Travelling Birds

Synopsis: The story of travelling birds is that of a promise. The promise to return.

Travelling Birds astounds with a tour-de-force of technical wizardry, enabling us to "fly" with flocks of migratory birds across dozens of countries on seven continents. Under the direction of Jacques Perrin, photographers, sound recordists and post-production editors have captured eighty-nine minutes of extraordinary film in a package that puts us wing to wing with the birds. Although the crew have obviously performed as magnificently as the cast it is ultimately the feathered stars that hold our interest, the stars in this case being several varieties of geese, duck, crane, stork, flamingo and albatross among others.

The central premise of the film maintains that particular species of bird must follow the magnetic patterns of the earth across hemispheres in order to find the right food, weather and mating conditions for their line to survive. This drive is inherent and inevitable. The duration and length of the journeys vary but at the extreme end is the Arctic Tern clocking up a migratory route of 20,000 kilometres. Think about it. The birds valiantly battle the elements suffering huge rates of attrition and we are reminded of that other great odyssey of nature, the North American Chinook Salmons’ quest to return to its natal streams to spawn. The film’s promotional material puts it well: "There is something heroic and awe-inspiring about their indomitable struggle to follow the instincts they were born with".

A definite film plus is the minimal usage of a heavily French accented voice-over. He speaks probably a dozen or so times, allowing the pictures to tell the tales. A definite minus is the inclusion of a hunting scene. Realistic it may be in its depiction of one specific danger faced by the birds, but I was jarred from the dream world of the film and left angry and saddened for no valid reason that I could see other than the making of an anti-hunting statement. If I was pro-duck-hunting would I be in the cinema in the first place?

There is no questioning the quality of footage we are presented with here, yet curiously – and this from a bird fancier – I’m not entirely convinced Travelling Birds will receive its deserved plaudits. It is very much a work for the enthusiast. Extended scenes of flapping geese follow extended scenes of flapping duck. It’s unapologetically avian and may stretch the patience of younger viewers or anyone unwilling to be transported into the world of the desperately determined and often heartbreakingly courageous migrating bird. Perhaps I’m selling today’s audience a little short.

Travelling Birds which was nominated for a 2003 Academy Award for Best Documentary is a technical masterpiece and vision splendid.

FYI:  Shot over four years by five crews of more than 450 people including seventeen pilots and fourteen cinematographers, aircraft and vehicles used included gliders (non-powered and remote controlled) helicopters (model and standard) ultra-light motorised aircraft (ULM) delta wing/delta planes, hot air balloons and "polypode"remote controlled buggies.

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