An Original DUCKumentary Blu-ray delivers great video and decent audio in this overall recommended Blu-ray release
This program follows a wood duck family as a male and female create a bond, migrate together across thousands of miles, nurture and protect a brood of chicks, then come full circle as they head to their wintering grounds.
Boasting over 120 species and a substantial history, it's about time the ducks of America receive their own "Nature" special. "An Original DUCKumentary" (hee-hee) endeavors to explore the strange, cyclical realm of behaviors and quest of survival for these peculiar birds, studying a year in the life of these animals. The journey is brief but informative, aided by oddly enthusiastic narration from Paul Giamatti, imparting a basic understanding of the duck experience, from the first steps out of the nest to the gamesmanship of finding a suitable mate, with feeding rituals, flight patterns, and regional habits inspected along the way.
The production selects the wood duck as the ambassador for all in "DUCKumentary," tracking their growth from ducklings taking their first step out of a tree nest (where they plummet safely to the ground) to the schedule of food consumption, where the duck population is divided up into "dabblers" and "divers" as the creatures hunt for a meal. "DUCKumentary" isn't consumed with providing a wide range of examples, instead isolating the routine of a few special species as they fight to survive in such taxing environments as the arctic and its frigid waters. There's also a focus on demystifying grooming habits, walking through the process of molting and waxing as the birds work out their particular beauty schedule. Flight is also a topic "DUCKumentary" pursues, explaining how ducks of disparate weight and hunting needs take to the air, some with a little more grace than others.
For a creature that's often overlooked, "DUCKumentary" does a satisfying job probing into the experience of the bird, paying close attention to its circle of life inclinations and curious breeding habits.
The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation is generous with fine detail, permitting viewers to study intricate feather patterns and crisp wetland textures, with only a small amount of noise creeping into view. Colors are hearty and stable, with memorable hues popping off specific duck "stars," with the wood duck's emerald plumage and blood orange eyes making a particular impression. Shadow detail isn't taxed in full, but remains communicative, never solidifying.
The 5.1 Dolby Digital sound mix remains low energy, primarily employing the front stage to explore the aural world of the ducks. Giamatti's narration takes top priority with a pronounced presence that's easy to follow, with emphasis and subtle passages into behavioral darkness detected along the way. Aquatic sound effects are also evocative, maintaining the marsh environments. Surrounds are largely quiet with some atmospheric and scoring exceptions. There's no low-end involved in the documentary and distortion is never a problem.
It wouldn't be a "Nature" documentary if there wasn't a horrifying detail or two shared during the show. For "DUCKumentary," we learn that "forced copulation" is a common occurrence in the duck realm, with females in charge of the mating process until overly aggressive males grow weary of the show of virility and increasing competition, resulting in a form of accepted sexual assault. Now that's a revelation I wasn't expecting from the program. Mercifully, "An Original DUCKumentary" isn't always this harsh, gently communicating the needs and instincts of this common creature and its uncommon characteristics.
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