One significant recent change in birding is the availability of instructional, listing, and travel audio tapes, video tapes, and CD-ROMs. These vary greatly in quality, and are often more expensive than books. Some are worth the extra cost, while others are not; and unlike books, you usually can not preview them before you buy. Thus, CMBO has asked me to review these items so it can offer you previews before you part with your hard earned money. We also hope these reviews (as well as your feedback) will lead to improved products. As such, it is my intent to provide reasoned comments (not to flame producers), and to look at the products reviewed from a perspective that will hopefully encourage the production of better birding products. To accomplish these objectives, I will rate each on a scale of 0 (truly worthless) to 10 (the limit of human ability), with half step increments. (The extreme ratings will necessarily be used very rarely.) I also envision a rating of 5 as a product that may or may not, depending upon your perspective, be worth purchasing (other than at a very inexpensive price.) However, there may be products I rate below 5 that could be of potential interest to a limited audience. Thus, I may recommend these with limitations.

The amount of detail in these reviews will vary. Some products contain relatively little content. As such, they can be reviewed in great detail. Others are much more complex and contain large amounts of material. These cannot be reviewed in as great detail without authoring a book, which would render the reviews functionally useless, as virtually no one would read them. However, because these reviews are on the Society's web page I can offer significantly greater detail than would be possible in magazines or newsletters. It also permits me to update and/or add to them as time and circumstances warrant, and to provide basic operating instructions which, if provided at all, are almost always done via the products "Help" program. I believe this last point is important because many people are not accustomed to using "Help" programs, which all too often results in their not fully exploring the products they purchase.

I recognize that these reviews offer but one person's opinion (even though I often discuss the products with others). I also recognize that, regardless of the degree of expertise I may (or may not) have, there are many who know significantly more than I. Thus, for better or worse, I offer my thoughts and, more importantly (I hope), the reasons for them.

Finally, if my efforts are to be as successful as I hope, I will need your feedback. Thus, please let us know what you think and why, keeping in mind that the most helpful comments are well reasoned.

Michael R. Hannisian

MRHESQ@prodigy.net

INDEX

Video Ratings Summary

Watching Warblers (Michael Male and Judith Fieth)

Large Gulls of North America (Jon L. Dunn)

Backyard Birds (Eric and Marcia Muller)

Skippers of the Northeast (Richard K. Walton)

Common Dragonflies of the Northeast (Richard K. Walton)

Attracting Birds I and II (Don and Lillian Stokes)

Birding Hotspots (Don and Lillian Stokes)

Garden Birds of North America (George H. Harrison)

Hummingbirds Up Close (National Audubon Society)

Owls Up Close (National Audubon Society)

Hawks Up Close (National Audubon Society)

Bluebirds Up Close (National Audubon Society)

Cardinals Up Close (National Audubon Society)

How to Begin Birdwatching (Don and Lillian Stokes)

Blue Earth Films (1996)

Watching Warblers by Michael Male and Judith Fieth is the best instructional birding product currently on the market. It is 60 minutes long, and retails for $39.95. (It is worth twice that amount). I thus strongly recommend Watching Warblers to everyone with an interest in birds or birding regardless of expertise. I know of no better vehicle to introduce the neophyte to the primary songs and breeding plumages of our eastern warblers (the tape admittedly does not cover the western members of this tribe and only briefly touches on basic or immature plumages). This product uses close up video the quality of which ranges from very good to excellent. (The only comparison I can make is with Elliot Porter's avian photo portraits. However, these obviously give but single views and no sound.) By the same token, there are probably few advanced birders (the David Sibleys and Michael O'Briens of the world possibly excluded) who can not pick up some worthwhile tidbit from this tape. Regardless (and including the David Sibleys and Michael O'Briens of the world), it is hard to imagine anyone who would not thoroughly enjoy this tape strictly for its esthetics.

It requires little for even the most casual birder to appreciate the effort needed to secure the footage used, and to those of us who have tried (often without success) to get good looks at Cerulean, Mourning, Hooded, or Kentucky Warblers, the quality and quantity of the video is patently outstanding. (Should anyone be still unconvinced, I suggest (s)he try to photograph any of these species. Having spent some time doing so myself, I am all the more impressed with this instructional work of art.)

