The American Robin: Northern Harbinger Of Spring

This shot-on-video homage to the American robin combines general narration about the robin's migratory and behavioral patterns with a specific focus on the life of one robin family, from the nest-building through the hatching, feeding, and fledgling stages. While not a bad program, the narrative is merely serviceable (sounding a lot like traditional nature films of yore). Too, while the footage of a baby robin being born is undeniably lovely, the assertion that this sight has "very rarely, if ever, been captured on film," will surely raise the eyebrows of those who remember their high school biology classes. Finally, at $175, this is priced too high for a video production that doesn't boast top-notch picture quality. Not a necessary purchase. (R. Pitman)