The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill

Telegraph Hill, a neighborhood of San Francisco, became home to a flock of cherry-headed conure parrots. Generally parrots are found in much warmer climes, like the rainforests of South America. So it’s highly unusual to see these beautiful, colorful birds living in the wild of northern California. No one knows how the flock started, but many people in the city believe the original birds were domesticated pets that either escaped or were released by their owners.

The documentary introduces us to Mark Bittner, a resident of Telegraph Hill, who feeds, observes, and befriends the flock. He has named many of the birds, some of which live in his home. We meet Mingus, a bird that is strictly indoors with Bittner; Connor, who is actually a blue-crowned conure and the “black sheep” of the flock; Sophie and Picasso, who have paired off as parrots are apt to do. It’s interesting to learn more about this species and the parrots’ distinct personalities, as we watch the movie unfold. We also learn a little about Bittner, who seemed to wander aimlessly until he settled in Telegraph Hill to become a caretaker of a human and these feathered friends.

Sadly, not all of the birds are alive at the end, but director Judy Irving notes that the flock is still thriving in San Francisco and other parrots have been found even further north in NYC and Chicago.

You can learn more about the parrots of Telegraph Hill in Mark Bittner’s book by the same name.

Check the WRL catalog for The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill