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Naturalist and birding expert David Ascanio has led
guiding treks and birding tours since 1984 across South America, Central
America and on islands in the Caribbean. He has led tours for such
recognized organizations as the Smithsonian Institution, the National
Audubon Society, Birdquest, Geodyssey, MOT Nature Tours, and Ornitholidays.
David has a specialization in Eco tourism, runs his own guiding business,
and mixes his passion for being in the field with studies of bird
vocalizations; over the years his private library has grown to more than 500
hours of recordings. This is the first of two unique bird-guiding programs
that allows viewers to explore the forests and plains with "the most popular
guide in this part of the world." CHAPTERS: 1. Birding in SE Venezuela; 2.
The Scarlet-Horned Manakin; 3. Birding in Hato Piñero. 08DR IJSCA 30 min.
Associated Programs: The Life of Birds in the Neotropics and Digital Encyclopedia of South American Birds |
| Naturalist and birding expert David Ascanio has led guiding treks and birding tours since 1984 across South America, Central America and on islands in the Caribbean. He has led tours for such recognized organizations as the Smithsonian Institution, the National Audubon Society, Birdquest, Geodyssey, MOT Nature Tours, and Ornitholidays. David has a specialization in Eco tourism, runs his own guiding business, and mixes his passion for being in the field with studies of bird vocalizations; over the years his private library has grown to more than 500 hours of recordings. This is the second of two unique bird-guiding programs that allows viewers to explore the forests and plains with "the most popular guide in this part of the world." CHAPTERS: 1. Birding in Rancho Grande; 2. Birding in Campamento Matiyure; 3. The Oilbird. 08DR IJSCA 30 min. |
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40% of the Earth's species of birds are found in South
America. Half of those are seen in Venezuela due to its 25 different
ecosystems. Here we explore the biology, behavior and adaptations and songs
of more than 100 species of birds. CHAPTERS: 1 - Introduction; 2 - Fruit
Eaters; 3 - Carnivorous Birds. 07DR IJSCA 30 min. Associated Program: Digital Encyclopedia of South American Birds |
| The most outstanding feature of the Venezuela llanos of the Orinoco is its tremendous bird life; also we learn of the birds' nesting season and how they reproduce in their natural habitat. CHAPTERS: 1 - Introduction; 2 - Breeding Strategies; 3 - Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet. 07DR IJSCA 30 min. |
| 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. This program 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. CHAPTERS: 1 - Introduction; 2 - 2 Weeks Incubating Eggs; 3 - 2 Weeks Since Hatching Eggs. 07DR IJSCA 30 min. |
| More than 350 species of birds inhabits the Masaguaral ranch in central Venezuela, making it one of the most sought after places for scientific study and observation of birds. It's certainly an ornithologist's paradise. Here through spectacular photography we get to view and study the behavior of many unusual and exotic birds, such as the southern lapwing, the thick-knee, the sunbittern, the burrowing owl, the crested currasow, caciques, oropendolas, flycatchers, woodpeckers, kites, hawks, caracaras and many, many more. CHAPTERS: 1 - Nesting Habitats; 2 - Tropical Mockingbird; 3 - Bathing Habits; 4 - Southern Lapwing; 5 - Sunbittern; 6 - Lapwing Chicks. 07DR IJSCA 30 min. |
| No study of the fauna of the llanos of South America would be complete without mentioning the largest rodent in the world, the Capybara. This uncommon animal can be found from the Panama Canal down to Argentina. CHAPTERS: 1 - Introduction; 2 - Herd Hierarchy. 08DR IJSCA 30 min. |
| Two thirds of the world's animal species live beneath the seas. Here the vast Venezuelan seas offer a fascinating study of fishes and invertebrates, their behavior and relation to their underwater environment. CHAPTERS: 1 - Introduction; 2 - Sponges & Corals; 3 - Balloon Fish. 08DR IJSCA 30 min. |
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"Highly Recommended. This excellent program shows the
Llanos, or plains, lie between the northern Venezuelan Andes, the Andes of
Colombia towards the west and the Guyana Shield in the south. The Llanos are
covered with great stretches of grasses, but forests and savannas exist
along the Orinoco River providing a wide range of habitats for wildlife. The
annual dry season followed by the rainy season adds to the variation in the
ecosystems thus making the region one of the best wildlife areas in South
America." -EMRO Review The Llanos of the Orinoco is an open land, flooded in the rainy season, dried out in the dry season. Here we discover it is home to hundreds of animal species living in perfect harmony with their environment. 08DR IJSCA 30 min. |
| Masaguaral is a private cattle ranch of 20,000 acres in the middle of Venezuela, in the high Llanos. Over fifty years ago its owner made the decision to ban hunting here and to share cattle farming to promote the protection of local environment. This policy has been continued ever since, which makes Masaguaral an open, natural zoo where the wildlife flourishes without the threat of man. Here we see a land rich with savannas, lagoons and riparian forests. We view unusual mammals such as anteaters, tayras, capybaras, howler monkeys, and agoutis close-up in their natural environment; also we learn about a scientific project on wedge capuchin monkeys, which is described by its author. CHAPTERS: 1 - Feb. in Venezuela; 2 - Venezuelan Plains; 3 - Capuchin Monkeys; 4 - Savannah of Venezuela; 5 - When Night Falls. 08DR IJSCA 30 min. |
| To say that Morrocoy is just a marine and sub-marine National Park in Venezuela is too much of an understatement. It is an ecological masterpiece! This program introduces us to it all: the spectacular landscapes, the abundant marine life, and the important mangrove fauna. 08DR IJSCA 30 min. |
| Over fifty year ago a cattle ranch owner in Venezuela's Orinoco basin decided to embrace conservation of the wealthy fauna of this region with his successful cattle business. One such plan was to attempt to breed the Orinoco crocodile in captivity to save this endangered species, due to massive hunting for its valuable skin. This fascinating documentary takes us to the Masaguaral ranch to witness the entire breeding process from egg collecting to the animals' release in the wild, which takes nearly eighteen months; also, through spectacular cinematography, we get to view the environment and the fauna of the region as it's never been seen before. CHAPTERS: 1 - Introduction; 2 - Dry Season; 3 - Hatching Eggs; 4 - Summer Months. 08DR IJSCA 30 min. |
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"Highly Recommended. This documentary absolutely dazzles
the eye! The birds are especially well presented, as too are fish and coral
reefs. The program alternates between ecosystem and taxonomy as a format in
which to discuss the wildlife." -Science Books & Films "Highly Recommended. South America has a rich and diverse animal population, the most distinctive of any of the continents, and the result of its wide range of habitats and ecological conditions. Thus this program is highly recommended for the study of bird and marine ecology for K-12 and college collections." -EMRO Review An encyclopedic study of wildlife in South America, this program begins with the wealth of birds that exist thanks to the large number of ecosystems found here. Next we discover a multitude of lizards and reptiles, including the largest of all snakes, the Anaconda. Then we go under the sea to view tens of thousands of different species and discover how all levels of life co-exist successfully in balanced competition for survival. CHAPTERS: 1 - Introduction; 2 - Earth Turtle; 3 - Llanos; 4 - The Sea. 08DR IJSCA 30 min. |