This is bird note. In Panama, thousands of army ants on the march looking for prey are a fearsome sight.

As the ants pass through the leaf litter, they stir up countless grasshoppers, cockroaches, beetles,

and even lizards that flee in terror. Flying insects may escape from the ant infantry,

but they're no match for the aerial threat from this

oscillated ant bird.

Clinging to a thin plant stem above the fray, the blue-faced oscillated ant bird waits for flying insects

to leave their hiding spots, then swoops in to catch them.

As many as 29 bird species have such a tight bond with the ants that they can't survive without them.

They have to find an army ant column to follow every day.

And birds aren't the only group of animals that need the ants.

Scientists have estimated that about 300 species of animals survive only by sticking with army ants.

From tiny mites clinging to the ants to butterflies that feed on ant bird droppings,

it's thought to be the largest association of animals tied to a single species in the world.

Rainforest fragmentation is a big threat to army ants and their followers which need large

expanses of forests to find enough food. Learn how you can help support

conservation efforts in Panama and beyond at our website, birdnote.org. I'm Ariana Remel.