The Swifts of Bernried (26/34)

Every year, at around April 28th, the swifts arrive in Bavaria - at first the vanguard and then the rest of the colony. Despite the long journey from South Africa, the birds find their way to the same place at the same time and come to the monastery of Bernried by Lake Starnberg. Ever since the Benedictine nuns are living here, they have been watching the nimble aerialists. During the convent's renovation in 2006, the nuns even took care that the swifts could keep their nests beneath the roof truss and installed special air-slots between roof and masonry in order to enable their fosterlings to keep their nests. Nuns and swifts are living under one roof until the end of July, sometimes the beginning of August. After that, the migrating birds take off again for their long trip to South Africa.

This documentary is the first after 15 years which tells about the so-called "flying migrants" and the experts discovered some amazing things about the small birds.

Moving animal stories, amazing nature photography and exciting expeditions are the varied themes of Nature Exclusive. This doc series introduces us to the whole plethora of flora and fauna, landscapes and environments, imparting important info on the planet we inhabit.