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| The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill | 
| Actor: Mark Bittner
Studio: DOCURAMA
Category: DVD
List Price: $26.95
Buy New: $13.20
You Save: $13.75 (51%)
New (34) from $13.20
Avg. Customer Rating:  151 reviews
Sales Rank: 4618
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dvd-video, Ntsc, Surround Sound
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: G (General Audience)
Running Time: 83 minutes
Number Of Items: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6
MPN: 9693
ISBN: 0767085973
UPC: 767685969335
EAN: 9780767085977
ASIN: B000BB1534
Theatrical Release Date: 2004
Release Date: December 26, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: BRAND NEW AND FACTORY SEALED
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| Customer Reviews:
 lovelovelove March 10, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This is a lovely movie that was recommended to me. I have since passed it on to at least 10 people, and every person adored it. The birds are amazing, the humans are interesting and the movie is engaging.
It's for the birds and you'll enjoy every minute of it February 24, 2008
17 out of 18 found this review helpful
Mark Bittner came to San Francisco in the 1970s with a dream of making it as a songwriter-musician. When that dream failed him he lived on the street, taking odd jobs and exploring Eastern religions.
While living on Telegraph Hill as a caretaker, he began to notice a growing flock of wild parrots in the area. His interest in the flock grew into a passion and he befriended the birds, naming and characterizing them in his field notes.
This passion led him to write about the parrots. His book The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill: A Love Story . . .with Wings was published in 2004.
The fascinating documentary "The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill" was released at the same time. Filmmaker Judy Irving translated Mark's passion and knowledge into astonishing footage that easily differentiates the birds and illustrates their personalities -- Connor, the odd-bird-out, a blue-crowned parrot in the country of the cherry-headed. Sophie, tenderly devoted to her mate Picasso. Mingus, the jokester. These and other birds come to life in Judy's award-winning film.
Mark also comes to life. Not trained in ornithology but completely devoted to the welfare of the flock, his eccentricity is acknowledged but not emphasized. You WILL be surprised at the ending of this film. Bring tissues for the crying, but expect to leave with a smile.
The independent theater in a nearby town showed "The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill" last year as a fund-raiser for the Audubon Society. I went to show solidarity with the cause, as a favor to a friend. The film was so enjoyable that I got the DVD -- supposedly for my sister-in-law who has a parrot, but really for myself. Any family would enjoy both the story and the wonderful presentation of it in this film. Highly recommended.
Linda Bulger, 2008
 Parrots of Penzance February 7, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
This film is based on a best-selling book by Mark Bittner--#32 on the New York Times best seller list. The book was subtitled," A Love Story--With Wings". It was considered a memoir, but soon it propelled Bittner into a shaft of international prominence as an "amateur" expert on Conures. Then it became a documentary film produced and directed by the activist environmentalist filmmaker-Judy Irving.
Irving wrote," At first glance, Mark didn't seem like a natural "movie star". Yes, the green and red parrots flying around him were exotic and feisty-but Mark, himself was-well, a quiet long-haired hippie recluse living in a shack. I also wondered how much of a story there was in a guy just feeding birds."
Bittner does have an interesting presence on film. His centered soul, his kindness, openness and unrestricted ability to love-all came through. A man who spent 25 years in San Francisco without a real job-never paying rent-he must have been very resourceful. After he started feeding the Conures-and had gained their trust-people started noticing him and the parrots. He became known as the St. Francis of Telegraph Hill. Studying Zen and looking for the big answers to existence-Bittner discovered that his relationship with the Conures provided him everything he needed-focus, meaning, love, tragedy, and total interest.
He gave all the parrots names-and Irving found a way to film them where their individual personalities shined through. The message of the picture-it seems to me-is that "love" is the common denominator for all things throbbing in the universe. Mark Bittner is a loving man-and Judy Irving herself became ensnared in that very real emotion simply by being in its proximity.
This film is an urban tale focusing on a special flock of tropical birds that have learned to thrive within the city. It is a gentle tale-told very compassionately, and I really loved it.
Love at First Sight January 20, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I loved this documentary the moment I viewed it. It is a riot of color, sound, and humor that is so wanting in today's film world. I highly recommend Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill to anyone who loves animals, and particularly birds.
I fell in love with the parrots and Mark January 15, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This documentary is a thoroughly engrossing, enchanting story of a single, gentle, long-haired, free-spirited, jobless, "squatter" named Mark Bittner (www.markbittner.net) who finds his calling in caring for and protecting a wild flock of parrots in San Francisco's Telegraph Hill. Animal and bird lovers will find it heart warming. My only regret was seeing Mark's hair getting cut in the end, knowing that he was no longer available!! (an inside "joke" that was part of the story)
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Wildlife, nature and the Environment
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