Episode
01 - VENEZUELAN BIRDS – DIVERSITY
From the 9,000 species of birds inhabiting our planet,
40% are found in South America, making this the
Bird Continent. Venezuela, a relatively small country
the size of Texas and Oklahoma combined, can boast
1,347 species. The reason for this avian richness
is simple. The country holds more than 25 different
ecosystems. This chapter shows some 100 species
of Venezuelan birds in their natural habitats, exploring
the biology, behavior, feeding adaptations and songs
as well as their interaction with the environment.
A kaleidoscope of shapes, colors, beaks and feathers
in astounding close ups.
Episode 02 - VENEZUELAN
BIRDS - BREEDING Perhaps the most interesting
aspects of the study of birds is their ability to
adapt to aquatic environments as well as their various
breeding behaviors. The first part deals with water
birds in their natural habitat, showing the various
techniques the individual species have developed
to capture their prey. The remaining two thirds
are devoted to the breeding strategies of various
species including storks, lapwings, thornbirds,
flycatchers, thrushes, seedeaters and fruiteaters.
All shown during their breeding season. Close-ups
of their unique behavioral patterns filmed for the
first time in Venezuela.
Episode 03 - UNDERSEA VENEZUELA
If we exclude insects from the million of animal
species classified to date, two third of the species
left inhabit the seas. Venezuela has 1,700 miles
of shoreline as well as numerous islands and archipelagoes
in the Caribbean. Undersea Venezuela illustrates
the fascinating richness of the reefs found in its
waters. Dozen of species of fish and invertebrates,
their individual characteristics, their behavioral
patterns, the myths grown around them as well as
their reality can be enjoyed with this fascinating
video photography.
Episode 04 - THE CAPYBARA
Although neotropical fauna is characterized by an
astounding wealth of species, it has very few large
mammals. But, the evolutionary adaptation has lead
to gigantic rodends. Including the largest in the
world… .the Capybara which may weight 130 pounds.
This documentary summarizes over 10 years of research
of the natural history of the Capybara and includes
unpublished images of the biology and behavior of
this South American colossus. The first and most
comprehensive audiovisual documentary produced on
the Capybara inVenezuela.
Episode 05 - MORROCOY NATIONAL
PARK Beautiful beaches with crystal clear
waters, keys and islands, channels and mangroves,
lagoons and salt ponds, sea birds, coral reefs,
abundant marine life..... This is Morrocoy, a marine
and submarine National Park which has the most important
mangrove system in the southern Caribbean. The marine
and submarine fauna make it the great ecological
scene of the Venezuelan coast line. Beautiful landscapes
and environments, marine birds, the fauna of the
mangroves as well as the submarine fauna..All these
and much more are to be found in Morrocoy.
Episode 06 - SOMEWHERE
IN THE PLAINS OF THE ORINOCO The Llanos....
a magical land of open, flooded plains in the rainy
season that is burnt dry during the other half of
the year when no rain falls. It is the home of hundreds
of animal species living in perfect harmony with
this, their difficult environment. An incredible
wealth of species native to the Llanos make it one
of the greatest genetic reservoirs of Venezuela.
In this video we will observe more than 40 species
of birds, both large and small reptiles, 20 species
of mammals, fresh water fishes as well as insects,
all in their habitats of savannas, bushes, woods
and rivers.
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Episodes
07 & 08 - STRATEGIES FOR ANIMAL SURVIVAL I
& II Camouflage, inaccessibility,
poison, flight, symbiosis, parasitism, hideaways,
shields, forming groups, fleeing, spikes and knives;
alarm calls, bright colors, distinctive smells,
imitation, attack and defense, adapting to the
night, adapting to man, a complex mosaic of survival
strategies developed by animals to assure their
survival in nature. All animal species are continually
changing, both in their physical appearance and
their behavior. It may take millions of years
for these changes to come about. Those species
that survive do so because during their long evolutionary
process they have perfected certain strategies
that permit them to develop successfully in their
environment. These strategies are so efficient
that they maintain the balance of life among the
numerous species sharing the same habitat, from
the smallest micro-environment to the most complex
ecosystem. Episode
09 -AIR, LAND AND SEA ANIMALS (Compilation)
More than 25 ecosystems are to be found in Venezuela
including over 1,700 miles of shoreline and numerous
off shore islands belonging to the Lesser Antilles,
extensive mountain chains that form a part of
the Andes with their stunning rain and cloud forests,
the Orinoco Delta, the huge flood plains of the
Llanos, the Lost World of the Guyana Shield, the
ancient geological formations of the southern
eastern Venezuela and finally the xerophitic zones
of the coast. A tremendous number of species inhabits
the kaleidoscope of environments, making Venezuela
a country of extremely rich biodiversity. In this
video we will travel through the images and discover
the diversity and variety of birds, mammals, reptiles
as well as underwater animals.
Episode 10 - THE BLUE-AND-WHITE
SWALLOW When we hear the words Flora
and Fauna, we invariably imagine remote areas
whose isolation has permitted a harmonious development
of various species, far from man´s reach
and the uproar of his social and industrial organization.
Although the above is mostly true, there are numerous
species that have adapted to man´s presence
and prosper with us as without us. This chapter
deals with the natural history of the Blue-and-White
Swallow as well as the environment in which it
lives together with other species that normally
inhabit the mountain suburbs of large Latin American
cities.
Episode 11 – THE
ORINOCO CROCODILE A cattle ranch, just
like many of those that abound in the floodable
plains of the Orinoco basin is the location where
the adventure takes place. Half a century ago
his owner decided to share the cattle business
with conservation of the wealthy fauna of the
region. Twenty years ago the first attempts to
breed the Orinoco croc in captivity were made
to save this endangered species, due to massive
hunting for its valuable skin. The documentary
shows the whole yearly process from egg collecting
to the release in the wild. Several parallel episodes
help to understand the environment and the fauna
of the region. Filmed for the first time.
Episode 12 – MASAGUARAL,
A NATURAL ZOO 20.000 acres of cattle
land houses a wealthy fauna on its savannas, lagoons
and riparian forests. The environment of this
region is shown throughout the life of the most
authentic animals of each area, especially mammals,
reptiles and some icon birds. A scientific project
on wedge capuchin monkeys is described by its
author. Bizarre mammals like felines, anteaters,
tayra, capybaras, howler monkeys, agoutis, and
many more are shown in close ups, including its
behavior and relations with the environment.
Episode 13 – BIRDS
IN PARADISE More than 350 species of
birds inhabits the Masaguaral Ranch, making it
one of the most sought after places for scientific
study and observation. Many stories are told to
understand this particular environment. Bizarre
and exotic birds are shown in impressive shots,
such as the southern lapwing, the thick-knee,
the sunbittern, the burrowing owl, the crested
currasow, caciques and oropendolas, flycatchers,
woodpeckers, kites, hawks, caracaras and many
more. Stunning behavior never shown before.
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