Hi everybody,
I have just spoken with John Young. His new film - 'Wings of Silence' -
mostly on Australian Owls will be finished by 30th September and will
be available from then. Further information (and orders) from Ray
Smith on Phone/Fax 07 5499 9455, or PO Box 339, Maleny Q 4552.
The film covers most of the Australian owls as well as a few diurnal
birds of prey and other wildlife.
I have been privileged to see some of the footage over the years as
John filmed it. Much of it is incredible - Lesser Sooty Owls feeding
Rainbow Bee-eaters to their nestlings, a Rufous Owl bringing a Mahogany
Glider to its nest, a great sequence on the fledging of Southern
Boobooks, cannibilism by nestling Barn Owls, a Masked Owl devouring a
bandicoot, the remarkable hygene in the nest of a Rufous Owl, some
eyeball shots of Barking Owl, the success of owl nesting boxes in the
cane fields about Ingham, and much, much more.
Much of the film was filmed high in the forest canopy, sometimes 150
feet above ground where John set up hides. He spent many nights filming
at these heights, sometimes sleeping there the rest of the night in a
special stretcher after finishing filming for the night. The film opens
with a sunrise over the forest, shot as John got out of his stretcher.
Lloyd Nielsen
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