Also nicely presented are the habitat and nesting requirements of the various species, how the singing males react when another of the same species sings within ear shot (conclusively demonstrating why recordings of songs should not be used to attract territorial individuals), and the family lives of the breeding pairs shown. It is not surprising that it took six years to complete this work.

As with any substantive authority, Watching Warblers must be viewed repeatedly to gain maximum benefit as there is simply too much to absorb in a single sitting. Regardless, those who already know the plumages and songs so well as to have little to learn from this tape will probably want to repeatedly watch it for the pure pleasure that it gives. All in all, Watching Warblers sets a standard that will be hard to match, let alone better. I only hope that this is not the last such work of this talented team.

This is not to say that Watching Warblers is perfect. It was, after all, created by mere (albeit vastly talented) mortals.

First, Mr. Male and Ms Fieth, while excellent avian cinematographers, are not quite as good narrators, and their opening introduction is stiffly delivered. (Their substantive narrations are better).

Second, the tape ends on a "preachy" note about conservation which, while I fully agree with the sentiments expressed and recognize their importance, I nonetheless do not believe belongs on this tape. (I continue to struggle with this point of criticism, but believe, rightly or otherwise, that the esthetic quality of Watching Warblers is somehow lessened by raising this topic.)

Third, and the only factual shortcoming I detected, is the implication that Orange-crowned Warblers only breed in western Canada. While I hold myself out as no expert on this (or any other) species, I have observed Orange-crowneds acting very territorial in July in the mountains of Zion National Park in southern Utah, and Peterson (who could rightly claim the requisite expertise) shows them breeding in eastern Canada as well as the western United States.

Again, these are minor points, but with a work of this quality, there is little room for improvement.

On a scale of 0 (truly worthless) to 10 (the outer limit of human ability), I rate Watching Warblers 9˝. I do not rate it 10 (and this is admittedly picky) for the three reasons just noted. Regardless, I wholeheartedly recommend Watching Warblers to everyone still capable of breathing (with or without assistance).

Michael R. Hannisian

MRHESQ@prodigy.net

A Peregrine Video Production (1997)

The Large Gulls of North America, narrated by Jon L. Dunn, accurately portrays itself as an advanced birding product as it addresses a difficult topic, the age and gender plumage sequences of 13 species of large (requiring at least 3 years to reach maturity) gulls regularly occurring within the United States, plus hybrids. As such, do not expect to view this 2 hour tape once and have mastered its contents or this topic. These gulls exhibit many difficult plumages, and potential of this tape cannot be fully realized without a number of viewings (and with a high level attention and concentration).

The Large Gulls of North America, after a short pep-talk introduction, briefly defines some of the terminology used (an included card the size of the cassette offers more), and then outlines a typical large gull plumage sequence using the typical North American subspecies of the Herring Gull (smithsonianus). Each of the 13 species is then explored in detail, with the hybrids placed appropriately.

It is during the detailed species discussions that the strengths of The Large Gulls of North America show themselves. First, the footage is quite good, and rendered all the better by the use of slow motion, stills, spot shadows, and arrows pointing to the bird(s) or plumage(s) being discussed. However, in what appears to be an attempt to make this tape snappy, it also uses certain zoom phase techniques that detract from the learning experience. A less flashy, slower transition would have resulted in a more effective learning tool.

One of the reasons The Large Gulls of North America is two hours long is that it explores the various subspecies of the gulls presented, where they are likely to occur, and when to be forewarned of the likelihood of having to deal with extra-limital forms or species.

Dunn's explanations are quite good, reflecting the breadth of his understanding of the subject and, where relevant, citing published works for those interested in a more detailed examination of certain species. Dunn also nicely explains the physical characteristics to look for, such as bill and head size and shape. However, his explanations are sometimes too fast to be readily absorbed by those of us who are less than expert (and even though it should be obvious that this tape requires repeated watching.) This is not to say that only those fully dedicated to conquering the mysteries of this group should bother with this product. Rather, my point is that to gain all that this extensive tape offers you must put in the requisite time. Regardless, even the less dedicated (i.e.: more rational) among us can benefit from but a few viewings of this tape, so long as it is done with some level of awareness and concentration.

As noted, this is the first of an intended series, and I only hope that the tapes that follow will be as thorough and well done as this one.

