Main content

Fire lover

The damage caused by bushfires can make an African grassland seem as lifeless as a desert. But a bird called a courser - a relative of the plover - is a nomad that actively seeks out areas devastated by bushfires. It eats insects killed by the smoke and flames, but it also lay its eggs here and the eggs are camouflaged to look like the scorched earth. Since all the scrub has been burnt away, the courser can easily see approaching predators.

Release date:

Duration:

59 seconds

Featured in...

More clips from The Limits of Endurance