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 collectively 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, supported by other media.
A
professional desiring to compile a comprehensive collection of video
clips of all pelagic birds of the world would have to commit a
lifetime’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 is educational 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 Yellow Sea, Australasian waters,
the Drake Passage, and around the Antarctic Peninsula. Some footage,
however, was shot in the less accessible waters of the South Atlantic
and 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 flight. Marine vessels traverse ever-changing and sometimes
mountainous sea-surface contours. The videographer is anything but
static. Even when conditions are generally favorable, a rare occasion
indeed, who is to say that the target quarry will turn up, come near to
the vessel, or stay for more than a moment?
Securing
the desired video footage is tricky and the process at times
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 strong sunlight, or soft images due to
gray, dull conditions. Still, with perseverance and improving
technology, we believe that we have compiled a worthwhile collection
worthy of sharing with you.
Our
DVDs present original footage without unnecessary special effects,
creating an experience much like looking through binoculars. Narration
is informative and avoids confusing jargon. Each DVD set comes with a
small book that consolidates facts from the DVD narration and adds
vital extra information. The book and DVD combine to provide a new,
instructive and animated way of getting to know pelagic birds and
birding.
Bob Flood and Ashley Fisher, Isles of Scilly, UK
Getting to know …
Fulmarines (coming late August
2010). Further information Click here
North Atlantic seabirds (coming 2010/2011). 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)
