DVD BBC Life of Birds Disc 1: The Mastery Of Flight (2000)

BBC Life of Birds Disc 1: The Mastery Of Flight (2000)

Naturalist Sir David Attenborough presents a ten part study of "the life of birds," beginning with their origins and evolution and covering their life histories and abilities to adapt to nearly every environment. As is usual with Mr. Attenborough's productions, camera work is ground-breaking, and every continent is visited.

For all their grace and agility, birds face serious challenges in getting into the air, staying there, and landing safely. Among their many adaptations is the single weight-saving feature that only birds possess - feathers.

Peter's DVD rating: 4 stars

01:30 Shearwaters climb trees to launch (Japan) 03:05 Pigeon jumps off ground 03:40 Albatross taxies along "runway", glides
06:50 Red Knot ? flapping 07:25 Mallard flying 08:00 Psprey fishing, fish faces forward to reduce drag
09:20 Pelicans in synchronized formation flying 11:10 Griffin Vultures sail on thermals Spain 12:20 Attenborough in glider
14:10 Pelican landing 14:30 Swan landing on water 15:00 Albatross crash landing
15:40 Griffin Vulture lands on cliff 16:10 Golden Eagle light weight beak, bones, feathers 17:30 Birds preening combs feathers with foot
19:05 Sword-billed Hummingbird combs feathers with foot 19:30 Swan, Flamingoes bathing 20:50 Quail dust bathing
21:30 Parrots and Cockatoos have powder feathers 22:20 Crow anting by landing on nest 24:10 Peregrin Falcon diving
24:55 Barn Owl silent flight 26:50 Kestrel hovering 28:20 Hummingbirds figure-of-8 beating
30:20 HillStar Hummingbird hibernates (torpor?) in cave (Andes) 31:45 Giant Hummingbird feeds on cactus 32:30 Purple-throated Woodstar Hummingbird (Ecuador)
33:00 Hummer-like Moth(England) 33:20 Snow Geese with chicks (Canada) 35:00 Western Sandpipers probe for worms in mud (Arctic)
35:25 Dickcissel feeding young (prairie) 36:10 Hawk 37:20 Sandpipers migrate to Panama
38:20 Hawks and Vultures on thermals, migrate to Panama 39:10 Snow Geese migrate to California, navigate by stars at night 41:00 Snow Geese close-up of beating wings
43:30 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds migrate across Gulf of Mexico nonstop, to Panama, then S. America 46:15 Dickcissels migrate in gigantic flocks to Venezuala farms 48:50 Humminbirds feeding, pollinate plants
50:00 Andean HillStar feeds on Chuquiragua plant, torpor at night 50:00 Giant Hummingbird feeds on Puya plant, nests on cactus bound with spider webs, feeds young

32:30 Purple-throated Woodstar Hummingbird

Index Feb 1, 2008 Peter Chen.

01:30	Shearwaters climb trees to launch (Japan)	03:05	Pigeon jumps off ground	03:40	Albatross taxies along "runway", glides
06:50	Red Knot ? flapping	07:25	Mallard flying	08:00	Psprey fishing, fish faces forward to reduce drag
09:20	Pelicans in synchronized formation flying	11:10	Griffin Vultures sail on thermals Spain	12:20	Attenborough in glider
14:10	Pelican landing	14:30	Swan landing on water	15:00	Albatross crash landing
15:40	Griffin Vulture lands on cliff	16:10	Golden Eagle light weight beak, bones, feathers	17:30	Birds preening combs feathers with foot
19:05	Sword-billed Hummingbird combs feathers with foot	19:30	Swan, Flamingoes bathing	20:50	Quail dust bathing
21:30	Parrots and Cockatoos have powder feathers	22:20	Crow anting by landing on nest	24:10	Peregrin Falcon diving
24:55	Barn Owl silent flight	26:50	Kestrel hovering	28:20	Hummingbirds figure-of-8 beating
30:20	HillStar Hummingbird hibernates (torpor?) in cave (Andes)	31:45	Giant Hummingbird feeds on cactus	32:30	Purple-throated Woodstar Hummingbird (Ecuador)
33:00	Hummer-like Moth(England)	33:20	Snow Geese with chicks (Canada)	35:00	Western Sandpipers probe for worms in mud (Arctic)
35:25	Dickcissel feeding young (prairie)	36:10	Hawk	37:20	Sandpipers migrate to Panama
38:20	Hawks and Vultures on thermals, migrate to Panama	39:10	Snow Geese migrate to California, navigate by stars at night	41:00	Snow Geese close-up of beating wings
43:30	Ruby-throated Hummingbirds migrate across Gulf of Mexico nonstop, to Panama, then S. America	46:15	Dickcissels migrate in gigantic flocks to Venezuala farms	48:50	Humminbirds feeding, pollinate plants
50:00	Andean HillStar feeds on Chuquiragua plant, torpor at night	50:00	Giant Hummingbird feeds on Puya plant, nests on cactus bound with spider webs, feeds young