The Life of Birds
The Life of Birds
| 21 October 1998 (USA)
SEASON & EPISODES
  • 1
  • 0
  • Season 1 : 1998 | 10 Episodes

    EP1 To Fly or Not to Fly? Oct 21, 1998

    The first episode looks at how birds first took to the skies in the wake of the insects. It begins in Mexico, where Attenborough observes bats being outmaneuvered by a red-tailed hawk.

    EP2 The Mastery of Flight Oct 28, 1998

    The second programme deals with the mechanics of flight. Getting into the air is by far the most exhausting of a bird's activities, and Attenborough observes shearwaters in Japan that have taken to climbing trees to give them a good jumping-off point.

    EP3 The Insatiable Appetite Nov 04, 1998

    A look at the constant need to feed necessitated by the demands of flight in species from sap suckers and crows, to robins and geese.

    EP4 Meat-Eaters Nov 11, 1998

    This epsiode looks at those birds that have become strictlt meat eaters from eagles and hawks to owls and vultures.

    EP5 Fishing for a Living Nov 18, 1998

    A look at those birds that look to fishing as their main food source. From gulls and ducks to cormorants and cranes.

    EP6 Signals and Songs Nov 25, 1998

    A look at the way birds communicate. The program shows us how calls of warning can unite a community of birds against a larger predator and how other calls may be used to attract mates.

    EP7 Finding Partners Dec 02, 1998

    A look at how birds attract and select mates. The survey ranges from common birds such as the sparrow to the more exotic frigate birds, and Jamaican hummingbirds. Other segments concentrate on the dancing associated with the courtship of grebes and the artistic collections of bower birds.

    EP8 The Demands of the Egg Dec 09, 1998

    A look at eggs and what birds go through to produce and protect them. This epsiode ranges from the mating flights to fledging of their offspring. Species examined include frigate birds and toucans as well as weaver birds and cuckoos.

    EP9 The Problems of Parenthood Dec 16, 1998

    This episode looks at the problems birds face in raising their young. It ranges from parrots who are very active parents to cuckoos who are famous for foisting the job off on others.

    EP10 The Limits of Endurance Dec 23, 1998

    A look at how birds deal with hostile environments and with people. The episode ranges from crows in Japan that use traffic to crack nuts to penguins who never see a person but make long treks through frigid wastes.
    Reviews
    TheLittleSongbird

    As said many times, David Attenborough is a national treasure. He may apparently dislike the term, but it is hard to not say that about such a great presenter who has contributed significantly to some of the best programmes (of the documentary genre and overall) the BBC has ever aired/produced.It is really hard picking favourites, let alone a definite favourite, among what Attenborough has done because he has done so many gems, it is the equivalent of trying to choose your favourite ice cream flavour or your favourite operatic role (for examples) and finding you can't pick. 'The Life of Birds' is another one of his masterpieces, in terms of documentaries about birds it's ground-breaking and it's a wonderful documentary in its own right. It has everything that makes so much of his work so wonderful, hence some of the reiteration of my recent reviews for some of his work (being on a nature documentary binge in my spare time), and deserves everything great that has been said about it.First and foremost, 'The Life of Birds' looks amazing. It is gorgeously filmed, done in a completely fluid and natural, sometimes intimate (a great way of connecting even more with the birds), way and never looking static. In fact much of it is remarkably cinematic with some of the shots being unique for a documentary series, making one forget that it is a series. The editing is always succinct and smooth and the scenery of all the continents is pure magic.The music score fits very well, never overly grandiose while never being inappropriate.Again, like so many Attenborough nature/wildlife documentaries, 'The Life of Birds' fascinates, teaches, moves, entertains and transfixes. In terms of the facts there was a very good mix of the known ones and the unknown, some facts being familiar to us while also dealing with very complex and very much relevant issues with tact. Likewise with the different birds themselves Narration by Attenborough helps significantly. He clearly knows his stuff and knows what to say and how to say it. He delivers it with his usual richness, soft-spoken enthusiasm and sincerity, never talking down to the viewer and keeping them riveted and wanting to know more.The birds themselves are great to watch and have a wide range of personalities that makes one root for them in the same way they would a human. 'The Life of Birds', like Attenborough's other works, also displays a wide range of emotions and found myself really caring for everything that was shown to us on screen.Like much of Attenborough/BBC's other work, each episode doesn't feel like an episodic stringing of scenes, but instead like the best nature documentaries each feels like their own story and journey, with real, complex emotions and conflicts.In conclusion, another wonderful Attenborough gem. 10/10 Bethany Cox

    ... View More
    machngunjoe

    It is always easy to comment on these documentary's. David Attenbourough is simply the best naturalist their is, not only because of his witty charm and extremely interesting information, but it is his voice. A voice that I myself used to grow up with on Saturday mornings "Nature" when their used to be education on TV, not the Digimon/Pokemon Crap they have now.This particular series is exceptional because along with his useful commentary the producers add in a number of special camera's to see the things that humans almost never get to see. Also animation against live backdrops of what pre-historic birds might have looked based on fossil research. I never had such admiration of birds until I saw this documentary. It is a must see

    ... View More
    ecobird

    Sir David Attenborough always makes natural history so fascinating, the Life of Birds is no exception.With excellent narration and the incredible footage, he takes viewers all over the globe observing the life-styles and behavior of birds. With a dash of humor here, a tiny amount of suspense there,Sir David Attenborough draws us in with his genuine fascination of each bird species.Also, the order in which they are presented is just incredible. The series starts from the birds aerial accomplishment of flight and ends with their struggle to survive in the modern world. Every birder, conservationist and environmentalist should watch this series.

    ... View More
    harishb

    Though I was/am not a great nature lover, this series succeeded in keeping me interested right throughout with its excellent commentary (credit to Attenborough). The documentary covers the origins, types( sea/land, veg/meat-eating), acquisition of food, communication methods, mating rituals, laying of eggs, raising family, and finally dangers to its existence in modern world.Except the goose and swans, most of them seem are prone to either infidelity/polygamous relationships or seasonal relationships, treacherous behaviour to obtain food etc. And all of them are territorial.Some of the stuff which was fascinating: -how the bower birds decorate their nests to attract mates-polygamous birds especially the sparrow . -how one mother bird (cant remember which one) kills one of its weakest child for survival-how a crow breaks a nut in middle of a busy Tokyo city streetNot much is covered on migrant birds behaviors. For that I would recommend the movie 'The winged migration'.

    ... View More