Judy Irving has created a sleeper documentary hit in The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill. It is the inspiring true story of how one man found his life’s work—and true love—among a gang of wild parrots roosting in one of America’s most picturesque urban settings. Surfbirds recently got to see the film and Judy took some time to answer our questions.
Surfbirds thoroughly recommends you see this film. The film has just re-opened at the Quad Cinema in Greenwich Village and is playing nationwide across the States. See show times and more here at: www.wildparrotsfilm.com
Surfbirds: One of the first things that struck me when watching your film was how touching it was. You could hear the sniffling audience reaching for the Kleenex. You developed a story that focused on the human characteristics and individual personalities of the birds as well as Mark’s growing emotional attachment to them. When you start a project like this (particularly one that may be more unpredictable as it involves wild animals) do you have a preconceived idea of what angle you want to pursue or do you just film and see how it develops as you edit?
Judy: I felt at the outset that this would be a good story about Mark's relationship with the wild flock, but with a documentary you never know exactly what's in store until you start filming and editing. I like that process of discovery; it's more alive to me than following a script.
Surfbirds: Were you aware beforehand that these birds had such unique personalities or was that something that came out during filming?
Judy: Both: Mark told such great stories about the "avian stars" -- Connor, Picasso & Sophie, Tupelo, Mingus, Olive & Pushkin -- that I found myself concentrating on them during the filming. But other birds had their moments, too; a lot of it was luck.
Surfbirds: The adage is "never work with children and animals". Even though the birds are tame, they still are wild – how much did it add to your shooting schedule to deal with flocks of wild birds?
Judy: I learned that adage the hard way, because my initial conception for the film was a short fable for children. After three days of shooting with both children AND wild animals, I gave it up, and the film gradually evolved, over the next four-and-a-half years, into a full-length feature. The parrots aren't really tame, and the "nature of nature filming" is that there's lots of footage on the cutting room floor, and many days spent waiting around not getting anything. Despite the frustrations, I loved spending time in the gardens waiting for the birds. It's a meditation: you have to slow down to nature's pace.
Surfbirds: Many of our readers may take the view that these flocks of parrots harm native birdlife and should be removed. Mark’s theory on his website is that they are bright, colorful and noisy and attract attention from non-birders who then develop an interest in birds and the environment around them. Do you have an opinion on the fate of the flocks of these non-native birds that are flourishing in our cities?
Judy: Parrot flocks that have adapted to city environments come from areas where their own natural habitats are practically decimated, and I'm thrilled that they've figured out a way to "make it" up north. The cherry-headed conures (red-masked parakeets) that were forcibly removed from Ecuador and Peru, sold as pets, and then escaped to the wilds of San Francisco are threatened or endangered in South America: The tropical dry forest they come from has been largely cut down for agriculture.
The issue of "native" versus "non-native" is a funny one when you consider that cities are entirely human-built environments, and in that sense non-native to begin with; in the case of San Francisco, the only birds that could truly be considered native to this area are birds that are comfortable in sand dunes and coastal scrub. The parrots nest in non-native trees -- eucalyptus and Canary Island date palms -- and the only other species I ever saw them compete with for nest holes was starlings.
Surfbirds: Now that Mark’s book has made the NY Times Bestseller list, hopefully he now has more financial freedom to take in sick and injured birds. Is Mingus still at The Oasis or has he been reunited with Mark?
Judy: It isn't a matter of money. Mingus is happy at the Oasis: he has a mate, and he's stable and secure for the first time in his life. Mark has taken in three other sick or injured birds in the meantime, and he doesn't have room to take Mingus back. He will be able to visit Mingus this fall, though, when he'll be at a fundraiser at the Oasis. He's thinking of bringing his guitar!
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