The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill

The San Francisco Bay area—the setting for 1962's Birdman of Alcatraz—is the locale for a very different bird lover in the sweet-natured documentary The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill, which focuses on Mark Bittner, an affable slacker who discovered a life purpose feeding the flock of 45 tropical parrots (apparently escapees from importation services) nesting in the area of North Beach where he worked as a caretaker. His avocation eventually turned him into a minor local celebrity and brought him to the attention of filmmaker Judy Irving, who spent a year recording Bittner's work with the parrots (which he came to recognize individually and named them all) in this small, disarming film. A hint of crisis spices things up occasionally: objections to non-native species being allowed to nest in the area, hawks that hunt and kill members of the flock, and, toward the close, a possible change in Bittner's own circumstances that might cause him to move. But for the most part the emphasis is on the odd friendship that develops between man and bird, with occasional asides about the easygoing California atmosphere that nurtured it. A tale of free spirits on both sides of the equation—a man who's avoided close ties all his adult life and a flock that's survived on its own in a potentially hostile environment—and how each found support from the other, this engaging true story is recommended. [Note: DVD extras include the segments “Mark's Home Movies” (29 min.), “Homage to Connor” (12 min.), “Mingus at the Oasis” (8 min.), and the short “California Quail” (3 min.), seven deleted scenes (26 min.), an update on the flock (7 min.), the music video “Dogen, Connor, and Tupelo” by Roberta Fabiano, a text bio, and trailers. Bottom line: an excellent extras package for one of 2005's best docs.] (F. Swietek)