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Earthflight Africa. A swiftly moving, action-packed, jaw-dropping film by John Downer that was four years in the making. This latest article outlines the show.

Earthflight Africa

Here is the full episode for you to view online. It is not for the squeamish or the tender-hearted.

I am curious. After watching this film, what are your opinions about imprinting birds for the sole purpose of this kind of entertainment photography? What about the countless other intrusions on the private lives of birds that must have occurred during the making of these films? What are your opinions about that?

Hi Carrie,

Seems to me that you could have given to the detail master himself, Herman Melville, lessons on how to write descriptively.

Particularly liked the line in the article, "the cinematic focus on predator and prey in Africa intensifies." What examples you supplied!

With all of the barn swallows that are found in this part of Mexico, I wonder if many of those 3 million that are supposed to migrate from Africa to Europe somehow find their way to Churintzio, Nexico in a hyperbolic winging sort of way.

Hi!

I like that "hyperbolic winging sort of way". And yes, they do look like errant boomerangs when they fly.

Globally, the barn swallows are estimated at 200 million. The 3 million from that one roost in south Africa will stay primarily intact on its way to Europe. Vagrants will occur, but not likely all the way to you in Mexico.

Barn swallows are found in most parts of the world. The African group migrates back and forth from Europe. The Asian group migrates back and forth from NE Asia to Micronesia/Indonesia, and those in the western hemisphere migrate back and forth from South America to Canada. All of them breed in their northern climes, and winter in their southern habitats.

The Journey North is a good site to explore. While it is written with schoolchildren in mind, it is a good little primer about various migrating species. It is for the uninitiated of any age.

This is a dynamic map of eBird.org barn swallow observations from around the world. Keep in mind that these numbers come from the citizenry when and as they are able or so inclined. So it is not comprehensive, but it is representative to a certain degree.

For a really in-depth and excellent treatise on barn swallows, please see the late AC Bent's Life Histories of Familiar North American Birds. Bent was a dedicated ornithologist who persevered mightily to create this magnum opus. He was an outstanding observer, and had friends throughout this continent who were his eyes and ears and who shared avian anecdotes- most of which Bent chose to pass on to us. His entries are always a good read.

And thank you for the fine compliment regarding Melville. That is a first for me...

Carrie......you've provided a very descriptive and enjoyable review of this film. Thank you. I hope to be able to make some time soon to see it for myself. I enjoy pretty much any film depicting wildlife.