The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill
written by Mark Bittner and reviewed by Nancy J. Reid

A truly fascinating story, The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill, is one of those books that makes you really think. You think about the author, Mark Bittner, and his plight; you think about the parrots and their circumstances; and you think about the relationship between the parrots and the author.

Mark Bittner, an out of work musician, ends up virtually homeless on the streets of San Francisco. He takes on odd jobs and ends up as a housekeeper for an elderly lady. With that job, he was fortunate to gain a rent free apartment on Telegraph Hill. It was here that he discovered the wild flock of parrots that became his focus. He learns about their behavior, photographs them, and gets close enough to help them when they fall ill or get injured. He becomes a tourist attraction and then a protector of the birds. The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill recounts his story and experiences with the parrots.

In this process, Judy Irving, a filmmaker, connects with Mark and together they make a beautiful film, "Parrots",  that will touch the hearts of any nature lover. Both the film and the book are creations you will want to enjoy more than once.

Lisa and I were lucky enough to meet Mark Bittner and Judy Irving on one of our trips to San Francisco. We experienced the wild flock of crying parrots fly over our heads; made the walk up the many steps of Telegraph Hill; and interviewed these two remarkable people. To hear the interview, please double click on the Play button below.

The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill received the "Best Independent Film" Award from the International Wildlife Film Festival in Missoula, Montana. The film also received a Genesis Award for "Outstanding Documentary Feature" from the Humane Society of the United States in Beverly Hills on March 18, 2006. The annual Genesis Awards pay tribute to major news and entertainment media for producing outstanding works that raise public awareness of animal-protection issues. The awards ceremony was taped and edited for an Animal Planet television special, which aired on May 6, 2006. The film also received a "Christopher Award" (a national humanitarian award) in New York City on March 17, 2006. Executive Director Judy Irving is an Emmy and Sundance award-winning filmmaker whose credits include The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill, Dark Circle and Secrets of the Bay.