The Life of Birds

1998 - 1998

To Fly or Not to Fly?

21st October 1998

Episode 1

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.

The Mastery of Flight

28th October 1998

Episode 2

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.

The Insatiable Appetite

4th November 1998

Episode 3

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.

Meat-Eaters

11th November 1998

Episode 4

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

Fishing for a Living

18th November 1998

Episode 5

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

Signals and Songs

25th November 1998

Episode 6

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.

Finding Partners

2nd December 1998

Episode 7

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.

The Demands of the Egg

9th December 1998

Episode 8

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.

The Problems of Parenthood

16th December 1998

Episode 9

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.

The Limits of Endurance

23rd December 1998

Episode 10

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.

Top Cast

David Attenborough

Director

Joanna Sarsby

Writer

David Attenborough

In the documentary series produced by the BBC, The Life of Birds, Sir David Attenborough unveils a new investigation into the behaviour of birds, perfectly adapted animals that conquer the air. This ten-part series reveals the secret of the birds' great success, their remarkable strategies for finding food, their complex social systems, and their ingenious and often bizarre ways of mating and breeding. From the high speed of large airborne hunters to long distance migrations or the bright colors of nectar feeding hummingbirds, this is the ultimate bird series that every ornithologist should not miss.

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Full Cast

David Attenborough Image

David Attenborough

Self - Narrator (voice)

Full Crew

Joanna Sarsby

Director

Ian Butcher Image

Ian Butcher

Music

Steven Faux

Music

Trevor Gosling

Sound Recordist

Melissa Blandford

Production Coordinator

Anne Holmes

Production Coordinator

Di Williams

Production Coordinator

Adam White

Researcher

Sharmila Choudhury

Researcher

Cynthia Connolly

Unit Manager

Mick Connaire

Graphic Designer

David Attenborough Image

David Attenborough

Writer

Mike Salisbury

Executive Producer

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