On a scale of 0 (truly worthless) to 10 (the outer limit of human ability), I rate The Large Gulls of North America a 9. I do not rate it higher because it could be a little more user-friendly by having slightly slower narration and by eliminating some of the flashing transitions. Regardless, The Large Gulls of North America is an outstanding product that fills niche that was very much in need of filling.

Michael R. Hannisian

MRHESQ@prodigy.net

Terra Guides (1997)

Backyard Birds of the Northeast by Eric and Marcia Muller is a good, professional, 90 minute instructional video covering 23 admittedly common species likely to be seen at feeders from Virginia to southern Canada to Michigan. It is aimed at a limited audience -- those who know very little about bird identification but want to learn. Backyard Birds uses close up footage with freeze frames and labels to effectively show how to identify the included species (thereby laying a good foundation for the identification of other species). It is 90 minutes long, retails for $34.95, and I strongly recommend it to its intended audience.

Backyard Birds states that it is the first in a series, but apparently the others are not yet available (and I very much look forward to when they become so). The other volumes will reportedly cover about 100 species in detail (with other species being covered to a lesser extent) grouped by habitats: roadside, woodland, wetland, and shoreline.

Backyard Birds nicely groups the birds it examines so that it is unlikely to overwhelm the beginner. The first group includes Blue Jay and Black-capped Chickadee, which are then used as size models. The discussion of the latter species includes mention of the Carolina Chickadee, which Backyard Birds handles nicely by noting that the two are difficult to separate. (Had Backyard Birds tried to do more with these species, the result would almost certainly have been counter-productive because of the lack of experience of intended audience.) Also, the tempo encourages learning by being neither too slow nor too fast.

Again, Backyard Birds is a fine instructional video (for its intended audience) with much good content including the nice use of labels to emphasize and summarize field marks; effective quizzes with answers and detailed explanations; good supplemental information such as why males are often more colorful than females and showing the range extension of the Northern Cardinal; an interesting discussion of why it was not wise to have imported House Sparrows, European Starlings, or House Finches; good explanations as to size and proportion as field marks; and nice illustrations and discussions of the different plumages of the species involved.

The opening sequence uses good, close up video of a number of species, including outstanding footage of an adult male Cape May Warbler (always a favorite at CMBO). Likewise, the "tease" for the other volumes (footage used to promote them) is of high quality.

However, the opening and "tease" species present one of the few (and minor) potential problems with Backyard Birds in that they are neither common, covered, nor identified in this volume, and thus could cause confusion and/or discouragement in beginning birders. Perhaps the use of labels (as is done later in the tape) identifying the species would reduce the likelihood of this potential problem while still allowing the use of this quality footage. (Another problem, again minor, is that an enclosed brochure is referenced on the tape, but none is provided.)

On a scale of 0 (truly worthless) to 10 (the outer limit of human ability), I rate Backyard Birds of the Northeast a 9. I do not rate it higher because its intended audience is very limited, and because of the confusion the introductory and "tease" sequences could cause. Nonetheless, these are very minor concerns, and I strongly recommend Backyard Birds of the Northeast to virtually all who do not know how to identify anything beyond an American Robin, but want to learn. Very nicely done.

Michael R. Hannisian

MRHESQ@prodigy.net

SKIPPERS OF THE NORTHEAST:

My experience with butterflies is decidedly limited (about one year of field experience), and thus I claim no expertise in this area and can not comment on Skippers of the Northeast to the extent my almost 30 years birding experience permits when reviewing birding products.

Nonetheless, I can unhesitatingly state that Skippers of the Northeast is an effective (albeit not perfect) learning tool.

Skippers NE is 47 minutes long, retails for $24.95, is narrated by its writer Richard K. Walton, and covers the 45 open and closed winged skippers of the northeastern United States. In addition to the videotape, Skippers NE comes with a small printed card stating its purpose (to help you learn to identify the covered skippers), how best to use it (after an initial viewing, study a small number at a time), a brief discourse on butterfly binoculars (they must focus close), a list of the species covered including where they occur on the tape, answers to the two included quizzes, and a brief bibliography.

Skippers NE is the most comprehensive instructional butterfly video for our region I have yet seen. It presents rather good video of perched individuals showing both the dorsal (upper) and ventral (lower) surfaces of these generally small butterflies. Although some of the footage is of individuals being blown by the wind, this is somewhat mitigated by the use of freeze frames. (The use of more would have been even better.) There are also two quizzes, one in the middle covering six species, and one at the end covering ten. The answers are not given on the tape (as noted they are on the enclosed card) which makes this a more effective learning tool.

