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The Life of Birds
List Price: $59.98Our Price: $36.99 You Save: $22.99 (38%)Prices subject to change.
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Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
EAN: 9780790771175
Format: Box set, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC
ISBN: 0790771179
Label: BBC Video
Languages: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0
Manufacturer: BBC Video
MPN: DE1701D
Number Of Items: 3
Publisher: BBC Video
Region Code: 1
Release Date: August 27, 2002
Running Time: 580 minutes
Studio: BBC Video
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Editorial Review:
Like the albatross glimpsed in the beginning of this 10-part, 5-volume series, The Life of Birds quickly takes flight. Sir David Attenborough hosts this unprecedented and extraordinary global look at the magnificent and often curious winged species with which we share our planet. Like the best wildlife shows, The Life of Birds offers a fresh and accessible view of creatures we may take for granted (didn't Alfred Hitchcock warn us about that?). The focus of this series is not on the different bird species, but on bird behavior. Remarkable and awe-inspiring footage preserves the wide range of tools and techniques with which birds fly, hunt for food, attract a mate, hatch their chicks, and defend themselves against predators.
Each volume contains two episodes. Series titles include: "To Fly or Not to Fly?," "The Mastery of Flight," "The Insatiable Appetite," "Meat Eaters," "Fishing for a Living," Signals and Songs," "Finding Partners" (the inevitable mating episode), "The Demands of the Egg," "The Problems of Parenthood," and "The Limits of Endurance." One comedic diversion while watching this series is the Pythonesque (as in Monty) way in which Attenborough pops up in the most remote, most exotic locales. At one point, night-vision cameras capture the rare sight of the nocturnal kiwi as it forages for food on a New Zealand beach. The camera pans to reveal scant paces away our guide shining a flashlight on the nonplussed bird. Attenborough is also the creator of the classic natural-science series The Trials of Life, The Living Planet, and Life on Earth, all of which are also available on video. --Donald Liebenson
The definitive series on the most colorful, popular and perfectly adapted creatures on earth, The Life of Birds traverses the globe, covering 42 countries and examining over 300 different species. Calling upon the immense skills of many of the world's top wildlife cameramen and women, and pushing filming technology to the limits, new behavior is brought to the screen in staggering detail. Infra-red cameras find oilbirds deep in pitch black caves. Ultra slow motion film unravels the complexities of bird flight and ultraviolet cameras reveal the world from a bird's point of view.
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating: - If you love birds, you'll love this.
First off, if I could give it 10 stars, I would. It was all I had hoped for and more. David Attenborough's ability to get "hands on" experience with most of the birds in the series will make even the most seasoned birder jealous. ;)
The camera angles were awesome.
Now, my only bad remark about the series. The DVD video quality. It is VHS at best, and looks like a Divx hack of some movie... not that I would know what one would look like.
I guess Planet Earth ... Read More
Rating: - Superb
Just casting my positive vote to yet another of David Attenborough's great documentaries.
Highly recommended.
Rating: - funny, interesting, mesmerizing
I'm not even a particular fan of bird, not a bird-watcher, if you will, but I loved this. The birds represented in this educational and entertaining video are true characters. Some are incredibly funny to watch. Others take my breath away with their beauty and grace. I am amazed and I am now a bird fan and watcher, and I have ordered several bird books to begin my new hobby. Also plan to pick up my camera again to try to get some shots. This has been both fun and inspirational.
Rating:  - Great program with INFERIOR picture quality
I love BBC's programs, but the quality of these DVDs is disappointing, and frankly offensive when you consider its high price. Just compare this against PLANET EARTH or BLUE PLANET and you will see what I mean.
I suspect the problem may be that this particular set was licensed to Warner Brothers for DVD production, and they obviously didn't put any effort into it. PLANET EARTH and BLUE PLANET, among others, are not. Why they gave this to Warner I do not know. Perhaps they are recording an all ... Read More
Rating: - The Life of Birds
Once again David Attenbourough, in conjunction with the BBC, has produced an excellent nature series. The series is very informative, as well as interesting and entertaining. The photography is up to the BBC's usual superlative standard, and the commentary is well written and witty per Mr. Attenbouroughs' style. I highly recommended series!
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