Nature: Wild Way of the Vikings
Premieres Wednesday, February 13 at 8 p.m. (check local listings)
Streams Thursday, February 14 at pbs.org/nature and on PBS apps
Synopsis:
Experience the natural world through the eyes of the Vikings, when nature meets history in a journey showcasing the wildlife of the North Atlantic. Combining blue-chip natural history filmmaking and dramatic re-creations, Nature travels from Norway to Newfoundland, just as the seafaring warriors did in 1,000 A.D., to get a glimpse of the Vikings’ world in the Americas hundreds of years before Columbus. It was a time when Vikings ruled the northern seas, when their only compass and guide were the ravens in the sky and the killer whales pushing through the icy waters.
Witness the deep history and cultural respect the Vikings had for the land and sea, from the puffins and otters of the Scottish coast to the vast herds of reindeer in Norway to the eider duck farms of Iceland. Discover how the Vikings practiced the true spirit of the Wild Way of the Vikings – take everything that you need from nature, but value it for as long as you can. Ewan McGregor narrates.
Long TV Listing:
Experience the natural world through the eyes of the Vikings. From the killer whales of the North Sea to the duck farms of Iceland, witness the deep history and cultural respect the Vikings had for the land and sea. Ewan McGregor narrates.
Short TV Listing:
Experience the natural world through the eyes of the Vikings. Ewan McGregor narrates.
Running Time: 60 minutes
Featured Creatures:
Reindeer
Otters
Harbor seals
Orcas
Puffins
Gannets
Arctic foxes
Eider ducks
Ravens
Walrus
Gyrfalcons
Humpback whales
Noteworthy Facts:
- Archaeological records reveal that fish often made up more than 25 percent of the Viking diet.
- The Shetland Islands are well beyond the swimming range of animals in Norway and Scotland. Some experts believe that the Vikings first brought otters to the Islands.
- Young gannets were prized by the Vikings as tender meat. However, they are protected by dagger-like bills more than six inches long and a six-foot wingspan that can fold up and dive down to depths of 20 feet or more.
- By the year 874 A.D., Viking colonists reached the island of Iceland. Only one other land mammal had colonized this savage landscape beforehand: the Arctic fox. Arctic foxes can exist in temperatures of -70 degrees because of their incredibly dense, warm fur. Vikings used fox fur for clothing, bedding and as a valuable trading commodity.
- The raven is a major character in Norse mythology – Odin the all-father god was allegedly attended by two ravens called Hugin and Munin that flew around the world to bring news of the ways of men. The world’s largest crow would have been a familiar sight to the Vikings, as they are happy to scavenge amongst carcasses.
Buzzworthy Moments:
- Reindeer are perhaps the single most significant wild animal for the early Vikings. Every part of the animal was used and hunting them was a regular activity. When spooked, the reindeer herd bands together in a swirling melee designed to confuse any predator. This phenomenon is captured on camera in a striking overhead sequence.
- Seals were also special to the Vikings. They provided clothing, footwear and rope for rigging, as well as food. Orcas also value seals for their high nutritional value. One scene depicts just how careful and crafty an orca pod can get when hunting seals. Two members of the pod use tail slaps to flush out the hiding seals, while another pair follows silently behind to complete the capture.
- Prized above all other birds, the white gyrfalcon was a cornerstone of the far westerly Viking economy for two centuries. Gyrfalcons are the largest and heaviest members of the falcon family and they can reach speeds of 90 mph in level flight. Historical and archaeological evidence reveals that the Vikings sustainably caught young gyrfalcons and then traded them to be used in falconry, one of their most popular sports. A reenactment scene depicts gyrfalcons in action.
Series Overview:
Nature is a voice for the natural world, bringing the wonders of wildlife and stories of conservation to millions of American viewers. The series has won more than 700 honors from the television industry, the international wildlife film communities and environmental organizations, including 18 Emmys and three Peabody Awards.
