The Reptiles: Turtles and Tortoises (PBS Nature)

The Reptiles: Turtles and Tortoises is a PBS Nature documentary narrated by Howard McGillin, taking a close look at ancient creatures marching slowly through the millennia. A turtle’s shell is among the most peculiar but successful pieces of design in the natural world. Unchanged for 200 million years, it has allowed the various species of turtles to populate almost everywhere in the world. But the limitations of life in a shell are causing turtles problems in today’s world. Over exploitation by humans has caused many turtle species to become extinct or endangered. This episode introduces some inspirational people who are trying to help them.

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The Reptiles
Life in Cold Blood

Extraordinary Birds (PBS Nature)

The gift of flight would seem reason enough for humanity's fascination with birds. But there's even more to it than that. Birds are remarkable for a wide range of exceptional physical abilities, for their indications of intelligence, and - for some species - their surprising level of rapport with humans.

In the small Indian village of Kundha Kulam, for example, birds' arrival are a sign to the townspeople that rain will follow and that their crops would soon thrive. While falconry - the art of training hawks, falcons and other birds of prey to hunt - exemplifies the partnership men and birds can develop.

Humans have also relied on the more prosaic pigeon. Although city dwellers may dismiss them as flying rats, no bird can top the pigeon for courage and service to humankind. Since pigeons have the ability to find their way "home," many were used in dangerous, top-secret missions in World War I and II, delivering important messages to Allied troops behind enemy lines.

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The Life of Birds