³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ

³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ One is to capture some of the world's greatest wildlife phenomena and natural wonders through the eyes of birds in a new natural history series.

In Earth Flight, amazing sights from five continents will be revealed in a whole new light as the five-part series joins the journeys of snow geese, cranes, falcons, albatross, eagles and other birds.

Using cutting edge new filming techniques to show everything in exquisite detail, viewers have a uniquely privileged perspective flying 9,000 metres high over the sands of the Sahara or skimming metres over the Great Wall of China.

The birds are shown up-close in flight and interacting with other animals down below, from barnacle geese encountering herds of migrating reindeer, to pelicans plunging into hundreds of nurse sharks.

Spycams film right in the heart of the flock with microlights, hang-gliders and wirecams making up the aerial filming arsenal.

Slow-motion techniques reveal extraordinary detail such as a swallow plucking a fly from the air while new satellite technology enables a seamless transition from views of entire continents to moving aerial images of the animals that live there.

Sequences include flamingoes flying over the soda lakes of Africa and becoming prey for hunting baboons, flocks of waders landing in an invasion of horseshore crabs and Hummingbirds darting through the Grand Canyon.

The series was commissioned by Jay Hunt, Controller ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ One, and Mark Bell, Commissioning Editor, Independents.

He says: "This promises to be a spectacular series which will give viewers a really different perspective on some of our most exciting wildlife events. The very latest filming techniques take viewers right into the centre of the action as well as giving them a stunning bird's eye view of the world below."

The series is being made by John Downer Productions, who have won numerous awards for their innovative approach to film-making. Recent, well-received series include Tiger – Spy In The Jungle and Swarm – Nature's Incredible Invasions. It is planned for transmission in 2011.

EDA