Discovery channel "North America"

FinsnFur · April 26, 2013, 11:54:31 PM

A new 7 part series titled North America is premiering Sunday May 19th, 8:00 CST on the Discovery Channel.
I cant wait to see this.
If it's anything like the series "Planet Earth, and the other one, "Frozen Planet" were in for a real treat.

Dave · April 27, 2013, 06:00:22 AM

Preview looks great. How the hell do they get some of those shots.

FinsnFur · April 27, 2013, 08:25:20 AM

That was one of the bragging points when they were premiering the other two. Incredible high resolution cameras, and some of them simply first generation varicams.
It took 5 years to make this one, I think 9 years for one of the others. Discovery Channels camera crews are relentless and spend hundreds of hours prepping a shot and waiting for it.
Watch the behind the scenes episodes of the "making of" and it'll blow your mind what some of those guys go through to get a shot, and more of it is luck then ya think.

JohnP · April 27, 2013, 11:37:57 AM

Have it marked on the calender, anymore if I don't write things down I have a tendency to forget them.

KySongDog · April 27, 2013, 12:50:44 PM

I'll tune in. And I bet Bopeye will too. The series is sponsored by Little Debbie snacks.

Hawks Feather · April 27, 2013, 05:25:50 PM

Thanks for the heads up. I have it marked on my calendar so that I can watch it. I am sure the rest will have the quality of the trailer and that has me hooked.

Jerry

FinsnFur · May 19, 2013, 10:39:49 AM

Ok here we go...first episode air tonight

Hawks Feather · May 19, 2013, 02:39:51 PM

I already have it set to record so that I can watch it and fast forward through the commercials.

Jerry

Hawks Feather · May 19, 2013, 10:48:58 PM

Started watching this and the footage is amazing!

Jerry

FinsnFur · May 20, 2013, 05:10:21 AM

I agree. I hope they show little tidbits of how they obtained some of that footage. Thats always pretty interesting too.
This first airing seemed a little rushed to me. They went through a LOT of species and it seems like they spent very minimal time with each.
Unlike the other two, "Planet Earth" and "Frozen Planet" I'm wondering they filmed species they came upon for this one instead of seeking them out and studying them.
None the less it was still quite interesting. Cant wait for the second part next Sunday.

Hawks Feather · May 20, 2013, 10:03:32 AM

I kept wondering how long they had to wait for "things" to happen. I just don't think that a bobcat is going to be real receptive to having me walk up and capture images of it while it hunts. Watching the fox catch mice in the snow was both educational and comical. I kept laughing when all you could see were hind legs or a tale sticking out of the snow.

Jerry

FinsnFur · May 20, 2013, 04:02:08 PM

Well, if I remember right when they gave us a behind the scenes of the other two shows they had cameras that would pull em out of the wild a mile away and make it look like it was in your lap.
Now when I think of equipment like that, the first thing that comes to mind is Predator Extreme magazine. Some of those cover pics you can see the bubbles in their saliva as they growl.

But I also remember them talking about camping out and waiting for certain shots. Maybe thats why this one was 5 years in the making

snafu · May 27, 2013, 10:27:10 PM

Did you watch the part about the Red Fox? Narrator mentioned that when a Red Fox is facing "North" it can pin-point sound better under the deep hard pack snow . Hmmm, interesting. Personally I'm of the mind set. That the Reds are more in tune with high pitched sounds. Often dismissing other sounds, as they act indifferent. Where as the coyote pays attention to all sounds.

FinsnFur · May 27, 2013, 10:28:59 PM

Yah that was really interesting. This episode was lot better then the first one I think. It's tough to blink, it's so interesting.

snafu · May 27, 2013, 10:32:11 PM

The facing North aspect had to do with the Earths gravitational fields. I'm not sure I buy that, but interesting regardless. IMO a Reds hearing is as keen as any canines hearing.

Hawks Feather · May 28, 2013, 08:21:01 AM

I have no idea how they determine things like the gravitational fields, etc. But animals can come up with some pretty amazing "things". I can understand that a herd of buffalo make a path and then continue to walk that same path, but then there are migrating water fowl that use the same flyways. I know that there are prevailing winds, etc, but it just seems like a flock or two would say, "We are going out on our own this year. Because all those eagles are waiting for us by the frozen lake." Then there are the salmon who are born, go swim in the ocean for a few years, and then go back to the exact same stream that they were born in to die. Amazing animals.

Jerry

JohnP · May 29, 2013, 05:26:59 PM

Pay attention to your dog when he goes to bed for the night. Chances are his nose will be pointed to the north.

FinsnFur · May 29, 2013, 09:18:10 PM

Now ya got my attention John

snafu · June 07, 2013, 04:29:25 PM

More often than not. When our dog sleeps(in the house) she is facing a Northerly direction. However coyotes & Red Fox, 99.9 % of the time. Will have the wind at their backside when sleeping or resting. As they lay facing a down wind or angled down wind direction. The stronger the wind, the more in alignment they will face down wind.

Rick Howard · June 08, 2013, 12:06:44 PM

I am hooked.... I have been hooked since the BBC did the planet earth series. Then Pacific. I am enjoying Nirth America most though. I hope they out tons of extras on the DVD set. I want to see more!