sWake-Up Call: Saving the Songbirds
Highly Recommended
Distributed by The Video Project, 145 Ninth St., Suite 230
San Francisco, CA 94103, 800-4-PLANET
General - [email protected]
Orders - [email protected]
Produced & Directed by Claire Blotter
VHS, color, 14 min., 2002
K-6, Jr. High - Adult
Animal Behavior, Biology, Environmental Studies, Gardening
Date Entered: 11/09/2018
Reviewed by Gloria Maxwell, Reference Librarian, Penn Valley Community College
Does it really matter if we are losing songbirds at an alarming rate? What does this say, if anything, about our environment as a whole? Biologists say that all songbird species are in decline, with 15% of all the bird species on earth being threatened by the loss of trees specifically and loss of habitat in general. They attribute this to the reduction, fragmentation and degradation of habitat. Migratory birds are losing their winter habitats, which compounds the problem. The increase of predators, such as cats, also takes its toll on bird populations. Each time a species is taken out of the ecosystem, its extinction weakens the system as a whole, and in ways that are not yet known. One certain expectation is that insect populations will explode, which can affect our food supply. Where once there were flocks of birds and other wildlife, there are now buildings and asphalt streets instead.
Scientists explain that birds serve as one of the first indicators of problems in the environment. There are programs that anyone can participate in, such as Project Feeder Watch, which can be done from your own backyard. Looking at birds from the local level is every bit as important as nationwide studies. Students from San Francisco Bay area elementary and junior high schools imitate birds calls and speak about why it’s important to have birds in our lives and how the use of pesticides poisons the food supply which in turn poisons baby birds. From the mouths of school children come such simple solutions as planting gardens with plants and flowers that are attractive to birds, and to stop cutting down trees. Teachers advise digging up invasive plants and replacing them with native vegetation; plants serve the additional purpose of providing birds with places to hide and nest. One teacher made this a project with her class and the pride and enjoyment that resulted serves as an inspiration for all of us.
The most beautiful and complex bird songs come from birds that live deep in the woods or forests; they communicate with each other to find a mate and about their territory. Song sparrows have as many as eighteen different songs. To have birds around, with their beautiful songs--as the little children say--makes it “nicer for everyone.”
This video is enhanced by the voices of students, teachers, and bird experts who talk about the simple solutions, such as gardening and bells on cat collars that can be initiated by anyone to help protect the songbirds. Beautiful camera coverage of various songbirds as they feed their young or simply sing their songs accompanies the narration. Lovely music accompanies the ending credits. The technical quality is excellent, providing clear audio and video footage. This video would be an excellent choice for a classroom activity or home schooling project. Highly recommended for schools from kindergarten through junior high and general public library video collections.
Awards: Second Prize Santa Cruz Environmental Fill Festival in Endangered Species Category
AWARD WINNING PERFORMANCE POETRY VIDEOS
2002 WAKE-UP CALL screened at Mill Valley Film Festival, Hazel Wolf Environmental Film Festival, Chicago International Children’s Film Festival & eight other festivals including Santa Cruz Environmental Film Festival
1997 The poetry-video, HOLES, a collaboration with videographer, Martin Matzinger, selected for the National Poetry Video Festival in Chicago.