A reasonable amount of time is spent with each species, and a lot of information is given. As such, this video may be disappointing to someone who mistakenly thinks learning is simply a matter of watching something once and magically retaining it all. As Mr. Walton correctly indicates, after an initial viewing, you should pick a relatively small number of species (which will undoubtedly increase as you learn), and concentrate on them. (As with birds, you learn butterflies one species at a time.) On the other hand, this video would be a more effective learning tool if a few minutes had been spent at the beginning defining terms and illustrating butterfly anatomy. I also found myself occasionally forgetting the species being illustrated which meant that I had to rewind the tape breaking the flow and my concentration. This situation could have been prevented by inserting a small identification label in a corner (as in Dragonflies of the Northeast).

On a scale of 0 (truly worthless) to 10 (the outer limit of human ability), I rate Skippers of the Northeast an 8˝ and strongly recommend it. It is an effective (if not perfect) learning tool offering good footage and information in a manner that generally encourages learning. It is also reasonably priced at $24.95 (especially given that NJAS/CMBO members can get it at a discount).

Michael R. Hannisian

MRHESQ@prodigy.net

I readily admit I am new to dragonflies, and thus claim no more than a growing interest in them. As such, I cannot comment on Common Dragonflies to the extent my almost 30 years birding experience permits when reviewing birding products. Nonetheless, I am currently learning dragonflies and have a significant interest in them. Thus, I write the following.

Common Dragonflies of the Northeast is 30 minutes long, retails for $24.95, is narrated by Richard A. Foster, and covers 44 of the more common dragonflies of the northeastern United States. Its stated purpose is to aid the viewer in learning to "easily recognize most of the common dragonflies you will encounter in the Northeast." As such, this is one of the more potentially important current instructional videos because of the absence of field guides covering this group. (Sidney W. Dunkle’s Dragonflies of the Florida Peninsula, Bermuda and the Bahamas (1989) and Damselflies of the Florida Peninsula, Bermuda and the Bahamas (1990) are the closest current works, although I have been told that one covering the northeast is expected to be available sometime in 1999.) In addition to the videotape, Common Dragonflies comes with a small printed card identifying other sources of dragonfly information, a brief discourse on dragonflier tools (binoculars and nets - Common Dragonflies states that it is sometimes necessary to catch dragonflies to identify them), a list (by common and scientific name) of the 44 species covered including where they occur on the tape, and a brief bibliography.

In general, Common Dragonflies does a reasonably good job achieving its goal, although there is room for improvement. Its format is to show video of each species (using generally good footage of perched individuals) with the relevant name and size appearing to the side. Each description account includes the various field marks of the species, general behavior, habitat preferences, and even migration information where relevant. However, if a few minutes had been spent showing and/or discussing the basic anatomy (as in Jon Dunn’s Large Gulls of North America), this information would be more easily assimilated (especially given that the target audience is relatively inexperienced). Likewise, the species discussions are too fast (lending to the feeling of being overwhelmed that is the anathema of the neophyte).

While the lack of time spent on each species is not surprising (44 species in 30 minutes does not allow for prolonged treatments), it still detracts. Interestingly, in 1995, Brownbag Productions issued The Skippers of the Northeast, a video which does not suffer from these weaknesses. Furthermore, Skippers includes quizzes which allow its viewers to test themselves (with the answers on an enclosed card so that the video does not give them away). Nonetheless, Common Dragonflies is a worthy product that fills (albeit not fully) a significant gap in the natural history instruction niche.

On a scale of 0 (truly worthless) to 10 (the outer limit of human ability), I rate Common Dragonflies a 7˝ and generally recommend it. It is a helpful guide offering good footage and information, even if it is rushed and assumes a degree of knowledge on the part of the viewer that may not exist. It is also reasonably priced at $24.95 (especially given that NJAS/CMBO members can get it at a discount).

