GETTING TO KNOW …
PELAGIC BIRDS & BIRDING
A DVD COLLECTION
SERIES INTRODUCTION
It
is an exciting time for people interested in pelagic birds and birding.
The understanding of seabirds is progressing dramatically in areas like
taxonomy and field identification. This is marked by new field guides
and a growth in journal articles. There is a reinforcing relationship
between such developments and the rapid expansion over the last 20
years of pelagic birding into the accessible ocean and, more recently,
into the remote ocean.
For
the pelagic birder, field guides and journal articles assist
identification through text, artwork, photographs, and of late also
through sound. There is much value in these media. However,
individually and combined they struggle to bring to life the bird in
motion. Yet, it is the bird in motion that first and foremost confronts
the pelagic birder as it travels, forages and feeds. The relevant
medium here is video and it is the main purpose of this project to
investigate pelagic birds and birding through a wide selection of video
clips.
A
professional desiring to compile a comprehensive collection of video
clips of all pelagic birds of the World would have to commit a
life-time’s work to the project and invest literally millions of
dollars. It would require travel to many remote and inaccessible
locations. Such a dream is beyond our means.
Our
DVD collection of ‘amateur’ video footage is representative of pelagic
bird families and regions. Some families and regions are better
represented than others. Pterodroma petrels and Puffinus shearwaters
are diverse and widespread, a number are extremely rare, many inhabit
remote and inaccessible locations, and these families are least well
represented. The remote Pacific remains one of the most inaccessible
regions and this is reflected in our work. However, we believe that our
DVDs as a whole offer an acceptable introduction to pelagic birds
across the World that are instructive and, we anticipate, a joy to
watch for all pelagic bird lovers.
Most
footage was taken in relatively accessible locations including; the
Southwest Approaches of the English Channel, the Canary Current, the
Gulf Stream off North America, the Benguela Current, the Humboldt
Current, the California Current, the Drake Passage, the Yellow Sea,
Australasian waters, and the Antarctic Peninsula. Some footage however
was shot around the less accessible waters of the South Atlantic
islands and West Pacific islands.
Although
we have secured some ‘in the hand’ and ‘at the nest’ footage, most
clips were taken whilst at sea off vessels of various sizes; large
ocean-going ferries, expedition cruisers, motor launches and even small
Zodiacs.
Videography
has not been easy. Pelagic birding is amongst the most challenging of
birding pursuits and videoing birds at sea a challenge beyond.
Everything is on the move and at times moving in opposing ways. Birds
are in motion. Marine vessels traverse ever-changing and sometimes
mountainous sea-surface contours. The videographer is anything but
static. Even when conditions are set fair, a rare occasion indeed, who
is to say that the target quarry will turn up, come near the vessel, or
stay for more than a moment? It took seven years to film Fulmarines!
Securing
desired video footage is tricky and the process can be frustrating. All
too often a videographer has to be satisfied with a smaller image
and/or briefer sequence than desired, or light impaired results with
colors burnt out by the sun, or soft and grainy images the result of
gray and dull conditions. Nevertheless, with perseverance, we believe
that our videographic efforts have yielded a worthwhile output worthy
of sharing with a wider audience.
Our
DVDs present footage without special effects creating an experience
like spotting through binoculars. Commentary is informative and avoids
confusing jargon. Each DVD comes with a small book that adds a wealth
of extra knowledge and provides a timeline giving extra details about
each clip.
Bob Flood and Ashley Fisher, Isles of Scilly, UK
Getting to know …
Flight behaviour of black & white storm-petrels of the North Atlantic. Further information and to buy now Click here
Fulmarines (coming summer
2010). Further information Click here
North Atlantic seabirds (coming 2011). Further information Click here
Intro to pelagic birding
(planned 2011). Further information Click here
Seabirds & mammals of the Antarctic peninsula, Falklands & South Georgia (planned 2011)