Production Credits:
Nature is a production of THIRTEEN PRODUCTIONS LLC for WNET and PBS. For Nature, Fred Kaufman is Executive Producer. Bill Murphy is Series Producer and Janet Hess is Series Editor. Wild Way of the Vikings is a production of Maramedia Ltd and THIRTEEN PRODUCTIONS LLC for WNET. The documentary is produced and directed by Nigel Pope and Jackie Savery. Ewan McGregor is narrator.
Underwriters:
Support for this Nature program was made possible in part by the Arnhold Family in memory of Clarisse Arnhold, Sue and Edgar Wachenheim III, the Kate W. Cassidy Foundation, the Lillian Goldman Charitable Trust, Kathy Chiao and Ken Hao, the Anderson Family Fund, the Filomen M. D’Agostino Foundation, Rosalind P. Walter, the Halmi Family in memory of Robert Halmi, Sr., Sandra Atlas Bass, Doris R. and Robert J. Thomas, the Hite Foundation, Charles Rosenblum, by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and by the nation’s public television stations.
Websites:
pbs.org/nature
facebook.com/PBSNature
twitter.com/PBSNature
instagram.com/pbsnature
youtube.com/naturepbs
#NaturePBS
About WNET
WNET is America’s flagship PBS station: parent company of New York’s THIRTEEN and WLIW21 and operator of NJTV, the statewide public media network in New Jersey. Through its new ALL ARTS multi-platform initiative, its broadcast channels, three cable services (THIRTEEN PBSKids, Create and World) and online streaming sites, WNET brings quality arts, education and public affairs programming to more than five million viewers each month. WNET produces and presents a wide range of acclaimed PBS series, including Nature, Great Performances, American Masters, PBS NewsHour Weekend, and the nightly interview program Amanpour and Company. In addition, WNET produces numerous documentaries, children’s programs, and local news and cultural offerings, as well as multi-platform initiatives addressing poverty and climate. Through THIRTEEN Passport and WLIW Passport, station members can stream new and archival THIRTEEN, WLIW and PBS programming anytime, anywhere.
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Photos For editorial use in North America only in conjunction with the direct publicity or promotion of NATURE, no other rights are granted. All rights reserved. Downloading this image constitutes agreement to these terms. | |
 | A puffin preening its feathers at a seabird colony. Shetland. Credit: Fergus Gill / © Maramedia |
 | A great herd of reindeer moving through the snow-covered mountains in Norway. Credit: Fergus Gill / © Maramedia |
 | A lone reindeer wandering over a snow-covered ridge in the mountains in Norway. Credit: Fergus Gill / © Maramedia |
 | A lone reindeer wandering ahead of the rest of the herd. Norway. Credit: Fergus Gill / © Maramedia |
 | A great herd of reindeer moving through the snow-covered mountains in Norway. Credit: Fergus Gill / © Maramedia |
 | Diving gannets in Bass Rock, Scotland. Credit: © Maramedia |
 | Gannets eating a fish in Bass Rock, Scotland. Credit: © Maramedia |
 | A Viking reenactor and a Gyrfalcon in the snowy landscape of the Alladale Wilderness reserve in Scotland. Credit: Justin Purefoy / © Maramedia |
 | A Viking reenactor and a Gyrfalcon in the snowy landscape of the Alladale Wilderness reserve in Scotland. Credit: Justin Purefoy / © Maramedia |
 | Viking reenactors on a ship in open water with seabirds flying nearby. Ireland. Credit: Fiona Donaldson / © Maramedia |
 | Gannet breeding colony with many gannets flying overhead. Bass Rock, Scotland. Credit: Fiona Donaldson / © Maramedia |
 | Viking reenactors ready to through a fishing net. Scotland. Credit: Justin Purefoy / © Maramedia |
 | Viking reenactor gazing out to sea at the coast. Scotland. Credit: Fiona Donaldson / © Maramedia |
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