Michael R. Hannisian

MRHESQ@prodigy.net

The Company for Home Entertainment, Inc. (1998)

Don and Lillian Stokes have released a number of video tapes based upon their PBS TV series BirdWatch. These videos appear to be collections of segments from their PBS series and, as such, tend to suffer (to varying degrees) from a lack of thematic and developmental cohesion. Birding Hotspots is approximately 50 minutes long, covers five well known birding locations in three of our southern states (J.N. "Ding" Darling NWR and Corkscrew Sanctuary in Florida, Madera Canyon in Arizona, and Bentson-Rio Grande SP and Santa Ana NWR in Texas), and lists for $19.95. As with all of the Stokes’ videos I have seen to date (including their PBS series), Birding Hotspots is a low key, folksy presentation hosted by Don and Lillian Stokes. As such, it will almost certainly appeal to the newer, modestly interested birder (as virtually all of us were for at least part of our birding lives) more than to the experienced birder. (It is unlikely to appeal to hard-core birders.)

Birding Hotspots is one of the better of the Stokes’ post-production videos since each of its segments share the same general theme: a brief, personal view of a well-known birding location augmented with additional information about the area. However, it is still apparent that Birding Hotspots is a cut-and-paste effort using pre-existing footage and commentary. (I strongly suspect these post-production videos were produced because sales of their BirdWatch series video set were disappointing).

The J.N. "Ding" Darling footage includes the Little Blue Heron, Pied-billed Grebe, and Blue-winged Teal augmented with basic information concerning the importance of large-scale habitat protection.

The Corkscrew footage includes Red-shouldered Hawk, Green, Black-crowned Night, Tri-colored, Little Blue, Great Blue Herons, Great Egret (including one catching a catfish), Barred Owl, White Ibis, Swallow-tailed Kite, and Wood Storks with by a brief discussion of the last species’ nesting status.

The Madera Canyon segment begins with an explanation of why this area is so birdy. Its footage includes Acorn Woodpeckers, Painted Redstart, Bridled Titmouse, Mexican Jay, Cactus Wren, White-winged Dove, and Anna, Broad-billed, Costa, Black-chinned, and Magnificent Hummingbirds.

The Bentsen-Rio Grande footage includes Great-tailed Grackles, Plain Chachalacas, Altamira Orioles, Inca Dove, Brown-crested Flycatcher (adding a snake skin to its nest), Harris’ Hawk (with a brief explanation of this species’ group hunting behavior) Green Jay augmented with some good ideas on how to by bird feeders and water areas.

The Santa Ana footage includes Least Grebe, Black-necked Stilt, Black-bellied Whistling Ducks, Neotropic Cormorant, Great Kisskadee, Olive Sparrow, and Buff-bellied hummingbird. It also explains the severe need for water at this refuge.

On a scale of 0 (truly worthless) to 10 (the outer limit of human ability), I rate Birding Hotspots a 6 ˝ and generally recommend it. It presents a reasonably interesting tour of five noteworthy birding locations in three of our southern states as well as some good footage of their birds and related information. It is also reasonably priced at $19.95 (especially given that NJAS/CMBO members can get it at a discount).

Michael R. Hannisian

MRHESQ@prodigy.net

Company for Home Entertainment, Inc., Harrison Productions, Inc. (1996)

Garden Birds of America by George H. Harrison is 45 minutes long, and retails for $19.95. It is a basically enjoyable video with some nice footage of certain common garden birds from around the country. The premise of the tape is to take a look at back yard gardens in Arizona, Connecticut, Colorado, Georgia, southern California, and Wisconsin. With the exception of Colorado, one garden is shown in each region, with an emphasis on the birds that appear there. In Colorado, two gardens are briefly shown. Thus, seven gardens in 45 minutes necessarily results in a cursory view of each, and little detail. While the footage is good, it is also a bit disappointing because the birds are so common. This is not to say I do not like American Robins or Chipping Sparrows (two species I have always enjoyed), it is just that I would have preferred to have seen more of the specialty species for the regions. This criticism is mitigated by two factors. First, because the birds shown are from differing parts of the country, most viewers are likely to see birds with which they are either unfamiliar or see rarely. Second, the quality of the footage of some the birds shown is quite good, such as the Scarlet Tanager in Connecticut, the Western Meadowlark in Colorado, the White-winged Dove in Arizona, the California Quail in Southern California, and the Rose-breasted Grosbeak in Wisconsin. Also good is the discussion, albeit brief, of how habitats can be created that otherwise do not exist, such as the use of the wall of the Arizona house and large (for the area) trees that produced a canyon effect increasing the number and variety of birds attracted to the yard.

