Rare Bird (2006)

Imagine finding a pterodactyl alive and nesting on an obscure island. Rare Bird is the true story of a 15-year-old boy who helped find a bird believed extinct and solve the mystery of its ... See full summary »

Director:

Lucinda Spurling

Writers:

Jack McDonald, Lucinda Spurling

Stars:

David Wingate, Jeremy Madeiros, Sam Ristich

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview:
David Wingate	...	Himself - Conservation Officer
Jeremy Madeiros	...	Himself - Conservation Officer
Sam Ristich	...	Himself - Naturalist
Louis Mowbray III	...	Himself - Son of Louis Mowbray II
Elisabeth Noone	...	Herself - Narrator
Lawrence Doughty	...	Young David Wingate
Andrew West	...	Robert Cushman Murphy (as Dr. Andrew West)
Britten West	...	Louis Mowbray Jr.
Jacob Hocking	...	Early Settler
Rick Spurling	...	Robert Cushman Murphy (voice)
Bryan Darby	...	William Strachey (voice)

Storyline

Imagine finding a pterodactyl alive and nesting on an obscure island. Rare Bird is the true story of a 15-year-old boy who helped find a bird believed extinct and solve the mystery of its existence. Like the myth of the phoenix, the Cahow bird is resurrected on the island paradise of Bermuda at the dawn of its development, returning to teach humanity an important lesson in perseverance. Threatened by manmade development, invasive species, and the pesticide DDT, the Cahow has been on the brink of extinction for over 4 centuries .This against all odds story about a man, a ghost bird and a struggle for survival takes a dramatic turn, when the bird faces a greater threat: global warming. Ravaged by a recent hurricane what will David and his successor Jeremy do to save the species once again from oblivion? Rare Bird is their tale of hope, inspiration and commitment to the future of all species. This true story is both a miracle and a mystery, and will keep you riveted as the destiny of an ...

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Plot Keywords:

bird | cahow | bermuda | extinction | hurricane | 

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Taglines:

One of the most endangered birds in the world in the path of a hurricane

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Genres:

Documentary

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 March 2006 (Bermuda)

Filming Locations:

Nonsuch Island, Bermuda

Box Office

Budget:

$300,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Afflare Films, Bank of Bermuda Foundation, Royal Dutch Shell

Technical Specs

Runtime:

81 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Crazy Credits

Special Thanks to My Darling boys, Piccolo and Piglet.

User Reviews

Beautiful, beautiful film!

As rare a doc as its rare bird subject, this film is treat. I can think of no way it can be improved and so give it a "10". It's simply beautiful - in story, in photography, in the editing and presenting of the story of the discovery of the Cahow (the Bermuda Petrel) thought to be extinct since 1620. RARE BIRD is the story of that little bird and the people who "discovered" it and are working for its preservation, the seemingly tireless efforts of finding nest burrows, building nests, then relocating chicks to a safer island in the Bermuda group.

It's a lovely film, heartwarming and rewarding --- I hope it gets widely seen in other festivals (I saw it today at the Santa Barbara Int. Film Festival) and that it gets a distributor --- and becomes available in theaters and also as a DVD. I'd like to see it again - and own a copy of the DVD (and I rarely buy DVDs) — the film is that good, showing the good that people can do sometimes against seemingly impossible odds.