The Wild Parrots Of Telegraph Hill

Directed by Judy Irving

The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill is a documentary about the relationship between former San Francisco street musician/odd-job worker Mark Bittner and a pack of approximately 45 wild parrots, mostly cherry-headed conures with the occasional blue-crowned and mitred in the bunch. The flock is comprised of former pets that have been released or have escaped and their offspring. The film opens with Mark feeding these birds, and a number of people walking through Telegraph Hill stopping to ask him the same questions that are on the mind of the viewer.

The conures take up all of Mark's time, leaving no time for a job or visible means of income. He feeds them every day; it took him a year to gain their trust before they would eat out of his hand. He also cares for the ones that fall ill, taking them into his home, a small cottage that has been provided rent-free for three years, which is perfect for his financial situation. When Mark nurses the birds back to health, they return to the flock. Except for Mingus, who suffered a broken leg and didn't want to leave. Mark allows Mingus to stay, even though he can be a feisty roommate at times.

The film presents a very interesting, close-up study of these birds and their social structure. Take for example, Connor. He is odd bird out with the flock because he's the sole blue-crowned of the group. He doesn't get to mate with the cherry heads, but eventually he makes friends. A budgie follows Connor around like a little brother for a while. Mark was given another blue crowned who turned out to be a male, yet they would do things for each other that mates would do like preening. We also see how the conures deal with predators, like red-tail hawks, in the area.

One day, Mark's landlords notify him that they need to renovate the cottage and it is time for him to leave. The outpouring of concern for Mark and the parrots comes from all over the world. He finds a home for the live-in birds, which is tough on him emotionally as he says goodbye. He then relates the story about Olive, a bird he was unable to say goodbye to. She was the first bird who ever died in his care.

Article Author: El Bicho

El Bicho writes for a number of movie web sites, including Cinema Sentries, which he runs for the geniuses of Forwerd Media. He also occasionally cleans up around here. Follow at twitter.com/ElBicho_CS

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