Who doesn’t love waking up to the sound of songbirds?
What would Spring be like without the cheerful morning orchestra that erases what’s left of our winter blues?
We may have lost almost half the songbirds that filled the skies fifty years ago.
~ Dr. Bridget Stutchbury | York University
Su Rynard, Director of documentary film The Messenger, talks to Green Diva Meg about what’s causing the serious decline of songbirds in this Green Divas Heart Wildlife segment.
LISTEN:
The Messenger, a stunning documentary film, delivers a visually thrilling ode to the beauty and importance of these imperiled creatures, why they are in decline and what it will mean to all of us on both a global and human level if we lose them.
Help them finish this important film by donating here.
Here’s more about why The Messenger needs your support…
Watch the The Messenger’s official trailer:
The inspiration behind The Messenger…
In recent years I noticed that birds I used to see – an evening grosbeak, a flycatcher, a barn swallow — were no longer around. With my busy life, I thought maybe I was just missing them. Then I discovered that this was not the case. Songbirds are disappearing, and their absence is a message to us all.
To understand why this is happening, and what can be done, we embarked on a journey. Over the course of a year, following the seasons and the birds, our team filmed on three different continents. We discovered that the causes are many, and the solutions are few. Yet around the world, we met people who are concerned and are working for change – as this is not just about the future of birds, it’s about us too.
Humans share an ageless bond with birds, their song, and their persistent presence in our lives. In ancient times, to predict the future, humans looked to the flights and songs of birds. Today once more, the birds have something to tell us.
For me, the first step was to simply stop, listen and see for myself what was going on in the skies above. The next step is this film.
— Su Rynard, Director
Keep up to date with what’s going on with the film and songbirds by joining The Messenger‘s mailing list at themessengerdoc.com – look for the “join our community” link.
Take action!
~ Contribute to The Messenger to help get this film in front of a larger audience.
~ Sign the endorsement at borealbirdsneedhalf.org to help protect at least half of North America’s boreal forest, the critical breeding grounds for billions of birds!
~ Help spread the word by sharing this post! Use #MessengerDoc or #SongbirdSOS.
~ 10+ ways to help songbirds this Spring.
Bonus:
Listen to the latest full episode of The Green Divas Radio Show…
Listen to more of Green Divas Radio Show—and other green and healthy living podcasts—daily on GDGDRadio.com (or get the GDGD Radio app)!>
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Sara
March 19, 2015 at 6:59 pm
Thanks for sharing, Lynn. As always I learn so much about important topics through you! I’m going to go through the links to help support Messenger and our songbirds!
Su Rynard
March 20, 2015 at 10:54 am
Hey Sara,
Thanks for your note – I confess that when i started this film, i was no bird expert. From research to screen has taken almost five years, and it has been a very rewarding process indeed. So in terms of learning – I understand where you are coming from! We plan to roll out the film in the USA later this year, so please join our mailing list http://www.themessengerdoc.com/ – look for the “join our community” link. The film is a beautiful, cinematic experience – an epic story well told and a wonderful sound experience too. – Su R.
Betsy (Eco-novice)
March 19, 2015 at 7:18 pm
A sobering warning we should all be paying attention to. I cannot imagine a world without songbirds! They are so embedded in our culture.
Su Rynard
March 20, 2015 at 10:57 am
Betsy,
A sobering warning indeed, and the stats give me a chill.
To help the birds we are also launching a social impact campaign — look for more info on our website. http://www.TheMessengerDoc.com
green Bean
March 19, 2015 at 7:56 pm
Thank you so much for writing this post! I came across The Messenger a couple of days ago and thought, oh wow, I’ll look at that later. I never got around to it. We have lost almost half of our wildlife in the last 40 years. We need to make big changes and educate like hell to make people aware of what we are losing. #NatureMatters Shared this (and your 10 ways to help birds post) all over the place!
Su Rynard
March 20, 2015 at 10:59 am
Green Bean
Appreciate you spreading the word. Please join our community at http://www.TheMessengerDoc.com. We will be launching a social impact campaign with the film, later this year – so stay tuned.! – Su R.
Green Diva Lynn
March 19, 2015 at 8:00 pm
Thanks, Sara! It’s actually on CBC 8PM ET TONIGHT! Tune into CBC The Nature of Things with David Suzuki for the SongbirdSOS episode debut.
http://www.cbc.ca/natureofthings/episodes/songbirdsos
Su Rynard
March 20, 2015 at 11:04 am
Lynn, last night was such a great experience – we were TRENDING on twitter #songbirdSOS and have a fantastic response to the broadcast. It was truly exciting to know that people were watching and responding… and that is for the 43 minute TV document, wait until the 90 minute cinematic feature rolls out. – Su R.
Green Diva Lynn
March 20, 2015 at 11:07 am
Wow! That’s fantastic, Su! Wish we were tweeting along. A tweet chat makes total sense for your film before the end of your campaign. Especially since birds tweet 🙂
Su Rynard
March 20, 2015 at 11:15 am
Canada’s on Margaret Atwood has something to say about TWITTER – this is a fantastic article where she traces this idea back into history – an inspiration for the film too.
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2010/jan/09/margaret-atwood-birds-review
Green Diva Lynn
March 19, 2015 at 8:01 pm
Thanks for taking the time to read, comment and share Betsy, Green Bean and Sara! The songbirds need us and we need them! xo
Katy
March 19, 2015 at 10:55 pm
I need to see this film and recommend it to my father in law who is an avid birder. Thanks for sharing this important film with us!
Su Rynard
March 20, 2015 at 10:49 am
Hey Katy,
Thanks for your comment – we hope to roll out the film in the USA later this year, so please join our mailing list http://www.themessengerdoc.com/ – look for the “join our community” link. Glad you acknowledged that it is an important film, but also, its a beautiful, cinematic experiences – an epic story well told and a wonderful sound experience too.
Micaela @MindfulMomma
March 20, 2015 at 12:17 pm
Listening to songbirds is such great therapy for me – especially at this time of year. Thanks for bringing my attention to the issue and what looks like an amazing documentary!
Su Rynard
March 20, 2015 at 1:47 pm
Hello Micaela, we are currently working on the sound track for The Messenger. We filmed on three different continents and every where we went we carefully recorded the sounds of each location – so its quite amazing that we have beautiful visuals and beautiful sound. You will find an interesting blogpost here: http://songbirdsos.com/soundtracks-come/
Lori Popkewitz Alper
March 21, 2015 at 10:41 pm
So grateful that you shared this Lynn. I’m wondering if it’s coming to the Boston area any time soon? We’ve been noticing birds finally heading back into the North East after a long winter. It’s music to my ears! Spring must here.
Su Rynard
March 22, 2015 at 8:37 am
Many of those birds you are hearing are facing declines – my favourite “song of summer” bird – the white throated sparrow has decreased by 31%, and the American Robin – so common, so everywhere, has also started to decline, only at 10% now, but what will the future hold. Some birds like the Canada Warbler have declined by 66%.
RE your question about screening — We are hatching a plan to tour the film in the US. Please “join our community” on TheMessengerDoc.com website and we will keep you posted on upcoming events.
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