Product Description
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One of nature's smallest birds, a Black-chinned
Hummingbird, built her nest on a clothesline in a backyard in Las
Ve, NV. The clothesline belonged to a team of documentary
filmmakers, Noriko and Don Carroll, authors of the highly
accled book, First Flight: A Mother Hummingbird's Story (pub.
Andrews McMeel).
This enchanting and remarkably detailed nature film reveals the
tireless efforts of the mother, who the Carrolls call Honey. As
she furbishes her tiny nest with delicate spider webs and soft
fibers to prepare for arrival of her eggs, the Carrolls
record her every move.
Stunning close-up photography brings you into the nest as the
hatchlings emerge from their shells. As small as two plump little
raisins, the chicks are named Ray and Zen. A dedicated mom, Honey
courageously fights off predators, nurturing and feeding her
helpless chicks as they begin to grow into beautiful young
hummingbirds.
The Carroll team spent three years documenting Honey's life on
HD video for this remarkable production. Informative narration by
the authors and an inspiring sound track by the critically
accled musicians: Suzanne Teng, Jeff Wahl, Justin Bianco,
Mutandina help round out this story that is both educational and
delightfully entertaining. Includes Making-Of First Flight.
Awards Best Independent Award at the 33rd International Wildlife
Film Festival, Missoula, Montana
-Merit Awards for Story Telling (IWFF, Montana)
-Merit Awards for Educational Value (IWFF, Montana)
-Merit Awards for Animal Behavior (IWFF, Montana)
-Merit Awards for Backyard Nature (IWFF, Montana)
Special Jury Award at the 7th Matsalu International Nature Film
Festival, Estonia
FINALIST Children s Choice Award at Wildscreen 2010 Bristol,
England
FINALIST at the 21st Bird and Nature Festival Abbeville France
FINALIST at Festival international du film animalier Albert
France
Green Screen International Nature Film Festival Eckernfoerde
Germany
This International Edition DVD includes narrations in four
languages such as the original English narration, French, Spanish
and Japanese. Subtitles available all narrated languages plus in
German, Portuguese, Korean, Traditional Chinese and Simplified
Chinese.
MUST SEE EXTRAS! Ever wonder how the hummingbird drinks nectar?
While it's magical wings hum in the air, their long and flexible
tongue dances in the pool of nectar. No one has ever seen this
intricate movement until now...extraordinary slow motion films,
Secrets of the Hummingbird's Tongue and Flight Fantasy.
Includes Hummingbird slide show.
This DVD is appropriate for all ages.
Review
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This enchanting nature documentary follows the dedicated
efforts of a tiny black-chinned hummingbird (nicknamed Honey by
filmmakers Don Carroll and Noriko Carroll) to lay, incubate, and
hatch two tiny raisin-sized eggs and raise the fledgling chicks.
The film begins with remarkable nest-building close-ups; the soft
fiber bird home rests on the Carroll's porch clothesline in Las
Ve. Inventive 360-degree macro s follow the progress,
including egg development, incubation, hatching, feedings, nest
defense (including chasing away the Carrolls' cat), and first
flight. Honey's protective and attentive mothering is enlivened
through Noriko Carroll's informative and humorous narration and
rich musical soundtrack. This entertaining film includes a bonus
making-of feature. Bird and nature fans will be entranced. --
Carol Holzberg (Booklist) --Booklist
STARRED REVIEW - Gr 7 Up Filmmakers spent three years documenting
the life of a Black-chinned Hummingbird who had built a nest on a
clothesline in the backyard of their Las Ve home. The female
narrator s soft, accented voice is complemented by a delightful
musical soundtrack. Outstanding photographic techniques show the
life cycle of this diminutive bird, named Honey by the
filmmakers. Divided into sections, the film follows Honey as she
builds the nest, secures it with spider webs, lays two eggs,
waits for them to hatch, feeds the babies, and encourages them to
take flight approximately three weeks after birth. The close-up
photography is amazing and a delight to watch. The second half of
the program, a making of the documentary segment, will enlighten
film students and photographers. A range of grade levels can
utilize this film, and it will be especially useful in science
classes. This documentary is joyous and viewers will be pleased
that they were invited into the hummingbird world. -- Patricia
Ann Owens, Wabash Valley College, Mt. Carmel, IL --School Library
Journal
Fascinating, informative and beautifully filmed. As an
ornithologist I was delighted to observe the hatching sequence in
such detail; truly magical footage. First Flight is a film all
ornithologists, students and backyard birders should experience.
-- John Klicka, Ph. D. Curator of Birds at the Marjorie Barrick
Museum University of Nevada Las Ve
It is a lovely work, well designed and well executed. Noriko's
narration is really charming. The hatching sequence is unique.
-- Nancy L. Newfield Author / Hummingbird Bander / Naturalist
One of the finest hummingbird DVD's ever created. You don't
simply watch it. you experience it
-- Dr. H. Ross Hawkins Founder of --The Hummingbird Society