The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill
The true story of a Bohemian St. Francis and his remarkable relationship with a flock of wild red-and-green parrots. Mark Bittner, a dharma bum*, former street musician in San Francisco, falls in with the flock as he searches for meaning in his life, unaware that the wild parrots will bring him everything he needs.
*Dharma bum (per Gary Snyder): "A homeless seeker of truth."
Member Reviews
Nice Documentary - newdaysof
Based on the book of the same name, the movie follows Mark Bittner in his daily routine tending to and feeding the wild parrots of San Francisco.
It is a beautiful film shot with excellent cameras and director of photography. The camera sweeps over the beautiful city of San Francisco, the ocean, the buildings, the trees, and of course, the birds. With great skill, the camera follows the flock as they fly in formation among the neighbourhoods and treetops, soaring, then descending and landing, where we get to see and hear them close up. The soundtrack is also beautiful and perfectly matches the cinematography.
Mark Bittner knows most of the individual birds extremely well: he's given them names, knows much of their personal history having tended them for eight years, knows their personalities, mating, eating and nesting habits and knows how to cure most of them when they get sick. Each bird has a unique relationship with Mark which he carefully nurtures and documents in his diary. He has the good sense to limit his interactions with them and let them remain wild, only capturing one if it becomes sick and unable to feed itself.
It is a heart-warming tale and a lesson to humanity: that we should treat all animals with a great deal of respect because each and every one of them has a personality and five senses just like us. If you liked the movie you should also read the book which is very similar to the movie but has a lot more detail about the birds, Mark and the events leading up to his becoming friends with these beautiful beings.Charming, wonderful documentary - shanlee
I thought this documentary was absolutely enchanting. First of all, is the engrossing, eloquent narration by Mark Bittner, who dedicated so many years of his life to this flock and to acquainting himself astonishingly well with each member. He is able to expound at length on the names, physical characteristics, lineage, and personality of each bird. He obviously felt a kinship with some members of the flock whom he referred to as "outcasts" and there are many clear parallels between the sequence of events in his own life and how he came to be so invested in these birds.
It is rare to see a documentary that is so innocent and lacking in salacious content or controversy. It is a simple, heartwarming story that is actually two-pronged. Ostensibly, it is about the flock, its origins and growth. But it is also about an extraordinarily gentle, caring person who clearly felt somewhat alienated and perhaps distant from society, forming an awe-inspiring bond with the birds that, metaphorically speaking, were in the same position as he: "non-native" species, who were viewed alternately as a novelty, curiosity, and even a pest. A highly recommended film, and has made me anxious to read Mr. Bittner's book of the same name.The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill - TwoBoggySwampers
This is a very interesting and intriguing film. It is refreshing to see such a selfless, kind man (Mark Bittner) taking an active role in caring for these wild parrots. Through no financial gain or assistance, Bittner thoroughly studied, watched over, nursed, and fed this particular flock on Telegraph Hill in San Fransisco. Although it wasn't his initial purpose to let the rest of the world in on his private life and his personal knowledge of these parrots, his tireless work has ultimately enabled the rest of us to learn and understand more about these beautiful birds. His love and compassion towards these wild parrots is endless. We see that each and every flock member is an individual with its own distinct personality and needs. Each parrot is so unique, in fact, that Bittner had names for most and he could easily identify one from the other - either from markings, behaviors, or both. You can't help but fall in love with these parrots yourself. This film is a wonderful experience and a true joy to witness.
Member Reviews
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Nice Documentary - newdaysof
Based on the book of the same name, the movie follows Mark Bittner in his daily routine tending to and feeding the wild parrots of San Francisco.
It is a beautiful film shot with excellent cameras and director of photography. The camera sweeps over ...Charming, wonderful documentary - shanlee
I thought this documentary was absolutely enchanting. First of all, is the engrossing, eloquent narration by Mark Bittner, who dedicated so many years of his life to this flock and to acquainting himself astonishingly well with each member. He is able to expound ...The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill - TwoBoggySwampers
This is a very interesting and intriguing film. It is refreshing to see such a selfless, kind man (Mark Bittner) taking an active role in caring for these wild parrots. Through no financial gain or assistance, Bittner thoroughly studied, watched over, nursed, ...