Pelican Dreams is a just released documentary by Judy Irving, the filmmaker who created the award winning film The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill. This film is currently showing in theaters around the country. What makes it particularly exciting for Gail and me is that three of the human stars are our friends and mentors from International Bird Rescue. Every Saturday, Gail and I worked alongside them, amazed by their skill, knowledge, and dedication. Monte Merrick and Laura Corsiglia are billed as the human stars, but also in the film is Marie Travers, just as skilled and committed to animal rehabilitation, but always turning down personal publicity.
We saw the film in San Diego the Friday before last.
Gail and I met at IBR working with pelicans, other aquatic birds, and the people who send them back to the wild, so this film worked us over emotionally - we were both in tears at the end! Even if we hadn't had the experience, we would still have loved the film. Pelicans are particularly endearing with their mix of curiosity, awkwardness on land, and grace in flight.
The film tells the true story of Gigi, a Brown Pelican rescued in traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge. Interspersed is documentary about natural history, threats, successes, and others who rehab pelicans.
Below are some snapshots I took of the movie screen:
Marie Travers
Monte Merrick
Laura Corsiglia
When we came home, we had to reminisce with our old photos from IBR, so here are a few:
Laura and Gail working on a patient.
Gail and Marie in a rare moment downtime.
Laura and duck.
Our pelican aviary where "Gigi" lived and regained her flight.
The amazing Monte, one of the most entertaining persons to listen to on the planet.
Standing, are Judy Irving and her husband/film making partner Mark Bittner. The above two shots were from Monte's "Perfect Room", an evening of performance art he m.c.'d up in Arcata.
This is my personal pelican favorite. I took these two pelicans down to Fort Baker for release. They stepped out of their carriers, looked at each other, flew to the water for a couple minutes, then took off together under the Golden Gate. A minute later, they came back high over the bridge then circled higher and higher, apparently getting their bearings. A perfect release!
Here I am drawing blood from a Great Blue Heron.
This was our first time "off campus" together - a goose release.
Monte makes netting a pelican look so easy! Here, Gail is getting this one to fly down from the high perch so she can net it on the ground or in the water. In a group of say 30 pelicans, the one you're after senses it immediately - before you even make a move. They can read minds!
If you get a chance to see Pelican Dreams, don't miss it!
2 comments:
Who is that very clean-cut man with the short hair and round glasses? He looks vaguely familiar...
Awesome shot of Gail netting the pelican! It has a 70s vibe and Gail, I must say, your hair looks spectacular.
I have a soft spot for IBRRC myself after hearing about it all these years. How gratifying to see it in a documentary!
Remember the first time you held a pelican? Their warm, warm bodies and strong heartbeats right next to yours? Working to save them was one of the most meaningful times of my life - how 'bout you?
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