Product Details

• Format: Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Questar
• VHS Release Date: March 26, 2002
• Run Time: 60 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 1568555881
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #282,990 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

With footage of more than 150 different bird species, all identified on screen, and action shots of urbanized bald eagles, owls on the prowl, and hummingbirds binging on sugar water, this tape makes an excellent introduction for the wanna-be bird watcher. Written, directed, and narrated by aviary expert Steve Maslowski, this 55-minute video catalogue includes hints on where to find some birds, ways to identify them, and methods to draw some species into your backyard. While not comprehensive--he often refers viewers to field guides for more information--Maslowski's effort forms a good overview of the birds in the United States (with some mention of Canada and Mexico). From the pied-billed grebe and the great horned owl to the astoundingly common chickadees and thrushes, viewers will get an eyeful of the animal kingdom's most plentiful and varied division after fish. To keep things lively, Maslowski includes screens with fun fowl facts, which tell us that, among other things, owls can swivel their heads 270 degrees and the cardinal is claimed as state bird by six states. --Kimberly Heinrichs

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars An interesting, educational program, July 20, 2001

By 

sauerkraut - See all my reviews

This review is from: Amazing Birds of America [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Amazing Birds of America, narrated by filmmaker and bird expert Steve Maslowski, is an enjoyable, informative program that provides a good introduction to the lives of birds. Containing live-action color footage of more than 150 species of birds in North America, this presentation--almost 56 minutes--spotlights them, in various habitats, engaging in several types of interesting behavior: courtship, nesting, feeding, vocalizing, migration, and bathing. Even though this video is aimed toward the beginning birdwatcher and casual viewer, I think the experienced birdwatcher should find it to be informational. A facet that the novice birdwatcher and curious viewer should find to be helpful is the white captions that identify every type of bird that's featured. I like the well-fitting, nice music that's used throughout. In particular parts, this music synchronizes enjoyably with the birds' movements. There are instructive bird facts and worthy close-up shots. The longest segments deal with the bald eagle, American woodcock, red-tailed hawk, hummingbirds, the purple martin, and the great gray owl. My favorite parts concern the snowy owl, American woodcock, red-bellied woodpecker, and the northern mockingbird. Flying gracefully over a snow-covered landscape, a beautiful snowy owl gradually ascends until it perches majestically on the top branch of a tree; the accompanying music used with this impressive segment not only is appealing but adds its own layer. The male American woodcock's courtship flight is unique. Other intriguing footage consists of a male red-bellied woodpecker drumming against a metal chimney, and a territorial northern mockingbird attacking its reflection in a vehicle's rearview mirror. Specific locations are pointed out that offer good birdwatching opportunities. I've watched Amazing Birds of America more than once and recommend it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars our fascinating feathered friends, September 13, 2003

By 

Alejandra Vernon "artist & illustrator" (Long Beach, California) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Amazing Birds of America [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This incredibly informative documentary is a joy for those of us that love birds. Steve Maslowski is the creative force behind it, not only as director and cinematographer, but as writer, where he has included enough humor so that it will be entertaining to an audience of all ages, and with a voice that sounds like John Walsh of America's Most Wanted fame, he does a fine job as narrator as well.
I enjoy being able to identify species, and this film is an aid to this by placing the name of the bird on the screen when it is being shown, and also by giving guidelines on how best to categorize them by shape, beak, etc.

I find the part on bird songs enchanting ("bird songs are like flowers to the ears"), and perhaps the moment I never tire of seeing is the Snowy Owl in flight, landing on a bare tree in winter; it is a scene that is breathtaking in its serenity. There are very amusing sections, like the Northern Mockingbird that continues to fight with a car mirror.
The film is interspersed with "Bird Facts", like "The Red-eyed Vireo has been known to sing over 20,000 times a day", and "Blue feathers are not colored by pigment; rather, their structure reflects blue light".
The musical score by Frank Proto is excellent, and is nicely edited into the film footage, using a well-known theme by Paganini as its central melody.

If you have cats, you might find some interesting reactions. I have one that completely ignores this film, and another who is captivated by it, and tries to figure out how the birds are "inside" the television.
The last 3 minutes of this film which is just short of an hour, is a scrolling list of more bird statistics, like "Bald Eagles may live up to 50 years", and "Loons evolved about 70 million years ago".
Bird enthusiasts will thoroughly enjoy this documentary, and as Mr. Maslowski says, "Birdwatching is not an escape from reality, but a doorway back into it".