RE: [MDOsprey] "Life of Birds" on PBS
Harvey, David A. (David.Harvey@jhuapl.edu)
Tue, 20 Jul 1999 10:11:14 -0400
I have been listening in on a Bird Chat line in Australia in preparation for
a trip there. They have already seen this series and there have been some
interesting comments about validity of habitat and bird calls. This series
sounds like it can be a good challenge for us to pay attention to details
and be careful not to get led astray just because the film says it is so.
They also seem to agree that overall it was an excellent series. Pay close
attention and take notes.
> ----------
> From: GAIL@UMDD.UMD.EDU[SMTP:GAIL@UMDD.UMD.EDU]
> Reply To: mdosprey@ARI.Net
> Sent: Tuesday, July 20, 1999 9:20 AM
> To: MDOSPREY@ARI.Net
> Subject: [MDOsprey] "Life of Birds" on PBS
>
> 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
>