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The latest epic series from National Geographic is Great Migrations. It's a seven-part series that takes you around the world to see the arduous journeys taken by some species.
Move as millions. Survive as one.
This is the first National Geographic wildlife film shot entirely in Blu-Ray native format. It promises breathtaking high-definition clarity. (Unfortunately, my preview episodes were ordinary DVDs.)
My six-year old was particularly fascinated by the red crab migration on Christmas Island. Forty-five million red crabs migrate from the inland forest to lay eggs in the Indian Ocean. After a week-long journey, the crabs take a refreshing dip in the sea and get ready for breeding activity. Eventually, the female crabs release their larvae into the harsh waves. Many years, none of the larvae survive the tides and feeding predators. But every few years, millions of baby crabs survive 25 days of growth to wash back as a red wave on the shore. They complete the circle of migration by heading back to the forest in the center of the island.
If you don't find the crabs interesting there are flying foxes in Australia, army ants in Costa Rica, wildebeests in Kenya, great white sharks in Mexican waters, zebras in Tanzania, elephants in Mali and two dozen other stories of migration. You can view some clips on the Great Migrations webpage.
As a parent, these are powerful stories. All of the migrations involve breeding. The species take these epic journeys to create their next generation. Our struggles to raise geek generation 2.0 look pale in comparison.
Sperm whales, carriers of the largest brain on the planet, may travel a million miles over their 50-year lives. The males return from their polar hunting grounds to temperate equatorial waters to find females. The sperm whale's clicks are the loudest sound made by any animal. We are not sure what all the sounds mean, but surely some must mean that they are on their way.
My kids and I both loved watching the the show. The visuals are spectacular on a standard TV and I expect them to be breathtaking in high definition.
Remember that migration is the circle of life and not every creature makes the full circle. Some of the wildebeests do not make it all the way across the crocodile infested river. There is a little blood, more dread than gore. I had to point out that it was bad for the baby wildebeest, but good for the crocodile. They have babies too.
Personally, I enjoyed Alec Baldwin's narration. But I have to admit that I kept waiting for a quip from Jack Donaghy (Vice President of East Coast Television and Microwave Oven Programming).
The first episode of Great Migrations premieres on Sunday, November 7. The the companion book, Great Migrations
The shows producers were kind enough to send me preview DVDs and a copy of the companion book, Great Migrations