1991 The poetry-videos, TUNDRA and WATER, collaborations with videographer Martin Matzinger and musician Jay Yarnall, selected for the National Poetry Video Festival in Chicago. Both also selected for inclusion in the Chicago Art Institute Archives
1990 ALL COLORS OF THE MOON, poetry/theater/video benefit for traditional Navajos at Big Mountain, Arizona. Performed at Video Free America with three screens and three separate videos in San Francisco, at Louden Nelson Center in Santa Cruz and Bolinas Community Center featuring video of Roberta Blackgoat, Navajo/Dine elder speaking out to save the sacred land at Big Mountain from coal mining interests
FILM FESTIVAL CURATOR
2014 THE INTERNATIONAL VIRTUAL TRUE LOVE FILM FESTIVAL, a monthly video festival of the best films from around the world of true love stories. The titles were announced each month so that participants could meet together in a private home or view the video in the privacy of their own homes. Titles included: DEPARTURES, THE AGE OF INNOCENCE & AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER
Highly Recommended
Distributed by The Video Project, 145 Ninth St., Suite 230
San Francisco, CA 94103, 800-4-PLANET
General - [email protected]
Orders - [email protected]
Produced & Directed by Claire Blotter
VHS, color, 14 min., 2002
K-6, Jr. High - Adult
Animal Behavior, Biology, Environmental Studies, Gardening
Date Entered: 11/09/2018
Reviewed by Gloria Maxwell, Reference Librarian, Penn Valley Community College
Does it really matter if we are losing songbirds at an alarming rate? What does this say, if anything, about our environment as a whole? Biologists say that all songbird species are in decline, with 15% of all the bird species on earth being threatened by the loss of trees specifically and loss of habitat in general. They attribute this to the reduction, fragmentation and degradation of habitat. Migratory birds are losing their winter habitats, which compounds the problem. The increase of predators, such as cats, also takes its toll on bird populations. Each time a species is taken out of the ecosystem, its extinction weakens the system as a whole, and in ways that are not yet known. One certain expectation is that insect populations will explode, which can affect our food supply. Where once there were flocks of birds and other wildlife, there are now buildings and asphalt streets instead.
Scientists explain that birds serve as one of the first indicators of problems in the environment. There are programs that anyone can participate in, such as Project Feeder Watch, which can be done from your own backyard. Looking at birds from the local level is every bit as important as nationwide studies. Students from San Francisco Bay area elementary and junior high schools imitate birds calls and speak about why it’s important to have birds in our lives and how the use of pesticides poisons the food supply which in turn poisons baby birds. From the mouths of school children come such simple solutions as planting gardens with plants and flowers that are attractive to birds, and to stop cutting down trees. Teachers advise digging up invasive plants and replacing them with native vegetation; plants serve the additional purpose of providing birds with places to hide and nest. One teacher made this a project with her class and the pride and enjoyment that resulted serves as an inspiration for all of us.
The most beautiful and complex bird songs come from birds that live deep in the woods or forests; they communicate with each other to find a mate and about their territory. Song sparrows have as many as eighteen different songs. To have birds around, with their beautiful songs--as the little children say--makes it “nicer for everyone.”
This video is enhanced by the voices of students, teachers, and bird experts who talk about the simple solutions, such as gardening and bells on cat collars that can be initiated by anyone to help protect the songbirds. Beautiful camera coverage of various songbirds as they feed their young or simply sing their songs accompanies the narration. Lovely music accompanies the ending credits. The technical quality is excellent, providing clear audio and video footage. This video would be an excellent choice for a classroom activity or home schooling project. Highly recommended for schools from kindergarten through junior high and general public library video collections.
Awards: Second Prize Santa Cruz Environmental Fill Festival in Endangered Species Category
AWARD WINNING PERFORMANCE POETRY VIDEOS
2002 WAKE-UP CALL screened at Mill Valley Film Festival, Hazel Wolf Environmental Film Festival, Chicago International Children’s Film Festival & eight other festivals including Santa Cruz Environmental Film Festival
1997 The poetry-video, HOLES, a collaboration with videographer, Martin Matzinger, selected for the National Poetry Video Festival in Chicago.
1991 The poetry-videos, TUNDRA and WATER, collaborations with videographer Martin Matzinger and musician Jay Yarnall, selected for the National Poetry Video Festival in Chicago. Both also selected for inclusion in the Chicago Art Institute Archives
1990 ALL COLORS OF THE MOON, poetry/theater/video benefit for traditional Navajos at Big Mountain, Arizona. Performed at Video Free America with three screens and three separate videos in San Francisco, at Louden Nelson Center in Santa Cruz and Bolinas Community Center featuring video of Roberta Blackgoat, Navajo/Dine elder speaking out to save the sacred land at Big Mountain from coal mining interests
FILM FESTIVAL CURATOR
2014 THE INTERNATIONAL VIRTUAL TRUE LOVE FILM FESTIVAL, a monthly video festival of the best films from around the world of true love stories. The titles were announced each month so that participants could meet together in a private home or view the video in the privacy of their own homes. Titles included: DEPARTURES, THE AGE OF INNOCENCE & AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER