the young squirrels are ready to leave their nest, as the script mentions the warmth of spring has transformed the forests.
What challenges do the young squirrels face during their first flights?
-The young squirrels face daunting first flights, with one of them appearing keen and the other showing signs of pre-flight nerves.
How does the script describe the process of the young squirrels preparing for their first flight?
-The script describes the young squirrels climbing up the tree to gain height, which will allow them to glide further during their first flight.
What is the outcome of the first young squirrel's attempt to glide?
-The first young squirrel successfully completes its glide, as indicated by the script's statement 'Made it.'
What does the second young squirrel's behavior suggest about its readiness for the first flight?
-The second young squirrel's behavior suggests that it is not yet ready for the first flight, as it appears to have pre-flight nerves and may try again the next day.
Outlines
🐿️ Siberian Squirrels' Gliding and Family Life
This paragraph introduces the unique lifestyle of Siberian squirrels, which can glide through the trees using a furry membrane that stretches from their wrists to their ankles. It highlights the squirrels' ability to efficiently travel without touching the ground and their role as parents, especially during winter when female squirrels must sustain their young with milk in the cold. The paragraph also describes how the young squirrels are protected in a disused woodpecker's nest hole and the challenges they face when taking their first flights in the spring.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Siberian squirrel
💡Glide
💡Furry membrane
💡Woodpecker's nest hole
💡Sub-zero temperature
💡Pregnant squirrels
💡Spring
💡First flights
💡Lift-off
💡Pre-flight nerves
💡Tomorrow
Highlights
A Siberian squirrel is adept at gliding through the trees without touching the ground.
The squirrel utilizes a furry membrane that stretches from its wrists to its ankles for gliding.
This gliding method is an efficient way of traveling for the Siberian squirrel.
Female squirrels are responsible for feeding themselves and their young during this season.
A disused woodpecker's nest hole provides shelter for the young squirrels from harsh sub-zero temperatures.
The mother squirrel's milk is crucial for the survival of her offspring throughout the winter.
Spring's warmth marks the time for young squirrels to leave their nest.
The young squirrels' first flights are both exciting and intimidating.
One young squirrel is eager to take its first flight, while another appears less confident.
The height of the tree is significant for the distance the squirrels can glide.
The first young squirrel successfully completes its first flight.
The second young squirrel hesitates and considers trying the flight the next day.
The Siberian squirrel's gliding ability is a unique adaptation to its arboreal lifestyle.
The young squirrels' development is closely tied to the changing seasons and availability of food.
The nest provides a safe environment for the young to grow and prepare for their first flight.
The mother squirrel's nurturing is vital for the young to thrive during the harsh winter months.
The transition from winter to spring signifies a new chapter in the young squirrels' lives.
The young squirrels must overcome their fears to embrace their gliding capabilities.
Transcripts
High in the trees, one mammal
gets about without touching the ground.
A Siberian squirrel.
It can glide.
A furry membrane
stretches from its wrists
to its ankles.
There could hardly be a more efficient way of travelling.
At this time of the year,
the female squirrels
are not only feeding for themselves.
They're also raising families.
A disused woodpecker’s nest hole
protects the young squirrels
from the sub-zero temperature.
Their mother's precious milk
must sustain them throughout the winter.
Five weeks later,
the warmth of spring has transformed the forests.
It's time for the young squirrels
to leave the shelter of their nest.
But first flights are somewhat daunting.
One of the youngsters seems keen,
and one not quite so confident.
The first climbs up the tree,
while the other watches.
The higher up they go,
the further they will glide.
And then –
lift-off.
Made it.
But the other seems to have pre-flight nerves.
Perhaps he'll try
tomorrow.
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