Life 05: Birds – BBC Earth | DauntlessMedia.net

Life 05: Birds – BBC Earth

Posted by Samuel Walters

“Birds” take flight in the next installment of BBC’s Life series. Not surprisingly, the major focus of the episode is the way in which feathers have been adapted by birds to suit their particular needs. Once again, the visuals are utterly breathtaking and the use of high-speed, high-definition cameras result in images of birds unlike any seen before.

The appeal of this episode is in how exquisitely it portrays birds, particularly those in flight. Whether it’s aerial dogfights or hummingbirds, seeing these creatures in action is both thrilling and fascinating. From start to finish, these sequences are truly captivating. More than anything, though, this is an episode which focuses on how birds use their feathers — for more than just flight — to cope and survive.

Important sequences include:

Peruvian Humming Birds
In Ethiopia’s Simian Mountains, Lammergeiers utilize a nine-foot wing span to soar effortlessly and hunt.
In Little Tobago Frigate Birds are in action against Redbill Tropic birds for food.
In Delaware Bay, Redknots hunt horseshoe crabs and evade Peregrin Falcons
In the Antarctic, Chinstrap Penguins must survive against the elements.
In South Africa, Great White Pelicans hunt the chicks of Cape Gannets for food.
In Oregon Clark’s Grebes perform an intricate and beautifully synchronized mating dance.
In Wyoming Sage Grouse via against one another for mating privileges.
In New Guinea, Birds of Paradise use their plumage to attract mates.
In West Papua, the Bowerbird literally decorates a bower with colorful objects found in the forest to attract its mate.