Nonetheless, other parts are disappointing such as the portion in Connecticut where, during footage of a White-crowned Sparrow, the narration implies that if it were not for the fact that White-throated Sparrows were only migrants there, they might be confused with the White-crowneds. Although I have done little birding in Connecticut, winter or otherwise, I have spent much time birding northern New Jersey where White-throats are common winter birds. Thus, I strongly suspect this is also true in Connecticut. Furthermore, Peterson (who lived in Connecticut) shows their wintering range to extend significantly beyond this State. Regardless, these are species that are not likely to be confused by anyone who has used his/her bins more than once.

On a scale of 0 (truly worthless) to 10 (the outer limit of human ability), I rate Garden Birds of America a 6˝. It is enjoyable, if too much is not expected of it, and is reasonably priced at $19.95 (especially given that NJAS/CMBO members can get it at a discount).

Michael R. Hannisian

MRHESQ@prodigy.net

The National Audubon Society, by Nature Science Network, Inc. (1988)

Hummingbirds Up Close covers 13 to 15 U.S. species (the tape says 13 while the box says 15), is 55 minutes long, and is narrated by Michael Godfrey. Hummingbirds’ video is (as is true with all of this series) inconsistent including both good and mediocre footage. However, Hummingbirds (the first in the series) offers the best use of maps and other illustrations. Thus, despite being the first in the series, Hummingbirds Up Close is the best of the lot (although it still suffers from a generally amateurish approach).

Unlike the rest of the Up Close series, Hummingbirds explains how to identify the species shown. Of particular interest is the explanations of how to separate female Black-chinned and Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, how to separate adult male Allen’s and Rufous Hummingbirds, and how to tell a male Broad-tailed Hummingbird by sound. Unfortunately, other segments features backlit shots, and the all too common weakness of this series, out of focus shots.

The use of distribution and migration maps is good, as is the use of illustrations explaining the brightness of the throats of most male hummingbirds. Other good information includes why hummingbirds do not walk, what to feed them, what types of feeders to use, and how to prepare and maintain hummingbird feeding stations.

On a scale of 0 (truly worthless) to 10 (the outer limit of human ability), I rate Hummingbirds Up Close a 6˝. It has decent video and information, offers the best use of maps and other visual aids, and (unlike the others in this series) explains how to identify its subjects. Unfortunately, it also suffers from poor footage, and is generally an amateurish production. However, it is not excessively priced at $29.95 (especially given that NJAS/CMBO members can get it at a discount).

Michael R. Hannisian

MRHESQ@prodigy.net

The National Audubon Society, by Nature Science Network, Inc. (1991)

Owls Up Close covers 18 species of U.S. owls, is 55 minutes long, is written by Kenn Kaufman, and is narrated by Michael Godfrey. It generally is on a par with Hawks Up Close as far as the quality of the video and content are concerned, and is an above average video worthy of consideration despite some weaker points.

Much of the footage in this product is of perched owls, with a number, not surprisingly, having been shot at night. These necessarily, are not as satisfying as is some of the daytime video, but are generally reasonable. Nonetheless, the best footage is of an incredibly white Snowy Owl flying among pressure ridges of ice on the Great Lakes. This is a truly stunning individual. Not quite as good, but interesting in its own right, is the footage of the Snowy Owls in the hand photographed during a banding project at Boston’s Logan Airport. (Who would not envy the young girl releasing a just banded Snowy?)

Also noteworthy is the video of perched Great Horned Owls, the pair of Barred Owls preening each other, a flightless young Barn Owl swallowing a rat almost as large as itself, and shots of the long-legged Burrowing Owls stretching to full height (including how to spot one by looking for a slightly taller fence post) and scratching out the entrance to its burrow.

Likewise, the explanations of how owls can locate prey by sound alone is good. However, the discussion of why Burrowing Owls need to have human habitation nearby is not only counter-intuitive (as the narrator admits), but also ignores the fact that the species existed for millions of years without our assistance.

On a scale of 0 (truly worthless) to 10 (the outer limit of human ability), I rate Hawks Up Close a 6. It has some decent video, is modestly instructive and not excessively priced at $29.95 (especially given that NJAS/CMBO members can get it at a discount).

