Episode 5
Birds
Birds are supremely adaptable, capable not only of flying at phenomenal speeds and covering great distances, but of displaying a murderous nature, running on water in pursuit of love and even of building intricate structures. Using aerial camera techniques, Life flies with the birds and explores their incredible diversity and behaviour: dodging the piratical frigate birds; soaring with the lammergeyers; dancing with a thousand flamingos in the lakes of Africa; and witnessing the extraordinary displays of spatule-tail hummingbirds, western grebes and bowerbirds as they attempt to attract a mate.
Key animal characters:
• Flamingos
• Lammergeyers
• Western grebes
• Bowerbirds
Sage grouse male calling as part of mating display behaviour
Lesser flamingo mass dancing ritual, Lake Bogoria, Kenya, East
Africa
Vogelkop bowerbird at bower nest, West Papua