The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill

The film follows Mark Bittner, an unemployed aging hippie, who lives off the kindness of strangers in the titular San Francisco neighborhood. His life takes on new meaning when he starts feeding a flock of wild Conures, a breed of parrot noted for its green body and cherry-red head. Native to Argentina, the birds soon feel comfortable enough to feed while perched all over Mr. Bittner. Being outcasts who yearn to remain free, a mutual respect is born between them. Daily routine soon leads to growing crowds of curious passersby, as Bittner becomes something of a local celebrity. Based on his up-close observations, Bittner gains some keen insight into the behavior of individual birds, giving them names. The resulting portraits of Connor, Mingus, Olive, Pushkin, Picasso, Sophie, and Tupelo prove that these amazing creatures deserve star credit in their own right. Distributed originally by Shadow Distribution, THE WILD PARROTS OF TELEGRAPH HILL, still the 4th highest grossing documentary about animals, flew to over 500 theatrical venues across the country during 2005, including Pittsburgh where it became an unexpected smash hit, playing for many weeks. The film has become a San Francisco classic, and the wild parrot flock — now numbering about 300 birds — has tourists “flocking” to Telegraph Hill, hoping to catch a glimpse of the famous red-and-green birds.