Michael R. Hannisian

MRHESQ@prodigy.net

The National Audubon Society, by Nature Science Network, Inc. (1992)

Hawks Up Close: covers 30 species of U.S. diurnal raptors (and one other), is 55 minutes long, is written by Kenn Kaufman, and is narrated by Michael Godfrey. It generally is on a par with Owls Up Close as far as the quality of the video and content are concerned, but with some exceptions. Regardless, it is an above average video and worthy of consideration.

Footage highlights include a Red-tailed Hawk taking a rat and another Red-tail holding steady (without flapping) in the wind. The former is good enough that I am not certain whether the rat was wild. (Could it have been a laboratory animal unaware of the peril posed by the Red-tail? Perhaps, but if it was the same individual later shown sinking its teeth into the toes of a Red-tail, it may have been wild indeed.) The footage of the Red-shouldered Hawks raising their young is also good, as is the that of the Swallow-tailed Kites in flight and the male American Kestrel and Ferruginous Hawks perched. However, not all of the video is this good. Much of the flight footage, especially of the falcons, is poor enough that it substantially detracts from the overall quality of this product. For example, the footage of a probable Peregrine is so poor that I am not certain it is a Peregrine. Similarly, footage described as showing a dark morph Red-tailed shows what appears to be a typical light morph individual.

A questionable aspect of this video is the use of Semi-plumbeous Hawk footage since, so far as I can tell, this hawk does not occur within the United States. I suspect this is an example of the rather common tendency among videographers to use their better footage even if it does not readily fit the theme of the tape. Nonetheless, some good information is imparted via this tape. Examples include the discussion (albeit brief) of the social behavior of Harris Hawk, Northern Harrier polygamy, and how difficult it is for birds of prey to survive in the wild.

An idea that, at least to my mind, would have added to this video would have been to note some of the identifying features of the species shown, such as the belly-bands so prominently visible in much of the Red-tail footage.

On a scale of 0 (truly worthless) to 10 (the outer limit of human ability), I rate Hawks Up Close a 6. It has some decent video, is modestly instructive and not excessively priced at $29.95 (especially given that NJAS/CMBO members can get it at a discount).

Michael R. Hannisian

The National Audubon Society, by Nature Science Network, Inc. (1989) 

Bluebirds Up Close covers all 3 U.S. species (but not equally), is 50 minutes long, and is narrated by Michael Godfrey. The video is inconsistent and some mediocre footage, but some interesting information (as well as some questionable ideas) is offered making this tape worthy of consideration.

Bluebirds claims to cover all three United States species of bluebirds, but the Western and Mountain Bluebirds are barely mentioned or shown (and then not always identified). This is likely the result of Nature Science Network being located in North Carolina. Also, the video quality (as is all too common in this series) is inconsistent with much of the footage out of focus and many of the flight shots poorly executed.

Nonetheless, some good information is contained in this tape including nest box design, placement, and predator guard considerations, the historical importance of orchards to Eastern Bluebirds, their use of utility wires, the viability of bluebird feeders and what to put in them, habitat selection, and the significance of bluebirds (as well as most other songbirds) not starting to incubate until a full clutch has been laid.

The use of Eastern Bluebird song in the background is a nice touch, but its effectiveness as a teaching tool is compromised by the unidentified inclusion of Cedar Waxwing and American Goldfinch vocalizations.

There is also an interesting discussion on why the European Starling is less of a threat than is the House Sparrow to bluebirds. However, I question the statement that House Sparrows actually kill adult bluebirds, as opposed to displacing them from their nests.

On a scale of 0 (truly worthless) to 10 (the outer limit of human ability), I rate Bluebirds Up Close a 6. It has some decent video, is modestly instructive and not excessively priced at $29.95 (especially given that NJAS/CMBO members can get it at a discount).

Michael R. Hannisian

MRHESQ@prodigy.net

The National Audubon Society, by Nature Science Network, Inc. (1992)

Cardinals Up Close is 50 minutes long and narrated by Michael Godfrey. This tape, as with the others of the Up Close series, suffers from the repeated use of mediocre video footage, some questionable information, and a generally amateurish production quality.

Too much of the video in Cardinals appears to have been shot through a window or is otherwise not consistently in focus. Also, much of the footage is through a tangle of branches, and otherwise good nest sequences are backlit thus showing just the shapes of the birds. Ironically, much of the better video is of other species such as Blue Jay, Cactus Wren, American Robin, Rose-breasted and Evening Grosbeaks, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Pyrrhuloxia, and Indigo Bunting. There are also some good examples of background vocalizations, but rarely are the other species (or their songs or calls) identified. Had this been done periodically, it would have added to the overall quality of the tape. Likewise adding to the amateurish feel is the failure to use a microphone windscreen (the fuzzy rubber ball often seen on outdoor microphones) so that the technical quality of the outdoor interviews is poor.

