"LIFE" on bbc at DVinfo.net

Brendan Marnell · November 9th, 2009, 05:52 PM

I've just seen the most wonderful wildlife documentary about birds filmed by Barrie Britton & team and scripted & narrated by David Attenborough & team.

Not one "new" bird on show but the filming skill, location selection and image quality produced 60 minutes visual experience surpassing anything I've ever seen. And I learned so much that I wanted so much to learn. Don't miss it when you get a chance.

Andrew Davies · November 10th, 2009, 04:41 AM

I was amazed and a little shocked to see the pelicans raiding the gannet colony and eating the chicks alive!

Annie Haycock · November 10th, 2009, 11:28 AM

That behaviour was news to me too. Fortunately our gannets are safe at present - but global warming could change that!

Brendan Marnell · November 10th, 2009, 12:59 PM

Here is a link, I think ...

BBC iPlayer - Life: Birds

Re gannets, when both parents leave an unprotected chick you may guess they are new to the parenting experience. When fish are scarce pelicans have a lean time against this sort of survival kit, quote ...

Gannets hunt mainly herring, mackerel and sandeels, by diving from a height into the sea and pursuing their prey underwater. Gannets have a number of adaptations which enable them to do this:

they have no external nostrils;

they have air sacs under their skin in their face and chest which act
like bubble wrap, cushioning the impact with the water;

their eyes are positioned far enough forward on their face to give
binocular vision allowing them to judge distances accurately at speed.

Gannets can dive from a height of more than 30 metres, achieving speeds of 100*km/h as they strike the water; then they supplement the plunge by flying underwater using bent wings to depths of 25m or more, enabling them to catch fish much deeper than other airborne diving birds.

Andrew Davies · November 11th, 2009, 08:14 AM

I was thinking exactly the same thing about the gannets on Grassholm Annie!

Andy

Annie Haycock · November 11th, 2009, 10:24 AM

When you are walking amongst the gannets on Grassholm (can't do it any more as the RSPB don't allow people to land) you think they are big birds. The Cape Gannets are similar, but the pelicans dwarfed them.

Brendan - here is a fish's view of a passing gannet - they can also see downwards as they fly forwards. This was taken with a 300mm Nikon f4, 1/1,000s - I didn't dare use anything longer from a small boat, and didn't try the video camera either. If a gannet pulls out of a dive at the last minute, it's likely to hit the water belly first and go along like a bouncing bomb. That bit I didn't manage to photograph.

Brendan Marnell · November 13th, 2009, 02:54 AM

Nice shot, Annie.

For shots of diving gannets it is best to shoot from a boat, preferably surrounded by a shoal of mackerel. Some fine day, maybe!

There is no point hoping the gannets will dive inshore as I was doing when I took these blurry images ...

Tom Hardwick · November 13th, 2009, 03:25 AM

And to think we can watch 'Life' in full HD, no subscription (other than the license fee) with no adverts and having the fascinating 'making of' tacked on at the end. Marvellous!

Jonathan Betz · November 16th, 2009, 05:53 PM

If only I lived in the UK...

November 9th, 2009, 05:52 PM	#1
Brendan Marnell Major Player Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 938	"LIFE" on bbc I've just seen the most wonderful wildlife documentary about birds filmed by Barrie Britton & team and scripted & narrated by David Attenborough & team. Not one "new" bird on show but the filming skill, location selection and image quality produced 60 minutes visual experience surpassing anything I've ever seen. And I learned so much that I wanted so much to learn. Don't miss it when you get a chance.

November 10th, 2009, 11:28 AM	#3
Annie Haycock Major Player Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Pembrokeshire, Wales Posts: 734	That behaviour was news to me too. Fortunately our gannets are safe at present - but global warming could change that! __________________ Canon XH A1; Canon XF100; Nikon D800

November 10th, 2009, 12:59 PM	#4
Brendan Marnell Major Player Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 938	Here is a link, I think ... BBC iPlayer - Life: Birds Re gannets, when both parents leave an unprotected chick you may guess they are new to the parenting experience. When fish are scarce pelicans have a lean time against this sort of survival kit, quote ... Gannets hunt mainly herring, mackerel and sandeels, by diving from a height into the sea and pursuing their prey underwater. Gannets have a number of adaptations which enable them to do this: they have no external nostrils; they have air sacs under their skin in their face and chest which act like bubble wrap, cushioning the impact with the water; their eyes are positioned far enough forward on their face to give binocular vision allowing them to judge distances accurately at speed. Gannets can dive from a height of more than 30 metres, achieving speeds of 100km/h as they strike the water; then they supplement the plunge by flying underwater using bent wings to depths of 25m or more, enabling them to catch fish much deeper than other airborne diving birds. Last edited by Brendan Marnell; November 10th, 2009 at 01:20 PM. Reason: more info*

November 11th, 2009, 10:24 AM	#6
Annie Haycock Major Player Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Pembrokeshire, Wales Posts: 734	When you are walking amongst the gannets on Grassholm (can't do it any more as the RSPB don't allow people to land) you think they are big birds. The Cape Gannets are similar, but the pelicans dwarfed them. Brendan - here is a fish's view of a passing gannet - they can also see downwards as they fly forwards. This was taken with a 300mm Nikon f4, 1/1,000s - I didn't dare use anything longer from a small boat, and didn't try the video camera either. If a gannet pulls out of a dive at the last minute, it's likely to hit the water belly first and go along like a bouncing bomb. That bit I didn't manage to photograph. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Canon XH A1; Canon XF100; Nikon D800

November 13th, 2009, 02:54 AM	#7
Brendan Marnell Major Player Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 938	Nice shot, Annie. For shots of diving gannets it is best to shoot from a boat, preferably surrounded by a shoal of mackerel. Some fine day, maybe! There is no point hoping the gannets will dive inshore as I was doing when I took these blurry images ... Attached Thumbnails

November 10th, 2009, 04:41 AM	#2
Andrew Davies Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Wales Posts: 104	I was amazed and a little shocked to see the pelicans raiding the gannet colony and eating the chicks alive!

November 11th, 2009, 08:14 AM	#5
Andrew Davies Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Wales Posts: 104	I was thinking exactly the same thing about the gannets on Grassholm Annie! Andy

November 13th, 2009, 03:25 AM	#8
Tom Hardwick Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Billericay, England UK Posts: 4,711	And to think we can watch 'Life' in full HD, no subscription (other than the license fee) with no adverts and having the fascinating 'making of' tacked on at the end. Marvellous!

November 16th, 2009, 05:53 PM	#9
Jonathan Betz Regular Crew Join Date: May 2009 Location: Washington DC Posts: 59	If only I lived in the UK... __________________ Jon Betz www.jonbetzfilms.com