—posted with permission of the site owner—
After three years of work I am announcing the release of Gulf Crossing, a documentary about trans-gulf bird migration. Filmed in HD, the movie tells the story of the annual non-stop flight of billions of neo-tropical birds across the Gulf of Mexico, the largest open-water migration of land birds on the planet.
Parula Warbler
Bird migration along the gulf coast-or anywhere for that matter-is really one of the most exciting natural experiences you can have. But I discovered, when I first started thinking about making this story, that’s there’s never really been a documentary about trans-gulf migration. Most nature documentaries seem to take place in Africa or Antarctica and feature things the overwhelming majority of people will never experience. While there is nothing wrong with these programs, in my view they don’t really foster a love of the natural world which we all share, and the land which sustains us. The audience is here in America, why not a program about something that almost everyone can experience in one way or another? So I thought this presented me with a unique opportunity to try to capture this remarkable phenomenon.
The six episodes were filmed in Texas, Florida, New York and Massachusetts and feature nearly 200 bird species, with more than 30 types of warbler. The series is meant for meant for anyone who’s ever wondered where the colorful birds of spring come from. Both novice and expert birdwatchers will enjoy a comprehensive exploration of bird migration across the Americas.
Scarlet Tanager
The recent Deepwater/BP oil spill, and the continuing environmental devastation it represents, has brought attention to the threatened ecosystems of the Gulf. This region is absolutely crucial to migrating birds, as a substantial number of all birds breeding in North America spend at least part of the year here. I hope this documentary will increase awareness and appreciation of America’s immense but vanishing natural heritage.
To learn more, and to see more than 10 minutes(!) of HD video from the movie, please visit http://gulfcrossingmovie.com
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher