birding-aus

Review - Travelling Birds

To: "birding aus" <>, "Cog line" <>
Subject: Review - Travelling Birds
From: "Philip A. Veerman" <>
Date: Sun, 22 Jun 2003 21:07:46 +1000
Film: Travelling Birds
I agree with Martin's comments below, below having seen it in Canberra today. There was not a lot that would be new in concept to anyone who has watched many wildlife films before or has much birding experience. The filming was excellent and artistic though both cute and gruesome at times. The choice of subject shows an inordinate fondness for northern hemisphere geese, swans, storks, cranes and the like. Maybe they think that people are only interested in big birds or they could only film big birds. I wished they had shown really amazing things like the tiny hummingbirds that fly over the ocean between the Americas, not to mention the many other small land birds that cover huge distances, that were ignored in film, feats that seem the more amazing than those done by geese etc. that have rest stops on the way. What about the raptors that migrate over Israel and hawk mountain in the USA? These would hardly have been difficult to film. The only small birds shown migrating were waders and it was only mentioned that they go from Europe to west Africa!
 
It was at times sentimental, although everything shown looked very real. People who don't know anything about it could leave the theatre with a heightened conservation awareness, which is good. They could also be a bit confused. There is a scene of a nestling cuckoo pushing an egg out of a nest (of a Reed Warbler or similar). There was no caption explaining what was happening and it would surely leave many non birder viewers wondering what was that about? Geographical descriptors in the captions were vague (as in what is meant by the near east and the far east, etc. and does that mean the same to an Australian, and African and a European)?
 
The introduction stated that birds migrate one way in autumn and return the same route in spring. I don't know why that point was made. It is well known that many species do not reverse the same route travelling back but return a different way. It also suggested (at least in geese) that first year birds learn the route by flying with their parents. This clearly is not the case for many birds.
 
Background music was mostly tedious and annoying but then it would be hard to chose something that would be appropriate.  Overall pretty good with great scenery.
 
Philip
-----Original Message-----
From: <>
To: <>
Date: Friday, 20 June 2003 12:14
Subject: [BIRDING-AUS] Review - Travelling Birds


For those who haven't seen this movie (now showing in Melbourne), I offer
the following 'snapshot review' after seeing it last night with about 290+
other Birds Australia/Bird Observers Club members.

Venue: Rivoli Theatre Camberwell (Melbourne)
Subjects: mostly northern hemisphere birds, particularly geese
Cinematography: superb aerial shots from balloons, ultra light aircraft etc
Soundtrack: English (but with a French accent).  Volume, far too loud.
Some of the music and songs seemed inappropriate for the subject matter.

Recommendation: a good wildlife/bird movie, well worth seeing but don't
expect any 'Australian' birds, other than possibly some of the albatrosses
or penguins.

Well organised by the Vicgroup section of Birds Australia, with sparkling
wine and club sandwiches following the movie and even a BA 'show bag' to
take home!.

Profits to Broome Bird Observatory, Western Australia.

cheers

Martin O'Brien

Melbourne

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