This is not to say that some good video and information is not provided as there are good, close-up shots of male Northern Cardinals feeding females and some interesting points made concerning feeders and feed selection. Rather, the inclusion of the mediocre video and questionable information detracts from the positive. An example of the latter is the statement that the Sharp-shinned Hawk is the main enemy of the Northern Cardinal. While a female Sharpie has no problem handling a Cardinal, a male is much more likely to prey on warblers and sparrows. Thus, while this statement is not necessarily misinformation, it is likely to confuse the relatively inexperienced person who is the obvious target of this video. Also detracting is the use of narration of John James Audubon in an artificial French accent, and the section on the need to conserve tropical forests but does not belong in this tape as shown by the admission that Northern Cardinals do not migrate.

On a scale of 0 (truly worthless) to 10 (the outer limit of human ability), I rate Cardinals Up Close a 5˝. It has decent video and information, but is generally an amateurish production. However, it is not excessively priced at $29.95 (especially given that NJAS/CMBO members can get it at a discount).

Michael R. Hannisian

MRHESQ@prodigy.net

The Company for Home Entertainment, Inc. (1998)

Don and Lillian Stokes have released a number of videotapes based upon their PBS TV series BirdWatch. These videos appear to be collections of segments from their series and, as such, suffer (in varying degrees) from a lack of thematic cohesion and development. How to Begin Birdwatching is approximately 50 minutes long, lists for $19.95, and suffers more from this lack of cohesion and development than do the others I have seen in this series. This is indeed unfortunate, as there is a lot of misinformation in current circulation about what birding is and how to join in. This is not to say that How to Begin Birdwatching provides misinformation, as it does not. Rather, its disjointed segments provide incomplete information that can easily mislead, and wanders rather far afield from the purpose implied by its title.

How to Begin Birdwatching starts with 10 "tips": 1) always have binoculars with you, 2) bird in different habitats, 3) bird edges (where habitats meet), 4) listen for bird sounds, 5) read the text of field guides (don’t just look at the illustrations), 6) use field guide range maps, 7) use checklists that indicate when species occur, 8) use bird finding guides, 9) keep birding records, and 10) use chickadee groups to lead you to other species. While these tips have merit, the lack of time spent on each necessarily results in an incomplete presentation. (They make sense to those who are already in the know, but not necessarily to those who are not. For a much better example of a teaching tool, see Terra Guides’ Backyard Birds of the Northeast by Eric and Marcia Muller.)

Perhaps the most significant example of incomplete information involves the discussion of how to select binoculars (the only really crucial birding tool). While a fair amount of basic information is given, how to actually select a pair is never addressed. (For those interested in one person’s view, I have briefly described, at the end of this review, how I believe binoculars should be purchased.) Another problem is that a lot of the offered information, while interesting, has little to do with how to begin birding. Examples of this include: explaining why birds peck at their reflections, why some birds sing at night, where birds go at night, and why woodpeckers drum. Also misplaced is the section on bird photography which is really an altogether different subject. Again, this information is not bad or inaccurate so much as it just does not belong in a video with this title. On the other hand, discussing how to age gulls is just too advanced a topic for beginners.

One good point the Stokes make involves how to help someone locate a bird you have found in a tree. Think of the tree as a clock with 12 o’clock straight up, 3 o’clock to the right, 6 o’clock straight down, and 9 o’clock to the left. Direct your companion to the hour where the bird is hiding, and how far it is in from the edge. (Would that they had included more information such as this in How to Begin Birdwatching.)

On a scale of 0 (truly worthless) to 10 (the outer limit of human ability), I rate How to Begin Birdwatching a 5 and can only recommend it on a limited basis. It presents some reasonable, basic information, but with a lack of completeness and thematic cohesion that is likely to be misleading (especially to neophytes who are the seemingly intended audience). It is priced at $19.95 (and NJAS/CMBO members get a discount), but may not be worth the money for the reasons noted above.

Michael R. Hannisian

MRHESQ@prodigy.net

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