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Rating:  - A Feel Good Nature Presentation
Both of the programs were very well done, leaving you feel upbuilt. They document the responsibilities of owning an intelligent, long-lived bird, but also the advantages of taking that job on and doing it well. The program deepened my respect for these beautiful and naturally curious animals. This is television at its best.
Rating: - great fun even for those not bird-lovers
There are two parts to this video. The second part focuses more on parrots and their unique abilities and relationship with humans. The first part is more generalized. All have great photogpraphy, great sound, and my younger kids love watching it again and again.
Rating: - Nature explores the avian world
This DVD contains two great programs about birds from PBS' Nature series. "Parrots-- Look Who's Talking", narrated by George Page, explores the lives of parrots and their relationship to people. This is an older episode from the first few years of the series with beautiful photography and fine presentation. I wish that more of the older Nature programs were available since they are now seldom shown on television. "Extraordinary Birds" is another fine documentary about the contributions of birds to human lives and the natural world. Every bird lover should watch this DVD to enjoy the beauty of our feathered freinds.
Rating:  - Birds Impress in the Wild & Share Their Lives with Humans.
"Nature: Birds" includes 2 programs from PBS' "Nature" series, produced in 1982. The first program is "Extraordinary Birds" (53 minutes), narrated by Diana Cardéa. "Extraordinary Birds" focuses on birds' amazing physical abilities and their symbiotic relationships with humans. There are some interesting tidbits of information in this documentary, but not much depth, and the narration is bland. The program begins with a trip to a village in southern India that 10,000 birds visit each year, traveling on the winds of the monsoons and signaling the coming of rain. Then it's to Scotland to observe the art of falconry, in which humans, dogs, and falcons work in concert to hunt grouse. Researchers in Arizona, USA study the consequences and opportunities posed by the tiny body size of hummingbirds, who beat their wings up to 200 times per second and migrate as far as 5,000 miles each. In Colorado, the "Pigeon Express" provides courier pigeons to white water rafting companies that need to get their film processed before their clients finish their rafting trips. Farmers in southern Florida use barn owls to control the rat infestations in sugar cane fields. And bird trainer Steve Martin prepares a new African Grey parrot for his debut show in Disney's Animal Kingdom, while "The Feathered Friends" pet therapy organization provides parrot companionship to the residents of a retirement home.
The second program is "Parrots: Look Who's Talking" (53 minutes), narrated by George Page. This program discusses the behavior of parrots in the wild and life among humans for those in captivity. "Parrots: Look Who's Talking" has something for confirmed parrot lovers as well as viewers new to the birds. Those who already know how smart and talented these wonderful birds are will enjoy the plentiful footage of wild parrot flocks. At least a dozen species of parrot are shown in their natural environments in Australia, Brazil, New Zealand, and Africa. Parrot owners talk about their avian companions, and we see some of the parrots' antics. There is a segment with the world's most famous African Grey, Alex, and Dr. Irene Pepperberg demonstrates and discusses Alex's computational abilities. Periodically the film cuts to a very funny and talented African Grey parrot who perfectly mimics comical phrases. This has great entertainment value throughout the film, but the parrot is unfortunately never identified. In any case, "Parrots: Look Who's Talking" is an entertaining introduction to parrots and includes some great footage of parrots in the wild. Parrots and humans coming into conflict over agriculture and hunting is mentioned, but the issue of habitat destruction is not addressed.
Rating: - Fun and educational
Very entertaining. I showed the VHS version to my teenage biology students last year and they loved it. This DVD version will be even better.
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