The visual recording of kangaroos giving birth is staggeringly beautiful, as is the glimpse inside the nest of a platypus. With such unparalleled footage, it’s hard to believe any natural history program can come close to the magic found on The Life of Mammals.

The Life of Mammals also features behind-the-scenes featurettes and fact files for those interested in digging even deeper into the lives of these incredible creatures. With so many highlights to the series, this is a more than suitable addition to this huge box set.

The Life of Birds

Closing out The BBC Natural History Collection is The Life of Birds. A generous three-disc collection featuring over 580 minutes of our feathered and not-so-feathered friends, The Life of Birds is a terrifically vibrant and amazing look at the creatures that have fascinated us since the dawn of history.

This is the oldest series in the compilation, having first aired in the UK in October of 1998. This series discusses the evolution and habits of birds with intelligence and insight, offering glimpses into the habitats of some of the world’s rarest birds. Fascinating information from the series’ first episode, “To Fly or Not to Fly,” describes the evolution of birds and the possible origin of how they took to the skies for the first time.

Whether the series is covering vultures, eagles, hawks, finches, or parrots, Attenborough’s narrative is always hospitable and informative. The extraordinary footage of the birds is greatly instructive, as the habits and patterns are examined and scrutinized with care and attention. One highlight is the amazing footage of a nocturnal kiwi foraging for food on a New Zealand beach.

Overview

The BBC Natural History Collection is the quintessential anthology for lovers of natural history. With modern technology, astonishing footage, rare glimpses of rare animals, excellent narration by David Attenborough, and highly entertaining bonus features, this set is one of the best collections of natural history specials ever assembled. It is the ideal gift for the nature lover in your family and the perfect package for anyone with a passion for this fascinating world.