[MDOsprey] "Life of Birds" on PBS

GAIL@UMDD.UMD.EDU
Tue, 20 Jul 99 09:20:10 EDT


Just to remind everyone that David Attenborough's series "Life of Birds"
will start tonight at 8 pm on Channel 26 (or check your local PBS listing).
There is a nice preview in today's Post.

This series was a smash hit in the UK last season. Why PBS has relegated it
to the summer doldrums, rather than showing during the prime season as was
Attenborough's "Life on Earth" is a mystery. Perhaps they are unaware of
the huge interest (on the part of the public) in birds. Anyway, a nice
change from the usual "lions and tigers and bears" fare of the PBS nature
shows.

A personal note: About four years ago, after I had posted my 1995 Jamaica
trip report on Birdchat, I got a call from the BBC and then, later, from one
of Attenborough's photographers asking for details on where to locate the
Jamaican Blackbird! Now this is an unusual blackbird but not the most
photogenic of Jamaica's birds, so I asked why they were so interested. Seems
that the show was trying to film rare or "different" species, as well as
those with unusual lifestyles, not just the "pretty faces." I never heard if
they actually found or filmed the blackbird, or if it ended up in the final
product, but it makes an interesting little story.

Anyway, a welcome break from the heat and humidity...!

Cheers,
Gail Mackiernan